Chandigarh is known all over the world as an outstanding example of architecture, planning and landscaping.
The seeds of extensive landscaping and verdure were
embedded in the city layout plan by its architect-planner Le Corbusier right at the beginning, with the provision of large number of open spaces, green belts, city parks
and neighborhood parks. Today, after nearly 60 years of its inception, the city stands out for its high quality of life and clean, relatively pollution free environment,
unlike other growing urban areas in the country. Its citizens enjoy a direct relationship of the built-form with nature, and have abundant access to green spaces all over
the city. Thus Chandigarh has been endowed with a great legacy of landscaping and greenery. The conservation of this green heritage in future is a major concern
OPEN SPACE STRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF CHANDIGARH with regards to the rapid development of the city in the last few decades.
THE PARKS:
Ample Areas have been provided for parks in the master plan of the city. For these parks, a very
informal style of planting has been used. Interior belts of trees within the parks merge up in the
outer plantation to give a subtle feeling of the whole city. There are narrow greenways connecting
all the major parks, and an area of 75 acres has been allowed for the zoological garden, along with
100 acres of botanical gardens. Apart from preservation of old trees, some trees have been planted
in the form of squares and circles, and the rest have been planted in clumps in such a manner, that
the tallest trees are in the middle and the smaller trees are at periphery, thus creating pyramids of
greenery.
• Memory Park: In order to safeguard Le Corbusier’s concept of green parkland on the north of
the Uttar Marg, the area between the High Court and the Sukhna Lake, the Memory Park was
created. It was felt that institutionalizing the area was necessary to keep it green and free from
encroachments. The area, however, needs to be properly maintained and citizens be made
aware of its presence. Rose Garden
• Butterfly Park: Butterfly Park in Sector 26 is one of the most beautiful landmarks of the City
Beautiful - a befitting example of biodiversity from which students and teachers alike could
learn highly stimulating lessons to cultivate love for Mother Nature. It should be conserved in its
original form and maintained with care warranted by a Heritage site.
• Rose Garden: Named after India’s former President Dr. Zakir Hussain, the Rose Garden is the
largest of its kind in Asia and is spread over an area of 27 acres. Built as a part of the green belt,
the garden has a large variety of roses and a fountain to relax the soul.
• Rajendra Park: Spread over a sprawling area of 400 acres, the Rajendra Park adjacent to the
Secretariat building is designed by Le Corbusier himself as part of the Capitol Parc. Trees with
round canopies and evergreen foliage have been planted here. The plantation has not followed
the original plan. The park is presently being used as a helipad and is an out of bound area for
the city residents. This park has been recommended for the heritage status and needs to be
completed as per the original plan in consultation with the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation
Committee.
Butterfly Park
HIERARCHY OF OPEN SPACES:
• There is a very orderly and hierarchal system of open spaces in the city ranging from the smaller
neighborhood level to the city level.
• Unlike, other Indian cities, Chandigarh does not have any incidental or random left-over spaces as the open
spaces; but rather a well planned orderly structure.
• Over the last 60 years, this pronounced green aspect of the city has become its identity, hallmark and a
proud heritage. All of this has taken deep roots as something very dear and precious for its inhabitants,
that not only needs to be protected carefully but also nurtured.
• The Urban Development (UDPFI) norms for open spaces recommend that the overall quantum of town
level /city level parks should range between 10 sq. meter to 12 sq. meter per person, which would include
parks, play fields ,specified parks, amusement parks, maidans, multi-purpose open spaces, botanical
garden, geological park and traffic park etc.
• An analysis of such-like open spaces within the city brings out that in the first phase 1850.33 acre (19.69%)
was planned as open spaces. Memory Park
• The building norms then also ensured that the boundary walls were very low which helped extend the
city’s horizons visually as one continuous green area.
• Also the huge chunks of land and open spaces allotted to the institutional areas in the first phase (which
are nearly more than double the present norms in many cases) also well planted and green, enhance the
overall open space quantum in the first phase of Chandigarh. As such the green open spaces available
either in the form of private housing, schools, colleges or other institutional large campuses such as Punjab
Engineering College, Punjab University; over and above the planned green areas in the city layout,
contribute as much as the overall city greenery and open spaces.
NOIDA COMPARISON:
• There is no specific hierarchy system, nothing seems planned for green spaces in terms of sector distribution, just a
common park facility is given.
• There are left over open spaces which are not being utilized, our site surrounding the canal has a green belt going along
the line which doesn't fulfill any purpose as of now.
• There is no such green identity in Noida, the most acclaimed landmark, Botanical Garden, has also lost its boundaries
due to massive construction process.
• Noida has the potential to be the largest green cover city in the country, the only thing limiting the process is the lack of
policies, but since 2018, the government has started to implement policies for the tiny forest project.
• There are no such implementations over boundary wall height, no specific attention has been given to horizon visuals.
• There is a lot of scope to utilize open structure patches, the city has the potential to be have an identity based on
green spaces.
