"Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it's decoration."
- Jeffrey Zeldman
This world has been witness to many human interventions for the benefits and comfort of it's own people. History took a turn when Architectural re-programming of a city or town was introduced.
Not only did we change the very concept of architecture, which was initially merely decorative, we managed to impose a function on an existing network of communities with specific needs. Several cities and towns were developed or "planned" claiming to benefit the living population in the long run. Let us take a look at some examples and see if they truly have resolved the urban problems of their respective eras:
FATEHPUR SIKRI - 1571 AD
Fatehpur Sikri was a planned township 40kms from Agra, the very first by a Mughal Emperor, Akbar. The site was ancient, with excavations dating back to 1010AD and had witnessed human evolution through several ages. It was completed in 1571, and is documented to have been occupied only for 13 years.
Akbar's victory over Gujarat and the birth of his first son, was a motivation for him to create a walled city as per the prophesy told to him. Fatehpur Sikri also knows as just Sikri, was located in the upper ranges of the Vindhyas and once had abundant water from nearby lakes. With low populations and abundant water, people moved freely into new towns with little motivation.
Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and Salim Chisti Tomb were some of the iconic structures built on this site and is a remarkable feat of architecture till date.
This city came to see rapid migration away as water resources started depleting. People who just began settling after a perilous journey from afar, were faced with water scarcity and had to create alternatives.
This town was planned extensively with drains, and was meant to function effectively, defying the belief that beautiful cities are just that and cannot be anything more. The whole town had been planned meticulously to look good and provide comfort, but what lacked was the awareness regarding water resources.
Large fountains and pools were created in public spaces for the aesthetics but this led to depletion of water which could have been otherwise used for essential purposes.
Sikri was built completely on the whims of the Emperor and as he left to war in Punjab, he lost interest in this city and so did the people. The deterioration began and eventually led to complete abandonment in 1610.
PALMANOVA - 1693 AD
Located in northeast Italy, the Palmanova was envisioned by the Venetian regime as a utopian city. This era faced a lot wars, before, during and after WWI, this city was supposed to act as a fortress, with ideal planning and self sustainable means of living, it was an impenetrable army base to fight of Austrian and Turkish forces.
It was planned in the shape of a star, with three concentric 9 sided circles originating from the center, surrounded by a wall of 7km radius. The Palmanova was divided based on the occupation of the user, and units were strategically placed to make each ring/module self sustainable. It was surrounded with astounding views and landscaping making it the dream stay for any citizen. Believing that beauty reinforces the wellness of a society, Palmanova celebrated it's success well before it saw it.
Although appealing, the Palmanova remained unoccupied for the longest time, after which the government pardoned prisoners and made them stay there. The inefficiency was owed to the fact that the claims of being impenetrable were false. This fortress was raided twice by Napoleon and behaved merely as a base camp for army men.
The town was made a National monument in 1960. It stands today in all its grandeur as a reminder that form follows function and not the other way round.
COPENHAGEN - 1947 AD
Copenhagen was planned by the regional planning committee under the state after WWII. It was planned in the form of a hand, with extending development from the center. This can be compared to Hoyt's sector model, which talks about development of public transport like railway lines and buses along the industrial veins of a city originating from the CBD or Central Business District.
Copenhagen seems to be an adaptation of this model with extensive railway and roadway connections along the five stretched pieces of land that form the fingers. The thumb was initially not considered for development, and after the CBD saw profit, this development was initiated.
A renewed focus was put on the industrial areas and harbour fronts to boost the economy of the city and was influenced by the modernist principles of the era. The privileged moved out to the suburbs as predicted by the Hoyt's model and industrial sector saw a raise in occupation and productivity catching the attention of all of Europe. With thriving green spaces and dynamic buffer zones, Scandinavians have always been pioneers of landscaping.
Copenhagen has been a successful urban experiment with perfect bridge between the architect and client being played by the state itself.
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