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| urban_permaculture_kits [2008-05-12 11:55] – sanjeev | urban_permaculture_kits [2008-05-12 12:32] – sanjeev |
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| Certain parts of Delhi( e.g. Chandni Chowk) and Bombay(e.g. pigeon feeding junctions) create a sense of 'rural' time and space. Could these dual character spaces be catalysts for growth? Can a city be fragmented into time zones relative to its sense of speed or spatial quality, wherein, zones which are in a greater state of flux or have a more //structured// feel become closer to an 'urban' definition and are therefore treated differently? Can such information inform future urban planning proposals where the spatial quality is defiined by its sense of speed and time ? This complimentary character defines Indian cities. A 'true' city ought to be defined by its variables, its idiocyncracies, the changes in its character and the constant state of flux. This makes it heterogenous, dynamic, resilient and self sustaining. It should thrive in complexity. The next question should be, can we introduce complexity? And if we can, then how should we do it? One of the principles of creating a complex, self sustaining system is to relinquish power. People should be given tools to create their own change. | Certain parts of Delhi( e.g. Chandni Chowk) and Bombay(e.g. pigeon feeding junctions) create a sense of 'rural' time and space. Could these dual character spaces be catalysts for growth? Can a city be fragmented into time zones relative to its sense of speed or spatial quality, wherein, zones which are in a greater state of flux or have a more //structured// feel become closer to an 'urban' definition and are therefore treated differently? Can such information inform future urban planning proposals where the spatial quality is defined by its sense of speed and time ? This despite the fact that what architects and urban designers perceive and value about a specific site is to some extent limited by their ability to represent it! The dual character which defines Indian cities is interesting. A 'true' city ought to be defined by its variables, its idiocyncracies, the changes in its character and the constant state of flux. This makes it heterogenous, dynamic, resilient and self sustaining. It should thrive in complexity. The next question should be, can we introduce complexity? And if we can, then how should we do it? One of the principles of creating a complex, self sustaining system is to relinquish power. People should be given tools to create their own change. |
| We could start with an attempt to declare spaces within a city as '**community seed spots**' which are owned by everyone. The idea is inspired by the communal get togethers of village heads in India. Called the '//panchayat//', here everyone sits under a tree and discusses village issues. Located in urban public areas, these spots would be periodically 'sowed' with green ideas (real and virtual) which would become catalysts for change and exchange. The ideas would be by the people and for the people. The community would nourish and maintain the idea. There would be a sense of pride, competition and festivity. Sometimes these ideas could be about a group of housewives and school children planting seasonal plants to create a kitchen garden or a refreshing gettogether where people dance and sing in public sharing folk tales and knowledge about pressing issues through street plays. On other occassions the community could get together to create an educational installation out of 'waste', demonstrating the need for reuse at a community level. Often these seed spots could become free **performance libraries**, brainstorming areas or public arenas but in a very permeable and informal kind of way. The idea is to create a series of platforms for the community to create thinkers and leaders. It is to create a grass root, bottom up solution where the power is given to the people to discuss their issues and find solutions. It is a kind of reintepretation of creating a public, self sustaining, infinitely multiplying global, urban version of FoAM ! No two seed spots will be the same. They will have their own character, their unique stories. They might grow, evolve and spread over time. They would become reflectors of the community and of the city in general. | We could start with an attempt to declare spaces within a city as '**community seed spots**' which are owned by everyone. The idea is inspired by the communal get togethers of village heads in India. Called the '//panchayat//', here everyone sits under a tree and discusses village issues. Located in urban public areas, these spots would be periodically 'sowed' with green ideas (real and virtual) which would become catalysts for change and exchange. The ideas would be by the people and for the people. The community would nourish and maintain the idea. There would be a sense of pride, competition and festivity. Sometimes these ideas could be about a group of housewives and school children planting seasonal plants to create a kitchen garden or a refreshing gettogether where people dance and sing in public sharing folk tales and knowledge about pressing issues through street plays. On other occassions the community could get together to create an educational installation out of 'waste', demonstrating the need for reuse at a community level. Often these seed spots could become free **performance libraries**, brainstorming areas or public arenas but in a very permeable and informal kind of way. The idea is to create a series of platforms for the community to create thinkers and leaders. It is to create a grass root, bottom up solution where the power is given to the people to discuss their issues and find solutions. It is a kind of reintepretation of creating a public, self sustaining, infinitely multiplying global, urban version of FoAM ! No two seed spots will be the same. They will have their own character, their unique stories. They might grow, evolve and spread over time. They would become reflectors of the community and of the city in general. |
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sanjeev