Details
Ar. Aditee Hegde-Damle
Urban Mutation:
Urban Mutations critically examines the implication of the environmental crisis on conventional methods of urban development and architectural thinking.
“Study of Mutating buildings and spaces; complex interweaving of living and non-living is need of the time. Mutating buildings and spaces include various types or areas of mutation, the same are listed as follows – room; floor plate; building; building open space; city open spaces; paper work process term “mutation” here it refers to aspects of ownership, leasing etc.”
“There is a need, to check them with reference to DCR (Development Control Regulations) and DP (Development Plan) 2034.The periodic or timely revisions in DP and DCR are also a form of mutation. A comparative analysis of DCRs and DPs will help us draw common factors / directives in evolution or revisions. Broadly, these are governed by factors such as population influx, activity nodes, economics, valuation etc.”
Like live loading is considered for floor plate; impacts of urban mutation to be calculated and temporary or timely provisions to be made for buildings and open spaces (both in existing and new developments).
Scale-wise Urban mutation:
“• Mutations in ownership: Mutation is the change of title ownership from one person to another when the property is sold or transferred. By mutating a property, the new owner gets the property recorded on his name in the land revenue department and the government is able to charge property tax from the rightful owner.”
Adaptive Mutation:
“The changing nature of the structure, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base unit in Design, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of structure/design.”
“Adaptive Mutation means change. It is a form of pseudo functionalism which may be permanent or temporary in nature to handle challenges such as pollution, pandemics to make structure sterile and sustainable. Pseudo-functionalism means change in the activities or services; provided or designed for the structure. This adaptive mutation can also be pre-designed, the way we have handicap design standards. Adaptive mutation standards would be functional or executed only when required.”
“Some Design standards which could be adopted to tackle challenges like Pollution and Pandemics: City cleaner towers, Air filters, Air purifying diffusers, etc. Social distancing can be marked out in some common area in the form of markings.Isolation chambers/rooms could be part of design in institutional building, work places, etc. Periodic sanitization which may be manual or automated can be zoned within the city planning. Also, sanitization of buildings periodically can be made compulsory.”