EVOLUTION OF SHAH-JAHANABAD

history +adaption of housing

1. E VOLUTION OF S HAH- J AHANABAD

2. S HAHBUDDIN M UHAMMAD J HAHJAHAN 15 TH JANUARY 1952 – 22 ND JANUARY 1666 The city originated when – The fort at Agra faced agonizing heat along with insufficient accomodation and space for Shahjahan’s lavish lifestyle and his grand ceremonial processions. The fort and its buildings cost nearly 6 million. On the auspicious day of 8 th April 1648, Shahjahan finally entered Shahjahanabad. From 1803 to 1857 the East India Company virtually controlled Delhi. The city was taken over by the British after the defeat of the Marathas at the battle of Patparganj in 1803.

3. 18 57-58 P LAN

4. The city was a combination of the Hindu Vastu Shastra , Shilpashastra , the idea of ‘ Purusha ’ (Man), and the Islamic Sufi concept in Persian architecture . The city was laid down to emulate a human anatomy with the palace-fortress as its head. As per the Shastras , the site was placed on a high land and was Karmukha or bow shaped which ensured prosperity. The arm of the archer was Chandni Chowk. The string was Yamuna . The junction of the two main axes was the most auspicious point where the Red Fort is placed. P LANNING O F J HAHJAHANABAD Site : The Walled City of Shahjahanabad Site Area : 590 Ha Zone Location : 28.6507 N , 77.2334 E Chawri Bazaar, Churiwalan Climate : Humid Subtropical Wind Direction : North-West Avg. Temperature : 25◦C Total Area of Site : 1,17,195 sq m Avg. Precipitation : 790 MM Topography : At the apex of the meet b/w Aravali and Yamuna Hydrology : Yamuna River Bed Soil Type : Sand, Silt, Clay, Basalt Intertrapen Bed Geology : Older Alluvium, Laterite, Soil/ Boulder Built Area : 84,380 sq m Open Area : 32,841 sq m

5. The new Mughal capital and the fort were designed as an ideal city and a paradise on Earth. The design and planning methods were geometric and provided for green areas (gardens) and water facilities . Principal elements in the town planning were the fort , the Jami Masjid , two major streets , city wall and gates , the Bagh , the Id-gah and the Karawan Sarai . The Red fort was designed as a symbol of Muslim power and as an ideal living space on a formal geometrical plan . The Jami Masjid was designed as a symbol of Muslim power and of the capital. Two major streets were developed as the central axis and as processional routes and they were new elements in the capital. The design and the planning method was a new concept in town planning in the Mughal capital. Planning in the capital did not provide planning of residential areas. The city wall and gateways were drawn on a geometrical plan . Urban forms and patterns developed on there own in response to the emperor’s basic need and idea and little attention was paid to the social planning. P LANNING C ONCEPT & H IGHLIGHTS

6. H ISTORIC E VOLUTION The site is triangular – Aravalli ranges to South & West and Yamuna channel to East

7. Physical Infrastructure Number Remarks Transportation Main Roads 10 With R/o 80’ – 120’ Railway Station 1 Old Delhi Railway Station Bus Stops 4 East of Subhash Marg West of Subhash Marg Front of Railway Station Bhai Mati Das Chowk Petrol Pumps 2 Subash Marg Kashmere Gate Telecommunication Telephones Exchanges 2 Parks and Open Spaces Parks 3 Netaji Subhash Park Gandhi Ground Open Spaces Open area around Red Fort Social Infrastructure Number Remarks Health Hospitals 4 - Dispensaries 38 - Education Senior/Higher Secondary School 51 - Fire Service Fire Station 2 Darya Ganj S.P. Mukherjee Marg Police Service Police Station 4 Darya Ganj Lahori Gate Chandi Mahal Hauz Khas Police Post 5 - S OCIAL & P HYSICAL F ACILITIES

8. S TREETS & L ANES The streets in Mughal capital were usually narrow and crooked. However, the major streets in the new capital were designed as wide and straight . The two major streets developed as processional routes , as well as commercial arteries . They connected the Ajmeri Darwaza with the Jami Masjid and Turkman and Lahori Darwazas . Their intersections formed a landmark . Important buildings were located on these arteries. The street structure also includes the streets that are parallel to the city walls- forming a concentric ring . They then intermingle at chowks with the layering of streets, which derive their character from the fact that they are perpendicular to the main mosque, Jama Masjid. The other streets were less significant and were mainly built as access roads to the residential areas . Streetscape planning points

9. S TREETS & L ANES Primarily the streets and bye-lanes were designed for pedestrian movement and animal driven vehicles . With British regime , the layout of the city changed The streets and lanes being very narrow have traffic congestion problem. The important services like Fire trucks cannot reach most places because of narrow streets. Corners and dead ends have become dumping grounds and the problem aggravates every passing day. Service lane Narrow Street Current analysis

10. S TREETS & L ANES Continued.... Dimly lit lane near Church Mission Road in front of Church Mission. Notice the spill over of activities on the road The streets being narrow become an extension of the activities along its sides. The overcrowded nature of Shahjahanabad is also seen on the roads with less space for vehicular and pedestrian movement. While dimly lit lanes are dangerous for women at night

11. A REA D ENSITY The area is mostly High-density. The density varies from 1506 to 1596 persons per Hectare . The highest density is found near Chitli Kabar where as many as 1596 persons reside per Ha. All residential areas are of high density Lower densities are found in areas of Red Fort, Railway Station, Daryaganj and Kashmere Gate. These areas have more open spaces and were built at a relatively later date in early 40s High density areas are Churi Walan, Kucha Pati Ram, Farash Khana and Tilak Bazaar. O PEN S PACES There are 3 big parks/open spaces in the walled city namely Netaji Subash Park, Gandhi ground and open space around Red Fort . The total open space within congested residential areas of the city work out to be 11.5 Ha

12. Kabuli Gate Lahori Gate Ajmeri Gate Turkman Gate Nigambodh Gate Mori Gate C ITY G ATES NIGAMBODH GATE Located in North-East Leads to river Yamuna TURKMAN GATE Located in South-East Incorporates tomb of Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani, and nearby pre Shah Jahan remains KASHMERE GATE Located in North MORI GATE Located in North KASHMERE GATE Located in South-East. Leads to Ghaziuddin Khans’ Madrassa and Cannaught Place, concentric point KABULI GATE Located in West LAHORI GATE Located in West DELHI GATE Located in South. Leads to Firoz Shah Kotla cricket ground and older habitation of Delhi. Delhi Gate Kashmere Gate

13. SITA RAM BAZAR - A very famous market of old delhi also includes heritage and cultural buildings like masterji ki haveli. MATIA MAHAL -This is the area adjacent to jama masjid famous for the food joints and market places but the streets are narrow and crowded CHURIWALAN - As the name suggests it’s a bangle market area URDU BAZAAR - The orignal market is destroyed but the name survives as a location near jami masjid. The urdu language obtained its name from this market. Area includes residential wards, markets, monuments and heritage sites, public spaces, mosques, temples etc. P RECINCTS

14. The Jami Masjid was the principal mosque of the capital , the congregational centre and one of the most important institutions for the Muslims in Shahjahanabad. Shah Jahan commenced building the mosque in 1650, and completed it 6 years later. It was located at the central part of the city and on a raised foundation at the top of a hill 9mts above the street level. The mosque dominated the walled city as a visual as well as a spiritual symbol of supreme god. The courtyard was large and was enclosed by pillared corridors. Its layouts, having a main entrance on the east , was geometric and the whole mosque faced west towards Mecca . Muslim urban life closely evolved around the Jami Masjid. J AMI M ASJID

15. Area around turkman gate includes various margs (roads), Commercial markets, residential areas etc. Main Areas within 3 kms of Turkman gate includes the very famous areas of Old Delhi, Jami masjid , Matia Mahal, Churi Walan , Urdu Bazaar, Chandi gali etc . Few famous landmarks in the area are : Sitaram Bazar, Haskar Haveli where jawaharlal nehru was married in 1916 to kamla nehru, Razia Begum Tomb, Karim’s etc T URKMAN G ATE

16. H AVELLIS Typical Haveli courtyard The members of the imperial household (known as Great Amirs and Imperial Princes of Mughal court) who lived outside the fort built large mansions (havellis) on the model of the imperial design of the red fort. These City palaces accommodated not only the owner and his family, but also their numerous followers, servants, and craftsmen with their workshops. Great Amirs adapted the layout of the palace-fortress in designing their own mansions. Each haveli has a Naqqar Khannah , a library , shish mahal , hammam , garden , and mosque , and busy kar-khanas employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen Arched doorway to a Haveli Introduction

17. H ISTORIC I NFLUENCE ON F ACADE The onset of British rule led to many changes in Shajahanabad. Some of these changes can be seen on the facades of the Havellis

18. Built of Lahori brick, with characteristic ornamental gateways , cusped-arch entrances , hanging balconies or jharokhas , fluted intricately carved sandstone columns and facades, and floral carvings Minaret Floral Carvings Arched Doorway A RCHITECTURAL F EATURES

19. Lahori Bricks Hanging Balcony Fluted Sandstone Column

20. S ERVICES Wiring, Cabling & Drainage Almost all the cables, wires and connections are dangling in mid-air. No cable management is seen. Power failures and short circuits is common in this area due to cable mis-management. Cables and wires of both telecommunication and electricity can be seen hanging between two buildings above the streets in a messy way. Notice the dark and dingy nature of the street

21. Wiring, Cabling & Drainage S ERVICES The same is the case for drainages . The place lacks proper drainage channels which leads to water logging on the streets. Houses lack proper ways to drain storm water Water logging gives rise to Malaria and Dengue during the monsoon season. Natural lighting and Ventilation Due to the claustrophobic nature of construction the streets lack proper sunlighting and the wind flow is very constricted. Street Lighting is improper which creates dark spots in corners, a safety hazard!

22. T HANK Y OU