Indore City

Indore being the largest city of Madhya Pradesh and one of the largest city of Central India / Malwa region has an imminent potential to expand. Its central location and close proximity with other large Indian cities like Bhopal, Badordra , Pune and others makes it strategically and practically feasible to develop or expand.

The city of approximate 2 to 2.2 Million is very densely populated at the area of just around 550 sq km making it extremely dense. This density is in a way beneficial for the Mass Transit system. The city has everything to survive and many reasons to grow some of them are water reservoirs around, two Rivers, A mild weather because of an altitude of 500 Meters above sea level and open space around the city with a possibility of planned development some of which is already taking place like Road and Rail corridors and this ISBT bus station.

With our experience in Urban Planning and also doing some research on Public spaces and experiencing some of these Mass transit system for example Delhi Metro, Heathrow Terminal 5 – London , NH8 Delhi Jaipur Highway and others we have realised most of them get congested because of the Lack of understanding or possible number of human / person assumption into consideration.

In short, we quite possible believe that the city could very well be a place for 3 to 4 Million in another 2 decades just like what we have observed in Gurgaon, Surat, Jaipur and many other cities which grew more than twice the size in less than 2 decades.

The main or the Primary reason for this is that never before a Migration of such a scale “from Rural to Urban” took place as it took place in last 20 years and that is all because of India and China. China will achieve saturation of rural to Urban population in another 10 years but India will take another 3 to 4 decades. So our urban planning must consider the stress it will put on the city and their public resources – in this case this ISBT. This must be designed to keep the scenario of next 20 years or so, or at least a scope for the further extension must be left.

HDS Concept

Our Concept, after going through the city’s history, Its Planning, Main Public space etc is very practical to the site. What we tried to do is to connect the site first to the main other “Transport Junctions” like Train Station and Airport and after that the same priority is given to the accessibility of the Local Indore buses from where the passengers will come and go. Also, with substantial amount of people may take private and taxi’s and Autos.

In, these sorts of designs the problem starts when we (by mistake) create bottle neck which leads to the jam. Also we tried to avoid the inter-section between one modes of transportation to another. We did few research and case studies and we took the space assumption of enough people at one point of time in this case for certain holidays like, Holi & Dewali when large number of Migrants move back to their villages in very short span of time.
For us, the bus terminal is a part of the network that webs various places together while people travel. Our design proposes a bus terminal which will accommodate the basic needs and desires of the public, offering both convenience and a lasting experience. We want to be rid of the conflicting tensions, problems and combine the advantages.

Our design concept of the Indore ISBT has been derived from these ponderings. The terminal enables people to roam freely, while allowing them to sit and watch the buses move by. The terminal also offers an unlimited view of the outside or their designated buses. The bus terminal will become a flourishing public space. To attract a crowd, the Double height space and some open space is designed looking out towards the River or the other views city can offer.

The Building of this size and so many people will have very adequate Natural Night from East and north to have maximum natural light, the sunlight will be restricted from west or south so that building doesn’t get warm enough. We will have high ceilings, Triple atrium to have stack effect so with fans only the building can be of bearable temperature if the air conditioned is not in the budget.

These public spaces are a continuation of the sidewalk, allowing easy circulation throughout the building, making it an integrated space within the interconnected city’s activities. The bus terminal will be the centre of Indore’s busy & chaotic life, blending with the historical surroundings despite it’s out of the city location.

Ticket offices, waiting rooms or boarding decks, Toilets will be on the ground floor, On the upper level, a River / Highway facing public open space boasting a view into an existing vale will serve as a free space as well as a cafeteria & restaurant.

Although we have three floors according to distinct functions, they are very well connected by the triple height atrium. To reflect the external design which stresses connectivity, the terminal is also internally connected, allowing the building to work as a whole, linking the ticket areas, entrance and waiting room directly with the cafeteria. Overall, the bus terminal will be a place offering convenient travel and a great view while blending in as an extension of the public space. It will even amuse the pedestrians and passers-by when they realize that they will be able to walk through the architecture and gain a unique experience of the city and quite possible a new architecture landmark of their City of Indore.

Material Reference

Horizon Design Studio Pvt. Ltd’s approach is very practical and realistic towards a Project and especially if it’s a Large Public Building. Our architecture style is usually Minimalist, Contemporary Modern architecture with a sustainable approach.

What we will be using is a RCC framed structure with possibility of some exposed stone cladding and Glasses towards east and North. Along with other materials which are easy to procure and have long life and No maintenance. Our expertise is based upon a solid foundation of budget, process and program control, and an intensive dialogue with the city, the client, consultants, contractors and end users. HDS realized that the best in the new must touch the best in Old. We are traditionalist as well as modernist and feel that a purification of architecture in terms of our own time might also take back to its roots.

It is important for us to look at the whole continuum of sustainable architecture. If we want sustainable ideas to be contagious and fully implemented, then we need everyone concerned at every level of the plan to contribute from very beginning. Consequently we, Architects can no longer be driven by opinion on aesthetics alone, but must now consider the impact of our design on environment. We are ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of not only our buildings and building users, but the very fabric of nature and environment.