Page 50 - JCAU-6-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism A study on the spatial characteristics of gara

A B

Figure 6. Changes in the texture of the neighborhood. (A) 1817 block texture. (B) 2018 block texture. Source: Drawings by the authors

Figure 8. Block map. Source: Drawing by the authors
Figure 7. The texture of the streets in Surat (grid-like and non-grid-like). in these cities engaged in product manufacturing and
Source: Drawing by the authors
trade. Residential houses were constructed openly facing
the street to accommodate both family and commercial
the household engaged in business outside while women, activities. The establishment of the City Hall by the British
children, and the elderly stayed at home. This necessitated government in 1852 shaped the current appearance of the
a highly secure housing planning, resulting in an integrated block. The construction of the block aligns with Victorian
and introverted residential layout.
ideology in India, incorporating the orthogonal planning
4
Haripura and Med Harpura, located in the outer principle of the grid to form a grid-like block texture with
city, emerged in the second stage of urban development service streets. The service functions and toilets were
and were predominantly inhabited by craftsmen. In the designed at the back of the residence with a backyard
Mughal era, these people occupied a lower position in to reduce the possibility of future encroachment. This
the societal hierarchy, but during the colonial period,
coinciding with a decline in trade status, craftsmen gained 4 Victorian ideology: During the Victorian era, the
prominence. At present, they stand as some of the most concept of urban block division began to emerge, and
the entire city was roughly divided into several areas
densely populated and prosperous areas in the city. Unlike using simple geometric shapes, including noble areas,
the patriarchy in Nanavat, the entire family of craftsmen ordinary citizen areas, and slums.

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1797