What is good city form? The question has no single answer but has multiple experiential qualities that are described in various literature and art form. The city is profusely blessed with historical layer,, and this layers are still existing with is social and cultural character intact. The contemporary city of Ahmedabad manifests the palimpsest of the past through its urban character and its architecture. There are several historical cities in India that are living cities, keeping customs and rituals in tandem with new means and ways of re-purposing its architectural heritage and urban form.
The book titled “Good City Form” authored by Kevin Lynch, published by MIT press in 1984,brings about the debate on good city form, which are described through values of the city and theory of good city form.
He argued that essential characteristics are Vital (Sustenant, Safe, Conant), It is sensible (identifiable, Structured, Congruent, Transparent, Legible, Unfolding, and Significant), it is well fitted (Form and Behavior congruence, Resilient), it is accessible (diverse, equitable, and locally manageable), it is well controlled (Congruent, Certain, Responsible, and intermittently loose).
Keeping with the “Good City Form” argument, the city of Ahmedabad resonates the character of Vitality through its intact morphology and typology while able to offer safety, while consistency in its urban form through its social and cultural practices makes it to be experientially rich city. Along with that the city offers diverse activity embedded in its cultural practices makes a unique case for good city form.
Images Credit: Manoj Parmar Architects
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