MULLICK GHAT FLOWER MARKET: Redevelopment and Revitalization of the precinct
Kolkata, India
Undergraduate Thesis
/architecture / urban design/ adaptive reuse/ heritage conservation
Thesis Guide: Ar. Roomi Gilani
Mar 2018-Dec-2018
Brief
Situated along the river Hooghly and under the Howrah Bridge, Mullick Ghat flower market is the largest and most renowned flower market in Eastern India. Flower cultivators, vendors and wholesalers from all over the state and neighboring regions gather here to undertake transactions on a daily basis. It started along a small stretch behind the Mullick Ghat. With an increase in population and demand, supported by improvement in transportation and connectivity; the market witnessed a rapid growth. This led to an uncontrolled expansion of the market within a limited space. Resulting in visual obstruction, hindered movement, inaccessible river edge and encroachment of heritage ghat structures. High demand coupled with inefficient layout leaves visitors with poor experience. River Hooghly, once an important part of the city, now remains ignored and hidden behind the overcrowded, chaotic lanes of the market. The ghats have lost their primary function. The lack to visual connectivity makes it worse.
What could have been the colorful and vibrant cultural landmark of the city, remains as an overcrowded, ignored mess!
SIte Analysis
Site Area 31700 sqm (7.83 acres)
Area covered by Flower Market 4300 sqm (1.06 acres)
Area covered by Ghat Pavillions 1204sqm
Ground Coverage of warehouse 9350sqm
(A-Shed)
Area covered by built encroachment 738sqm
Existing Site Plan
Vision
1. Organized Disorder: Redevelopment of the Flower Market
2. Heritage Revival: Adaptive Re-use and restoration of the built heritage
3. River, City and People: Rediscovering the lost connection
Proposed Site Plan
1. Organized Disorder: Redevelopment of the Flower Market
The vibrancy of flower market is shadowed by the difficulty in movement within the market. Based on study it was observed:
-the flower market primarily sells two types of products, each catering to different user groups
- shopkeepers prefer shops locations where maximum people cross shop front
Keeping this in mind, the proposed layout segregates the market into two parts, ensuring at least 50% shops are covered by people entering the market.
2. Heritage Revival: Adaptive Re-use and restoration of the built heritage
The site has three heritage ghat structures (Chote Lal Ghat, Ram Chandra Goenka Ghat, Mullick Ghat) and a huge warehouse build between 17-19th century. Shift in lifestyle led to Ghats losing their primary function. As a result. what once used to be a magnificent structures they lie neglected and purposeless. Adaptive re-use has been proposed in order to revive their importance.
3. River, City and People: Rediscovering the lost connection
River has always been an important part of a city. More so in India, where rivers are worshipped and cultures have developed alongside rivers. But with time, people are losing this bond. Lack of visual connection and limited accessibility have severed the situation. Hence, through riverfront development the proposal integrates the river edge, making it more accessible to people.
