A plan for improving walkability, livability, and sustainability over the next decade in Vasco-da-Gama, Goa.
Reconfiguring Streets
Enhancing the streets of Vasco City while maintaining its unique character and authenticity through usage of local materials and keeping in mind its rich history.
YEAR
2022
SIZE
28 Acres
LOCATION
Goa, India
SERVICES
Urban Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture
A series of diagrams below showing tree canopies, signage, paved walkways, strategic lighting, seating and landscapes create a cohesive street design that embodies the Vasco identity. Vasco is also one of the hot spots in the city for various social and cultural events and lacks any significant cultural spaces required to foster community. This project aims to cover all aspects of the city's past, present and future through sharing its heritage and history and building keeping the future generations in mind. Enhancing the streets of the city while maintaining its unique character and authenticity.
Existing layers in the chosen area
Significance of Vasco
This city serves as the headquaters of the Mormugao sub-district.
The Mormugao Port constructed in 1888 still remains one of the busiest shipping routes in Asia. The Indian Navy has multiple campuses such as Naval base INS Hansa in this city.
Vasco is well connected by various modes of transport such as -
Road : the National Highway 17A and National Highway 17B
Rail : Vasco-da-Gama Railway Station
Sea : Mormugao Port
Air : Dabolim Airport
Apart from it being a well connected hub, the city also has some major tourist attractions - Igreja de Santo André (St. Andrew’s Church) which is 400 years old and is situated at the entrance of the City. Naval Aviation Museum is a popular spot and is one of three such museums in India which profiles the evolution and history of Indian Naval Aviation.
Vasco is known for some popular activities/events -
Shri Damodar Bhajani Saptah, a street fair held preceding the festival of Nag Pachami.
Shigmo, a carnival held annually with the street parade where floats from all over Goa participate and are showcased. Both of these events are held on Swatantra Path, the primary street in the heart of the City.
Challenges
Opportunities
Reform Space
We dug deeper to realize the needs of the two main streets that run in the heart of the city. The current two-way streets without any traffic regulations are causing congestion in certain areas. Unmanaged and ignored drainage systems with broken pavements are dangerous for pedestrians which in-turn creates a bypass of pedestrians walking on streets causing further congestion due to the limited single lane street space.
We tested framework ideas against various existing, upcoming and future development typologies to ensure parking, circulation, and efficiencies were met. The design goals were to establish a flexible framework in which numerous land use and density scenarios could play out over the coming decades.
Before & After of Swantantra Path
Key Features of the Street design
- Uniform pavements
- Public seating
- Signage
- Bus stops
- 45 degree parking for 4 wheelers and 2 wheelers
- 2 commute lanes
- 2 wheeler lane
- Landscaping
- Indigenous shade trees along the street
- Trash cans
- Potted flowering plants
- Sufficient street & pavement lighting
Initial sketches of the one-way street plan + Intersections
Local Identity
Throughout this exercise, we tried to keep in mind that this city has a rich history and we had to bring that aspect to the forefront. We worked on creating an identity for the city as a whole. Something that people in the community could relate to and feel a part of. The use of local indigenous materials in the built environment such as the local red laterite rocks was a conscious decision made on our end to emphasize the need for building sustainably and sourcing locally. This also adds authenticity and uniqueness to the entire locality. We hope to create a good benchmark for other cities in the State of Goa to replicate these practices.
If you have a project and think we’d be the ideal partner to bring it to life, please write to us. We’d love to hear from you!
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