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University of San Francisco

Public Space Planning as a Catalyst for Dweller Initiated Slum Upgrading: Ahmedabad, India

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This research observes how public space planning can improve slum upgrading projects, focusing on two case study slums in Ahmedabad, India.</p> <p>The inclusion of formal public space planning into slum upgrading schemes can act as a catalyst for dweller-initiated housing improvements. While municipalities that choose to upgrade their slums are primarily concerned with supplying bare necessity infrastructure—such as water, sewage, and paving—most upgrading schemes ignore the reality that slum communities are complex, integral components of the urbanization process. These settlements deserve and necessitate comprehensive design and planning services which will integrate the community into the larger urban fabric.</p> <p>This thesis suggests that an alternative to choosing either expensive comprehensive design services or incomplete basic-infrastructure provisions is the inclusion of small public space design into slum upgrading projects. Investigating the urban patterns inherent to slum communities, one can see that these communities already possess the basic urban forms needed to create beautiful, livable communities. In addition, professional design services, which are already administered to wealthier urban communities, can make vast improvements through public space planning.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts in International Studies
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
International Studies
Year dc:date.available
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bystedt, Christopher
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Seth Wachtel

Subjects

dc:subject × 9

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/5
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.usfca.edu:thes-1004

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of San Francisco
Base URL
repository.usfca.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bystedt, Christopher. Public Space Planning as a Catalyst for Dweller Initiated Slum Upgrading: Ahmedabad, India. Thesis thesis, 2011. https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/5