Contents

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Background: .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1.1. Definitions: ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.2. Justification: .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1.3. Literature study: .................................................................................................................... 5
1.2. Aim and Objectives: ................................................................................................................... 12
1.3. Scope and Limitations:................................................................................................................ 13
2. Case study ........................................................................................................................................... 13
2.1. Selection:..................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2. Secondary Case study: ................................................................................................................ 13
3. Site Study ............................................................................................................................................ 19
3.1. Selection:..................................................................................................................................... 19
3.2. Zonal level study: ........................................................................................................................ 21
3.3. Site level study: ........................................................................................................................... 26
4. Master Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 30
5. Design Guidelines ............................................................................................................................... 31
6. Case Application ................................................................................................................................. 32
6.1. Selection of intervention area ..................................................................................................... 32
6.2. Description .................................................................................................................................. 32
6.3. Proposals ..................................................................................................................................... 32
7. Design implementations...................................................................................................................... 33
8. Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... 34
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 35
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 35

1. Introduction
1.1. Background:

1.1.1. Definitions:
Urban Development:

The term Urban can be defined as the characteristics of a town and city, in terms of population density
and the built and public environment. Development can be termed as the process or progress to achieve
a better condition. So, Urban Development is the process or progress to achieve a better built
environment as well as public environment in a town or city.

Image source: Author Image source: Google

University Town:

University town or College Town is a settlement or community or a neighborhood which is dominated by

a central university- by its population and by its guidelines in terms of urban development.

Sonajhuri:

Sonajhuri is situated very near to the northern

side of Visva- Bharati, Santiniketan. It is famous
for the natural forest of Sonajhuri tree and its
Uneven landform called Khoai.
Sonajhuri Haat Road to Sonajhuri

Image source: Author

Santiniketan:

Santiniketan is a world heritage site as per UNESCO. It is one of the most popular tourist destination of
Birbhum as well as of West Bengal. There are various cultural events take place throughout the year in
Santiniketan. It is enriched with its natural environment and traditional design of spaces.

Kach-Mandir

Road near ashram

The main focus of the thesis is to restore the surrounding conditions of people or community of Sonajhuri
area to a fresh or active state according to the traditional and natural environment of Santiniketan in terms
of guiding urban development in a controlled and systematic way.

1.1.2. Justification:

Prodded by the state urban development department, the Sriniketan Santiniketan Development Authority
(SSDA) has finally started taking note of the unplanned growth of the concrete jungle in Santiniketan a
World Heritage Site. As a first step to give the entire area a synchronized look, SSDA has roped in the
architecture department of IIT-Kharagpur, which will study the existing problems and chart out an action
plan.

-Times of India, Oct 28, 2014

The Sriniketan-Santiniketan Development Authority (SSDA) has engaged IIT Kharagpur to prepare a
development roadmap for Santiniketan, following a high court order in 2013 that barred all construction
in the area. A team from the IIT held meetings with SSDA authorities and representatives of different
public bodies, including Visva-Bharati, on Friday. The SSDA needs to submit a revised land-use plan to
get a go-ahead from the high court on further construction

- The Telegraph, Jan 11, 2015

 Smart City Proposal In Bolpur

Image source: Google image

Some findings from government survey of this area, December, 2014:

1.1.3. Literature study:

Concept of University Town:

A college town or university town is a community (often a separate town or city, but in some cases a
town/city neighborhood or a district) that is dominated by its university population. The university may
be large, or there may be several smaller institutions such as liberal arts colleges clustered, or the
residential population may be small, but college towns in all cases are so dubbed because the presence of
the educational institution(s) pervades economic and
social life. Many local residents may be employed by
the universitywhich may be the largest employer in
the communitymany businesses cater primarily to
the university, and the student population may
outnumber the local population. (Wikipedia)

The traditional American college town is often

depicted as an idyllic place where the academic
community, residents, and local businesses co exists.
(Leroy David Nunery, University of Pennsylvania)
The University Of Virginia, 1826
Planned university township were the exception until
the late 1800s. Virginia was the first university town
in America where there is evidence of site analysis
and architectural composition. The next known plan is John Trumbulls plan for Yale (1792), which
alternated 100-foot-long dormitory buildings with towered assembly buildings, resulting in the Old Brick
Row.In the late 1800s, architects and landscape architects were establishing the foundations for the
practice of comprehensive site planning. In 1866 Frederick Law Olmsted recommended that the
University of California locate in Berkeley, away from San Francisco in order to create a naturalistic
park setting, reviving Jeffersons idea of the college as a rural community.

University Town concept is not a modern one in India. Ancient India was enriched with some world
famous University Town like Taxila, Nalanda etc.

Takshashila:

Ancient Takshashila was situated at the pivotal junction of South Asia and Central Asia. Some of the
earliest ruins in this area date to the time of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE. Takshashila
became a noted centre of learning (including the religious teachings of Hinduism) at least several
centuries BCE. It continued to attract students from around the old world until the destruction of the city
in the 5th century.

Image Source: Google image

Nalanda:

Nalanda was an acclaimed Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of
Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. The site is located about 95 kilometres southeast of Patna near the
town of Bihar Sharif, and was a centre of learning from the fifth century CE to c.1200 CE. Nalanda
flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries and later under Harsha,
the emperor of Kannauj. The liberal cultural traditions inherited from the Gupta age resulted in a period of
growth and prosperity until the ninth century.

Image Source: Google image

Vikramshila:

Vikramashila University was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty during late 8th century and
flourished for 400 years till 12th century. It was located in the Bhagalpur district of modern day Bihar. It
gave direct competition to Nalanda University with over 100 teachers and over 1000 students listed in this
University.

Sompura:

Somapura Mahavihara was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty during late 8th century in Bengal
and flourished for 400 years till 12th century. The University spread over 27 acres of land of which the
main complex was 21 acres was one of the largest of its kind. It was a major center of learning for
Bauddha Dharma (Buddhism), Jaina Dharma (Jainism) and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).

Ruins of Vikramshila Ruins of Sompura

Image Source: Google image

campuses are microcosms of activities in the domain of planning unique environments where
employment, housing, design, transportation and mobility, and environmental protection needs and
objectives intertwine and interact with the larger urban and social fabric. (Richard Thorsten,
Partnerships for Smart Growth)

Campus Form:

The campus planning literature generally defines two categories of campus form. These two forms can be
classified as-
 Formal - regular, symmetrical, rectilinear
Informal - picturesque, irregular, unsymmetrical

Irregular / Informal Regular / Formal

Image Source: Author

Another way to describe these different general layouts is-

Spine and Grid- buildings that serve the whole university are brought close together
Green Heart- buildings are placed with a central green zone or water body

Green Heart

Spine and Grid

Image Source: Author
Related urban design parameters:

Pattern - the underlying geometry of form an urban space. - P.D. Spreiregen , 1965
Density - the intensity of use of land by people and buildings.- P.D. Spreiregen , 1965
Grain & texture - grain is measured by the degree of fineness and coarseness in an urban area.
texture is the degree of mixture of fine and coarse elements."
-Dr. Shivashish Bose, 2008
Activities- land use, location, pattern, magnets and generators. Dr. Sanjib Nag
Space- typology, hierarchy, floor areas and patterns of usages. - P.D. Spreiregen , 1965
Form- the spatial pattern of the large, inert, permanent physical objects in a city. - Kevin
Lynch, 1981
Vista- views of large portion and major elements of the city and the contrasting natural
scenery. - Dr. Sanjib Nag
 Pattern Density Grain & Texture

Image Source: Author

Activities Space

Image Source: The Architecture of Town and Cities. P.D. Spreiregen

Form Vista

Image Source: The Architecture of Town and Cities. P.D. Spreiregen Image Source: Minnepolis, USA
Skyline

There are many University Township in various countries all over the world such as-

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This small town in Western Massachusetts is home to three schools, including the main campus of the
University of Massachusetts, and is just around the corner from two more. That makes for an interesting
mix of people and great dining options.

M.I.T. University Georgia University

Image Source: Google image

University of Georgia

The city is built around the University of Georgia, where the Bulldogs reign supreme. But football and
tailgating arent all that Athens offers. Theres also great art and music: Both R.E.M. and the B-52s
started in Athens and performed at venues like the 40 Watt Club.

University of Texas

Sure, its the fourth-largest city in Texas and the states capital, but Austin, the hometown of the
University of Texas, has a small-town feel to it. Austin is as green as it gets, and Travel and Leisure
magazine said it has some of the best people in the country.

University of California

University of Californias main campus is in this Bay Area town, a place that has almost become
synonymous with the phrase college town. Berkeley features tons of art, film, music, and political
activity, and its just a short drive across the bay to San Francisco.

Texas University University Of California

Image Source: Google image

Boston University

Its a big city, like Austin, but there are scores of colleges in the metro area (one estimate says there are
more than 250,000 college students) and theres plenty to do: sports, historical attractions, arts, music,
bars, and more.

University of Colorado

Blessed with a Rocky Mountain backdrop, the home of the University of Colorado is famous for its great
outdoors and fun community atmosphere. Boulder hosts multiple film festivals and was rated one of the
10 best cities for the next decade by Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine.

University of Boston University Of Colorado

Image Source: Google image

1.2. Aim and Objectives:

Aim

Achieving a conducive urban development in Sonajhuri area to retain its traditional and natural
environment

Objectives

To connect isolated spaces as a whole

To enhance the visibility of the area.
To provide proper building guidelines.
To conserve the traditional natural environment.
Image Source: Google image
1.3. Scope and Limitations:
Scope of work:

Fringe area- also known as outskirts, can be defined as the transition zone of urban and rural
settlement. As the Urban growth in this fringe area of Santiniketan is in its primary stage, it is
possible to control it immediately with effective guidelines.
Connection between two main roads of either sides can provide better accessibility.
The lake and the haat area can act as the heart of the area after its environmental revitalization
according to proper guidelines.
Conservation of natural environment can enhance the traditional essence of Santiniketan.

Limitation:

Application area- The whole Sonajhuri area is not taken into account in this proposal because it is
partly under SSDA. The rest area is under Gram Panchayat jurisdiction.
Design Parameters- As the study area of the thesis topic is limited to the urban development of
an existing university town, so the Urban Design parameters which are not directly related to it
has not been taken into account.

2. Case study
2.1. Selection:

2.2. Secondary Case study:

San Jos State University, California

A public institution of higher education has operated at the site of SJSU since the California State
Normal School relocated from San Francisco to San Jos in 1870. The campus was first landscaped in
1881 and became an attraction for the city. After WWII, the college acquired additional land for
expansion and more than 20 new buildings were constructed by 1970. In 1972 the college was elevated to
university status and became San Jos State University. Changes envisioned in the 1995 Campus
Landscape Master Plan began a transformation of the Main Campus which continues today. The plan
proposed malls, plazas, gateways, and a quadrangle in each of four campus quadrants.
 Image Source: Google image

The framework for planning at SJSU is defined in the campus master plan and is illustrated by recent
projects and the universitys efforts to work with the surrounding communities. The SJSU Master Plan
2001 recognized that rising enrollment and the need for space coupled with the changes in downtown
San Jos suggest that the campus can no longer be viewed merely as a green island in the midst the city,
but rather as an integral part of the urban fabric.

The plan addresses the following five key issues:

Enrollment Growth
Downtown Development
Funding
Public-Private Partnerships
Campus Capacity
 San Jos State University, Master Plan
2001

The relationship between SJSU and the CityImage Source:

of San JosGoogle image
has strengthened in recent years due downtown
redevelopment, university leadership, and a new appreciation for the benefits of interaction and shared
planning. Redevelopment efforts have reshaped the universitys surroundings and SJSU is looking to
integrate with the surrounding urban fabric as the campus also redevelops more densely. Master Plan
include opportunities to enhance the open space framework and improve linkages to the city. The plan
suggests that the design of these perimeter sites should attempt to respond [to] the changing character of
the downtown.156 More specific guidelines in the plan resemble zoning restrictions, specifying
maximum gross square footage, ground area coverage.
 University Neighborhoods Redevelopment Area

Connectivity and Edges:

Image Source: Google image

Edges : Criteria met include defined edges with street trees and signs, screened parking garages,
sidewalks, and clearly defined crosswalks at controlled intersections.
The criterion for parks and plazas along edges was partially met by the entrances and the library
plaza.
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Connections: Criteria met include attractive entrance gateways
designed with a common theme, and linear parks .
preserve the urban grid and provide direct and attractive paths through campus with special
paving and lighting, benches, and plazas.
 Image Source: Google image

University Of California, Berkeley

The first plan for a Berkeley campus was completed by Frederick Law Olmstead in 1866, when the site
was owned by the College of California. Olmstead laid out the 35-acre campus as a large park, including
adjacent park-like residential neighborhoods. William Hammond Hall corresponded with Olmstead and
followed his ideas for a picturesque campus with terraces surrounding the central buildings and an
otherwise informal layout. His plan for the entire 150 acres originally owned by the university, limited
roadways and entrances to protect the secure and secluded atmosphere of the campus.

Image Source: Google image

After Howard, supervising architects George W. Kelham (1927 1936) and Arthur Brown, Jr. (1938
1948) continued the neoclassical theme on campus. This history is the basis for cooperation on land use
planning between the university and the city. The land currently owned by UC Berkeley which shows that
expansion outside of the Campus Park has been relatively contiguous. University development also
merges with the city, particularly in the Southside. By 2004 the tallest academic building on the UC
Berkeley campus was ten stories, and off-campus dormitories were up to fifteen stories tall. UC
Berkeleys LRDP was updated in 1964, and then a new LRDP was approved in 1990. The 2020 LRDP
(adopted in 2005) accommodates enrollment increases of 4,000 FTEs over the 1990 plan up to 33,450
by 2010.
 Uc Berkeley Facilities In The Campus Area

The 2020 plan proposes as Image

muchSource The
as 2.2 million square
University Campusfeet& The
of new
Urbanfacilities andN. 2,600 new beds to
Fabric Katja
Irvin
accommodate 1,650 additional students and 2,870 additional faculty and staff (some housing may not be
in the immediate campus area). The area surrounding the campus is densely built up with commercial,
mixed-use, institutional, and high-density residential uses. UC Berkeleys expansion, especially to the
north and south, has resulted in buildings that are much larger scale than the single-family and low-rise
structures they replaced. The high-rise dormitories in the south are massive and repetitive, with interior
courtyards that do not address the street. Overall, university expansion has been greatest to the south, and
UC Berkeley has been more involved in planning and economic development in the Southside as well.
The park has been a symbol of activism against the university and the state.
 Uc Berkeley Neighborhood Context

3. Site Study Image Source The University Campus & The Urban Fabric Katja N.
Irvin
3.1. Selection:
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. Shantiniketan was
earlier called Bhubandanga and was owned by the Tagore family. In 1862, Maharshi Devendranath
Tagore named it as Shantiniketan. It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose
vision became what is now a university town ( Visva-Bharati University ) that attracts thousands of
visitors each year. Shantiniketan is a tourist attraction also because Rabindranath lived here and penned
many of his literary classics (namely Tagore songs, poems, novels etc.) and his home is a place of
historical importance. Paus Mela and Basanta Utsav now a days, became an important cultural event
and a meeting ground for urban people and rural folk.
 Image Source: Google image

Wild Life Sanctuary (Deer Park):

Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary (popular as Deer Park) was established in 1977 near Santiniketan
in Bolpur subdivision. It is home to a number of deer including the Blackbuck and Spotted deer.

View of the lake from deer park View of Entrance

Image Source: Google image

Residential Area- Shyambati:

It is a residential area near Deer Park and Sonajhuri. The main road towards Prantik divided the
residential area in two parts. Both parts consist of 2-3 storied residential/ commercial buildings.

Residential area of Shyambati

Image Source: Google image

Sonajhuri:

The traditional life of the Santhali community with their local art and culture make Sonajhuri a heritage
destination. Local crafts along with the traditional delicacies are sold at the famous Shonajhuri Haat
(weekly market) on every Saturday.

Sonajhuri Forest Weekly Haat

Image Source: Google image

3.2. Zonal level study:

Zonal Level Map- Santiniketan

Zonal Levelbase Map- Santiniketan
Pattern:

Description:

Santiniketan has an organic pattern of development.

Most of the buildings are residential and institutional. There are
several irregular open spaces at road intersections.

Analysis:

There are no proper guidelines for urban development.

Open spaces are not properly designed or maintained.

Conclusion:

To integrate built forms and open spaces with proper guidelines

Image Source: Author
Density:

Description:

Core area- medium density.

 Fringe areas- low densiy

Analysis:

The fringe areas are under- development, so it is possible to guide the development

Conclusion:

To provide proper guidelines for controlled development

Image Source: Author
Grain and texture:

Description:

Plots are of various sizes in core and fringe areas.

Buildings Are mostly made of brick and concrete

Analysis

Coarse Grain- Even Texture

Conclusion Image Source: Author

To maintain the proportion of homogeneity and heterogeneity of built forms.

Space:

Description

Dense Residential areas- Ratanpally, Shyambati

Unorganised Commercial centers- Sonajhuri Haat, Ratanpally
Institutional space with heritage value- Visva-Bharati Academic

complex, Uttarayan
Recreational open space- Deer Park, Sonajhuri Forest

Analysis

Residential areas have lack of designed public spaces for

Image Source: Author
recreational and commercial purpose.

Conclusion

to provide designed public spaces in residential areas.

Activity:

Description

Type of activity- Culture

 - Education
- Tourism
activity zones- Visva Bharati, Sonajhuri, Wild life Sanctuary

Analysis

Magnets- Visva Bharati, Sonajhuri, Wild life Sanctuary

Generators- people from all over India as well as other countries.

Conclusion

To develop the fringe area of Santiniketan to enhance its activities

in terms of culture, education and tourism.

Form: Image Source: Google image

Description:

Buildings are almost regular in form, 1-3 storied.

Most Institutional buildings have inner courtyard
Residential buildings have compact design

Analysis:

Type of Form- Geometric

Institutional buildings have central circulation
Residential buildings have minimum circulation space

Conclusion:

To maintain the functionality of circulation in built forms Image Source: Google image

Vista:

Description:

Viewpoint- Gour Prangan- Architectural style of Visva-Bharati

Deer Park- View of the lake
Sonajhuri- Scenic beauty of the forest

Analysis

More viewpoints are needed in several areas for proper visibility Image Source: Author

Conclusion

To provide maximum possible viewpoints to experience the scenic and heritage beauty of
Santiniketan.
3.3. Site level study:
Site Level Map- Sonajhuri

Site Level Map- Sonajhuri, Santiniketan

Pattern:

Description

Shyambati is the main residential area

Buildings are mostly residential , have developed without any
specific pattern
Irregular open spaces situated among buildings
Deer Park and Sonajhuri Forest are natural open spaces

Analysis

Urban development is not systematic

Open spaces are not well defined

Conclusion

to integrate Sonajhuri, Deer Park and Shyambati as a single

unit Image Source: Author

Density:

Description

Residential area of Shyambati - Medium

Density
Rest areas- Low Densiy

Analysis

As this area is under development process, proper guidelines

can be effective

Conclusion
Image Source: Author

to provide proper guidelines for controlled development.

Grain and Texture:

Description

Plots are of various size and shape

Buildings Are mostly made of brick and concrete

Analysis

Coarse Grain- Even Texture

Conclusion

to maintain the proportion of homogeneity and heterogeneity of built forms.

Space:

Description

Residential area- Shyambati

Rapid unorganised Development in periferi area of lake
Unorganised Commercial centers-, Sonajhuri weekly Haat
Recreational open space- Deer Park, Sonajhuri Forest

Analysis

Various types of spaces are not linked together

Urban Growth of periferi area is not systematic

Conclusion

to design link spaces among residential, commercial and recreational zones

Activity:

Description

Type of activity - Commercial

o Tourism
Image Source: Author
activity zones- Sonajhuri, Wild life Sanctuary

Analysis

Magnets- Sonajhuri, Wild life Sanctuary

Generators- Bolpur, its surrounding areas and other states of
West Bengal

Conclusion
 To develop this fringe area to enhance its activities and tourism value.

Image Source: Author

Form:

Description

Most of the Buildings are 1-3 storied. compactly designed and almost regular in form
No properly defined architectural style

Analysis

Type of Form- Geometric

Architectural style of Visva-Bharati is not maintained in the builtforms of surrounding areas

Conclusion

To maintain the functionality of circulation in built forms

To redefine the architectural style of Visvs-Bharati in its surrounding development.

Image Source: Author

Vista:

Description

Viewpoint- Deer Park- View of the lake

- Sonajhuri- Scenic beauty of the forest

Analysis

More viewpoints are needed in several areas for proper

visibility

Conclusion

To provide maximum possible viewpoints in lake and forest area. Image Source: Author
4. Master Conclusion
Site level:

To integrate built forms and open spaces

To provide proper guidelines for controlled development
To enhance the visibility of the area
To provide designed public spaces
To maintain the proportion of homogeneity and heterogeneity of built forms
To redefine the architectural style of core area in its surrounding development
To make public- private partnership for neighbourhood development

Area level:

To enhance the open space framework

To improve linkages to the core area.
To redefine and enhance the activities of the area
To maintain the functionality in terms of circulation among built forms
5. Design Guidelines
To provide proper guidelines for controlled development integrating built forms and open spaces
To provide designed public spaces enhancing the visibility of the area
To maintain the proportion of homogeneity and heterogeneity of built forms
To redefine the architectural style of core area in its surrounding development
To make public- private partnership for neighbourhood development
To enhance the open space framework and improving linkages to the core area.
To redefine and enhance the activities and functionality among open spaces and built forms.

Image Source: Author

6. Case Application
6.1. Selection of intervention area

6.2. Description

6.3. Proposals
7. Design implementations
8. Conclusions
Appendix

Bibliography