Hugh Byrd revisits an ambitious proposal by the Indian Government to build 100 "smart cities," with a case study provided by a development in Mumbai known as Bhendi Bazaar. The 40- to 60-story towers that will replace three- to five-story townhomes have been described as "vertical with a vengeance" in its approach to density.
Byrd, however, has analyzed the project's plans using an Urban metabolism model, "which measures the impacts of the built environment, we have assessed its overall impact."1
Our research shows that the proposal is neither smart nor sustainable.
The Indian government clearly defined what they meant with “smart”. Over half of the 11 objectives were environmental and main components of the metabolism of a city. These include adequate water and sanitation, assured electricity, efficient transport, reduced air pollution and resource depletion, and sustainability.
We collected data from various primary and secondary sources. This included physical surveys during site visits, local government agencies, non-governmental organisations, the construction industry and research.
We then made three-dimensional models of the existing and proposed developments to establish morphological changes, including building heights, street widths, parking provision, roof areas, open space, landscaping and other aspects of built form.
Demographic changes (population density, total population) were based on census data, the developer’s calculations and an assessment of available space. Such information about the magnitude of the development and the associated population changes allowed us to analyse the additional resources required as well as the environmental impact.2
- 1. source: Planetizen
- 2. Source: The Conversation