A Collaborative Planning Studio

The School of Planning Architecture Design Excellence (SPADE) conducted a joint collaborative studio – a feel for the space, with School of Planning and Architecture, Vijaywada (SPAV). The objective of the collaborative studio was to share ideas and exchange thoughts on area appreciation – a planning studio exercise.  26 Students ofBachelor of Planning (B.Plan) 5th Semester from SPAV accompanied by Dr. Abdul Razak Mohammed, Professor and Head, Department of Planning, SPAV visited SPADE, HITS.

The programme started with the inaugural session.  Ar. Kartiki. D. Pataskar, Assistant Professor, introduced the guest and moderated the session.  Dr. Sheeba Chander, Dean (SPADE) welcomed all the students and faculty of SPAV and explained the importance of the collaborative studio. She also expressed the need and desire to have further collaborative planning studios between both the Institutes. Further, Dr. Abdul Razak Mohammed, Professor, SPAV emphasized the need of study and objectives of the studio. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. D Karthigeyan.

Dr. Sheeba Chander, Dean, SPADE, delivered the 1st session of the joint studio on the topic “Reimagining urban peripheries- An approach to examine peri-urban dynamics “. She explained the basics of peri-urban areas and their importance, dependence on the core urban areas for its survival.

Dr. D Karthigeyan, Associate Professor, SPADE presented on the topic, “Importance of area appreciation in the context of master plan”. He explained how small areas can be planned within the larger context of master plans and how this strategy can prove to be important in delivering bottom to top planning approach.

The3rdsession was handled by the second-year students M.Plan Programme of SPADE. They students presented their area appreciation studio exercise (Padiyanallur, Chennai). Theydiscussed the methods followed in data collection / analysis / finding / proposals from various sectors like demography, landuse, Housing, physical and social infrastructure, traffic-transportation, tourism and economy.

The second half of the collaborative studio was handled by Mrs. Geetha Monsingh, Former Chief Planner, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and visiting faculty of SPADE. She spoke on: “The need for planning for peri- urban areas” where the dynamics of peri-urban area while planning for various landuses and its relation to the parent city were discussed in detail.

Ms. Maria Rinya Roy, Assistant Professor, SPADE handled the 5thsession, where she explained the findings of her research on 15 panchayat unions in Chennai. SPADE was part of the joint research project undertaken in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University, UK.  

Students of SPAV presented their area appreciation studio brief to the faculty and students of SPADE and explained their approach in obtaining the secondary data / household interviews with the stake holders.  
The collaborative studio concluded with vote of thanks by Mr. Shanmuga Priyan, Assistant Professor, SPADE. He thanked the Management and institution for giving this wonderful opportunity to carry a collaborative studio.