(Re)Constructing Calcutta.

A study describing uncontrolled urban development.

This Brochure presents the findings of the diploma thesis submitted in January 2012 at the Faculty of Architecture at University of Technology Graz:

Murnig, Boris: (Re)Constructing Calcutta. A study describing uncontrolled urban development, Diploma Thesis at University of Technology, Graz (Faculty of Architecture), Graz 2012 Supervisor: Gethmann, Daniel, Mag.art. Dr. phil. (Institute of Architectural Theory, History of Art and Cultural Studies) Project-Website
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9557512/re-constructing_calcutta.html

Full Text, German

http://issuu.com/bmurnig/docs/re-konstruktion_kalkutta

a search. [...] It is felt to be more important to leave in apparent contradictions than to eliminate steps which are necessary to an understanding of the process and intentions of the whole.

This is a record of

Peter & Alison Smithson in Urban Structuring

(Re)Constructing Calcutta.
A study describing uncontrolled urban development.

01: GENERAL / POSITION

02: RECONSTRUCTION / CASE STUDIES

03: CONSTRUCTION

pt. 01

POSITION

(Re)Constructing Calcutta is dedicated to describing and understanding the phenomenon of uncontrolled growth in large urban areas through a close study of Indias third-largest metropolis. Precedent research on Asian cities has shown the complexity and difficulty of understanding and determining the development of fast-growing cities. The uncontrolled density and enlargement of these cities is a concern that architecture has the ability to investigate.

presents the final death of planning. Why? Not because it is not planned in fact. [...] its most dangerous and most exhilarating discovery is that planning makes no difference whatsoever. Buildings may be placed well [...] or badly [...]. They flourish/perish unpredictably.
Rem Koolhaas in Generic City

The Generic City

spatial structure

personal needs and interests

(Loss of) Control: Influences and structural impacts.

Uncontrollability, however, should not be misunderstood as a loss of control itself. Following Koolhaas Generic City (Koolhaas 1995) the very possibility of grasping the variety and multitude of influences, although impossible, does not negate the ability to learn from and make predictions of possibility for urban growth development. The study focuses on the eastern fringe of Calcutta. Traditionally being used for local food supply the region had faced an increasing pressure of urbanisation since the early 1980s. The investigation concentrates on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass (EMB), which once had been conceptualised to relieve the overcrowded inner-city streets. But it had also made East-Calcutta accessible and attractive for investors which lead to an automation of fast and fragmented urban development even before its completion. In this context the realisation of the EMB represents the beginning of acrimonious controversies regarding social and environmental responsibilities (concerning urban growth influenced by neo-liberal interests). As a result the ideological positions started polarising and finally were reduced to either pro or contra. Thus it became clear that it would be impossible to work out acceptable and sustainable strategies for both parties: contradictions should become a central point in Calcuttas urban future.

Against this background, the work is an attempt to describe different states of control (as well as loss of control). Rather than to follow formal approaches it is the process of change which is put into focus of attention. Thus the research undertaken presents a differentiated approach to urbanisation by dealing with the dynamics of contradictory and individually set actions. I attempt to reconstruct lines of action and processes of urbanization through the use of a method which employs two differing perspectives linked via scale.
SYSTEM A SYSTEM B ELEMENT C ELEMENT A ELEMENT B SYSTEM C

Fractal organisation of System- & Element-scale.

The System-Scale focuses on the locality, the situation as a whole, and deals with the role of the individual in the framework of a spatially-fragmented structure. In consequence infrastructure linking two or more individuals is put in the centre of attention. The Element-Scale on the other hand focuses on the site by putting interaction between the actors and their physical environment centre stage. In contrast to System-Scales focus on connecting infrastructure it is isolation and segregation which dominate this view.

of the city under a tremendous population pressure had gradually changed the geographical form of the city. [] Ignoring the known disadvantages, where the guiding principle had been the proximity to the core city rather than the quality of land.

The natural growth

Nitai Kundu in Planning the Metropolis

Kolkatas urban expansion (from left to right):

Greater Area of Calcutta, around 1900 Calcutta Metropolitan Area, 1971 Kolkata Metropolitan Area, 2001

pt. 02

RECONSTRUCTION

Using the two perspectives of System and Element-Scale allows me to consider distributed and spontaneously organised aspects as well as central and durable facets without compromising these two opposites: It is still a question of two poles which by provoking tensions ensure a continuous process of development.

By intending to render an interpretation rather than to only work out a fact-based reconstruction argumentations and conclusions always will be influenced by spontaneous and subjective impacts. Hence the study reflects the moment at which the research had been undertaken by being influenced by current discussions, problems and scarcities. Thereby it is revealed that the research-method uses the same strategy it actually is trying to understand. The intention to reconstruct lines of action therefore can be best understood as establishing different types of interpretations for discovered phenomenons and situations. In this manner urban activity is defined as a way of participating in disorderly urban growth processes. In contrary to my analytical interpretations forms of urban activism (Urban Think Tank 2005) found in East-Calcutta can be described as spatial interpretations which show off in apparently disordered and uncontrolled processes of urban change. Any subsequent forms of urban development are detected and assessed with reference to the collected data. The intention is to reveal and to characterise systematically applied practices of exertion of influence. Calcuttas administration has always refused to work out and execute general regulatories on urban expansion which could have become a legal framework for future development. Clarity and

design principles such as master plans in this context have been almost completely replaced. System-Scale in this context views infrastructural interventions as the base of spatial change and urban expansion. In this way it seems to be much easier and more subtle to control and influence urban changes: even if it is not possible to actively participate in urbanisation itself (realisation of projects) structural impacts are becoming even bigger by consciously setting long-term impacts. In this manner infrastructural interventions represent a powerful tool to initiate and promote fragmented and disordered urban growth on the one hand while on the other hand never run the risk of getting beyond control itself. What happens is a consciously set state of uncontrollability! Effects of such a loss of control can be recognised for example in individual adaptations of rules and restrictions. The lack of objectivity makes it hard to compare different intentions or even clearly name general benefits of single projects. Hence such projects can no longer be regulated within a development process as a whole and subsequently can neither be legitimised through generally accepted guidelines. In practice this aspect less concerns legal matters than the question of responsibility and commitment towards society and environment which have to be legitimised. This debate can also be found in the context of contemporary

urban studies such as the so-called informality discourse. By definition it is distinguished between fixed order (formal) and the term which opposes the formal: informality, development which certainly did not occur according to standard rules (Urban Think Tank 2005). Problems within the use of these attributes arise due to the discrepancy between the alleged objectification (distinction in terms of opposites: either / or) and the practice-related subjective perception of the circumstances. It quickly becomes clear that a differentiation in practice is hardly objectively possible, which further means that such attributes can be exploited to some extent by deliberately using and employing them in order to gain influence within developmental processes. The actual problem here can less be seen in the lack of objectivity than in the specific and systematic application of such classifications. Generally spoken they lead to further marginalisation of those who already cannot participate in the modern development rather than to visualise their needs and provide support to them. While the discussion on informality on a theoretical level is largely conducted on moral considerations in practical terms an increasing selective application of these terms is recognised. Against this background it seems to be more appropriate to speak of informalisation, a tool to actively participate in

uncontrolled urbanization, than to differentiate between formal and informal. Informality permanently visualises the discrepancy of using subjective categorizations. In other words it represents a subtle way of legitimation rather than a spatial capturable typology. Thus informalisation as a tool does not necessarily describe the consciously executed division into informal and formal but the opportunity to do so if felt necessary. It creates uncertainty for some while others are invited to profit from these uncertain conditions. It is generally noticed that conventional planning strategies in such situations become less important due to the dynamics of autonomous and selfcontained development processes. This tendency can be observed especially in East-Calcutta where master plans, spatial concepts, and regulations obviously suffer the loss of influence which at some points barely exists any more. On this basis the last part of the work intends to question and rethink planning strategies and aims for a new way of describing urban development. In doing so the question which is felt to be most important deals with the practical advantages of a strategy based on the loss of controllability. This leads to the construction of a describing model which opens up the opportunity to acquire internal conflicts and ambivalences to operate methodically.

DIVERSE STRUCTURE DIVERSE STRUCTURE

DIVERSE STRUCTURE global global region region city city district district

global

region

city

district

HIERARCHY OF TRANSPORTATION: DIFFERENT DISTANCES CAN BE BRIDGED HIERARCHY OF TRANSPORTATION: DIFFERENT DISTANCES CAN BE BRIDGED car driven by chauffeur car / motorcycle bus / train / tram bike / by foot HIERARCHY OF TRANSPORTATION: DIFFERENT DISTANCES CAN BE BRIDGED car driven by chauffeur car / motorcycle bus / train / tram bike / by foot

car driven by chauffeur

car / motorcycle

bus / train / tram

bike / by foot

SENSITIVITY FOR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY SENSITIVITY FOR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY

JOB SENSITIVITY FOR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL SHOPPING SHOPPING MOBILITY SHOPPING JOB SHOPPING BUS SHOPPING BUS

SOCIAL SETTINGS SOCIAL SETTINGS

JOB JOB

SHOPPING SHOPPING

SHOPPING

JOB

LEISURE

DEPENDENCE ON IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY

BUS

BUS

HIGH HIGH

benefi se t fr on clo t develo om infrastr n dence u pment depen environme & impro ctural te benefi dia vemen se t from imme ts on clo t e in c deve fr n DEPENDENCE ON IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY e a n d str lopme depen environme nt & im uctural provem diate ents imme benefi t fr develo om infrastr u pment & impro ctural vemen ts
se on clo t n dence depen environme diate imme

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH LOW LOW

HIGH LOW LOW

LOW

LOW

Analysing the impacts of infrastructural interventions

SCHOOL

DEPENDENCE ON IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY

MED. SUP.

LEISURE

SCHOOL SCHOOL

MED. MED. SUP. SUP.

SOCIAL SETTINGS LEISURE

BUS SHOPPING JOB BUS

Scheme: urbanisation of informal inhabited territory

Scheme: urbanisation agricultural land

agriculture Scheme: urbanisation of informal inhabited territory Scheme: urbanisation agricultural land

agriculture Scheme: urbanisation of informal inhabited territory Scheme: urbanisation agricultural land

agriculture EXISTING STRUCTURE

agriculture

agriculture agriculture EXISTING STRUCTURE agriculture agriculture EXISTING STRUCTURE agriculture INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT agriculture INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT agriculture INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT agriculture FRAGMENTED & HARDLY CONTROLLABLE URBANISATION agriculture agriculture agriculture

FRAGMENTED & HARDLY CONTROLLABLE URBANISATION

FRAGMENTED & HARDLY CONTROLLABLE URBANISATION

Infrastructure as a tool to initiate uncontrolled urban development

EXTERNAL INTERVENTION DIFFERNTIATION FROM EXISTING STRUCTURE

migration

EXISTING STRUCTURE

EXTERNAL IMPACT : MIGRATION

migration

NEW ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ARRISE ELSEWHERE

Cycle of informalisation

OASIS: INDEPENDENCY OF IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT

CASE STUDIES

ULTADANGA .I.P V STATION

HOWRAH STATION

HL YR IVE

CBD (CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT) SEALDAH STATION

MAIDAN

KALIGHAT GARIA HAT RABINDRA SAROVAR

2 KM

CASE 01: EMB: EAST ER

N ME

TROP

OLD HARBOUR

PARK CIRCUS

OLITA

N BYP

ASS

BOTANIC GARDEN

HO

OG

SCIEN

NSC BOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

RO

AD

SALT LAKE CITY

SECTOR V

CASE 02: NEW TOWN IN RAJARHAT

EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

NCE CITY

BANTALA LEATHER COMPLEX

KOLKATA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

EEW: EASTERN

EXPRESSWAY

BAGUIATI

Eastern Metropolitan Bypass & Eastern Expressway

KMA (Kolkata Metropolitan Area) KMC (Kolkata Municipal Area) Main Roads EMB (Eastern Metropolitan Bypass) proposed EEW (Eastern Expressway) proposed Connectors Railway built-up Area
0 1 5 KM

KALYANI
T

SOUTH DUM DUM

. .I.P RO AD

SOVABAZAR
CHINSURA

T E

R L

SALT LAKE T CITY

E L B

SECTOR V
L
L

S B T R E
0

EMB Phase I EMB Phase I EMB Pahse I built-up Are Sewage drai Main Road proposed Co Railway Hospital Leisure /Sho Business /Ho Traffic Residential / Education / S
1

AI R PO R T

SEALDAH RLW STATION

BARRACKPORE WEST BENGAL

BELEGHATA

L E

KR IS HN

U AP

KOLKATA METROPOLITAN AREA

TANGRA
B B L L

EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

LB

PARK CIRCUS
ESSWAY

AIRPORT HOWRAH MUNICIPAL AREA CBD SALT LAKE

TOPSIA

EASTERN EXPR

TILJALA GARIA HAT

B E

BAS
B R

R
T
T

ANT

IR

KOLKATA MUNICIPAL AREA BUDGE BUDGE EASTERN METROPOLITAN BYPASS

KASBA
EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

E.M. B YPASS

EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

R B R L E

R R
L E T

KOLKATA METROPOLITAN AREA Map showing Eastern Metropolitan Baypass & Eastern Expressway

EASTERN METROPOLITAN BYPASS spatially fragmented functions

PR

OP

OS

ED

SO

NA

PU

RR

I II III ea in
PROPOSED
AGRICULTURE

WETLANDS

onnector

CONNEC

TOR

2 KM

GEPLANTER BY

/Township Science

PASS

opping otel

PRO
TILJALA

POS

ED C

ONN

ECT

OR

WETLANDS

WETLANDS

EMB

OA

EMB

UR N CA AL
RASH BE HARI CONN ECTOR
WETLANDS

KASBA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

SERVICE POINT

CON

NEC

TOR
SERVICE POINT

EAST CALCUTTA TOWNSHIP

EAST CALCUTTA TOWNSHIP

WETLANDS

ROA

WETLANDS ?

GENESIS HOSPITAL
RASH BE

TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP

DESUN HOSPITAL
HARI CONN ECTOR

RUBY HOSPITAL
SHOPPING

SHOPPING TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP

URBANA PROJECT

TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP

WETLANDS ?

TOWNSHIP

RUBY CROSSING Scheme showing development along Eastern Metropolitan Bypass

EEW-CONNECTOR Scheme forecasting development along Eastern Expressway

A New Town in Rajarhat

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHAT

existing settlement proposed Township sewage drain existing road proposed road

BA

GJ

A OL

CA

E.W

NA

. MA

JOR

ACTION AREA III

ART ERI AL R

OAD

PR

OP

OS

ED

S EA

R TE

EX

S RE

SW

AY

ACTION AREA IV

LEAT

IT-HUB
CA NA L

NA

RTERIA

MAJ

RT OR A

ERIA

L RO

L ROAD

AD

KR I

FISH E

CBD RAJARHAT

SH

RY F

PU R

EEDIN

G CA

NAL

ACTION AREA I

LIN

NSC BOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SOUTH LINK ROAD

SALT LAKE CITY

KR

OAD

BAS

ANT

I ROA

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHAT Map showing master-plan for action Areas I & II as well as several projects to be developed in action Area III

NO RTH

ACTION AREA II

MAJOR A

EASTE RN LIN K HIG HWAY

PRO

POS

ED S

ONA

PUR

ROA

EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

2 KM

BANTALA THER COMPLEX

BIDY

A DH

ARI

RIVE

SCHEME: DIFFERENT STATES OF URBAN TAKE-OVER Process of Informalisation based on actual situations found in Rajarhat in 2011. To illustrate the impacts of this tendency more clearly the different states have been arranged in a virtual chronological order.

pt. 03

CONSTRUCTION

Regarding pre-decided urban activism two forms could be detected during the preceding analysis. Both of them show possibilities to initiate and participate in disorderly urban growth processes but at the same time seem to follow different motivations.

Segregated enclaves which maintain a possible exchange with historical centre.

While Infrastructure intends to link single elements informalisation deals with the differentiability and segregation of individuals in relation to their physical environment. Generally spoken these two motivations could be summarised in consensus- and dissent-driven actions. The socalled bi-polar model presents these findings by defining parameters that can describe a schema for uncontrolled urban development. On one hand it is a question of contextual layers which are dedicated to the influences affecting single elements and follow the consensus-oriented perspective. These layers are described as decentralized and dynamic identity-forming systems. Networks which follow different intentions under the influence of randomly chosen inputs. The intensity in turn is basically looking for the unique and particular atmosphere of the city by focusing on

ELEMENT A

ELEMENT B

ELEMENT C

Impacts and dispersion of contextual networks.

the interface between different contextual layers. Thereby conflicts and confrontations on ideological and social level play a more important role regarding the forming of identity than the actual spatial constellation. Loss of control in favour of a controversy-related, self-contained development therefore has to be seen as a systematically and consciously applied strategy rather than as a result of external circumstances: It is a kind of calculated loss of control, which by consciously compromising on the one hand (eg. direct influence of the planner) is able to prevent such elsewhere. Loss of control becomes a planning strategy which if felt necessary can shirk spatial concepts and ideological responsibilities: Loss of control: a mode of urbanisation!

In an attempt to describe Calcuttas urban development two major motivations have been made out: Context (consensus-orientated) and Intensity (dissensus-orientated). The following description of five aspects each is an attemt to establish a model which is able to assimilate predominant contradictions rather than eliminate them at any cost.

CONTEXT: COMMUNICATION.
Contexts are ideological arrangements networks which virtually bundle its associates. Hence contexts form a spatially disperse structure in which public places hardly exist. Within such a structure it is difficult to find neutral places which could provoke spontaneous communication and interaction. Therefore it can be assumed that almost every form of exchange underlies a selective process: Communication among as well as within Contextual-layers takes place exclusively.

CONTEXT: VELOCITY.
By dealing with network-structures, description of Context especially focuses on the connections between single individuals. These connections only exist temporarily in the form of movements of different velocities. Indeed the routes of these movements overlap but thereby dont necessarily have to interact with each other.

CONTEXT: RHYTHM.
Motional rhythms qualify type and character of Contextual-layers. Node points so-called hubs for instance can communicate basic informations according to their rhythm. Periodic motions of large groups for example can point out commuting movements while spontaneous single moves would rather indicate a residential area.

CONTEXT: DENSITY.
Exchange between a Context and its individuals is based on a relative relationship. Hence a Context can change its proportion it can expand or decrease - without necessarily affecting the situation of the single individual. In fact the contextual density argues the converse: The structural organisation of a Context can only be revealed by following the impact of dynamic changes.

CONTEXT: QUANTITY.
Context defines itself through its quantitative attributes. Thus Contextual-layers establish and maintain a hierarchical system which is represented by the mode of transportation: The easier distances can be bridged, the more selective social and economic relations can be chosen. Hence quantity is an important aspect of identification by revealing an association with a certain contextual network.

INTENSITY: CONFRONTATION.
Unlike Context, Intensity focuses on confrontations which arise through the spatial accumulation of differently contextualised elements. Due to constant confrontation, it is never possible to archieve a balanced situation: It can best be compared to a pendulum which swings between two extremes. Balance can only be found in continuity of recurring extremes.

INTENSITY: QUALITY.
Engagement, participation and identification with a confrontation is more important than the number of different Contexts engaged. By provoking cross-contextual interaction and exchange Intensity deals with processes which Contexts actively try to prevent. Quality describes the relation between a specific place and its occurring confrontations a constantly polarising situation which therefore becomes an important aspect in identity-building.

INTENSITY: FLUCTUATION.
Intensity does not deal with motions but documents processes of exchange and correlations. It records temporary screenshots of particular situations which turn to a sequence when put together. These sequences trace lines of actions, reveal spatial correlations and document initiatives and their actual impacts. By translating these processes into spatial events fluctuation reveals a new temporal structure: the interval.

INTENSITY: DENSITY.
While contextual density deals with structural issues a relative relationship between an individual and its contextual network Intensitys density indicates an absolute number within a certain area. Hence within Intensitys perspective Contexts always appear in differently dense configurations. This means that there is always a spatial predominance of some Contexts while others only show little presence.

INTENSITY: OVERLAYS.
Intensitys perspective focuses on the in-between of differently orientated individuals. Since there always has to be an in-between - space for frictions and confrontations - overlays dont exist in this perspective. Furthermore it has to be assumed that the immediate environment of a single individual is generally considered to be a stranger. This leads to an introverted organisation and a programmatic differentiation.