Bio-aesthetic Planning Lecture Notes PDF

Bio-aesthetic planning  Bio-aesthetic planning  Professor Lancelot Hogben coined the term ‘Bio-aesthetic planning’  Definition: Conscious planning of flora and fauna with the objective of beautifying our surroundings or the country  Meaning: Proper utilization of available...

Bio-aesthetic planning  Bio-aesthetic planning  Professor Lancelot Hogben coined the term ‘Bio-aesthetic planning’  Definition: Conscious planning of flora and fauna with the objective of beautifying our surroundings or the country  Meaning: Proper utilization of available flora & fauna in the beautification of the surroundings.  The term bio- aesthetic planning also includes landscape gardening.  Bio-aesthetic planning can play important role in environmental amelioration of urban and industrial areas along with their beautification.  Aim – Planting ornamental flower trees along roads, in parks, house compounds, public places.  Aesthetic aspect dominated the concept of Bio-aesthetic planning to – increase in plant biodiversity – creates suitable habitat for many species of birds and small animals.  Bio-aesthetic planning should run hand-in-hand with town planning.  Don’t allow new town to grow like mushroom.  Bio-aesthetic planning should be used for improving environment - Areas deteriorated by developmental activities.  The entire country should be brought under the purview of Bio-aesthetic planning. Priority should be given to public places, which belong to the community as a whole. A large number of persons, especially those who cannot afford gardens of their own, will thus be able to enjoy the splendor of nature. - Public  History William Robinson (1838-1935) Irish landscape architect- concept of wild garden Willy Lange (1864-1941) German landscape architect: Coined the term Biological aesthetic garden. Lancelot Hogben (1895-1975) English writer: Gave idea of bio-aesthetic planning in early 20th century. Mohinder Singh Randhawa (1909-1988): Bio-aesthetic planning has been popularized in India. Some of these ideas have become implemented at Chandigarh.  Bio-aesthetic planning in India M. S. Randhawa (1909-1988) - Propagated Bio-aesthetic planning and strived hard for the cause of environmental amelioration by planting of flowering trees. Rich colourfulness of nature in the form of ornamental trees should be conspicuously noticeable in the form of avenues along streets and roads in towns and even in home gardens. Planting beautiful trees in the compounds of district courts, tehsil, schools and platforms of railway stations. Garden suburbs around commercial city centers Created garden city of Chandigarh in collaboration with Le Corbusier of France. Fig. 1. Places suitable for Bio-aesthetic planning in the country (Modified from Randhawa, 1978) Benefits of Bio-aesthetic planning Environmental benefits Ecological benefits Economic and social benefits Aesthetic benefits  Environmental benefits Reduce temperature and energy use Improve air quality Manage Precipitation and humidity Noise abatement Carbon sequestration Improve water quality Reduce/ manage erosion Wind protection and air movement  Ecological benefits Enhances biodiversity along with beautification of environment. Biological diversity - value in food, agriculture, medicine, and industry. It also has aesthetic and recreational value. Biodiversity maintains ecological balance and continues evolutionary processes.  Economic and social benefits Plants provide timber, pulpwood, fruits, nuts, mulch, composting material and firewood. Shading by trees extends life of paved surfaces and reduce maintenance cost. Greenery enhances community economic stability by attracting business and tourists Property values are higher in well-planned areas lined with trees. Concept of Eco-tourism has gained importance in recent times and many government and private organizations have come up with camping sites and nature tours to boost tourism in many states. This has resulted in additional revenue and employment generation.  Aesthetic benefits Trees and other life forms supported by them have a positive value in scenic quality. Trees change skyline, add variety of form, colour and texture to otherwise dull and monotonous cities. They soften the harshness of concrete structures, complement architectural lines, enframe views and provide background settings to buildings. Dynamic behavior of vegetation makes the surroundings interesting. Plants can be very effectively used to screen undesirable and disturbing sight lines.  Landscaping of city Le Corbusier - Sums up the idea of city planning as the sun, the space & verdure (green growth) are the ancient influence which fashioned our body & spirit. - Fresh air, natural atmosphere for all in the city. - Towns are bio- phenomenon & have heart, brain, lungs etc.  Govt. office - forms – head Parks, greenbelt – forms lungs Roads(network) – forms circulatory system Commercial buildings, shops – heart Industrial area – limbs. Key to town planning 1. Living 2. Working 3. Recreation 4. Circulation  Roads – broad with flower & shady tree Separate vehicular & pedestrian movement Different sectors – inter connected Pedestrials – travel – both direction Heavy traffic- out scirts. Mix variety of trees, shrubs, climbers to have color, vegetation in different seasons of the year. Spaceous parks + conservatory for harmless animals & birds. Suggestions : Vertical city than horizontal. It will not reduces lung space (parks) Provides – good community feelings. Landscaping of city  Planning/landscaping of Chandigarh Partition of India- 1947 Indian segment of Punjab - flooded with refugees of Pak. So new city born. P.N. Thapper - Administrator – Selected/ appointed a committee under Varma – to select area. Committee – selected area of 15 sq. miles at 1300 MSL b/w hills of Shirali & Kasuli. Thapper invited world over for city planners. 1st plan – Albert Meyer. Improved by- Corbusier (France) final plan. Inaugurated by –Dr. Rajendraprasad.  Older congested cities Retrieved recovered from their present state by bio-aesthetic planning. Ways : 1. Acquire by compulsion (ugly area/ spot) convert them in to parks. Displaced persons – accommodate in multistory building (so less land). 2. Develop garden suburbs – Satellite townships developed among parks & avenues. - If it is difficult to get land in city, develop garden suburbs on the outskirts of the city easily approachable by vehicles / bicycles. Thank You