architecture
Chandigarh Master Plan – 2031 Draft
7.
COMMERCIAL AREAS IN CHANDIGARH
7.1
INTRODUCTION
Commercial areas in Chandigarh were planned to provide adequate, organized retail and wholesale trading activity for the city residents. The city has however emerged as a important commercial hub.
A concept of hierarchical distribution of commercial centers was introduced into the city plan as a departure from the organic developments of the traditional towns. To provide a continuum of commercial areas, the three major city level centres, planned as precincts were interconnected through linear commercial belts along the major arteries.
Similarly, while neighbourhood centres were planned within the residential sectors, these centres were also planned to be connected through underpasses across intercepting V3s to form continuous neighborhood shopping streets running across the width of the city in the East West direction. This concept has however not been implemented.
With the exception of the City Centre, the entire hierarchy of shopping centres were designed on the traditional Indian concept as Shop Cum Flats (SCFs) with commercial activity on the ground floor and residential unit above. The concept was however modified in the second phase wherein flats were replaced by offices thereby introducing the Shop Cum Office (SCO) concept.
The privately owned commercial properties built on standardised plot sizes are governed by architectural controls to ensure uniformity of architectural expression, streamline pedestrian movement through mandatory corridors at ground floor level and have organised advertisement space. While the city centre four storeyed blocks are in concrete, the neighborhood centers have brick and plastered surfaces, jalies and similar orientation.
SHOP CUM OFFICES, CITY CENTRE SECTOR 17
NIGHT VIEW - SHOP CUM OFFICES, CITY CENTRE, SECTOR 17
79
Chandigarh Master Plan – 2031 Draft
The shopping centers of the city
7.
COMMERCIAL AREAS IN CHANDIGARH
7.1
INTRODUCTION
Commercial areas in Chandigarh were planned to provide adequate, organized retail and wholesale trading activity for the city residents. The city has however emerged as a important commercial hub.
A concept of hierarchical distribution of commercial centers was introduced into the city plan as a departure from the organic developments of the traditional towns. To provide a continuum of commercial areas, the three major city level centres, planned as precincts were interconnected through linear commercial belts along the major arteries.
Similarly, while neighbourhood centres were planned within the residential sectors, these centres were also planned to be connected through underpasses across intercepting V3s to form continuous neighborhood shopping streets running across the width of the city in the East West direction. This concept has however not been implemented.
With the exception of the City Centre, the entire hierarchy of shopping centres were designed on the traditional Indian concept as Shop Cum Flats (SCFs) with commercial activity on the ground floor and residential unit above. The concept was however modified in the second phase wherein flats were replaced by offices thereby introducing the Shop Cum Office (SCO) concept.
The privately owned commercial properties built on standardised plot sizes are governed by architectural controls to ensure uniformity of architectural expression, streamline pedestrian movement through mandatory corridors at ground floor level and have organised advertisement space. While the city centre four storeyed blocks are in concrete, the neighborhood centers have brick and plastered surfaces, jalies and similar orientation.
SHOP CUM OFFICES, CITY CENTRE SECTOR 17
NIGHT VIEW - SHOP CUM OFFICES, CITY CENTRE, SECTOR 17
79
Chandigarh Master Plan – 2031 Draft
The shopping centers of the city