Fourteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Open spaces, vital for human health, social interaction, and environmental well-being, are shrinking due to urbanization. Kerala’s lack of open spaces poses several challenges including reduced access to green spaces, increased urban heat island effect, fragmentation of ecosystems, reduced water retention, erosion and pollution, reduced community cohesion, economic impacts, loss of cultural identity, and reduced resilience to climate change. The study of policy frameworks and master plans in Kerala has revealed a significant lack of both adequate quantity and good quality open spaces. The study proposes a framework that helps to achieve both the quantity and quality aspects of open spaces. The quantity aspect covers overall landscape elements (geology, climate, soil, water, flora and fauna, land cover, etc.), urban character (population, sectors and geomorphological structure) and urbanisation (urban core, fringe and rural) to propose an overall structure plan for open spaces (areas to be conserved, reclaimed, rehabilitated, etc.). The quality aspect is addressed by proposing regulatory frameworks for open spaces. This is done by classifying open spaces (Recreational, functional, natural/ semi-natural, protected) under different heads and to suggest parameters (that can be used to develop guidelines) derived from theories and user’s perception (assessing existing areas) for these open spaces. The outcome of the study is to propose a framework that forms the base for designing open spaces that is specific to Kerala context.