DUAC's Initiatives

Open Space Systems and Network

A designed recognizable open space structure existed in earlier cities of Delhi of Shahajhanabad and New Delhi. In the process of urbanization in the last 50 years, parts of the city were planned with open spaces spread out in a definite hierarchy and were dependent on town planning practice in England rather than local tradition. Significant features like major drainage channels, the ridge and a vast number of monuments were recognized and areas around them were left as untouched open spaces.

As a result, though a very positive aspect of this is the presence of fairly adequate large expanse of open spaces available to the city, the resultant fabric has a very few traces of legible open space structure. Significantly, a combination of factors involving undefined usage, disposition and scattered pattern of open spaces in Delhi has greatly reduced the environmental and utilitarian value of these open spaces.

This study is aimed at recognizing the open space systems of Delhi as a connected network rather than disjointed pockets of greens. This approach draws specific attention to the connectivity of open space and presents distinct possibilities in terms of linkages, accessibility, usage, safety of users and a pedestrian friendly environment.