Social affiliations between humans through the years have led to the development of interactive spaces, widely termed as Public spaces. Over time, functions of public space have expanded its horizons to accommodate multi-scalar activities, thereby inviting various approaches to design them.
When planning a public space, it is necessary to take into account the socio dynamic and cultural aspects of the area, in order to generate a strong relationship between the place and the user. A well-planned public space not only serves as a point for leisure activities but can also facilitate boosting the economy. In a country like India, whose population hits the brim, there is also spurge for employment and business. Such public spaces present a front to boost business activities, even amongst the poor, subject to an organized manner.
With the development in a cityscape and technology on a larger scale, the mode of articulation of public spaces has changed immensely, however, the current situation has staged a turn of events.
The pandemic, Covid19, has created a new dimension in the planning of urban spaces. While the effects of Covid19 on human health are yet being analyzed, the physical and social outcome on public spaces is catastrophic and well known to all.
With new age come new problems and each of these have to be dealt with in their unique manner. Covid-19 has brought about the need to maintain physical distance between people, thereby raising a question on the core function of public spaces and its usability. A place which had developed to be multi-functional might again be reduced to uni-purpose organized spaces. However, in the process it is fundamental that we don’t eliminate the essence of the place.
Across the globe, public spaces are being redefined to suit the needs of the pandemic and the masses at large. Public transportation at large, has been discouraged by the government to avoid crowding of people. Amongst the first cities, Milan, Barcelona and Lima are speeding up towards expanding bike lanes by taking up some space from the car parkings or entirely removing lanes for vehicles.
Other cities such as Boston, London, Portland and Vancouver have begun reconfiguring streets to accommodate more cyclists and pedestrians over longer distances. They are eliminating the curb side parking to give pedestrians more space to move around safely and to provide outdoor retail space for shops and patio space for restaurants. Other public spaces such as beaches, parks, playgrounds are divided for the users, using ropes, floor marking etc to maintain physical distancing.
While in India, as the roads have been laid in an organic manner at several places, introducing bike lanes while maintaining other vehicular connectivity is challenging, yet possible. Connectivity issues can be tackled in different ways based on the socio-economic conditions of the place. As a large segment of the population depends on public transportation, limited services have been resumed on the grounds of social distancing.
Means of social distancing, with the help of markers and stickers placed 6 feet apart have been introduced at diverse public places to ensure safety. However, the effects of lockdown have severely hit the working class of the society. With a population of over 2 crores, cities like Mumbai and Delhi hold great regards for them, as they are the backbone of the city.
Prominent public places in the city such as Juhu Beach and Marine Drive in Mumbai and Delhi Haat in Delhi are solely driven by the multi-scalar activities operated by the working population of the city. For these spaces to be operational again amid a pandemic, efficient transformation is in the hour. Low-cost, yet beneficial solutions which are easy to perceive and follow can prove to tackle the problem, while retaining the essence of the place.
Contemplating on the given public spaces, The Blank Slate has drawn some efficient solutions to cater to the needs of the masses.
MARINE DRIVE
Marine Drive is a 3.6-kilometer long sea-facing promenade in the city of Mumbai. As one of the most visited public places in the city, it is used by a diverse age group of people for jogging, cycling, as well as socializing. Events such as the Bombay Marathon, IAF Airshow, French Festival, and International Fleet Review have been hosted at this venue.
While everyone eagerly awaits to enjoy the serenity of this place again, some precautions are to be implemented:
1. The wide promenade can be segregated into 3 parts as per their function, each for cycling, walking and sitting demarcated with different colours
2. The walking/jogging area may be further divided into 2 parts using planters for a unidirectional movement
3. Stickers can be pasted on the floor for understanding mandatory distance
JUHU BEACH
Towards the northern side of the city, lies another sea-facing attraction, Juhu Beach. Used as a jogging place at dawn, while it is thronged by multi-cuisine food stalls by dusk, this public space is an integral part of the city. The footfall generated on a daily basis crosses thousands. As awaited as this place is to be visited, precaution does come before cure.
1. Markings can be made on the steps, enough to accommodate a group of 4-5 people, to demarcate usable spots for sitting
2. Planters may be used to segregate area of circulation and sitting
3. Ropes or bamboo sticks can be used to enable divisions on the sand to maintain social distancing
DELHI HAAT
Performances and drama from an integral part of most cultures. Delhi Haat, is an open-air food plaza and craft bazaar, one of the biggest and busiest markets in Delhi.
The amphitheatre at Delhi Haat serves the purpose of holding such multi-cultural events, and it also is a socializing platform at other times. While the show must 'go on', an urge for safety is also mandatory
1. Organized seating maintaining distance, can be highlighted using different colours to make it vibrant and also create an ambience
2. Stickers along the circulation area and steps to ensure regularised movement with sufficient distance in between people
Everyone has an adrenaline reaching its brim, waiting to go back to the streets, bazaars and markets and shop with all their heart, to be amidst a crowd bustling with the same energy around them, but with precaution in place!
1. Hexagonal shaped pattern form a 6 feet diameter, having a triangle within them, indicating the distance a person has to maintain with their fellow customer
2. Colour coded one way circulation paths will help regulate the movement of crowd while maintaining ample distance between them
Having creative patterns and colours to serve the purpose of social distancing, will keep intact the vibe of a place
Large masses look forward to unlocking their doors and utilizing the much adored social spaces. Keeping in mind the socio-economic factors of the region, the given solutions are uncomplicated to implement while ensuring safety and retaining the essence of the place. To be able to tackle a problem, facing it with full preparedness is obligatory.
