Ideas to be included in a Master Plan Development
India's urban landscape is undergoing rapid growth and development, in pursuit of seeking better working and living opportunities. This growth consequently demands for more and more environmental resources for its sustenance.
As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India faces the challenge of accommodating a surging population while addressing environmental concerns. Hence, the need for conscious master planning is important. Master Planning of residential townships aids in navigating through the current real estate and environmental landscape and plans for a future that is not only prosperous but also environmentally conscious.
Master planning involves planning with strategies that address the needs and concerns of the current urban development, incorporating social, economic, and environmental factors. By carefully considering these elements, planners can design layouts that minimizes waste, maximizes efficiency, and improve the quality of life for its residents.
An effective master plan begins by identifying the core needs and values of its future residents. It considers demographics, lifestyle preferences, and housing trends. This insight guides the planning of neighborhoods, road networks, and recreational amenities.
Planning strategies of residential townships that involve careful considerations in the balance of the social and environmental factors have the ability of creating vibrant living communities. This enables opportunities of gathering while also providing serene, private living spaces.
Land areas of such planned townships have a huge acreage; hence, it is necessary to provide amenity spaces with adequate and sufficient areas that cater to the physical and social health of the community. They support the overall functioning of such large acres of land and help in the making of livable communities. These planned townships with supporting community spaces facilitate social belongingness and quality of life.
The development process of master planning involves a series of design and construction decisions based on the location of the project. It is a team effort of various stakeholders-
As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India faces the challenge of accommodating a surging population while addressing environmental concerns. Hence, the need for conscious master planning is important. Master Planning of residential townships aids in navigating through the current real estate and environmental landscape and plans for a future that is not only prosperous but also environmentally conscious.
Master planning involves planning with strategies that address the needs and concerns of the current urban development, incorporating social, economic, and environmental factors. By carefully considering these elements, planners can design layouts that minimizes waste, maximizes efficiency, and improve the quality of life for its residents.
An effective master plan begins by identifying the core needs and values of its future residents. It considers demographics, lifestyle preferences, and housing trends. This insight guides the planning of neighborhoods, road networks, and recreational amenities.
Planning strategies of residential townships that involve careful considerations in the balance of the social and environmental factors have the ability of creating vibrant living communities. This enables opportunities of gathering while also providing serene, private living spaces.
Land areas of such planned townships have a huge acreage; hence, it is necessary to provide amenity spaces with adequate and sufficient areas that cater to the physical and social health of the community. They support the overall functioning of such large acres of land and help in the making of livable communities. These planned townships with supporting community spaces facilitate social belongingness and quality of life.
The development process of master planning involves a series of design and construction decisions based on the location of the project. It is a team effort of various stakeholders-
- Architects- for the functional and aesthetic planning of the project,
- Building regulations consultants- to assist in the land use assessment,
- Environment consultants- to ensure safety with respect to the existing land conditions as well as in the design and construction sustainability.
- Structural engineers- for building and road construction details,
- MEP consultants- for the electrical and plumbing works
- Horticulturalists- for the landscape planning technicalities.
Designing a master plan layout, by its scale, prompts in broadening horizons. A strict rectangular layout might provide the ease in stacking numerous apartments but it does not provide a holistic living experience. Experimentation in the geometry of the building footprints provides multiple options that may better optimize the surrounding view and the landscape, pedestrian and vehicular pathways. Hence, it is essential to consider the big picture first before considering individual apartment layout options. Further following points require to be considered to achieve a layout that works better functionally as well as aesthetically -
1. Large Open Spaces rather than creating small green pockets- Large open spaces are preferable than creating pockets of lawn spaces as they facilitate the wind flow into the site. They also provide spacious open spaces for play and gathering that in turn boost social and community life. As the number of residents in such townships is large, the vertically stacked buildings look significantly less intimidating in larger open spaces.
2. Careful planning of Pedestrian and Motorized Spaces- According to policies, in a township development, 8% of the open spaces need to be allocated to motorized movement. While vehicular moment is necessary for commuting, pedestrian walkways are equally crucial in the planning process. In fact, pedestrian pathways can be appropriately prioritized through site planning that encourages physical movement to its residents.
1. Large Open Spaces rather than creating small green pockets- Large open spaces are preferable than creating pockets of lawn spaces as they facilitate the wind flow into the site. They also provide spacious open spaces for play and gathering that in turn boost social and community life. As the number of residents in such townships is large, the vertically stacked buildings look significantly less intimidating in larger open spaces.
2. Careful planning of Pedestrian and Motorized Spaces- According to policies, in a township development, 8% of the open spaces need to be allocated to motorized movement. While vehicular moment is necessary for commuting, pedestrian walkways are equally crucial in the planning process. In fact, pedestrian pathways can be appropriately prioritized through site planning that encourages physical movement to its residents.
3. Environmental Considerations- The planning is crucial as it orchestrates the working of various other systems. For example, the topography of the site is critical as is dictates the drainage of the particular part of land. This can help in addressing the water logging concerns of that area, if any. Similarly, a thorough study of past occurrences of natural calamities in that region must be noted in order to be aware and prepared for the future as safety of the residents is of utmost importance. These environmental considerations are crucial to be considered during the planning process as they help in building townships that are safe for the community as a whole.
4. Prioritizing Green Open Spaces- While we face the effects of climate change, it is our responsibility as planners to prioritize green spaces that contribute in alleviating these effects while also promoting healthy and comfortable breathing spaces.
5. Stacked or Under Ground Parking to maximize open sq. ft. space- Today’s real estate landscape poses space constraints hence opting for stacked or underground parking provides a better approach in optimizing open spaces that can used in landscaping or for other amenities.
4. Prioritizing Green Open Spaces- While we face the effects of climate change, it is our responsibility as planners to prioritize green spaces that contribute in alleviating these effects while also promoting healthy and comfortable breathing spaces.
5. Stacked or Under Ground Parking to maximize open sq. ft. space- Today’s real estate landscape poses space constraints hence opting for stacked or underground parking provides a better approach in optimizing open spaces that can used in landscaping or for other amenities.
6. Planning to Walking Paths to create interesting walking experiences- Walking, as compared to other modes of transport, has a slower pace. This poses a design opportunity for creating pedestrian spaces that enhance the walking experience as it opens windows of appreciation time. Using design tools like landscape planning or material selections, we can create interesting sensorial experiences for pedestrians that enrich the walking journey. One can pause and take a look around at the surroundings which proves to be uplifting and healthy.
7. Creating Interesting Intersections or Junctions- The above-mentioned pedestrian walkways can then lead to junctions or piazzas that form community gathering spaces and provide a fulfilling experience.
7. Creating Interesting Intersections or Junctions- The above-mentioned pedestrian walkways can then lead to junctions or piazzas that form community gathering spaces and provide a fulfilling experience.
8. Including adequate areas for children’s play spaces- Designated Play areas are crucial for the physical, social and motor skills of children. They can be designed with appropriate play equipment that offer space of play and also learning.
9. Planning of cycling tracks- While considering connectivity of the building towers to various other amenities in the layout, cycling tracks must also be taken into consideration as they encourage its usage. Provision of separate cycle tracks promote the choice of opting for a sustainable mode of transportation.
10. To create well-planned neighborhoods within a town that provide a sense of togetherness with close-knit spaces- Design and planning tools that enhance the human nature and experience can help in creating spaces that provide a sense of belongingness to its users.
11.Density- The tenement density with respect to the total plot area and the FSI of the respective regional zone must be calculated and taken into account during the planning. This provides a clear picture about the size of the population the plot can hold. This is critical for the design and construction decisions in the planning process to plan comfortable townships.
12. Healthcare facilities- As the population of such townships is higher, it is crucial to incorporate spaces catering to healthcare facilities that can tend to emergency situations when required and must be located at important street nodes so that they can be accessed easily.
13. Developing a layout that is organic- The connectivity planning should be such that it allows for easy navigation to the various spaces in the layout. Along with the provision of adequate signages, layout must also include elements of visual connections that help in understanding navigation.
14. Educational Facilities- Considering the area of the plot, provision of basic primary education facilities must be incorporated for the development that is proportional to the population of the layout.
9. Planning of cycling tracks- While considering connectivity of the building towers to various other amenities in the layout, cycling tracks must also be taken into consideration as they encourage its usage. Provision of separate cycle tracks promote the choice of opting for a sustainable mode of transportation.
10. To create well-planned neighborhoods within a town that provide a sense of togetherness with close-knit spaces- Design and planning tools that enhance the human nature and experience can help in creating spaces that provide a sense of belongingness to its users.
11.Density- The tenement density with respect to the total plot area and the FSI of the respective regional zone must be calculated and taken into account during the planning. This provides a clear picture about the size of the population the plot can hold. This is critical for the design and construction decisions in the planning process to plan comfortable townships.
12. Healthcare facilities- As the population of such townships is higher, it is crucial to incorporate spaces catering to healthcare facilities that can tend to emergency situations when required and must be located at important street nodes so that they can be accessed easily.
13. Developing a layout that is organic- The connectivity planning should be such that it allows for easy navigation to the various spaces in the layout. Along with the provision of adequate signages, layout must also include elements of visual connections that help in understanding navigation.
14. Educational Facilities- Considering the area of the plot, provision of basic primary education facilities must be incorporated for the development that is proportional to the population of the layout.