URBAN MARKETS TODAY
In the third year of architecture school we studied institutions – a school, museum etc. However over the last few years a growing influence on urbanity is the marketplace or the urban “mall”.
To better understand the urban mall, we need to study its history. In ancient times the markets were a street, like in Srirangam, Jaipur or Mylapore in Chennai. During Colonial times, new towns were setup that initially more or less followed the same ancient indian typology. However as the Colonial city expanded, the typology too changed to a new building as in Connaught Place in New Delhi, Spencers in Chennai etc. With independence though, the shopping complex evolved which is fast morphing into a hyper–mall of sorts. One example to study in the indian context is Correa's mall in Kolkota.
Correa in Kolkota
Kolkata got a unique Landmark called City Centre at the Salt Lake in the eastern part of the city on the 5th of June 2004. City centre has emerged as a single preferred destination addressing multifarious needs for the entire family. The City Centre was conceived not only as a shopping mall but also as an office complex, a residential area and a lot more. A confluence as it was, of all needs and also a solution to it.
City Centre Kolkata's first integrated multi–utility facility that is located at Salt Lake has been promoted by Bengal Ambuja Metropolitan Development Authority, a venture between Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.
Confluence, is the essence of the City Centre a confluence to functionality and aesthetics. Though it looks very compact it houses an 1100 seater multiplex and an assortment of around 250 establishment’s offerings a wide range of products and services attempting to meet all needs of customer of all age groups.
City Center, designed by Charles Correa, is spread over six acre and is built in 22 months at an estimated cost of Rs 120 Crores. City Center represents a unique confluence of shopping malls, cineplexes, entertainment areas, food courts, offices, feet of land and residences amidst open spaces, lush green and contours over a sprawling space of half a million square feet of and much more. City Centre has seven buildings for retail and commercial outlets and structure housing the Inox multiplex each of its seven buildings is inter connected. Elaborate seating arrangements have been made in a large expanse of open space, christened Kund, plus there is a fountain and a 19th century tram in the exhibition area. There is parking space for 800 cars: 14 entry and exit points and large spaces to amble around.
There are several aspects to City Centre. Its inclusiveness for one. With no boundaries to separate it from the street, it is open to everyone all income and age groups. The architecture of the complex embodies the spirit of Kolkata. The central kund and numerous nooks and corners are created to fuel the city’s best know passion – adda. Add to that the Kalighat paintings and the art wall to complement the cities artistic heritage.
There’s a Raj touch in the restored horse drawn tramcar from where the visitors can collect city memorabilia. Apart from outlets of various branded wears, jewellery shops , coffee shops , departmental stores and a multiplex theatre it also has care and compassion, in the store Akriti where NGOs showcase products, made by the less privileged showcase products.
City centre tries to cater to every segment of society. Branded stores rub shoulders with their unbranded cousins, the ubiquitous muri – wala and chayer dokan (Tea Junction) reach out to visitors along with café coffee day, pizza hut and their ilk. Heritage, culture and indomitable kolkata spirit are not trampled over by rampant commercialism as a vintage tram; an innetant art wall and an NGO pavilion stake their claim with gentle persuasiveness.
THE CENTRE
Not knowing what to do can be an empty feeling. The next time it happens, you are more likely to say 'Let me spend some time at the City Centre.'
The City Centre is special because it addresses the needs of those who know what they want and of those who don’t. In doing so it promises to maximize the efficiency of the busy and enrich leisure of the idle.
It will do so through a unique environment that enables both kind of visitors to feel absolutely comfortable. So that, they may spend longer time at the City Centre than at other places.
For instance, a vast multi-stepped plaza has been designed with a ‘Kund’– a water body. This provides place to sit, to idle or just to be there. In doing so the modern contemporary look has been blended with a nostalgia truly Kolkatan.
Ideal for visitors who want to do nothing more adventurous at the City Centre than soak the sun in the open. Or simply chat with each other.
This provision for leisure is expected to extend the City Centre from just an adda for people of all ages to where a casual interest is translated into purchase on impulse. And where casual visitors can evolve into a place-loyal community.
The Mall (Block A )
Shopping of three levels ( ground / first / second)
Anchor departmental store ,Mall in Mall, branded products stores and other shops . Coffee shop and restaurant.
Food court (Third level)
Multi- cuisine, self- service, fast-food outlet. Large air- conditioned space with an adjacent open terrace. Capacity for 500 diners at any time.
Hall
Multi- purpose banquet hall for exhibitions, product launches, private parties , marriages , musical performances and other events. 15,000 square feet of covered area. Separate lobby and entrance.
Entertainment arena
Large air- conditioned, columnless space offering a variety of entertainment options.
The Plaza (Blocks B,C,D,E)
Independent shops on the ground and the first floor .
All shops and pedestrian areas protected from the natural elements by a covered pergola.
Linked with a pedestrian plaza and connecting bridges.
Commercial spaces on the other floors to be used as offices or as a restaurant, beauty parlour, health club, polyclinic, business center or such other facility.
The Cineplex
Four screen multiplexSeating capacity for more than 1000.Independent snacks and beverages outlet.Retail space
The Tower
An exclusive eight – storey office block of plush state-of-the – art office space.
The Fountain Plaza
A kund water body surrounded by stepped plaza where visitors can relax and idle.
(check out website - http://www.citycentrekolkata.com/themall.asp)
write to Elsee
Email: arkhaic@gmail.com
In the third year of architecture school we studied institutions – a school, museum etc. However over the last few years a growing influence on urbanity is the marketplace or the urban “mall”.
To better understand the urban mall, we need to study its history. In ancient times the markets were a street, like in Srirangam, Jaipur or Mylapore in Chennai. During Colonial times, new towns were setup that initially more or less followed the same ancient indian typology. However as the Colonial city expanded, the typology too changed to a new building as in Connaught Place in New Delhi, Spencers in Chennai etc. With independence though, the shopping complex evolved which is fast morphing into a hyper–mall of sorts. One example to study in the indian context is Correa's mall in Kolkota.
Correa in Kolkota
Kolkata got a unique Landmark called City Centre at the Salt Lake in the eastern part of the city on the 5th of June 2004. City centre has emerged as a single preferred destination addressing multifarious needs for the entire family. The City Centre was conceived not only as a shopping mall but also as an office complex, a residential area and a lot more. A confluence as it was, of all needs and also a solution to it.
City Centre Kolkata's first integrated multi–utility facility that is located at Salt Lake has been promoted by Bengal Ambuja Metropolitan Development Authority, a venture between Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.
Confluence, is the essence of the City Centre a confluence to functionality and aesthetics. Though it looks very compact it houses an 1100 seater multiplex and an assortment of around 250 establishment’s offerings a wide range of products and services attempting to meet all needs of customer of all age groups.
City Center, designed by Charles Correa, is spread over six acre and is built in 22 months at an estimated cost of Rs 120 Crores. City Center represents a unique confluence of shopping malls, cineplexes, entertainment areas, food courts, offices, feet of land and residences amidst open spaces, lush green and contours over a sprawling space of half a million square feet of and much more. City Centre has seven buildings for retail and commercial outlets and structure housing the Inox multiplex each of its seven buildings is inter connected. Elaborate seating arrangements have been made in a large expanse of open space, christened Kund, plus there is a fountain and a 19th century tram in the exhibition area. There is parking space for 800 cars: 14 entry and exit points and large spaces to amble around.
There are several aspects to City Centre. Its inclusiveness for one. With no boundaries to separate it from the street, it is open to everyone all income and age groups. The architecture of the complex embodies the spirit of Kolkata. The central kund and numerous nooks and corners are created to fuel the city’s best know passion – adda. Add to that the Kalighat paintings and the art wall to complement the cities artistic heritage.
There’s a Raj touch in the restored horse drawn tramcar from where the visitors can collect city memorabilia. Apart from outlets of various branded wears, jewellery shops , coffee shops , departmental stores and a multiplex theatre it also has care and compassion, in the store Akriti where NGOs showcase products, made by the less privileged showcase products.
City centre tries to cater to every segment of society. Branded stores rub shoulders with their unbranded cousins, the ubiquitous muri – wala and chayer dokan (Tea Junction) reach out to visitors along with café coffee day, pizza hut and their ilk. Heritage, culture and indomitable kolkata spirit are not trampled over by rampant commercialism as a vintage tram; an innetant art wall and an NGO pavilion stake their claim with gentle persuasiveness.
THE CENTRE
Not knowing what to do can be an empty feeling. The next time it happens, you are more likely to say 'Let me spend some time at the City Centre.'
The City Centre is special because it addresses the needs of those who know what they want and of those who don’t. In doing so it promises to maximize the efficiency of the busy and enrich leisure of the idle.
It will do so through a unique environment that enables both kind of visitors to feel absolutely comfortable. So that, they may spend longer time at the City Centre than at other places.
For instance, a vast multi-stepped plaza has been designed with a ‘Kund’– a water body. This provides place to sit, to idle or just to be there. In doing so the modern contemporary look has been blended with a nostalgia truly Kolkatan.
Ideal for visitors who want to do nothing more adventurous at the City Centre than soak the sun in the open. Or simply chat with each other.
This provision for leisure is expected to extend the City Centre from just an adda for people of all ages to where a casual interest is translated into purchase on impulse. And where casual visitors can evolve into a place-loyal community.
The Mall (Block A )
Shopping of three levels ( ground / first / second)
Anchor departmental store ,Mall in Mall, branded products stores and other shops . Coffee shop and restaurant.
Food court (Third level)
Multi- cuisine, self- service, fast-food outlet. Large air- conditioned space with an adjacent open terrace. Capacity for 500 diners at any time.
Hall
Multi- purpose banquet hall for exhibitions, product launches, private parties , marriages , musical performances and other events. 15,000 square feet of covered area. Separate lobby and entrance.
Entertainment arena
Large air- conditioned, columnless space offering a variety of entertainment options.
The Plaza (Blocks B,C,D,E)
Independent shops on the ground and the first floor .
All shops and pedestrian areas protected from the natural elements by a covered pergola.
Linked with a pedestrian plaza and connecting bridges.
Commercial spaces on the other floors to be used as offices or as a restaurant, beauty parlour, health club, polyclinic, business center or such other facility.
The Cineplex
Four screen multiplexSeating capacity for more than 1000.Independent snacks and beverages outlet.Retail space
The Tower
An exclusive eight – storey office block of plush state-of-the – art office space.
The Fountain Plaza
A kund water body surrounded by stepped plaza where visitors can relax and idle.
(check out website - http://www.citycentrekolkata.com/themall.asp)
write to Elsee
Email: arkhaic@gmail.com
5 comments:
Today markets have no character, how can we study any typology. How do we know what is relevant in designing the 21st cebtury markets. is history really essential to this and why? can anybody respond for my fourth year sem assignment !
Elsee !!! could you indicate how the modular was used in ancient markets - and how is it it adapted today -
traditional markets were street oriented while modern markets are building oriented - does that have a significant impact on how we perceive the experience of urban commerce and its impact on architecture elements -
The design of the urban market has changed significantly over the last three centuries. The modern market has the large atrium which is a new element that replaces the urban plaza - research in this area has several possibilities - urban space, how people interact, nature of commerce, the role of new technologies, traditional elements of architecture etc.
when the typology of chennai is similar to that in europe - is that acceptable or is there a lack of architectural understanding in this -
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