Within The Edge: A revised approach to urban containment within the Chandigarh Periphery

Abstract

Le Corbusier's vision for an agricultural greenbelt surrounding Chandigarh may have been founded in overly romantic notions of rural India, but its original objective was not far from that of contemporary urban containment practice. While the goal of the greenbelt was to create a clear distinction between urban and rural uses, it has failed to contain growth and protect a functioning rural landscape. Today, the periphery of Chandigarh is characterized by unregulated construction and rapid urbanization. There is no restoring Le Corbusier's vision, nor should that be the objective of a revised urban containment approach. However, the rural landscape should be the result of active planning measures, rather than an unplanned remainder under threat of encroaching urban development. This thesis produced policy recommendations for managing growth on the periphery of Chandigarh. The primary objective was to maximize the preservation of the rural landscape. The existing conditions were reviewed and solutions were devised from a review of historical and contemporary urban containment practices in the United Kingdom and America. Each solution was evaluated based on how they respond to the unique challenges present throughout the periphery of Chandigarh. If successfully implemented, the preferred alternative will contain urban development, and protect agricultural activities and the rural way of life.