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I Urban Design Semester II 2012-14 I Vedalaxmi Naik, Asawari Shinde I Power and Urban Space I POWER AND URBAN SPACE Vedalaxmi Naik | Asawari Shinde
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POWER AND URBAN SPACE
Vedalaxmi Naik | Asawari Shinde
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Introduction : Definition of Power
Power and society
Power and the common man
Structure of power
Impact of power on urban space
Defining power and urban space
Historic references of manifestations of power
Aspects in which manifestations are reflected in urban spaces Political Religious Social Economic Cultural
Characteristic features of manifestations of power in urban space
Case studies
Conclusion
Bibliography
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DEFINITION OF POWER Povoir (french 1300’s)
• the a b i l i t y or c a p a c i t y to do something or act in a particular way
• the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events
• political or social authority or control, especially that exercised by a government
• authority that is given or delegated to a person or body
• a state or country, especially one viewed in terms of its international influence and military
strength
• a person or organization that is strong or influential within a particular context
• a supernatural being, deity, or force
• To enhance the status of a specified group
• physical strength and force exerted by something or someone
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Balanced Society
(EGALITARIAN)
Dominant •Military strength
•Monetary superiority
•Knowledge
UNDERSTANDING IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIETY .
Ordinary •Common people
SOURCE: Patel, P., City as an Imprint Of Power, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
Imbalanced Society
(INEGALITARIAN)
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COMMON MAN : Aam Aadmi And Power
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POWER AND SOCIETY
Power is inseparable and integral part of social structure that is formed
within and of society itself.
CONTROL IS POWER (As structure further leads to implication of control)
DISTRIBUTION OF FUNCTIONS (No society can function without divisions of functions and
hierarchy)
HIERACHY
Power is constituted by subjugation and hierarchy entails subjugation.
SOURCE: Patel, P., City as an Imprint Of Power, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
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STRUCTURE OF POWER Apex – Dominance
MULTIPLE POWER CENTRES IN SOCIETY
MULTIPLE POWER PYRAMIDS Competition Unbalanced
power distribution Equity - Balanced power distribution
BALANCE OF POWER IN SOCIETY VARIES WITH TIME AND CULTURE
Hierarchy
INCREASED INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF SYSTEMS
Sharing of nucleus
STRUCTURE OF POWER. :
SOURCE: Patel, P., City as an Imprint Of Power, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
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Built form is the lasting creation of
mankind, it is an
instrument for
attaining
immortality.
Building becomes an
instrument of power;
in its physical
making, it expresses
its strength, and becomes a player in
the network of
power in the city.
squares focus and axis form and scale
IMPACT OF POWER. ON URBAN SPACE
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P O W E R IN U R B A N S P A C E IS
The imposition of order with the objective of control .
P o s s e s s i o n of control, a u t h o r i t y, or influence over others
Power is the medium through which ideologies function, and how power is formed,
captured, owned, traded, and distorted is central to an understanding of the ideology
Physical manifestations of these happen with the motive of
- Influencing the behaviour of masses (social regulation)
- retention of authority
- asserting of the superiority or moral high-handedness.
DEFINING POWER AND URBAN SPACE
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TANGIBLE MANIFESTATIONS
Scale Form Association
Orientation Control Technology
SOURCE: Naik, M., An Understanding of the early Colonial City : Manifest power as a Determinant of Urban form: The Case of Diu, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
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INTANGIBLE MANIFESTATIONS
LAWS AND RULES
(authority deciding the rules)
BELIEFS
(Religious, social)
AGGRANDIZATION
( exaggerating the power in which it is manifested)
SEGGREGATION
(community, caste,Landuse)
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HISTORIC REFERENCES OF MANIFESTATIONS OF POWER IN DIFFERENT FORMS : Citadel, Mohenjodaro and Ziggurats, palace and Hanging gardens of Babylon – physicality Pyramid of Giza, Egypt – Form, shape and scale Great wall of China – defining territory Taj Mahal – Identity, iconic, scale Haussmann’s plan Paris, France - redefining identity
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Citadel, Mohenjodaro and Ziggurats, palace and Hanging gardens ofBabylon – physicality
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Pyramid of Giza, Egypt – Form, shape and scale
Citadel, Mohenjodaro and Ziggurats, palace and Hanging gardens of Babylon – physicality
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Great wall of China – defining territory
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Taj Mahal – Identity, iconic, scale
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Haussmann - Paris France
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ASPECTS IN WHICH MANIFESTATIONS ARE REFLECTED IN URBAN SPACES : Political Religious Social Economic Cultural
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
Characteristic features :
A) Iconic / Monument / Focal Point
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
B). Axis
Terminus as a generator of axial movement
Often objects adjacent to a strong axis suffer in the relationship
An axis may be symmetrical. But usually it is not.
SOURCE: Urban design 1992 Batch, Role of Axis in Making of a Space, Urban Form and Space, Term paper, CEPT University, Ahmedabad
Characteristic features :
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
C) Organisation
Ex : grid organisation Grid is imposed on the existing format. In nature we do not find right angles and straight roads. It is enforced to show the power.
SOURCE: Dudhaiya, V., Evaluation of the Grid as organizational principles in architecture, Thesis, CEPT University Ahmedabad.
Characteristic features :
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
D) Zoning and Spatial segregation
Institutions
Segregation amongst various classes
•Control over height •Placements of the buildings •Plot Sizes
Entry to the higher caste person’s house through primary road
Entry to the lower caste person’s house through secondary/tertiary road
PLANNING
HEIGHT CONTROL
SOURCE: Patel, P., City as an Imprint Of Power, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
Lower caste residential house
Temple Haveli
Characteristic features :
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P O L I T I C A L P O W E R
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Power is generally exerted through the political structure, thus it is of primary concern
while discussing the relation between power and city.
Relation of political power and built form is through Capabilities:
Symbolic: Projection of an image to ensure loyalties and popular support.
Extractive: Appropriation of the states resources. (Egypt)
Distributive: dispense of material and non-material distributions. (Inca empire)
Regulative: Penetration of personal and social activity. (Inca empire)
Responsive: Outputs affected by demands from society.
Most manifestation of power are through physical structure. Earlier religious and now
economic powers are expressed through the political system.
Political power has been primary force behind expansion of urban centers and urbanity.
Power control the use of space.
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FORMS OF POWER - POLITICAL
Power of individual
- Singular ruler
- Religious ruler
Power of communism
- Historical development of the productive forces (military, market, religion, democratic,
political)
Power of Democratic Capitalist
- Dynamic complex of economic, political, moral-cultural, ideological and institutional forces
Power of Colonialism
- Control by one power over a dependent area or people
Examples:
- Imperialism - Forbidden city, Beijing, CHINA
- Vatican City
Examples:
- Red Square, Moscow, RUSSIA
Examples:
- Capitol Complex, Washington DC, USA
Examples:
- Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, INDIA
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
i. Single Ruler
ii. Democratic
iii. Colonialism
Imperialism
Communism
Fascism
Forbidden city, Beijing,CHINA
Red square, Moscow, RUSSIA
Unter Den Linden, Berlin, GERMANY
Capitalist
Socialist
Capitol Complex, Washington DC, USA
Capital Complex, Chandigarh, INDIA
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, INDIA
EXAMPLES OF POWER - POLITICAL
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
SINGLE RULER – Imperialism - Forbidden city, Beijing,CHINA
Smaller grains , High
Density
Bigger grains and
Low density
Moat -
Segregation
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
SINGLE RULER – Communism – Red Square, Moscow, RUSSIA
Facing the river –
highly susceptible for
attack.
Open space for firing
Moat
Market
MILITARY / POLITICAL
DEMOCRATIC
MARKET / RELIGIOUS
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
SINGLE RULER – Communism – Red Square, Moscow, RUSSIA
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
SINGLE RULER – Fascism – Unter Den Linden, Berlin, GERMANY
Style taken from Classic order. Hitler interpreted class architecture as symbol of power and implemented in Berlin
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY
DEMOCRATIC– Capitalist – Capitol Complex, Washington DC, USA
Radial
planning
superimposed
on secondary
grid pattern.
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
DEMOCRATIC– Capitalist – Capitol Complex, Washington DC, USA
L'Enfant's plan was modelled in the Baroque style and incorporated avenues radiating out
from rectangles, providing room for open space and landscaping.[His design also envisioned
a garden-lined "grand avenue“.
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
DEMOCRATIC– Capitalist – Capitol Complex, Washington DC, USA
The entire skyline is low, because of the building height restriction. The skyline of the
surrounding building should not surpass beyond the height of White House. This makes the
entire skyline low height. The streets were wide compared to the height, which makes the
area green and airy.
60% of land in central Washington – streets. Anticipated advent of vehicles
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Chandigarh
Capital Complex
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
COLONIALISM– Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, INDIA
Source: The Concise townscape – By Gordon Cullen
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NEHA MUNGEKAR |NIKHIL CHAUDHARY POWER AND URBAN SPACE
COLONIALISM– Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, INDIA
The sequence at axis of The Rastrapati Bhavan in New Delhi emphasizes the role of levels and screening in serial vision. For here what could simply have been one picture reproduced four times, enlarging the centre of the
previous view and bringing us near to the terminal building, turns out to be four separate and unique views. This Bhavan acts as an enticer to the observer as he is gradually lead further.
RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN
SECRETERIAT
1 2
3 4 INDIA GATE
1 2 VIEW AT POSITION 1
VIEW AT POSITION 3
3 4
Source: The Concise townscape – By Gordon Cullen
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TIANANMEN SQUARE
• The Tian'anmen square was
designed and built in 1651, and has
since enlarged four times its
original size in the 1950s.
• Near the centre of today's square,
stood the "Great Ming Gate", the
southern gate to the Imperial City,
renamed "Great Qing Gate" during
the Qing Dynasty, and "Gate of
China" during the Republic of China
era.
• In the early 1950s, the Gate of
China was demolished, allowing for
the enlargement of the square.
• Used as a massive meeting place
since its creation, its flatness is
contrasted by the 38-meter (125 ft)
high Monument to the People's
Heroes, and the Mausoleum of Mao
Zedong
• It is heavily monitored by uniformed
and plain clothes policemen.
Source: .Google earth
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View of Tiananmen square and Forbidden
city, Beijing, CHINA Source: .Google earth
`
Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square
`
• Shift in political power increase in shear length of place
• Democratic political set up changed the meaning
TIANANMEN SQUARE
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Tiananmen gate
Great Hall of the people
National Museum
of China
Monument to the People's Heroes
Chairman Mao memorial hall
• The third biggest square in the world (440,000 m² - 880m by 500m) • The ceremonial center of the People's Republic of China. • In Chinese history, several important events performed in square
TIANANMEN SQUARE
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View of Tiananmen square from Forbidden city, Beijing, CHINA Source: www.flickr.com
Public gathering in Tiananmen square 1st October parade at Tiananmen square Built form at Tiananmen square
TIANANMEN SQUARE
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CAPITOL COMPLEX, WASHINGTON DC
Plan of Capitol Complex, Washington DC
Washington monument Capitol building
White house
View of Capitol building
View of Washington monument
In 1901,formulated the McMillan Plan, an architectural plan for the redevelopment of the National Mall. The commission was inspired by L'Enfant 1791 plan for the city, which had not been fully realized. The members of the commission also sought to emulate the grandeur of European capitals such as Paris, London, and Rome. They were also strongly influenced by the City Beautiful movement, a Progressive ideology that intended to build civic virtue in the poor through important, monumental architecture. The National Mall is a unique National Park, filled with an intense concentration of monuments, memorials, museums, and monumental government buildings instantly recognizable to people all over the world.
White house
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The entire skyline is low, because of the building height restriction. The skyline of the surrounding building
should not surpass beyond the height of White House. This makes the entire skyline low height. The streets were wide compared to the height, which makes the area green and airy. 60% of land in central Washington – streets. Anticipated advent of vehicles
CAPITOL COMPLEX, WASHINGTON DC
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Inauguration by Barack Obama on January 20, 2009 facing
west from the Capitol
The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom on the National Mall facing east from the
Lincoln Memorial
CAPITOL COMPLEX, WASHINGTON DC
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Parliament of India, Delhi
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Ambedkar Park, Lucknow
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R E L I G I O U S P O W E R
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St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City
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RELIGIOUS POWER
As an Ideology, religion seeks centers around which the metaphysical world is ordered. All
religions have a similar philosophy: religion sees the world as an ordered whole with a centre.
The religion responsible or influential on urban space can be discussed as,
•Religion as the basis of social consciousness, social order, reflected in city – structural influence
•Religion as supreme power in the city / region – Local influence
Religion as a focus of all social activities. The impact of other powers is negligible or non-existent.
Holy city as a center : a sacred city was generally part of a network, also connected with other
places of religious importance on a pilgrimage route. Not only the city contains a network of
holy places within it, but also at the apex of the network, all with varying importance form a
pilgrimage route.
Hindu imagination – it is constructed universe in religion.
Islamic cities – organized around mosque. All the mosques facing the city of Mecca. Thus
creating a centre within a network spread over the land. Large area of influence.
INCREASED INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF SYSTEMS
Means of power
•Aggrandization
•Buildings used as instruments for religious
aggrandization.
•Visual domination
•Allocation of activities – seggregation
•Centrality
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i. Church
ii. Temple
iii. Space around
Islamic religious
Institution
Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City
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Associated rules for defining Power
• Pope – main dominant of power
• Strong cardinal axis
• Hierarchical segregation of spaces and
approach towards the destination
• Large public gathering space
• Strong difference between built Vs Human scale
• Visual coherence
Image of Vatican city
www.saintpetersbasilica.org
Location map of Vatican city
www.saintpetersbasilica.org
Plan of St. Peter’s Basilica
ST. PETER’S SQUARE, VATICAN CITY (1656-67)
14
0 M
190 M
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POWER OF RELIGION AS GENERATOR OF URBAN FORM AND SPACE
Power of religion:
- Myth and belief
- cosmic ideology
Tool to read power of religion in urban form
and space:
- Geographical location
- Ritual procession
- Hierarchical approach towards the
center
- Symmetry of elements
- Axis
- Monumentality
- Visual coherence
- Relation between Earth and Sky
Example:
- St. Peter square, Vatican city
- Mecca
- Madurai Temple
- Banganga Tank, Mumbai.
Dome of the Rock,
Jerusalem,
www.atlastours.net
St Peter's Basilica,
Vatican city
www.saintpetersbasilica.
org
Shrirangam
www.divineindia.blog.co.in
Pantheon
www.romeitaly.ca
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JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
Jerusalem is a holy city to the three major religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Segregation of space
Religious / Social
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The Muslim Quarter is the largest and most densely populated quarter of the Old City. The quarter has changed hands many times from the 12th through 15th centuries, resulting in decay since the 16th century. It is one of the most fascinating and least explored parts of Jerusalem.
Dome of rock
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DOME OF THE ROCK 689 – 691 CE According to Islamic tradition, the rock is the spot from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Further, Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. After Muhammad's return, he called all who would believe him to join with him and be Muslim.
Cosmic alignment and the orientation of the mosque – as a centre of the universe
Mecca
Jerusalem
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Built over the Herodian mount after destroying the Herodian temple – dominance over other religion – proving supremacy of the Islam. The Dome is not a mosque, but a shrine which protects beneath its high ceiling, a large piece of Rock sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians.
Axis
Grandness of space
Monumentality and form
Focal point
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Until the mid-nineteenth century, non-Muslims were not permitted in the area. Since 1967, non-Muslims have been permitted limited access, however non-Muslims are not permitted to pray on the Temple Mount.
Scale and Location
Religious / Social
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Associated rules for defining Power • Kaaba – main dominant of power • Notion of centre and cosmic universe • Sacredness of place • Circumambulation around the Kaaba
Arial view of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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S O C I A L P O W E R
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Shudras
Traders
Priests and Acharyas
SOCIAL POWER – Caste based
Srirangam Temple, India
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Shabiramala temple, India
Men allowed into garba griha
Women restricted into garba griha
SOCIAL POWER – gender based
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E C O N O M I C P O W E R
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Pre-Industrial
(Trade)
Manek Chowk, Ahmedabad, INDIA
San Marco, Venice, ITALY
Post-Liberalisation Times Square, New York, USA
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Times square, New York, USA
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Dubai
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La Defense, Paris
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San Marco, Venice
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Manek Chowk, Ahmedabad
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C U L T U R A L P O W E R
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Kumbhmela, Allahabad
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Janmashtmi, Mumbai
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Ganpati Visarjan, Mumbai
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World Disney, US
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CONCLUSION
Should power really define an urban space ?
Shouldnt an urban space be more of a democratic character and hold the essence
of its “publicness” ?
Do PUBLIC PLACES really need to be governed by hierarchies and segragations and
economic differences, etc ?
Shouldn’t people themselves have the power in the making process of urban spaces?
How can we incorporate such changes in design process and policies ?
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Bibliography :
• Francis D.K.Ching; Form, space and order; second edition
• Barnow, F., City of the Divine king, (2001)Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture
• Lynch, K., Good City Form, (1981), MIT Press, (Chapter 4, Three Normative Theories) • Bacon, E. – Design Of cities (Revised edition), (May 1976), Penguin Group (USA) • Patel, P., City as an Imprint Of Power, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad • Urban design 1992 Batch, Role of Axis in Making of a Space, Urban Form and Space, Term
paper, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. • Naik, M., An Understanding of the early Colonial City : Manifest power as a Determinant of
Urban form: The Case of Diu, Thesis, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
