26 Nov 2024|Noida | Amity University, Noida
Students of Amity School of Architecture and Planning develop innovative urban designs for making Roorkee a smart city
Amity School of Architecture and Planning organized an “Open Space Urban Design Project and Exhibition” for the final year students of Architecture, Planning and Urban Design Programme. The theme of the exhibition was “Archaic in Roorkee and its Proposed Usage”, wherein the focus was on addressing underutilized and outdated areas in Roorkee such as irrigation lands, the defunct British factory, and surrounding spaces, which provide an opportunity to rejuvenate all these areas and give these underutilized spaces a new life, making them more developed and smart.
Addressing the students, Architect Ranjit Mitra, Former Director- School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, averred, “Urban Planning and Architecture is an integral part of the infrastructure of our country and there are unlimited opportunities for students in this area Students get the opportunity to showcase their creativity and apply their knowledge by participating in such exhibitions.”
Architect Nishit Gupta, Principal Architect, PNG Designs, stated, “Architecture and urban planning play a vital role in creating sustainable, livable, and resilient cities. With the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the demand for innovative and effective urban planning solutions has increased manifold and never been greater. Urban Planning comprises of sustainable design, transportation planning, disaster resilience, smart cities, community engagement, heritage preservation and therefore it requires extensive research and in-depth knowledge of architecture.”
Dr. Devendra Pratap Singh, Director, Amity School of Architecture & Planning, said, “Historical cities like Roorkee often grow in ways that leave older parts and areas such as railways, cantonment areas and irrigation lands, underused and disconnected from the modern urban fabric. These areas termed as “archaic”, have the potential to be revitalized and integrated into the city’s growth to serve contemporary needs while respecting their historical significance.”
Providing information about the Design Project, Prof. Sudhir Khandelwal, Amity School of Architecture & Planning, said, “Under this project, the students were divided into various teams, which focused on the underutilized and old areas in Roorkee such as irrigation land, cantonment area and many other areas. The project was divided into two stages, wherein the first stage comprised of a detailed study at the city level to understand the overall structure and urban form of Roorkee, exploring aspects such as chronology and land use, morphology, open space system and circulation patterns. In the second stage, students were divided into five groups, each tasked with creating specific design interventions to address the identified issues. The designs were focused on revitalizing the archaic areas while ensuring they benefitted the city’s economy, urban form, and residents.”
