Seminar Report; MCP (1st Yr.

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

(Physical Planning aspect only)

Done by:

Somreeta Das

(12AR60R35)

CONTENT S:
AIMS, OBJECTIVES & METHODOLOGY. TESSELLATION:
ORIGIN AND BRIEF HISTORY. APPROACH TO PHYSICAL PLANNING. CONTEXTUAL NEED IN INDIA.

CASE STUDIES AND INFERENCES.

CASE STUDY I

CASE STUDY II
CASE STUDY III INFERENCES FROM CASE STUDIES

TESSELLATION PLANNING AND HIGH DENSITY HOUSING:

AN EXPERIMENT INFERENCES FROM EXPERIMENT

SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND CUMULATIVE INFERENCES. REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY.

A house is more than just a house, A home is where individuals live and rejuvenate, where there is space for children to grow and mature; Its a home that defines how families live and interact, because it is the home environment that. . . . . . shapes a community.

~ Architect Mazlin Ghazali.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

A I M S , O B J E C T I V E S & M E T H O D O L O G Y:
A I M To analyze the Physical Planning aspects of Tessellation Planning/ Honeycomb Housing in High Density Housing in Indian context.

FROM LITERATURE REVIEWS: Understanding Tessellation Planning & High Density Housing (in general) and in Indian context.

FROM CASE - STUDIES: O B J E C T I V E S Analyzing the case studies of tessellation planning and determine and discuss its potentials and limitations over conventional planning at solving the problems that emerged in the P.O.E. analysis of existing high density housing.

FROM AN INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIMENT:

Formulation of an experimental layout option of tessellation planning and assessing if it optimally mitigates the problems that cropped up in P.O.E. analysis.

METHODOLOGY: The methodology was accomplished in three stages as follows: STAGE I: The literature studies: that added to the knowledge base and gave a deeper insight into the idea of tessellation and high density housing and how each could possibly be correlated to each other. STAGE II: The case studies: which provided an overall outlook as to how the different types of tessellation units were instrumental in promotion of the positive features of planning using tessellation. STAGE III: The investigative experiment: that established the fact that, practically, if only physical aspects of tessellation were considered, then tessellation could be a viable option for high density planning in Indian context.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSEL ATION PL ANNING:

ORIGIN

In geometry, to tessellate means to cover a plane with a pattern without

having any gap or overlap. For centuries artists and craftsmen have used tessellation as a tool to create visual effects on surfaces. Tiling is the most common form of tessellation, and in its simplest form the tiles are regular polygons. The Islamic craftsmen in Spain in the 15th century created beautifully complex visual effects by tessellating a small basic tile pattern. Intricate and

complex designs can be built up from basic tile patterns in a simple way by
this process.
Starting from Fig.1 Fig.9. The base tile (i.e. Fig.1) gets tessellated around the 45 axis to formulate the single geometric pattern (as we see in fig.9) of the ancient Moorish tile of the 15th century.
Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3

Fig.6

Fig.5

Fig.4

Fig.7

Fig.8

Fig.9

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSEL ATION PL ANNING:

A BRIEF HISTORY 15th century, Spain: Islamic craftsmen: tiling pattern. JOHANNES KEPLER(1618):The first documented studies of tessellations

about regular and semi-regular tessellation.

YEVGRAF FYODOROV (1891) proved that every periodic tiling of the plane features one of seventeen different groups of isometries - the unofficial beginning of the mathematical study of tessellations . WALTER CHRISTALLER (1933): The Central Place Theory introduced tessellation to urban planning.

Tessellation : origin from mathematics and journey to planning

witnessed a lot of analytical mathematical models coming up. However the best equation suggested by Yevgraf Fyodorov was that of the Formula For Finite Tessellations which he propounded when the polygons used in planning had more than 10 vertices and 10edges respectively. The same formulae is used today worldwide while planning using tessellation. However, work is in progress for the development of softwares that would directly enumerate the site (along with topography)for

which tessellation has been

proposed to formulate a most feasible format for tessellation, which otherwise, when done manually requires a series of trials and errors to derive the most plausible format of it.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSEL ATION PL ANNING:

APPROACH TO PHYSICAL PLANNING Tessellation planning (in the form of honeycomb housing) was introduced by Architect Mazlin Ghazali , in the late 1990s, who propounded use of tessellated hexagonal forms (akin to that of a beehive format) for planning mainly large scale residential sectors. Here, the coloured polygonal planes represented functional spaces. The concept of tessellation planning is based broadly upon the two main concepts of city planning: I. Clarence Perrys Neighbourhood unit concept (from theoritical p.o.v.) II. Hierarchial Concept of Neighbourhood (from the sociological p.o.v.)

The idea of tessellation planning is to formulate neighbourhood and not mere creation of a community.

This is ensured by integrating courtyards, cul-de-sacs, blocks all as part and

parcel of an individual system. Tessellation of every small courtyard neighbourhood unit leads to creation of a cluster unit/ cul-de-sac neighbourhood unit and these cul-de-sac units further tessellate to form a block neighbourhood unit. Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35 Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSEL ATION PL ANNING:

APPROACH TO PHYSICAL PLANNING I. CLARENCE PERRYS CONCEPT OF NEIGHBORHOOD One of the early diagrammatic planning model for residential development in metropolitan areas, it was designed to act as a framework for urban planners attempting to design functional, self-contained and desirable neighbourhoods in the early 20th century in industrialising cities.
A DIAGRAM OF CLARENCE PERRY'S NEIGHBOURHOOD UNIT, ILLUSTRATING THE SPATIALITY OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE CONCEPT, FROM THE NEW YORK REGIONAL SURVEY, VOL 7. 1929

Based on the following design principles: Centre the school. Place arterial streets along the perimeter.

Design internal streets.

Restrict local shopping areas to the perimeter. Dedicate at least 10% of the neighborhood land area to parks and open space.

According to Perry, an ideal neighbourhood unit should comprise of a population of 1500 DUs.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSEL ATION PL ANNING:

APPROACH TO PHYSICAL PLANNING II. HIERARCHICAL CONCEPT OF NEIGHBORHOOD This concept was derived from Anthropologist Robin Dunbars Theory Of Proximity In Social Interaction Pattern where he deduced a range of people that may be quantified to about 100 230 in number. The range specifies that its the number of people with whom we can have a genuine social relation ship so as to relate on an intimate level. i.e. one wouldnt mind to eat a meal with any of those 100 230 persons that he/she knows, if he/she accidentally runs into him/her in a restaurant. The ideal number defined for this theory was 150, which was derived after much experimentation and psycho-social lab tests. So one can ideally conclude that here every neighbourhood unit induces more sense of belongingness and social cohesion in peoples psychology. The figure 150 (that) seems to represent the expected maximum number of individuals with whom we can have a genuine social relationship, the kind that of relationship that goes with knowing who they are and how they relate to us ~ Robin Dunbar(Anthropologist)
On Human Social Ethics in Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language COURTYARD NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 16 HOUSES CUL-DE-SAC NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 42 HOUSES

TOWN COMMUNITY OF 1500 HOUSES

BLOCK NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 250 HOUSES

THE DUNBAR NUMBER: 150 people RANGE: 100 230 people

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSEL ATION PL ANNING:

APPROACH TO PHYSICAL PLANNING

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESSELLATION PLANNINGS DWELLING UNITS (DUs):

THE GROUP OF SEXTUPLEIX: 6 HOUSES IN A BLOCK/ PER UNIT. THE GROUP OF QUADRUPLEIX: 4 HOUSES IN A BLOCK/ PER UNIT. THE TWIN TYPE DUPLEIX: 2 HOUSES IN A SINGLE UNIT.

Different types of DU types are used for tessellation planning. However the basic types used are as mentioned in the box above. Over the due course of evolution of this planning concept, tessellation planning has seen many changes in the types of its DUs which got changed as per the minor modification required as per the plot size and shape. Nonetheless, the basic DU types are fixed and are the standardized version of the tessellation DU types are the Even Multiple Units i.e. dupleix (two), qudrupleix (four) , sextupleix (six),etc. However, usually, greater than six dwelling units per block is not used taking into account the factors of climatology such as light and ventilation.
NOTE: Though different modifications of aforementioned units: dupleixes, quadrupleixes and sextupleixes are used, these are the basic units for hexagonal tessellation pattern.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

TESSELATION PLANNING AND HIGH DENSITY HOUSING:

NEED FOR TESSELLATION IN HIGH DENSITY HOUSING:
The idea was prompted by: 13TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN HABITAT, January 2011, Mumbai Paper presented by Architect Mazlin Ghazali Issues discussed in the paper: The terrace housing to replace the kampong (traditional) houses. An attempt in the 30s to the 60s the major drawbacks and emergence of honeycomb housing in late 90s. Epilogue: possibility of achieving higher density by means of tessellation planning. The growth of population: phenomenon portraying geometric progression and perennial shortage for housing challenge to be met and model villages to be built to test if it was possible to address these burning issues of the millennium that had been the nightmare of every planner of the world.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

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CASE STUDIES AND INFERENCES:

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA.

This case study is the first prototype for tessellation planning, as carried out by the pioneer of Honeycomb Housing Concept - Architect Mazlin Ghazali.

When Architect Ghazali had used tessellation for the first time, as in case of this residential housing project at Sarawak, then it was not done with an intention of incorporating high density housing as an integral part of this kind of planning. Hence, normal housing with required number of dwelling units were designed and constructed.

The aforementioned concept set in only after there was a dire need to house a huge population within a particular area of an already existing industrial township of Demak Laut, Kutching, Malaysia as a part of the extension of land that had been left initially for

future utilization.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

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CASE STUDIES AND INFERENCES:

DEMAK LAUT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, KUTCHING, MALAYSIA.

Started as a industrial estate, Demak Laut, Kutching, Malaysia had certain pockets left for future expansion when initially planned. One such zone was the one as seen on the right side figure. This zone was about 19 acres in size. The two different layouts terrace housing as well as honeycomb housing - were proposed by Architect Ghazali, who was the main architect for the project. Terrace housing and tessellation planning (Honeycomb housing) showed great deviation in the no. of DU apart from the other features such as green areas, concreted areas, etc. Where terrace housing portrayed lesser green spaces and huge concreted area, great road length and road area; there tessellation was unbelievably sustainable with more green areas, lesser road lengths and road area and marginal amount of concreted spaces. The no. of DUs for terrace housing and tessellation housing being kept same, it was found that the terrace housing for the same area went upto a height of G+3 whereas tessellation went till a height of G+1. The final conclusion drawn based on the project was that if gone higher, tessellation couldve housed many more.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

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CASE STUDIES AND INFERENCES:

STUDENT HOUSING,UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA,SELANGOR , MALAYSIA

This student housing was built as a model for introducing the concept of Apartment Housing in Honeycomb housing. The idea was also to do the Post Occupancy Evaluation (P.O.E) at a later date to ascertain its sustainability in the long run. The model settlement system, that housed mostly undergraduates and a few post graduates as well as a small population of PhD scholars, witnessed a revolutionary change in the single entity ideology of the tessellation planning that had existed till date. It was proved that tessellation housing could go till an elevation of as much as G+4 to as much as G+9 (moderate rise). Also another fact that came to limelight was that a section of the site being quite sloped and undulating (slope being almost 1 in 5), tessellation planning could be carried out without any hassles. This proved that tessellation planning could also be done on considerable slopes.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

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TESSELLATION: AN INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIMENT . . .

In an attempt to analyze the feasibility of tessellation planning in an Indian context, a small experiment was carried out. It included selection of a small sector from the student redesign of the Ward 34 of Kharagpur-I block and design it as per Tessellation Planning concepts. The area selected was approximately 1,00,000 sq.m. in area. The tessellation planning for the area was carried out in four parts: The demarcation of the desired size of polygons to be used: derived using the Finite Tessellation Formula and options generated. Best form of polygon of adequate size selected and tessellated for basic allocation of area for different activities. Creating different layout options by trial and error method permutation and combination of different types of the basic DU types of tessellation planning. Finalization of the layout: best available option for the proposed area. Some interesting results were obtained from this experiment, which are to be discussed in the pages that follow.

SELECTED AREA FROM STUDENT REDESIGN OF WARD 34

(COURTESY: PLANNING WORKSHOP) SCALE:1:10000

BEFORE TESSELLATION (LEFT) & AFTER TESSELLATION (RIGHT) SCALE:1:5000

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

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TESSELLATION: AN INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIMENT . . .

1200sq.ft. each

TWIN TYPE DUPLEIX HOUSE

1075sq.ft.each QUADRUPLEIX HOUSE

825sq.ft.each SEXTUPLEIX HOUSE

3600sq.ft.

PLAYSCAPE (FOR KIDS)

SCALE:1:2500 OPEN GREEN AREA 3600sq.ft. 3600sq.ft.

INDEX OF OTHER SPACES IN THE LAYOUT PLAN Public semi-public spaces Commercial and retail spaces Flexible community spaces Green pockets/lawns COMMUNITY SPACE

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

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INFERENCES FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIMENT:

TYPE OF PLANNING CONVENTIONAL PLANNING TYPE OF DU PLOTTED UNITS GROUPED UNITS NO. OF DU PER BLOCK 1 15 TOTAL NO. OF DUs TWIN-TYPE DUPLEIX TESSELLATION PLANNING QUADRUPLEIX SEXTUPLEIX 4 8 6 TOTAL NO. OF DUs 28 47 14 NO.OF BLOCKS 155 19 NET NO. OF DU 155 285 440 112 376 84 572

COMPARISON OF ADDITIONAL FEATURES GREEN SPACES (AREA) ROAD AREA ROAD LENGTH CONCRETED AREA

TYPE OF PLANNING CONVENTIONAL PLANNING 15% OF TOTAL AREA 32500 sq.m. 4.5 kms 37% OF TOTAL AREA TESSELLATION PLANNING 25% OF TOTAL AREA 21000 sq.m. 3.3 kms 26% OF TOTAL AREA

The above tables were generated as the outcome of the experiment. It gave some stunning results that were not idealized when tessellation planning had originally been taken up for high density planning and are as follows: 10%increase in green spaces. 12% reduction in road area. 1.2kms reduction in road length. 11% reduction of total concreted area.

This encourages the use of tessellation to be taken up for planning purpose. However, as the economic aspects of such form of planning in Indian context has not been done earlier, a feasible option would be to experiment by introducing it on small scale model settlement systems.

Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35

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SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND CUMULATIVE INFERENCES:

Though the idea of tessellation, from purely theoretical point of view seems a simple affair, it needs deeper consideration when implemented practically in the Indian context. There is a need to address many intangible aspects too, apart from the economic and socio-political scenario. Acceptance of the system: would be the key to success of such a planning process and that would require awareness. There could be many questions posed in the form of limitations for such planning techniques that would require practicality of approach apart from ground breaking research. The limitations that might jeopardize such form of planning in India are as given in the box below.

POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS:
ROLE OF SOCIAL ETHICS AND GROUPING: The classification of social groups, stratifications and cultural morphologies in the social structure: Determines if the model will be readily accepted. EQUITABLE INCOME PARITY: As it is not attainable, mixed type of honeycombs may not be

preferred. Segregation of economic strata required.

ECONOMIC VIABILITY: The use of material, technology, loans, subsidies and all added expenditure incurred in the process of construction of such units will determine the ultimate saleable cost. AFFORDABILITY: The affordability, being a subjective term may vary largely across all the economic classes (classified broadly).

INTERMEDIATE ECONOMIC STRATA:

Difficult to address intermediate groups like the ULIGS, LMIGS, UMIGs, etc. Somreeta Das; 12AR60R35 Tessellation Planning in High Density Housing

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REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Perry, C. A. (1929). The Neighborhood Unit. In T. Adams (Ed.), Neighborhood
and Community Planning (Vol. Vol. VII). New York: The Regional Survey of New York and Its Environs. 2. 3. 4. Dunbar, Robin, Grooming, Gossip, and the Evolution of Language, 1998. World Development Report 2011, World Bank Davis, M. P., Ghazali, M., & Nordin, N. A. (2006). Thermal Comfort in Honeycomb Housing: The Affordable Alternative to Terrace Housing. Serdang: Institute of Advanced Studies, UPM.(part I,II&III) 5. Ghazali, M., Sia, C. T., Chan, E., Foo, E., & Davis, M. P. (2005). Honeycomb Housing: Reducing the Cost of Land and Infrastructure in Housing Developments. Kuala Lumpur. 6. 7. Blog site by Architect Mazlin Ghazali (http://www.tessellar.blogspot.com) Articles from newspaper: Cities and growth - lump together and like it, The Economist print edition, Nov 6th 2008 8. Southworth, Michael; Ben-Joseph, Eran (2003) Streets and the Shaping of Towns and Cities. Washington: Island Press. 9. Marshall.S. (2005)Streets and Patterns. Spon Press. Taylor and Francis Group.London.U.K. 10. Rachel Kaplan, Stephen Kaplan, The experience of nature: a psychological perspective,Cambridge University Press, 1989. 11. Frey. H.(1999)Designing the City: Towards a more sustainable urban form. Spon Press. Taylor and Francis Group.London.U.K

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