The City of Fading Colours
Pedagogics / 2017
School / Location
School Of Architecture - Mookambika Technical Campus (soamtc.org) / Muvattupuzha, India
Semester
Ninth Semester B.Arch. / Fall 2017 (June - November)
Study Location / Study Area
Kochi, India. / Approx. 4.5 Sq.Km.
Typology
Urban Study & Design Teaching Studio, Operational Design Studio
Co-ordinators
Ar. Aparna Premanand / Ar. Gopika A. / Ar. Jitin Sabu
Special Courtesy
Uru Art Harbour / uruartharbour.com
Studio Publication
Urban Study PDF
The Ninth Semester Urban Study & Design Studio at the School of Architecture, MTC explored the growth, development and decline of the old island city of Kochi comprising of the European occupied Fort Kochi and the historic trade hub, Mattancherry. The group of 20 students analysed the series of events that lead to the development of region as the seat of the Kingdom of Tirukochi in the 14th century and later became the trade hub for the Arabs, Chinese and then the Europeans who eventually colonised India.
Kochi was the most important centre of spice trade in Southern India and attracted several trading communities around the world to settle there. The city currently has people from over 15 communities distributed around several urban districts, each of which is dominated by the presence and cultural influence of each community. The architecture of these districts also differs, reflecting the spatial sensibilities of the communities and their period of arrival at the city.
Although historically significant and well looked after by its European colonisers, the city started declining after independence, mainly due to the shift of the urban centre to the mainland from the island and the decision of the authorities to move the port to a much convenient location for access of bigger ships. Trade declined post independence, also owing to developments in transportation and technology and shifting of industrial activity to the mainland, leaving the area becoming a quarter for the urban poor. Development of tourism post globalisation and efforts to conserve the remaining heritage from the late 1990s lead to the economic revival of the region.
However, lack of clear heritage protection guidelines and negligence from the authorities towards the voices of the common citizens has paved the way for underdeveloped basic infrastructural facilities in most parts, fading local trade and non-touristic economic activities and buildings falling apart owing to improper maintenance. The studio was designed to make the students identify the local socio-spatial issues and propose alternative visions for holistic development.
