Contested urbanism: Access and control issues in Tundikhel, Kathmandu

Contested Open Spaces?: Access and control issues in Tundikhel, Kathmandu

Public spaces play a role of political, economic and cultural transformation of cities and the impact of these transformations on the nature of public space.

Urban open space(s) in Kathmandu have been an important part of the city’s urbanism. Historically they have played an important role in the city as spaces for religious, cultural, social and political and military activities during the 300 years of unified monarchy. Throughout the civil war period (Maoist insurgency between 1996 and 2006) they became material locations for political activities, and a site for protests and dharnas. In post-conflict Kathmandu, especially since the abolition of Monarchy in May 28, 2008, these spaces are increasingly seen being claimed by street hawkers, informal sellers and individuals reflecting a new set of users and functions, whereas a significant part of Tundikhel still remains under the military occupation posing important questions around access, identity and control of an important space.


Public spaces are broadly defined as crossroads where different paths and trajectories meet, sometimes overlapping and other times colliding (Madanipour, 2003). Using Tudikhel in Kathmandu, this research examines the increasing collision and contestations witnessed through social, political and neoliberal interactions. It explores how spaces are constantly
contested, negotiated and as a result reshaped through these interactions. It is observed that multiple forces are at play to gain control and access of this important open space, leading to increasing fragmentation of the space, and erosion of its historic significance both as cultural venue and a symbol of democracy in modern Nepal. It is argued that increasing disconnection of Tudikhel from wider urban setting has contributed to exacerbation of these contestations

Unsettling modernity: Shifting values and changing housing styles in the Kathmandu Valley

Abstract

Culture has always been important for the character of the cities, as have the civic and public institutions that sustain a lifestyle and provide an identity. Substantial evidence of the unique historical, urban civilisation remains within the traditional settlements in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal; manifested in houses, palaces, temples, rest houses, open spaces, festivals, rituals, customs and cultural institutions. Indigenous knowledge and practices prescribed the arrangement of houses, roads and urban spaces giving the city a distinctive physical form, character and a unique oriental nativeness. In technical sense, these societies did not have written rules for guiding development. In recent decades, the urban culture of the city has been changing with the forces of urbanisation and globalisation and the demand for new buildings and spaces. New residential design is increasingly dominated by distinctive patterns of Western suburban ideal comprising detached or semi-detached homes and high rise tower blocks. This architectural iconoclasm can be construed as a rather crude response to the indigenous culture and built form. The paper attempts to dismantle the current tension between traditional and contemporary ‘culture’ (and hence society) and housing (or built form) in the Kathmandu Valley by engaging in a discussion that cuts across space, time and meaning of architecture as we know it.

City centre sidewalks: Improving pedestrian experience through design

Sidewalks are integral features of city centres. They provide the channels through which activities and interactions evolve and in turn these interactions cause the sidewalks to evolve. They help to articulate the builtform and open spaces in tying together. However, historically sidewalks have received less attention relative to urban squares and civic spaces. Owing to the concept of walkable cities, sidewalks are gaining importance. This paper provides a critical overview on the apparent ‘amnesia’ in urban design and planning theories and visits a popular sidewalk in Belfast city centre to examine the paradox and perspectives.

The effect of playground and nature-based interventions on physical activity and self-esteem in UK school children

School playtime provides opportunities for children to engage in physical activity (PA). Playground playtime interventions designed to increase PA have produced differing results. However, nature can also promote PA, through the provision of large open spaces for activity. The purpose of this study is to determine which playtime interventions are most effective at increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and if this varies by school location. Fifty-two children from an urban and rural school participated in a playground sports (PS) and nature-based orienteering intervention during playtime for one week. MVPA was assessed the day before and on the final day of the interventions using accelerometers. Intervention type (p < 0.05) and school location (p < 0.001) significantly influenced MVPA; with PS increasing MVPA more than nature-based orienteering. Urban children seemed to respond to the interventions more positively; however, differences in baseline MVPA might influence these changes. There was a positive correlation for fitness and MVPA during PS (r = 0.32; p < 0.05), but not nature-based orienteering (p > 0.05). The provision of PS influences PA the most; however, a variety of interventions are required to engage less fit children in PA.

Vers le haut : la valeur d’usage du toit vert privé : le point de vue de professionnels de l’immobilier œuvrant sur le Plateau Mont-Royal

Cette recherche s’intéresse à la valeur d’usage du toit vert dans l’arrondissement du Plateau Mont-Royal, de la Ville de Montréal. Spécifiquement, elle s’intéresse à l’état problématique qu’est l’étalement urbain en tentant l’estimation de la valeur d’usage du toit vert, de la cour arrière et du balcon-terrasse soutenue par le dispositif argumentaire immobilier propre à chacun des aménagements. L’étalement urbain est la source de graves problèmes et la résorption de ses effets néfastes est devenue une priorité dans l’aménagement du territoire. L’une des principales raisons sousjacentes à l’exode urbain est la valeur d’usage accordée à la parcelle extérieure qu’offre l’habitat unifamilial pavillonnaire. Dans cette situation, la question est de savoir si l’insertion d’espaces verts privés en milieu urbain peut participer à la résorption de l’exode urbain. Or, dans l’agglomération, le sol manque. Le toit vert privé apparaît comme une alternative astucieuse, bien que limitée, au terrain entourant la maison. Reste à savoir si les gens le valorisent tel un espace vert privé d’extrême proximité, à même le sol. À la lueur de l’analyse, il advient que le toit vert ne présente pas de valeur d’usage comparable à celle de la cour arrière dans le contexte observé, précisément parce que leurs publics cibles s’opposent d’emblée. En revanche, le balcon-terrasse et le toit vert semblent être, en fonction des données construites, des aménagements à valeur d’usage comparable.

L’architecture de paysage moderne du campus de l’Université de Montréal

Le campus de l’Université de Montréal est composé de bâtiments et d’aménagements paysagers hautement significatifs, dont la présence contribue à faire comprendre son évolution spatiale. Parmi eux, les espaces libres des années 1960 méritent une attention particulière pour plusieurs raisons historiques : ils font l’objet d’une réflexion pour la toute première fois dans l’histoire du campus ; l’Université de Montréal vit une phase d’expansion sans précédent ; les disciplines de l’aménagement et la pratique de planification émergent au Québec. Cet article présente de manière contextuelle les principes de planification qui ont mené à leur réalisation par La Haye et associés, firme d’urbanisme de premier plan au Québec. Il expose les qualités et les défauts des espaces libres de cette période moderne, soit l’innovation sur le plan de la vision planificatrice et du design, d’un côté, et la trop grande importance accordée aux automobiles au détriment de la sécurité et de la convivialité, de l’autre côté.

Freiräume auf Zeit

Zwischennutzungen sind ein Alltagsphänomen, das seit Ende der 1990er Jahre im wissenschaftlichen Kontext und der kommunalen Praxis der Stadt- und Freiraumentwicklung auffallend an Aufmerksamkeit gewinnt. Die vorliegende Arbeit widmet sich dem Phänomen aus der Perspektive der Freiraumentwicklung als kommunaler Aufgabe. Im Zentrum des Interesses steht die Frage, welche aktuelle Bedeutung Zwischennutzungen, verstanden als die vorübergehende Freiraumnutzung brachliegender Baugrundstücke, für freiraumbezogene öffentliche Aufgaben und Handlungsansätze haben bzw. welche Potentiale sie dafür bieten. Vor dem Hintergrund heterogener gesellschaftlicher und räumlicher Gegebenheiten, der Erkenntnis um eine begrenzte hoheitliche Steuerbarkeit der weiteren stadträumlichen Entwicklung und angesichts knapper Haushaltsmittel ist die kommunale Freiraumentwicklung gefordert, sich bezüglich ihrer Kernaufgaben aber auch bezüglich ihrer Rolle bei der Erfüllung dieser Aufgaben neu zu positionieren. Vermehrt werden Forderungen nach einem Abgehen von „allgemeingültigen“ Versorgungsstandards und traditionellen „Produktionsprozessen“ laut. Flexiblere Freiraumangebote sollen Gestaltungsspielräume für eigeninitiatives Handeln und wechselhafte oder neuartige Nutzungen eröffnen. Mit dem Setzen von Prioritäten, einer verstärkten Kundenorientierung und aktivierenden bzw. kooperativen Handlungsansätzen soll der schlechten Haushaltslage begegnet werden. Zwischennutzungen deuten aufgrund ihrer funktionalen, räumlichen und zeitlichen Flexibilität Möglichkeiten an, auf diese Anforderungen einzugehen. Der Blick in die Verwaltungspraxis einzelner Städte zeigt, dass Zwischennutzungen in der kommunalen Freiraumentwicklung in verschiedenen Zusammenhängen gezielt aufgegriffen werden und dabei diverse Bezüge zu diesen aktuellen Anforderungen herstellen lassen. Der Stellenwert, der ihnen beigemessen wird, reicht dabei vom Ausnahmefall bis zum bewährten Ansatz. Mit den Maßnahmen werden häufig akute bzw. kurzfristige Ziele verfolgt, etwa die vorübergehende Schaffung zusätzlicher Spiel- und Aufenthaltsmöglichkeiten oder die Aufwertung brachliegender Flächen durch extensive Gestaltungsmaßnahmen. Die Projekte sind häufig charakterisiert durch intensive Kooperationen mit anderen öffentlichen und mit nicht-öffentlichen Akteuren. Die Einbindung von Zwischennutzungen in das alltägliche Verwaltungshandeln ist allerdings auch mit diversen Schwierigkeiten verbunden, wie erste Institutionalisierungsansätze in manchen Städten zeigen. Die Verknüpfung unterschiedlicher Zeithorizonte im Planungsgeschehen, die Verbindung des temporären Phänomens Zwischennutzung mit dem traditionellerweise auf Dauerhaftigkeit ausgerichteten Aufgabenverständnis der kommunalen Freiraumentwicklung verlangt nach einer Modifizierung bisheriger Positionen und Herangehensweisen. Ein solcher Anpassungsprozess im Verwaltungshandeln lässt sich nur langfristig und schrittweise bewältigen und ist als Teil der – angesichts aktueller Entwicklungen notwendigen – Weiterentwicklung freiraumbezogener Aufgaben und Handlungsansätze zu verstehen. Zwischennutzungen können neben ihren kurzfristig umsetzbaren Funktionen einen Beitrag dazu leisten.

Espaços públicos e percursos de continuidade nas cidades contemporâneas. Cidades mais atractivas e vividas. O caso da cidade do Funchal

The article is a reflective analysis of the usage of the city and its public spaces, based on a study of the city of Funchal, in Madeira. Today, the city centre tackles the falling rate of its active user risking the disappearance of its public space usage, with the relocation of its leisure spaces to less central areas, due to the appearance of new interior spaces which offer the public the same services as the traditional outdoor ones. It is therefore imperative to make the city attractive and lively. The text presents the city of Funchal as it came into the XXI century, mentioning, in the context of urban requalification or revitalization, the different forms of use and preservation of open spaces.

Implications of climate change for expanding cities worldwide

This paper analyses the trends of the changing environmental effects within growing megacities as their diameters exceed 50–100 km and their populations rise beyond 30 million people. The authors consider how these effects are influenced by climate change, to which urban areas themselves contribute, caused by their increasing greenhouse gas emissions associated with rapidly expanding energy use. Other environmental and social factors are assessed, quantitatively and qualitatively, using detailed modelling of urban mesoscale meteorology, which shows how these factors can lead to large conurbations becoming more vulnerable to climatic and environmental hazards. The paper discusses the likely changes in meteorological and hydrological hazards in urban areas, both as the climate changes and the sizes of urban areas grow. Examples are given of how these risks are being reduced through innovations in warning and response systems, planning and infrastructure design, which should include refuges against extreme natural disasters. Policies are shown to be more effective when they are integrated and based on substantial community involvement. Some conclusions are drawn regarding how policies for the natural and artificial environment and for reducing many kinds of climate and hazard risk are related to future designs and planning of infrastructure and open spaces.

O coração e o dragão: perspectivas da vida urbana em uma cidade fragmentada

This research aims to study dimensions of urban life in the contemporaneous city. It is an effort to understand the functioning of the contemporary city as an artifact that somehow affects social relations. The study focuses on the limits and possibilities of urbanity in the city today, understanding urbanity as a set of factors that favor wealth, diversity and spontaneity of public life. The research aims to show that cities today tend to criate fragmented urban life into at least one of the three urbanity dimensions: spatial dimension, social and temporal dimension. The study involves the analysis of two public spaces in Fortaleza (Praça do Ferreira and the open urban public spaces of the Centro Cultural Dragão do Mar), using Space Syntax Analysis methods and for Post Occupancy Evaluation procedures. Research shows that temporal dimension of urbanity is limited in the public spaces studied. In Praça do Ferreira, spatial and social dimensions are present, but their effects are limited by the temporal dimension. The Dragão do Mar, on the other hand, the spatial and social dimensions of urban life are more limited and more concentrated in time

Análise bioclimática e investigação do conforto térmico em ambientes externos: uma experiência no bairro de Petrópolis em Natal/RN

This study was intended to investigate how the urban form has been influencing the changes in the climate of the city and make a correlation between the climate and the thermal sensation of the users of open spaces. The research was developed in the district of Petrópolis in Natal/ RN whose occupation has been almost consolidated. Among other reasons, this district was selected because it was planned considering the environmental aspects of comfort. The methodologies used are based on KATZSCHNER (1997) and OLIVEIRA (1988) studies, which suggest the drawing and analysis of maps of the area under study, including topography, height of the buildings, land use, green areas, and types of soil pavement, as well as measurement of the environmental variables: air temperature, relative humidity, direction and wind speed for a comparative study. As part of this, study local users of the district were interviewed about their thermal sensations in open spaces. For the statistical analysis, data was collected at 10 distinct points characterized by BUSTOS ROMERO (2002), being 8 within the district and 2 at different places (outside the district), at climatologic stations, in 3 periods (August/2000, January/2002 and June/2002), for 4 consecutive days for each measurement (from Sunday to Wednesday) at the time of lower and higher temperatures in the city, 6:00 am and 1:00 pm, respectively. At the same time interviews were carried out with users of the open spaces in the area, totaling 171 valid formularies. The urban form showed a rather leveled topography, great diversity of land use and height of the buildings, with the existence of an area mostly occupied with high buildings, very little green area and soil practically impermeable. The statistical analysis showed high temperature and humidity levels. The wind direction is predominantly Southeast with extremely variable speeds. When the data from this district is compared with the data from other areas in the city and its outskirt, it was observed that this district is hotter and less ventilated than the others; besides, most users said that they felt uncomfortable in the local environmental conditions. The results of the analysis generated a zoning for the district with recommendations for soil occupation. The profile of the user was defined regarding the thermal comfort, as well as some discussion about the comfort parameters, including the proposal of limiting areas of temperature and humidity for the thermal comfort in the open spaces

Projeto urbanístico para o Vale do Rio Jahu (perímetro urbano do município de Jahu): projeto paisagístico

Em 1974 a Prefeitura Municipal de Jahu interessada na urbanização do vale do Rio Jahu no trecho urbano propôs a abertura de avenidas marginais, conforme previa o plano diretor. Os autores preocupados com as potencialidades de uso do vale, sugeriram que se afastasse as avenidas do rio e se desse a oportunidade da criação de um parque às margens do rio. Esse parque teria a função de integrar o rio à paisagem urbana, compatibilizando, ao mesmo tempo, os interesses sociais da população com as necessidades da conservação da natureza.

Systematic consideration of petiole anatomy of species of Echinodorus Richard (Alismataceae) from north-eastern Brazil

Petiole anatomy of the north-eastern Brazilian species Echinodorus glandulosus, E. palaefolius, E. pubescens, E subalatus, E lanceolatus and E paniculatus were examined. All species had petioles with an epidermis composed of tabular cells with thin walls. The chlorenchyma just below the epidermis alternates with collateral vascular bundles. The interior of the petiole is filled by aerenchyma with ample open spaces or lacunas. The lacunas are bridged at intervals by plates, or by diaphragm-like linkages. There are lactiferous ducts and groups of fibres throughout the entire length of the petiole, but more frequently in the chlorenchyma. Important taxonomic characteristics for the genus Echinodorus include the shape and outline of the petiole in transversal section, the presence of winged extensions, and the number of vascular bundle arcs. Exceptions occur in E. lanceolatus and E. paniculatus, whose petioles have similar anatomic patterns. A comparative chart of the petiole anatomic characteristics analyzed is presented. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Comportamento do pedestre e ambiente térmico urbano

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Proposta metodológica para planejamento de sistemas de espaços livres: Ribeirão Preto - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)