IMAGEABILITY ANALYSIS OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, ALIGARH

Abstract

The urban realm is the setting for civic life. It comprises our streets, parks monuments and buildings as well as the events which happen in them. Civic life is enriched by developments which welcome a broad range of people and is impoverished by those which exclude or discourage all but a narrow range of users. Everybody supports the idea of having a high quality environment but usually feels someone else is responsible for creating or maintaining it. The purpose of this dissertation is to inform and encourage all those who collectively shape the appearance of Aligarh Muslim University Campus, to share a vision for future developments which will explore and enrich the `grain of the campus' and progress its unique character. The Aligarh Muslim University Campus is developed as and when required and sites were designated more often than not without foresight, or logic resulting in giving a haphazard look to the campus. Moreover, at present there is a lack of any definite architectural style associated to the Aligarh Muslim University Campus and the buildings of myriad architectural style are coming up deteriorating the imageability and identity of the campus. This thesis aims to draw an attempt to understand critical issue towards the imageability by analyzing the campus existing buildings, streets, spaces and sets out specific urban design and public realm guidance that aims to create a step change in the quality of future development and design of public spaces. This research will culminate to recommendations/ proposals / guidelines on the imageability and provide a common point of reference for those involved with land use planning and development, traffic movement strategies and with the design and maintenance of public places.