Dynamics of Urban Villages: Mapping the Transformation of Shahberi Village Greater Noida

Описание: Authors:
Kamini Singh
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
Anant Pratap Singh
Department of Architecture, SOE, Gautam Budha University, Greater Noida

Abstract:
Urban areas today are home to 55% of the world’s population, and are projected to accommodate about 60% by 2030, and 70% by 2050. In the process of expansion of urbanized area the Urban Villages in the periphery are being subjected to great pressure of development. Every village has large areas of agricultural land as livelihood asset. In the process of transformation these villages are looked at as commodity by the development mafia. The village of Shahberi was a unique case being studied in the research for a period of 10 years where in 2011 the 156 acre of land was returned back to the village community after a series of court cases and following popular protest. The Villagers united together for a historical change but with time the economic forces have turned to be powerful enough to cause a rural-urban hybrid settlement.
Due to varying forces the resulting settlement is unique in terms of spatial configuration, functions, form and activities. This study explores the spatial dynamics of Village Shahberi in order to understand how form, function and urban spaces transform with changing activity pattern. It also looks at various forces that initiate this transformation and the associated patterns within. This is done through the observations and documentation in the context of unplanned settlement in Delhi NCR backed by the theories of transformation. The study has greater relevance in Indian context as majority of the urban growth is taking place in the peri-urban areas. They may look chaotic and complex and are difficult to understand, but on deeper investigation, reveals a well-knitted structures.

Key words: Economic Force, Mixed-use, Spatial transformation, Urban Form, Urban Villages