Existence, Sensitivity and Land Use Planning
A visionary Yogi advises the UN Secretary General on perhaps the ONLY way forward...
The world is trying to reduce CO2 emissions by changing to
renewable sources of energy, conservation incentives such as green rating systems, carbon credits etc., but do
not
seem to reach
anywhere.
Are we doomed
in
our efforts on sustainability?
When the ‘developed’ western World is trying to reduce consumption of coal and petroleum based energy, they are trying
to
cure the ‘effect’... whereas what the humanity should try to do is, cure
itself of the ‘cause’ for unsustainable development. The ‘cause’
is
that humanity has embraced a lifestyle and economy based
on often avoidable commuting, unnecessary
transport, unmindful exploitation and wastage of resources - with a blind belief that there is abundant cheap energy resources available.
Where do
we begin, if there has to
be
a change?
Though the world is divided in many ways, geographically, each watershed region has a character.
Ideally, we can still
try
and redefine systems such that, the human settlements in each watershed region will
try
and aspire for self sufficiency in its water needs, in the food it grows and consumes, in the bulk raw materials it uses for industry and constructions (with sufficient care for the long term),
in the energy it produces and consumes (with sufficient care for the long term), and in assimilation of its solid, liquid and gaseous rejects and wastes.
To
aspire for this self-sufficiency, the single most important factor is sensitive and efficient land use planning of that region and its implementation.
We start by defining areas of conservation?
The first task is conservation of pristine but threatened natural
heritage features such as rivers,
lakes, forest ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems, sacred groves, beaches etc.
for
preserving the irreplaceable bio-diversity and unmatched and inspirational aesthetics.
A natural extension of this is the conservation of our oceans and marine resources too.
We need
to conserve our food production and cash crop economy
too?
In the country side, food and cash crop resource base of agriculture fields, plantations etc.
are to be conserved. But here, principles of scientific natural, organic, ecology sensitive farming
will replace
energy and artificial
resource intensive methods. Sensitive, efficient land use planning here would
mean
defining
relevant regional
modules for self sufficiency in water, energy, raw material resources, food and assimilation of wastes; comprehensive zoning and FSI
/ FAR regulations with very light building foot prints, pre dominantly G, G+1 buildings – consequently, well
designed rural
villages, agricultural
communities and self sufficient rural
institutional
campuses. All buildings here
can
aspire to make optimum use of locally available bulk materials, can be bio-climatically designed, can
attempt a fusion of vernacular and contemporary crafted ambience; and will
try
and make optimum use of renewable sources of energy. Total
water management, and decentralised waste
management too become very important. Even well
designed renewable buildings, making use of
natural materials like bamboo, mud, thatch,
local
grass etc. could become relevant in certain
contexts!
But real estate sprawl is eating into the fertile productive areas of our country-side? And massive
Foreign direct investments are expected to
flood developing economies like India, South Asia, Latin America and Africa...
For such economies this is a crucial
period.
They can either use such massive investments in a very
planned manner or get destroyed completely by it.
These investments will see a huge migration of
population from rural regions to peri-urban areas. Here, to reduce sprawl and long
distance travel, newly designed market towns, industrial towns etc. can come up. They can have fully pedestrianised, mixed use, ‘walkable’ cores of 50 to 75 acres with low rise high density settlements.
In
case of townships needing
to
accommodate still
higher population, this central core can have high rise and high density too. But care to be given that the infrastructure self sufficiency for this high density population is taken as a part and parcel
of
the budget for this township, and in the immediate vicinity itself. And also that, the extra energy and material consumption for high rise buildings is justified when compared to the road and infrastructure needed, commuting and land use optimised while choosing not to spread out buildings.
What about existing sprawls?
High density mixed use pedestrianised core of up to 75 acres, accommodating a population of around 15000 to 25000 people, can be used as a tool
to
densify all
our degenerating and energy
guzzling
cities and suburbs. Builders can be allowed to develop such cores in chosen locations by local bodies, in return for improving
water supply, sanitation, mass transit commuting corridors, weaker section housing
etc. for an urban region.
A network of such pedestrianised cores connected by mass transit systems can still
salvage land use of our presently out of control
urban sprawls. High rise buildings and high FSI
areas should be allowed only under such conditions and for such
purposes.
Isn’t this too
utopian? What about various conflicts of interests?
All this again boils down to comprehensive integrated land use planning, ‘sustainable development
zoning’ and FSI
/FAR regulations both in rural
and
urban areas. Here, the first big
challenge will be in
addressing squarely, the problem of speculation in land prices and holding
of
land banks by a small
number of influential
people, who may not co-operate.
In
the urban scenario,
this land holding and
speculation often effectively prevents sensitive, equitable land use planning. In regional
level, holding of land based resources by a few number of people can effectively prevent sensitive
conservation of land and equitable sharing of resources.
But so
many
countries have tried and failed with government controls?
Yes, indiscriminate 'land freeze' and insensitive controls by governments too, can become
counterproductive, as it can often hamper sensitive enterprise. Owing
to
a series of historic permutations and combinations, land holdings, monetary resources and often technical
and managerial skill sets are concentrated in the hands of a few number of people. While this could be
deemed as fortunate to some and unfortunate to many, for humanity as a whole, this becomes a
hurdle in the present effort to evolve lifestyles sensitive to ecology. Appropriate, decentralised local-government endorsed, ‘social enterprise’ initiatives by the skill and resource rich liberal minded populace, can perhaps be the only progressive way forward, within a democratic polity.
So, does this mean, a strategy encouraging progressive social
enterprise, together with sensitive, patient, completely digitised, participatory, democratic land use planning, both at micro-level, and
simultaneously at regional level, and sensitive implementation of the same is what we can look
forward to, for a fair, just and sustainable future for all?
Yes, a comfortable co-existence and participative resource sharing by urban areas and its rural
hinterland has to be defined and redefined from time to time.
Simultaneously, there will
be
a lifestyle change too. Consumption and spending on high quality locally produced, renewable, small
and
recycling industry based
products will
replace scarce material based
life style and consumption.
Speculation, neglect and abuse of land will
be
looked down upon,
and
gradually become punishable.
Especially in the third world, a new generation of entrepreneurs will rise up, for who, nurturing of
land to good health will become the new value.
The new heroes and heroines will
no
longer be determined by their earnings in currency, but by the acreage of land they nurture and healthily manage for the overall
betterment of humanity.
Are we to be genuinely hopeful of such a change?
Well, it could also be noteworthy that the female human may have an advantage, and could often
provide a better leadership role, as she has the natural motherly instinct for nurturing
and
care, than the adventurous action demanding, higher damage prone macho male instinct.
We can also look forward to a gradual
positive shift in the instincts of humanity as a whole too...
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| Our architectural language is a fusion of vernacular and contemporary |
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| Details in a design |
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| Integrated Water, Energy and Waste Management in a Sustainable Development Zone |
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| Pre-fab bamboo options |
Issued in social interest by 'Inspiration'.
Link to Venice Biennale presentation in youtube :
http://youtu.be/KsGbizTFk1Q
- Our vision has been crystallised in the form of the following animation.
- The characters and contexts are fictitious.
- No religious or ethnic overtones is intended.
- Please pardon us for a sermonising tone.
- Have fun!!
Link to Venice Biennale presentation in youtube :
http://youtu.be/KsGbizTFk1Q
Inspiration combines a team of architects, project management personnel, planners, infrastructure engineers, structural engineers, landscape designers, horticulturists, trained artisans and technicians - all under one roof.With
over twenty years of experience in the field of ecology and economy sensitive designs and constructions, Inspiration today enjoys a niche clientele in the field – ranging from individuals, business houses, Government departments to NGOs . We have responded to/ completed over 500 building projects ranging from select individual residences to fairly large industrial townships, and have received several local, state, national and international level recognitions.
Inspiration is in the process of promoting the World Institute for Sustainable Habitat - WISH,
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