Neighborhood Planning for Aluva Metro Station

It has been observed that the content of a city or area plays an important role in its planning and design. However, if left to grow organically, it has been seen that development often grows in terms of context. Without a change in context, increasing or decreasing the content may have little effect on the prevailing conditions of the area. Currently, design is often done in terms of quantifiable terms such as land use, building heights, and road widths. Increasing any value within these parameters may increase the content without significantly changing the context of the area of intervention.

Context refers to the experience of individuals within the public realm. While it is relatively easy to manipulate the content of a given site or project, it requires more sensitivity to manipulate the context. In Alwaye, for example, the road is primarily seen as a transportation corridor, with shopping playing a minor role. Activities such as walking and recreation are often overlooked when thinking about the road, and issues related to it often involve efficiency in exiting the space.

In order for a street to increase its visual perception and become a node, landmark, edge, district, or path, it is necessary for the street to incorporate as many functions as possible and for these functions to be molded by the people who would use it. It is also important to create a sense of ownership. There are many examples of how a minor change in the context of a street can have a major impact on the perception of the people. For example, the addition of open-air seating on the side of a street in the Kala Ghoda District in Mumbai transformed it into an exhibition space. Similarly, the legalization of street vendors on Hill Road in Mumbai turned it into a destination and a district within itself.

In Navi Mumbai, streets have been formally designed to serve as both transportation corridors and recreational public spaces. While the land use has been predetermined, the usage of the space has been left to the people, allowing the space to serve as a canvas for local individuals to work with. The street at Crystal Plaza in Kharghar is a successful example of a space with a variety of uses that contribute to its success. The structure is part of a complex built by Hiranandani Builders for the HIG Group, but the street itself serves as a hub for various activities, including shopping, dining, and entertainment.