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INDIAN HABITAT- CALCUTTA 2012
ADNAN IRSHAD, B.ARCH IV YR., F/O ARCHITECTURE AND EKISTICS JMI 1
SEMINAR- THE INDIAN HABITAT
ON
SETTLEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OF SOUTH CALCUTTA
Submitted To
AR. SANDEEP KUMAR
Submitted by
ADNAN IRSHAD
B.ARCH IV YR (SFS)
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE & EKISTICS
JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
NEW DELHI-110025
2011-2012
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INDIAN HABITAT- CALCUTTA 2012
ADNAN IRSHAD, B.ARCH IV YR., F/O ARCHITECTURE AND EKISTICS JMI 2
2011-2012
Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics,Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Certificate
In the partial fulfilment of the B.Arch. IV yr., this is to certify that Adnan Irshad has
worked on the dissertation entitled Settlement and Transportation of SouthCalcutta under my guidance and supervision.
Ar. Sandeep Kumar Prof. S.M. Akhtar
Thesis Guide Dean
External Examiner 1
External Examiner 2
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ADNAN IRSHAD, B.ARCH IV YR., F/O ARCHITECTURE AND EKISTICS JMI 3
Acknowledgement
I am highly obliged and indebted to my research guide Ar. Sandeep Kumar for his support and
help extended during the course of study. He has always been a great support on the academic
front.
My special gratitude to Librarian, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics for his steady support in
giving me appropriate information all the time.
With due regards, I express my heartfelt gratitude to my parents and my family members for
their unconditional support in carrying out the present endeavor.
Last but not the least; I would like to thank my friends Kirti Pandey, Akram Khan, Tapan Banerjee,
Zainab Khan and Waseem Akram for their patience and at times innovative ideas during the
compilation of the project.
Adnan Irshad
B.Arch. IV yr.
Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics
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ADNAN IRSHAD, B.ARCH IV YR., F/O ARCHITECTURE AND EKISTICS JMI 4
Preface
Kolkata is one of the 130 coastal cities of the world. The urban settlement in the mega city ofKolkata has the highest population density in India and has the highest concentration of
Economic activities. It is a coastal mega city with very fast growing urban centre with fast
changing population due to immigration, floating population, building stock, physical
Infrastructure. Urban poverty is prominent through share of slum population and presence of
informal sector with no fixed place of economic activity. There are several existing bottlenecks in
business as usual case that adversely affects economic, social and environmental performance of
the urban centre. Weather extremes that affect the human health in Kolkata urban
agglomeration is high temperature with humidity and high precipitation. This report will help
reader in understanding the urban morphology of Kolkata.
To Kolkata
Much abused, much loved
And always interesting..
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ADNAN IRSHAD, B.ARCH IV YR., F/O ARCHITECTURE AND EKISTICS JMI 5
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
THE HABITAT ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Aim................................................................................................................................................................ 8
METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 8
1. Introduction to Kolkata ..................................................................................................................... 9
2. Evolution of Calcutta (Kolkata) ........................................................................................................ 11
2 . 1 KOLKATA 1690......................................................................................................................... 11
2 . 2 KOLKATA 1757......................................................................................................................... 12
2 . 3 KOLKATA 1852-56 ................................................................................................................... 12
2 . 4 KOLKATA 1900......................................................................................................................... 12
2 . 5 Colonial Calcutta ..................................................................................................................... 13
3. NORTH KOLKATA ............................................................................................................................. 15
3.1 LOCATION ............................................................................................................................ 15
3.2 URBAN STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................. 15
3.3 STREET PATTERN ................................................................................................................. 16
3.4 PUBLIC SPACE ...................................................................................................................... 16
4. CENTRAL KOLKATA .......................................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Location ........................................................................................................................... 17
4.2 Urban Structure ............................................................................................................... 17
4.3 STREET PATTERN ............................................................................................................. 18
4.4 Public Space .................................................................................................................... 18
5. SOUTH KOLKATA ............................................................................................................................. 19
5.1 Location ....................................................................................................................... 19
5.2 Urban structure ........................................................................................................... 195.3 STREET PATTERN ......................................................................................................... 20
5.4 PUBLIC SPACE .............................................................................................................. 20
6. Evolution of South Kolkata (1900-1920) ......................................................................................... 21
7. Evolution Of South Kolkata (1920-1940) ......................................................................................... 22
8. Evolution of South Kolkata (1940-1960) ......................................................................................... 24
9. The traffic and transportation ills of Calcutta ................................................................................. 25
10. Traditional Dwelling .................................................................................................................... 27
11. Inference ..................................................................................................................................... 30
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12. BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................ 31
Figure 1 Hawrah Bridge Kolkata .................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 2 Major landmarks of Kolkata ........................................................................................................ 13
Figure 3 College Street, Kolkata ................................................................................................................ 14
Figure 4 North Kolkata .............................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 5 A Lane near Thakurbaadi .............................................................................................................. 16
Figure 6 Major sreet in North Kolkata ....................................................................................................... 16
Figure 7 Public space in North Kolkata ....................................................................................................... 16
Figure 8 Typical street in North Kolkata ..................................................................................................... 16
Figure 9 Lal Diggi area .............................................................................................................................. 17
Figure 10 Writers Building........................................................................................................................ 17
Figure 11 Typical street in Central Kolkata ................................................................................................ 18
Figure 12 Area around the church ............................................................................................................ 18Figure 14 street view ................................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 13 South Kolkata ............................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 16 Residential area ......................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 15 ..................................................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 18 Open spaces .............................................................................................................................. 20
Figure 17 Market Place ............................................................................................................................. 20
Figure 19 Street in South Kolkata .............................................................................................................. 22
Figure 20 New settlement ......................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 21 One of the old Tanks ................................................................................................................. 23
Figure 22 Traffic near Park Street ............................................................................................................. 25
Figure 23 Residential area ......................................................................................................................... 25
Figure 24 Roadside parking turn into chaos ............................................................................................... 25
Figure 25 Various modes of transportation ............................................................................................... 26
Figure 26 Traffic jam near Hawrah Railway Station ................................................................................... 26
Figure 27 Pedestrian movement on Hawrah Bridge ................................................................................. 26
Figure 28 Key Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 27
Figure 29 Section....................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 30 Site plan ..................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 31 Spatial arrangement ................................................................................................................... 29Figure 32 ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 33 ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 34 ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
List of Maps
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Map 1 west Bengal ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Map 2 Map of Kolkata ............................................................................................................................... 10
Map 3 Kolkata during 1852-1856 .............................................................................................................. 11Map 4 Kolkata during 1690 ....................................................................................................................... 11
Map 5 Settlement of Kolkata in 1900 ........................................................................................................ 12
Map 6 Map of Central Kolkata ................................................................................................................... 17
Map 7 Map of south Kolkata ..................................................................................................................... 20
Map 8 South Kolkata 1900-1920 ................................................................................................................ 21
Map 9 South Kolkata 1920-1940 ............................................................................................................... 22
Map 10 Kolkata 1940-1960 ........................................................................................................................ 24
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THE HABITATA habitat (which is Latin for "it inhabits") is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited
by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism. It is the natural environment in
which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds (influences and is utilizedby) a species population.
India has a long history of urban architecture starting from the ancient cities of Indus valley
through the Vedic and Mughal period. A new architectural style arrived with the advent of the
colonialists, which was quite different from the traditional Indian styles and were own style of
buildings which would be a permanent landmark In order to establish a permanent image of
their supremacy, they took to "religions, languages, frames of mind, systems of law, manners
and pastimes, tradition etc." However, it was the material objects that expressed their intention
more boldly
Calcutta's rapid growth showed how the colonialists converted the three small villages of
Sutanuttee. Gobindapur and Kalikata into a centre for administration, trade and commerce for
the east India Company's affairs for the whole sub-continent. Although Calcutta is favorably
located for trade, its low, swampy, hot, and humid riverbank location is not ideal for human
habitation. Eastward from the river the land slopes away to marshes and swamplands.
AimThe object of study is to find patterns and sources of settlement, buildings, living cultures and
local indigenous knowledge. Factors responsible for development and variation in development;
climate and typology of city.
ObjectivesTo study the evolution of the city with time.
To study the urban structure of Kolkata.
Methodology
The Research Processwill be followed by site study, interview library and net study. From
these sources different data will be collected and on the basis of all a analyzed report will be
developed.
Topics to be covered in report:
Introduction of habitat in context with Calcutta
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Evolution of city
Detailed study of southern part of Calcutta
Urban structure
Physical feature
Spatial arrangement
Street pattern
1.Introduction to KolkataKolkata or Calcutta is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of
the Hooghly River, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational center of East India,
while the Port of Kolkata is India's oldest port as well as its sole major riverineport. As of 2011, the
city had 4.5 million residents; the urban agglomeration, which
comprises the city and its suburbs, was home to approximately14.1 million, making it the third-most populous metropolitan
area in India. As of 2008, its economic output as measured by
gross domestic product ranked third among South Asian cities,
behind Mumbai and Delhi. As a growing metropolitan city in a
developing country, Kolkata confronts substantial urban.
Pollution, traffic congestion, poverty, overpopulation, and
other logistic and socioeconomic problems1.
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata
Figure 1 Hawrah Bridge Kolkata
Map 1 west Bengal
KOLKATA
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Image Courtesy: Dutta, K.; Desai, A. (April 2008). Calcutta: a cultural history. Northampton, Massachusetts, US:
Interlink Books
Map 2 Map of Kolkata
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2.Evolution of Calcutta (Kolkata)
Map 4 Kolkata during 1690
India has a long history of urban architecture starting from the ancient cities of Indus valley through
the Vedic and Mughal period. A new architectural style arrived with the advent of the colonialists,which was quite different from the traditional Indian styles and were own style of buildings which
would be a permanent landmark. In order to establish a permanent image of their supremacy, they
took to "religions, languages, frames of mind, systems of law, manners and pastimes, tradition etc."
However, it was the material objects that expressed their intention more boldly. Calcutta's rapid
growth showed how the colonialists converted the three small villages of Sutanti. Gobindapur and
Kalikata into a centre for administration, trade and commerce for the east India Company's affairs
for the whole sub-continent.
2 . 1 KOLKATA 1690In the year 1690, Job Charnock, a company agent and chief of English factory established the
important centre for trade and commerce in Sutanti Village on the Eastern banks of the river
Hooghly. This was the origin of the city of Calcutta. During this time the Villages by connected by a
route from the Chiptur in the north to the Kalighat temple that was built in the 15th
century, in the
south. The English bought Gobindapur, Kalikata and Sutanti Villages to establish their settlement2.
2Sinha Surajit Cultural profile of Calcutta. Kolkata: Indian Anthropological Society (1972).
Map 3 Kolkata during 1852-1856
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2 . 2 KOLKATA 1757
The first major step they had taken in the procell is to shift the Bengalis from the area around the
present Dalhousie square to further north because of the strategic location to build the fort for
their security. The battle of Plassey in 1757 was in a way a turning point for the growth of Calcutta.
The supremacy of English in Bengal was established. It was transforming itself from purely garrison
town to an administrative cum culture centre.
2 . 3 KOLKATA 1852-56
The great tank of Dalhousie Square
was developed as an administrative
centre. The Martha ditch got
converted to be the Circular road all
along the city as a city boundary till
the mid-19th
century. The area, which
is south of the Maratha Ditch, was full
of ponds and ditches and spreads of
jungles or Hogla Trees. In the
southern part it was mostly the
Englishmen and the rich businessmen
who started building up houses.
2 . 4 KOLKATA 1900
The British decided to shift the capital
from Calcutta to Delhi in order to
control their territory more from a
central position of the empire. The
capital got shifted in 1912 AD, and
soon the British government set-up
the improvement trust for the
settlement of living condition in the
city. The only directions for Calcuttas
growth wore east and south. North
was already congested and west was
the river3.
3
Chakravorty, Sanjoy (2000). "From colonial city to global city? The far-from-complete spatial transformation ofCalcutta"Globalizing cities: a new spatial order? Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
Map 5 Settlement of Kolkata in 1900
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2 . 5 Colonial Calcutta
A Major change was marked by abandoning the old front on the river and taking up a new front
facing the land: the south of the Esplanade.(The most important public buildings and private housewere located on the northern side of the Esplanade facing the Maidan on the south "all looking
remarkable Neo-classical .The eastward thrusts along Dharamtala and Bou Bazaar streets were
overshadowed by two parallel south ward axes - one along present day Chauranghi and Jawaharlal
Nehru road; the other across the Maidan and Alipur. The eastward spread was inevitable, as the
need to drain, the swamps was solved by making east-bound canals and a road along the canal.
Later, these canals:-covered up to make wide roads, as they became very unsanitary. Tanks werealso made to solve the drainage problem. All squares in Calcutta had a tank, for example college
square, wellington square etc. Some tanks were later filled up to create more usable space. The
urban space was created by other elements also, namely, street type, the avenue type, the circus
type, the esplanade type, the garden type and the square type4.
One of the earliest churches was the mission church of Beth Tephillah on mission Row Street,
consecrated in 1770 A.D. This church, by M.B. de Mevell, was the first church to use St. Martin- in-
4Chaudhuri, S (1990). Calcutta: the living City. IandII. Kolkata: Oxford University Press
Figure 2 Major landmarks of Kolkata
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the Field, London, as the base of design. In 1835 A.D. a south transept was added and the spire
heightened.
This period saw the expansion and consolidation of the baroque Neo classical style in Calcutta,
which had been implemented in Government House in the Old Fort. The most important public
building of this period was the Government House, on the sites of the Council House and the old
Government House. Designed by Captain Charles Wyatt, this building displayed the Tuscan, Tuscan-
Doric and Ionic orders. This building was well suited for the hot and humid climates of Calcutta as it
was well ventilated through numerous openings on the walls and a wide colonnaded verandah on
the south. It established the element of the faade especially one with a pedimented porch. The
most important element was the functionally divided vertical arrangement of space, "combining it
with the traditional horizontal spatial spread.This idea influenced the future buildings especially,
and was a significant step towards urbanization of building style. One such building was the St.
Johns Church, consecrated in 1787 A.D., designed by Lieutenant James Agg. This building had itsmain entrance and porch transferred to the east. "This building dominates Calcutta among all the
Figure 3 College Street, Kolkata
Image Courtesy: Mitra, A (1976). Calcutta diary. London: Frank Cass.
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eighteenth and early nineteenth century buildings in terms of its design concepts).
The urban settlement of Kolkata can be defined in to three definite regions, which can be broadly
distinguished according to history, socio-economic culture, and architectural character.
North Kolkata: Neighborhoods of elite Bengalis, crafts men, artisans and traders.
Central Kolkata: The business district developed by the British with palatial structures used
as residences for British officers.
South Kolkata: upper class residence
3.NORTH KOLKATA3.1
LOCATION North Kolkata lies to the north of esplanade (public pathway) on the eastern banks the
river.
It is built in the area where there existed the village of Sutanuti.
3.2URBAN STRUCTURE North Calcutta has low height buildings with maximum of ground coverage.
The buildings are all attached to each other and have practically no side setbacks.
Typical roadside buildings have car porticos ('garibaranda") highlighting the buildingentrance.
Figure 4 North Kolkata5
Open space is less in this part.
5Mukherjee, SC (1991). The changing face of Calcutta: an architectural approach. Kolkata
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3.3STREET PATTERN Streets in north Kolkata can be categorized into three types, they are roads, lanes and by-
lanes.
This division is basically on the basis of the road width and also on the kind of activitieshappening.
3.4PUBLIC SPACE North Kolkata has the least number of public open 'spaces.
Parks are used for recreational purposes by the locals.
Street corners and roadside tea stalls are mostly used as public SPACES.
Figure 6 Major sreet in North KolkataFigure 5 A Lane near Thakurbaadi
Figure 8 Typical street in North KolkataFigure 7 Public space in North Kolkata
Image Courtesy: Mukherjee, SC (1991). The changing face of Calcutta: an architectural approach. Kolkata
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4.CENTRAL KOLKATA4.1
Location It is established on the site of the
Gobindapur village.
Central Kolkata is mostly covered between
esplanade and the park street and is stretched till
the lower circular road as its
4.2Urban Structure It is the administrative and the commercial
district of the city.
Monumental scale in proportion.
The administrative district along the four sides
of the great tank has a resemblance of London.
The British have not done any compromise in
their city road layouts.
Visiting planner. Drew on what they knew of the
west and their work inevitably reflected the
planning.
Theories and design guidelines that had arisen in the
western context.
Map 6 Map of Central Kolkata6
6Mukherjee, SC (1991). The changing face of Calcutta: an architectural approach. Kolkata
Figure 9 Lal Diggi area
Figure 10 Writers Building
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4.3STREET PATTERN Main roads are wide carriage ways and are
laid straight, which act as vistas.
Even the lanes in these areas where mostly
the Europeans have settled are wide enough
for vehicular movements.
4.4Public Space Central Kolkata has designed public open
spaces.
The open space of the great tank creates
an ambience of the area.
The other one is the biggest open space of
the city, the maidan.
Figure 11 Typical street in Central Kolkata
Figure 12 Area around the church
Image Courtesy: Mukherjee, SC (1991). The changing face of Calcutta: an architectural approach. Kolkata
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5.SOUTH KOLKATA5.1Location
This part of the city extended to the eastern wetlands and to the river in the west.
S
outh Kolkata is defined by the region, which lies to the south of the lower circular road.
5.2Urban structure The southern part of the city is preplanned and has a definite control over the urban form.
The buildings here are having proper setbacks on all the four sides. In some old areas in
Bhowanipore and Kalighat Buildings have come up right on the street edge.
It has a mix of some old Kolkata and some new type of architectural style.
This part 0f the city is mostly residential except some large markets, which has been plan
need to cater the needs 0f the people living here.
Figure 14 South Kolkata
Figure 13 street view
Figure 15 Figure 16 Residential area
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5.3STREET PATTERN Streets in these areas are planned, are wide enough for vehicular movements.
The lanes and by lanes are Again have the feelings of north Kolkata in some parts while in
other parts, where they have been planned, they are wide enough to make it vehicular.
5.4PUBLIC SPACE South Kolkata has quite a few number of openspaces.
It also has a huge open space in Rablndra Sarobar.
Roadside tea stalls and street corners are actively oriented.
Map 7 Map of south Kolkata
Figure 17 Market Place Figure 18 Open spaces
Image Courtesy: Mukherjee, SC (1991). The changing face of Calcutta: an architectural approach. Kolkata
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6.Evolution of South Kolkata (1900-1920)The only directions Calcutta could grow were east and
south. North was already congested and west was the
river. As far as east is concerned the scope to expandwas again limited due to the wetlands. the only
direction open for growth was south.
PHYSICAL FEATURE
The south suburb was a swamp filled with ditches and
jungles
Tolly's nala was cleared and made navigable b the
efforts of a British officerPEOPLE
Mostly comprised of Europeans and Parsis near
the southern edge of the lower circular road.
The Bhowanipore area housed upper middle class
Bengalis, whose lifestyle was under the influence of the Europeans.
SPATLAL FORM
The main road to south is leading to Tollygunj passing through Kalighat and Manoharpur
that had very sparse settlements.
The kali temple at Kalighat built in the early sixteen hundreds was the prime focus within
the area and visited by people from all over for religious purpose.
Military camp in Ballygunj and a weekly market in Gariahat.
ARCHITECTURE
Most of the built structures of the Europeans and the Parsis were three to four store high
palatial mansions near the lower circular road.
Bengali residences were single and double storey structures having verandahs facing the
roads with long corridor and inner courtyards at the back.
PLANNING PROPOSALS
Map 8 South Kolkata 1900-1920
Image Courtesy: Mitter, Partha (June 1986). "The early British port cities of India: their planning and architecture circa16401757".Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
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Shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911. Formation of Calcutta improvement trust to
prepare schemes for improvement of existing areas and for planned future developments.
7. Evolution Of SouthKolkata (1920-1940)
PHYSICAL FEATURE
The receding wetlands in the south
and in the east were reclaimed.
The swamps and layouts of areas and
roads earmarked for development.
City started digging up of the lake
Rabindra Sarobar.
PEOPLE
Upper middle class Bengalis started
moving into the new areas.
A mixed lifestyle that was influenced by British education was reflected in the courtyard
houses of south Calcutta.
SPATIAL FORM
Gariahat, Kalighat and Jadu Babus"
bazaar led to the establishment of full-
fledged markets in these areas.
Development mainly occurred in the areas
of Bhowanipore, Manoharpur on eitherside of Rashbehari Avenue and Ballygunj.
New road layouts were also laid out during
this period.
ARCHITECTURE
Plan form of the buildings was mostly symmetrical.
Map 9 South Kolkata 1920-1940
Figure 19 Street in South Kolkata
Image Courtesy: Mitter, Partha (June 1986). "The early British port cities of India: their planning and architecture circa16401757".Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
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Residences in south Calcutta had large setbacks
on all sides.
Building materials mainly used was brick and
lime-surkhi
Wooden beams were used for structural support.
Decorated wrought iron railings we're used in
verandahs for residential buildings.
PLANNING PROPOSALS
Wider implementation of the city Sohemes prepared in 1913.
North edge of Rabindra Sarobar was the last city municipality proposed.
Figure 21 One of the old Tanks
Figure 20 New settlement
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8.Evolution of South Kolkata (1940-1960)PHYSICAL FEATURE
Rabindra Sarobar and other tanks were developed.
More of land reclamation laid to further receding of the wet lands towards the south.
PEOPLE
Evolution of neighborhoods through activities like 'Baroan' Durga puja, involved greater
community participation.
The Calcutta rowing club, football stadium and parks for recreation that came up during this
period showed an increasing influence of European lifestyle.
SPATIAL FORM
Densification along the major roads like, Rashbehari Avenue, Lansdowne road, Hazra road,
Gariahat road and Asutosh Mukherjee road.
ARCHITECTURE
There was lesser elaboration and
ornamentation of buildings. Decreasing plot
sizes due to fall in economic condition of
people led to very less setbacks.
Courtyard houses with long corridors gave
way to smaller houses with lesser setbacks
PLANNING PROPOSALS
No new planning and development schemes
were formulated for south Calcutta.
Greater part of planning activities was
confined to the central Calcutta.
Image Courtesy: Mitter, Partha (June 1986). "The early British port cities of India: their planning and architecture circa16401757".Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
Map 10 Kolkata 1940-1960
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9.The traffic and transportation ills of CalcuttaThe large growth that has occurred in Calcutta has made it increasingly more difficult to maintain
acceptable levels in urban services and in recent years most urban services have actually
deteriorated.
Transportation services are among the most severely affected. The impact due to population
growth alone has been compounded by increased rates of usage for both public and private
transportation brought about by the effect of
improved personal income levels in increasingdesires for personal mobility.
For the purpose of system classification, three
general categories of roadways were
established, based upon traffic function.
The first group, referred to as local streets,
serves the most basic function-property
access-and as such is expected to serve only
traffic destined to locations along the
alignment of such roads.
At the opposite extreme in terms of function
are facilities designed to serve only traffic
movement. In order to ensure that this function is properly served, these facilities, known as
expressways, have no provision for direct access to abutting property and are developed to very
high standards of design.
Streets making up the third and final category are known as arterials. These have dual function:
they serve through-traffic movement as well as provide access to abutting land.
Figure 23 Residential area Figure 22 Traffic near Park Street
Figure 24 Roadside parking turn into chaos
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In central Calcutta a grid pattern of arterial
streets is recognizable but in other parts of
the area, roadway development has been
haphazard.
When footpaths become food and clothing
markets and customers occupy a second
line of space- then pedestrians are forced
to take to the streets. Periodically the
footpaths may be cleared of hawkers- but
they return because there is no organized
effort to provide them with other low cost space. Many of the hawkers are migrants who
would otherwise have no way of making even a meager living.
Slow moving traffic that contributes to streets
congestion: handcarts with heavy loads
pushed and pulled; horsedrawn garries-poor
mans taxi; the head- load carriers bearing
vegetables from the railway stations; animal
traffic like bullock- carts and a troop of goats
on the way to grazing on the maidan. Besides
these, man-pulled rickhsaw, of which there
are thousands in the city and which perform
their greatest service during the rains, when
streets are flooded because of poor drainage.
HOWRAH BRIDGE : 1,25,000 pedestrians
crossing a day35,000 fast moving
vehiclesanother 15,000 slow vehicles, plus
stray and attended animals. The mixed and uncontrolled traffic over the bridge and at the
Howrah railway station, and on the bridge
approaches, makes crossing on the Hoogly
an unpleasant experience7.
Automobile parking in Calcutta must soon
come to grips with the facts: kerb parking
diminishes too much of the needed street
space for moving trafficrising new
skyscrapers, both office and residence,
require provision for off-street parking lack
of terminals for the goods trucks coming
into the city results in a virtual taking over of
7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata
Figure 27 Pedestrian movement on Hawrah Bridge
Figure 25 Various modes of transportation
Figure 26 Traffic jam near Hawrah Railway Station
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streets at times.
10. Traditional DwellingAmong the few beautiful things left by colonization to us, is a mix-bred form of architecture,
born off traditionalism and colonialism. The analysis of the traditional house in the purelycontemporary environment, with its 19th century British dcor characterized by British cornices,
dual pillars etc. with some genuinely Indian thematic spaces such as the courtyard is one of the
best example of what ingenuity is left which not only responded nicely to the context but also to
every hook and corner of the life of people living within, cause before we meet the people
within, we meet their humble abode, which stands in the same authoritative mood to the
context now as it did to the context it
was made in.
SITE INFORMATION:
Built by: Late Prabhat Nath Bose
Built during late 19th century
Place: Halisahar, West Bengal
CLIMATE:
Hot and humid.
Rainfall avg.1600mm
Humidity 65-98%
The harsh humid conditions cause
stuffy conditions interiors.
RESPONSE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Resisting heat gain
Facilitating heat loss
Micro climatic response
SITE ANALYSIS:The site is oriented in the north-east direction. Back side faces pond
(Durgapukur).The house faces a public park which fulfills the greenery requirement of the
locality. As the site plan shows, this house is the only central courtyard house in the precincts.
The house has an l-shaped layout which has been transformed into a central courtyard layout
with a niched corridor and a Durga puja mandap.
CLIMATIC RESPONSE:
The climate of the place is predominantly hot and humid which can generate stuffy and
uncomfortable conditions. Hence it is important to generate solutions by two methods:-
Figure 28 Key Plan
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RESISTING HEAT GAIN - Balconies running
both around the ground and the first floor acts
as buffer-spaces, which moderates the outside
extremities of climate.
The pale coloration of the walls
increases surface-reflectivity and reduces
input thermal coefficient.
The orientation of the building is such
that it provides shading to the internal faces of
the house resulting in reduction of heat gain.
Using bamboo haunches under the roof, which provides excellent insulation, carries out
the thermal insulation of the roof.
FACILITATING HEAT LOSS
Ventilation is done by placing two windows and two doors in front of each other at the
room level.
As a block the cleverly placed central
courtyard acting as the Air Sink distributes and
ventilates air.
To reduce the humidity is one of the key
factors for generating comfort conditions.
The humidity generated by the micro-
climate of the pond is barred entry into the
premises of the house by not providing any
fenestration on the pond side.
ZONING IN THE INTERIOR:
While analyzing the house, the entrance has been deliberately divided into two from the
road itself into a public and a private entrance.
The public entrance leads to the courtyard, the public baithak and the puja area which
are either public or social, and then it leads to the study, the dining, and the kitchen,
which are semi private.
Figure 29 Section
Figure 30 Site plan
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The other entrance leads upstairs through
the staircase to the private baithak [which
has a parallel conversational sitting
layout], the bedrooms and the most
private of them all, the zenana quarters.
On a more vertical approach, the ground
floor is a cluster of public, social and semi-
private spaces, whereas the first floor is
totally dedicated to private spaces.
SPECIAL ISSUES:
This sort of thematic space is trademark of
19th century zamindar houses of West
Bengal and remains in focus for only 10
days of the year.
The space consists of three apses, the
central one for Goddess Durga and the side
ones for Ganesha, Laxmi, Saraswati and
Kartikeyah.
The apses are fronted by three grand
arches, signifying the scale of importance.
There is also a pavilion for the women of the house to see the puja, as they were not
allowed to participate in it.
Figure 31 Spatial arrangement
Figure 32
Figure 33
Figure 34
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11. InferenceThe study of the urban fabric of Kolkata shows the distinct features of different parts Kolkata knitted
together. In spite of the fact that North, South and Central Kolkata have different architectural character,
morphology, and crowd; there is a sense of continuity in the whole journey of Kolkata.
North of Kolkata has houses for the elite Bengalis and shows the traditional Indian bungalow architecture.
Central Kolkata on the other hand acts as the Central Business District and the administrative block of the
city. It has the colonial essence in it with monumental buildings of colonial period in India.
Southern Kolkata is the home for the upper middle class Bengalis and has the traditional residential
settlements in the narrow lanes. The settlement of south Kolkata emerged after the Independence and
has densified in the further course of time.
The traffic movement is still slow in Kolkata in spite having various modes of transport. Tram system
sometimes creates the traffic jam on narrow streets such as Presidency College Street. The undergroundmetro rail system is good and cheap mode of transport in the city.
The traditional house in Kolkata has courtyard planning with separate internal courtyard in the zenana
region. This serves the dual purpose of maintaining privacy for the women and also creates a micro
climate in the house.
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12. BIBLIOGRAPHYDutta, K.; Desai, A. (April 2008). Calcutta: a cultural history. Northampton.
Sinha Surajit Cultural profile of Calcutta. Kolkata: Indian Anthropological Society (1972).
Chakravorty, Sanjoy (2000). "From colonial city to global city? The far-from-complete spatial transformation of
Calcutta"Globalizing cities: a new spatial order? Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
Chaudhuri, S (1990). Calcutta: the living City. IandII. Kolkata: Oxford University Press.Mitra, A (1976). Calcutta diary. London: Frank Cass.
Mukherjee, SC (1991). The changing face of Calcutta: an architectural approach. Kolkata.
Mitter, Partha (June 1986). "The early British port cities of India: their planning and architecture circa 1640
1757".Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians.
INTERNET SOURCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata
http://www.google.co.in/#hl=en&sclient=psy-
ab&q=kolkata+urban+settlement&oq=kolkata+urban+settlement&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_nf=1&gs_
l=hp.12...56673.62732.1.64962.17.15.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0.Tz95QMpHDwI&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_
pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=5d91690a3da6173d
http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/2079/settlement-and-transportation-of-calcutta
www.calcuttaweb.com/
maps.google.co.in