7th ISDC 2009 - Sustainable Development and Revitalization of Transit Hubs

The cities are being transformed rapidly with new economic development in different sectors of economy such as Information Technology and Services. While on one side it has led to mushrooming of shopping malls and multiplexes on the other side the areas around transit hubs have been neglected. The old city centers, suburban and district centers around transit hubs call for urgent attention of architects, planners and policy makers.

The 7th IAHH International Student Design Competition shall focus on the issue of development and revitalization of areas around transit hubs. As the price of petroleum products continue to rise, the importance of public transportation systems becomes more critical for the very survival of urban centers and urban agglomerations. The areas around transit hubs usually provide a number of jobs in various businesses and commercial firms. They also act as city centers or district centers with varied shopping facilities, formal and informal markets, a whole range of services and supporting small-scale workshops. The areas around transit hubs also attract educational and cultural institutions as well as entertainment facilities. While many traditional cities provided adequate urban spaces as small and large squares and were surrounded by important open spaces in the form of gardens and parks, many of the contemporary cities lack such civic facilities.

It is the purpose of the competition to identify areas around transit hubs in towns and cities, survey and study these areas, identify the issues and problems in revitalization, conservation and redevelopment of such areas through appropriate, creative and innovative planning and design for development of sustainable humane habitats.

Site Selection and Analysis
The student competitors are required to identify such a transit hub area within or on the fringe of a city / town, in their own country or in any other country anywhere in the world. The transit hub area may admeasure about 10 to 20 hectares or so. Around a transit facility such as metro / railway / busway / tramway interchange or terminus. The student participants shall survey and study the area in depth to understand the complexity of social, economic and demographic issues involved and plan and design for its sustainable transit oriented area development, which may emerge as a revitalized city / district centre.

Planning and Design Brief
The design brief for transit area development shall focus on sustainable development of area around transit hub, providing affordable public transportation facilities and mixed use development. It shall include urban design for the area including planning and design for an urban community of 500 to 2000 units of dwelling and about 250 to1000 or more jobs in different establishments and work communities suited to location and urban context.

The housing typology and nature of work places in commercial, business, shopping facilities may vary as per the social, cultural, economic and environmental context. The area and type of housing units and work places shall depend on the existing and proposed density, demand for work-places and housing in the area. It shall also include related cultural and educational facilities. The design shall provide for a network of public squares, open spaces and pedestrian paths well integrated with landscape and urban design. It shall provide adequate parking facilities and related services. The project should meet its own energy needs, complete waste (solid, sewage, waste water) recycling and safe disposal.

The proposed plans and designs shall aim to evolve a more humane community through sustainable and affordable development strategy, appropriate construction and technology, innovative planning, creative architectural and sustainable environmental design. These shall be main criteria for evaluation of the projects.

Humane Habitat