Streets4people | Trichy -
HnP Architects' entry
(we participated in the Streets for people challenge conducted by MoHUA as a part of Smart Cities Mission. Though we did not win the competition, we enjoyed participating in this. So here are our sheets for you to view !)
The Urban Thinnai aims to bring back people who are lost in the virtual social world to the streets. By studying the factors that attract people towards social media and converting them into street elements, the essence of public life can be understood. Streets as a place to celebrate the neighborhood and to understand the responsibility of a citizen is the ultimate aim.
Activity-based streets. Why people love social media?
The answer to this question is the concept of The Urban Thinnai. To enjoy community life, to watch other people, to know more information, experiencing variety of stuff and to have more fun. Here, other people are the street elements that make this space interesting. The Urban Thinnai helps to connect people of the same neighborhood which adds more value to the community life.
Modular streets! As The Urban Thinnai concept does not involve major infrastructural elements but actually involves ‘people as elements’, this concept can beeasily demonstrated in all the neighbourhood streets of Trichy. The listed activities can be alloted based on the character and needs of the specific street.
To give opportunities to many visually-challenged people whose livelihood was once depended on these renewable wire chairs and to revive this old craft. ‘For me, weaving chairs with blind eyes is like knitting dreams’. By giving them a chance in the street development activities, they would gain extra confidence towards their life and it creates awareness among people. Hundreds of visually challenged persons might get benefited.
Unlike plain paints, this technique of drawing sikku kolam to define pathways creates more interest due to its puzzle-like character. It also signifies our Tamil culture in the streets and generates conversations.
