Re-Imagining Planning: Creative arts as a catalyst for revitalisation of industrial areas in Delhi (India)

 

The post-independence Indian state, took up the administrative responsibility to unify and develop the diverse nation by taking the path of planning its economic, social and cultural resources. While it avows using arts and culture as tools for social inclusion, in reality they are typically utilized for strategies of development such as diplomacy and tourism. My proposal attempts to gauge the possibility of using the arts as a mechanism for urban development, rather than as only a tool for communication. In particular the project examines a performance and visual arts space in the city of Delhi as a potential focal point for development.

With expansion of the city borders, industrial areas formerly at the periphery have now come inside the city. These areas are under-utilized and neglected, but are now considered high-value land pockets and are targets for re-vitalisation.

 

My proposal takes the form of an architectural design project establishing a creative arts centre in one industrial area (Naraina Phase-2) of Delhi. As a venue for creation, learning and presentation of artistic work, the space will introduce and encourage participation in the practice of culture to people in and around the space. This becomes one node which creates a vibrant microclimate of interaction within a given radius. The proposition is to create 32 nodes which then cause a ripple effect through the entire city facilitating an urban-level re-generation process.

This proposes an active urban participatory development approach that demonstrates the long-term, large-scale effectiveness of immediate, small-scale actions.