Tessellation Planning to tackle issues in Slum Housing Programmes

7/30/2019 Tessellation Planning to tackle issues in Slum Housing Programmes

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Tessellation Models to tackle issues in Slum Housing Programmes

Somreeta Das | Maitreyi Yellapragada | Santanu Das MCP | IIT Kharagpu


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TESSELLATION PLANNING

A new way for sub division of land for better social, environmental andaesthetics.

To tessellate means to cover a plane with a pattern without having any gap oroverlap.

For centuries artists and craftsmen have used tessellation as a tool to create visual effectson surfaces.

Tiling is the most common form of tessellation, and in its simplest form the tiles are regularpolygons.Planning elements necessary to form a small community is created by tessellating themother-tiles to form a hexagon.

Community space is created in the middle, surrounded by the houses.

The road accesses the individual units internally and creates an extremely efficientcirculation system.

A spatial boundary is created along with a central area that can become the communalfocus, and thus providing a sense of entry into this place.

Organic Layouts are created as a result of the repetitive and clustering layouts.


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Tessellation planning traces back to a period in the geometric structures like the ziggurats of Mesopotamia or pyramids of Egypt

Need to instill it in modern day planning process evolved with the new definition as given by Architect Mazlin Ghazali

Tessellation planning, or more specifically Honeycomb Housing (in terms of residential typology of use), has an additive base of: Mathematics: to support the geometry, layout and the desired dwelling unit density. (QUANTITATIVE) Socio-cultural aspects: of space and relative proxemics, human psychology and ethnic grouping. (QUALITATIVE)

While planning, the second factor is derived based on trial and error methodology (though research is ongoing to formulatesoftwares for this purpose) and then the first factor is stretched and relaxed accordingly, to conform to the second factor.

Tessellation as presented by Ar. Mazlin Ghazali

13TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN HABITAT, January 2011, Mumbai Paperpresented byArchitect Mazlin Ghazali

Emergenceof honeycomb housing in late 90s.

Possibility of achieving higher density by means of tessellation planning.

The growth of population portraying geometric progression and perennial shortage for housing.

Model villages were to be built to test if it was possible to address these burning issues which are the nightmare of every plannerof the world.


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DEMAK LAUT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,KUTCHING, MALAYSIA.

Increase in total no. of DUs

Reduction in road networks andconcreted areas

No of storeys reduced from 3 to 1

More Green Areas

Case Study And Inferences - Demak Laut, Kutching, Malaysia

Started as an Industrial estate, Demak Laut, Kutching, Malaysia had certainpockets left for future expansion when initially planned.

One such zone was about 19 acres in size.

The two different layouts designed proposed by Ar. Mazlin Ghazali Terracehousing as well as honeycomb housing (Tessellation).

Great deviation in the no. of DU apart from the other features such as greenareas, concreted areas, etc.

Terrace housing portrayed lesser green spaces and huge concreted area, largerroad length and road area.

Tessellation proved to be a sustainable option with more green areas, lesserroad lengths and road area and marginal amount of concreted spaces.


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Tessellation planning makes undulatingland suitable for high-density land propertydevelopment with less cut and fill.

Case Study And Inferences

Tessellation Planning results in reduction of road lengths andimproving the land-use efficiency of the area.

Normal Housing schemes can be seen as a row of housessurrounded by roads.By Tessellating, the houses surround the road.

It is easy to understand intuitively that roads accessinginternally are more efficient than roads accessing units fromthe external boundary.

This makes the network efficient.


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Background

Socially slum is a way of life, a special character which has its own set of norms and values reflectedin poor sanitation, health values, health practices, deviant behavior and social isolation.(Planning Commission)

SLUM DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN INDIA

Numerous initiatives and steps have been taken since the Post-Independence to tackle the issue of Slums in India.

The National Slum Development Program (NSDP), Vambay, JNNURM and IHSDP, Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY) are ainitiatives in this regard. These projects have been successful to quite an extent but a considerable number of projects

and schemes fail.

Slum improvement programmes do not address specifically to certain micro level issues.Despite the fact that extensive efforts are being channelized to tackle the issue, the existence ocertain limitations in the process hamper the 100% success rate of these projects.

With the advent of time, the emphasis has drifted towards planning for innovative approaches in SlumHousing Programmes.

NEEDFO

RSTUDY


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The Approach

Minor reforms in existing planning techniques can strengthen the policies and bring about a hugeimpact on the present planning conditions and their overall acceptance by the beneficiaries.

Problem Identification and strategic addressing of the issues through innovative approaches ispatial and physical planning.

The study is an Investigative Experiment, the feasibility of which is yet to be tested through piloprojects or a series of permutations and combinations in tessellation.

The Study Primarily deals with the spatial aspect of tessellation planning .

Detailed emphasis has not been laid on the construction techniques and economic criteria as thediffer with place and context.

LIMITATION

S

SC

OPE

The research aims to incorporate tessellation planning to re-strategize models in slum free planningwhere relocation is the only solution for untenable slums. The process also includes addressing

micro level issues through Tessellation planning for acceptance by the beneficiaries.GOAL


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The Slum Free City Plan Of Action: Principles

The Planning Process aims at:

In-situ upgradation of slums is the preferred option such that slum dwellers within a ward or zone continue

to live in the same area.

Attempt to reorganise settlement in -situ on partial land.

Promote heterogeneous neighborhoods as well as continuation of residence-livelihood linkages.

Minimize adverse impacts on livelihoods and community assets and access to health and educationfacilities.

Involvement of the people and Community participation.

Improvement in the living conditions and level of security of the urban slum dwellers.

Provision of basic services like water supply and sanitation irrespective of land tenure and legal status.

Retaining livelihood linkages and home based economic activities in the slum redevelopment, upgradationand improvement.


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Rehabilitation sites are located far away from theworkplace due to scarcity of land in core areas.This results in drastic increase in the commutingfare. Thus, many a times, slum dwellers thus donot prefer shifting to a different location.

Slums are very compact and dense even

though the structures are low rise due tomaximum ground coverage.

Design of housing units is typically G+3 orsometimes even higher with complete disregardto their living and activity patterns.

Micro-Level Issues pertaining in the execution of Current Housing Schemes

1. Location/ Accessibility 2. High Density

Failure in the laying of infrastructurat the relocated sites.Leads to situations worse thaslums.High Density and chaotidevelopment and structures maklaying of services and utilitiedifficult.

3. Ease of Service Layouts

Bawana, a slum relocation project 40 kilometresnorth-west of New Delhi.5,000 slum dwellers were forced to move herewhen their homes in a slum on the banks of thesacred Yamuna river were torn down eight yearsago.Most people lost their jobs as day labourers ordomestic workers because they were relocated toofar away from their employers in New Delhi.

Slums tend to get located on prime urban lands.

The current inhabitants can be accommodatedon the same site but within lesser area, leavingthe rest for the city's newer developmentdemands, amenities and land uses.

In RAY scheme, every effort woulbe made to provide infrastructurecivic services on par with the rest othe town

Suryatapa Bhattacharya Report, THE NATIONAL

The failure of a Delhi slum relocation - Bawana

An ambitious project to rehouse millions of Indian slumdwellers is coming unstuck because the new sites arebecoming worse than the slums they are meant toreplace.


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Micro-Level Issues concerned in execution of Current Housing Schemes

4. Community Building

People residing in slums usually engage ineconomic activities of small scale basedfrom their homes. Creation of multi-functionalliving spaces that extend into a workingenvironment and associated over lappingfunctions is essential.

5. Local Economy

Slum dwelling population usually belong to similarcommunities in terms of social and economicactivity base. The designs for housing mustattempt to strengthen the communities at large.Homes meant for the slum dwellers are based ondesigns of which do not take into purview theirpattern of living, their socio-cultural activitieswhich highly dictates the feasibility of the HousingSchemes.

Environmental issues are not adhereto in these programmes.Factors such as Urban Heat Islaneffect, provision of green spaces etare neglected.

6. Environment

Creation of community spaces is essential in theprocess of generating an inclusive environment.Sufficient green spaces and civic amenities ofcommunity centre, livelihood centre, school,

medical centre,etc.Reconfiguration of the arrangement of houses andplots in areas where community spaces arelacking.

Inner zones can restructure the displaced

homes whereas the commercial zones canbe located along the boundary/ main roads.

The Millennium Development goal N

7 highlights the need for EnsurinEnvironmental Sustainability.


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Modern Day Approach to Tessellation Planning

A GENERAL

MODEL

A context based analyticalapproach

Appropriate addressal ofthe socio-cultural issues

Evolving new tools to map

its implementation(feasibility analysis)

Stage - 1

Stage - 2

Stage - 3

1. The typology being addressed2. Percentage split-up of different

typologies in case of a mixed use3. Activity and sub-activity: their inter-

relationship1. Identification of the issues2. Strategic Addressal of issues.3. The diversity of the ethnic groups

and conviviality promoted bythis.

1. Feasibility on the basis of spatialdistribution

2. Economic Activities3. Finance invested for the model

and finance generationmechanisms

4. Terrain suitability analysis


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Tessellation Planning Slums Positive Features of Tessellation Planning

FAR Revision

Economic Approach

Environment friendly

Buildable on any terrain

Positive Aspects of Clustering

Ease of Access

Social Safety

Better service facilities layout

Capability to revise the FAR controls within short termperiods

Moderate cost of implementation yet less/ almost nil ofmaintenance and repairs.

Easily integrated with green technological solutions Reduced magnitude of heat-island effects and

greenhouse effects.

Technologically advanced features of construction viable to build on any terrain

Promotes neighbourhood feelings, Promotes harmony and social interaction on individual

level, Prohibits accidents and ensures physical safety.

Vehicular accessibility is direct and cluster-wise. Pedestrian accessibility is highly enhanced due to an

inbuilt network of pathways within the honeycombpattern.

Ensures natural surveillance of defensible spaces (for

safety and security purposes).

Lesser area encompassed. Extension / new installations easier.

DENSIFICATION /REDENSIFICATION

CREATINGNEIGHBOURHOOD

AND NOT JUSTCOMMUNITY

ACCESSIBILITY

SERVICE LAYOUT

(COMMUNITY LEVEL)

AFFORDABILITY

The issues listed can thus be analysed and tackled under Tessellation Planning to transform them into positive featuresapplicable in the execution of Slum Housing Schemes

ISSUES/ CONCERNS


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The demarcation of the desired size of polygons (using theFinite Tessellation Formula)

Investigative Experiment 1 LIG Housing in Kharagpur

.

Best form of polygon of adequate size selected andtessellated

Creating different layout options by trial and error method

Finalization of the layout: best available option

ME

THODOLOG

Y

Analysis of a High Density Housing Society in Kharagpur

In attempt to analyze the feasibility of tessellation planning in anIndian context, a small experiment was carried out.

A small sector from Ward 34 of Kharagpur was selected.Site Characteristics High dense|Undulating terrain|10 Ha area


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Tessellation An Investigative Experiment

.

RESULTS

10% Increase in green spaces.

12% Reduction in road area

1.2kms Reduction in road length

11% Reduction of total concreted area

30% Increase in the no. of Dwelling Units


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Investigative Experiment 2 Malgodam Basti, Rourkela

.

SiteCharacteristics

Located in the heart of Rourkela close to the Malgodamwhere the Freight Yard is located.

Densely packed slum/ basti situated onencroached railway land

Un-notified slums identified under RAY

Residents are majorly engaged in Steel Works, animalrearing, carpentry and welding.

Infrastructure provided by the Municipality in-sufficient.(Community taps present, absence of toilets -open defecation

practiced, presence of kutcha roads, and open drains)

I i i E i 2


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Investigative Experiment 2 Malgodam Basti, Rourkela

.

.

Second Investigative Experiment: A Few Details

Area 8.8 Ha (~88000sq.m.)

Existing No of D.U.s 329

Existing Situation(At presentas per

observations)

329

37 D.U. / Ha

10% of total area

About 3.9 kms

3.6 Ha

Estimated at 28% oftotal area (including

few roads

existingand underconstruction)

ExpectedChanges onadopting a

Tessellation model

522 (increased byabout 1.58 times)

59 D.U. / Ha

About 38% of totalarea

About 2.4 kms

1.9 Ha

Estimated at 15%of total area

Scenario

No. of D.U.s

Density

GreenOpenSpaces

RoadLength

Road Area

ConcretedArea


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Exploring the Scope of Model Allocation on the basis of Slum Type

Slums can be categorized based upon parameters of

Tenability Tenure status Land ownership Residential density Land value Infrastructure /socioeconomic conditions

CATEGORIZATION OF SLUMS (slum free planning)

UN TENABLE SLUMSThe slums falling on areas prone to localflooding, undulation and steep terrain which arean obstruction to extension of urbaninfrastructure (roads, railways, airport, busterminals) are considered to be untenable.

A criteria considered forTenability Analysis:

Hazard/Risk Zones Flood area, Steep terrain,Seismicity and Environmental Hazards

Strategies for dealing with untenable slums

Relocation strategy

In-Situ Development

Land Scarcity shift towards the trendof high density residential units

Introduction of tessellation planning to replaceRelocation strategy in case of untenable slumsutilizing the Hazard/risk zones and converting

into habitable areas

Possibility of achieving higher densityby means of tessellation planning.

Phenomenon portraying geometricprogression and perennial shortage forhousing

Strengthening the relationship betweenthe environment and Neighbourhood

Scope for improved interactionsbetween communities

Increase in openareas indicatescope foreconomicactivities inresidential zones

Tessellating


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C l i


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Conclusions

Though the idea of tessellation, from purely theoretical point of view seems a simple affair, it needs deeper

consideration when implemented practically in the Indian context.

There is a need to address many intangible aspects too, apart from the economic and socio-political scenario.

Acceptance of the system would be the key to success of such a planning process and that would require awareness.

Integrating the model with current practices is essential in enabling a fool-proof process and methodology while

tackling issues concerning Slums.

There could be many questions posed in the form of limitations for such planning techniques that would requirepracticality of approach apart from ground breaking research.

R f


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References

1.Perry, C. A. (1929). The NeighborhoodUnit. In T. Adams (Ed.), Neighborhoodand Community Planning (Vol. Vol. VII). New York: TheRegional Survey of New York and Its Environs.

2.Dunbar, Robin, Grooming, Gossip, and the Evolution of Language, 1998.

3.World Development Report 2011, World Bank

4.Davis, M. P., Ghazali, M., & Nordin, N. A. (2006). Thermal Comfor t in Honeycomb Housing: The Affordable Alternative to TerraceHousing. Serdang: Institute of Advanced Studies, UPM.(part I,II&III)

5.Ghazali, M., Sia, C. T., Chan, E., Foo, E., & Davis, M. P. (2005). Honeycomb Housing: Reducing the Cost of Land and Infrastructure in

Housing Developments. Kuala Lumpur.

6.Blog site by Architect MazlinGhazali(http://www.tessellar.blogspot.com)

7.Articles from newspaper: Cities and growth -lump together and like it, The Economist print edition, Nov 6th 2008

8.Southworth, Michael; Ben-Joseph, Eran(2003) Streets and the Shaping of Towns and Cities. Washington: Island Press.

9.Marshall.S. (2005)Streets and Patterns. SponPress. Taylor and Francis Group.London.U.K.

10.Rachel Kaplan, Stephen Kaplan, The experience of nature: a psychological perspective,CambridgeUniversity Press, 1989.

11.Frey. H.(1999)Designing the City: Towards a more sustainable urban form.SponPress. Taylor and Francis Group.London.U.K


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Thank You

Somreeta Das | Maitreyi Yellapragada | Santanu Das MCP | IIT Kharagpur

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Tessellation Planning to tackle issues in Slum Housing Programmes