EVOLVED CITIES ….
When you happen to visit developed cities like London, Singapore after a gap of two decades, it is inevitable to witness an abundant distinction in its infrastructure, its ever augmenting skyline and an accomplished development. The most astounding observation was the upkeep the city has offered to keep up the sync with today’s lifestyle, impactful architecture and to resonate with the present day trends.
Although some aspects of development remained consistent till present day, what has remained starkly analogous to its character is its significance for open spaces, its undistinguishable greenery, creatively done landscape, land to open space ratio, self-discipline and attributes to nature all certifying for true veneration of an evolved city.
These Cities preserve its heirloom structures and immortalize them through generations while continuously progressing with advanced technology, thus being a true testament to an evolved city.
Considerable credit is attributed to the city’s tight governance, its hold on people, its reputation in keeping up with its legacy to being amongst the most visited cities of the new world. Another notable aspect here is the people’s perspective in believing the public spaces are for their own good. The major affirmation here is that the people allow civic rights and follow civic duties. They respect and abide by rules as they are the sole beneficiaries of their own lands.
To maintain an imperishable development for the city, it must therefore preserve consistently its economic diversification, infrastructure upgrading to be relevant and of course strict governance, strict traffic control rules and cleanliness without sacrificing livability.
What we need to adopt from them are some sensibilities and responsibilities of public towards their own public spaces. We as citizens should be accountable for the maintenance of open communal zones. If we as a public domain demand for pot free roads, open spaces, footpaths, parking, and green spaces as our rights; then maintaining it and respecting its cleanliness is our responsibility. If we are asking for our rights we should be performing our duties too. It’s a state of mutual dependency. One’s individual rights as simple as walking on a footpath depend entirely on another individual duty of not encroaching it.
Rights and duties go hand in hand. What citizens can legally demand from the state and society are our rights, and what citizens must contribute to maintain that society are our duties. One cannot exist sustainably without the other.
When we keep challenging the system with our so called rights, without fulfilling our rightful duties, it is leading to public infrastructure and social order collapse. The city will constantly be in a state of continuous development check mode and will cease to be evolved.
We have the vast beaches, the historical forts, the heritage and everything what makes a city beautiful. But concurrently we need to entail duties of preservation, care and cleanliness to make a city impressive and impactful.
By achieving high civic responsibility and Strong regulatory enforcement we can make our city’s environment more livable, enduring and evolved with time.
Ar. Rashmi Phulkar (Practicing Architect, Vile Parle EAST)
