kolkata-adnan irshad

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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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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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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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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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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
http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917402http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917403http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917404http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917406http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917407http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917408http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917409http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917410http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917410http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917411http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917411http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917412http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917413http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917414http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917415http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917416http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917417http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917418http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917419http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917420http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917421http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917423http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917424http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917425http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917426http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917427http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917428http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917429http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917430http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917431http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917432http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917433http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917434http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917435http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917435http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917434http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917433http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917432http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917431http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917430http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917429http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917428http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917427http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917426http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917425http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917424http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917423http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917421http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917420http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917419http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917418http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917417http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917416http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917415http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917414http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917413http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917412http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917411http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917410http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917409http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917408http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917407http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917406http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917404http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917403http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx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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
http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917436http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917437http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917438http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917440http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917442http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917443http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917444http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917445http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917445http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917444http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917443http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917442http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917440http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917438http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917437http://c/Users/adnan/Downloads/habitat%20a4%20dis%20tym.docx%23_Toc322917436


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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



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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



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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



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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.


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

kolkata-adnan irshad

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