Soumyadeep Dutta
@jaduniv.edu.in
Post Graduate Research Scholar, Jadavpur University
Jadavpur University
@jaduniv.edu.in
Post Graduate Research Scholar, Jadavpur University
Jadavpur University
Kolkata popularly known as the ‘City of Joy’ becomes the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ during Durga Puja. Having started in the 16th century the legacy and age-old traditions have been successfully passed down to present generations. The magnanimity of this event can be inferred by observing the radical transformation of the city. The dazzling lights along with ethereal artistry enthrals one and all, as every nook and corner of the city comes to life for this weeklong event which otherwise remains unruffled for the rest of the year. The main aim of this paper is twofold - firstly to figure out how human behaviour and perception towards a particular environmental setting varies before and during Durga Puja and secondly to identify the possible factors that drive people to readily participate in organising this weeklong event in spite of obstacles. Two distinct cases have been considered for furthering the arguments and analysis.
Spaces when given a definitive meaning becomes a place. Each place has its own physical and social structure, set of activities and character which helps in establishing the urban imageability by enabling it to be easily identifiable to people. Public places allow a high degree of social engagement by encouraging a diverse mix of values and cultures of each individual in a particular setting. The sense of visual perception and cognition have allowed people to interpret public places in their own way based on its impact in their everyday lives. The transmission of the Sars-CoV-2 virus at the community level has affected millions worldwide causing implementation of stringent rules like nationwide lockdown, provision for emergency services only, social distancing and self-isolation. As a precautionary measure public places have been shut down completely. Like every other pandemic, this too will subside in future leaving behind life lessons on preparing for more resilient places. The burning question that arises is: How are we going to cope with our inadequacies and prepare a holistic framework for resilient public places within the urban fabric as part of our preparedness for not only COVID-19 but also post-pandemic situation in future? This paper aims to provide comprehensive urban design guidelines for consolidating the existential arguments that surrounds COVID-19 in public places and reinforcing best possible measures that can be taken for adapting to the ‘new’ normal. A case of urban canalfronts has been deliberated to demonstrate how the urban transformation of social space, recreation and amenities can become re-resilient through urban design principles. The adopted method will intrinsically look for optimized solutions based on case and site study on the key parameters for successful canalfronts like edge conditions, activity nodes, connections and accessibility to retain the significance of the place without compromising public health and safety.
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