Homes Start with Planning
It has been the pursuit of human beings to find a place where they can live comfortably and access food, water and shelter. With time, the fundamental needs remained, but people lost the sense of remaining balanced in the quest for comfort, and this is where town planning comes into play. “World Town Planning Day” is observed every year on 8 November. The observation is to recognise the role of planners and planning in creating healthy and sustainable communities. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the event. The observation is also known as “World Urbanism Day.” Several ancient town planning sites worldwide are renowned for their advanced and sophisticated designs. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (Indus Valley Civilization), Machu Picchu (Inca Empire) in Peru,andPompeii (Roman Empire) are a few examples. There are differences between being a civil engineer and a town planner. Civil engineers and town planners have overlapping but distinct roles. Growth is important. The pursuit of comfortable living is natural. But it is equally important not to lose balance. Planned and sustainable growth of living places is the need. It is possible only when the communities come together and work to achieve sustainable living places.
It has been the pursuit of human beings to find a place where they can live comfortably and access food, water and shelter. With time, the fundamental needs remained, but people lost the sense of remaining balanced in the quest for comfort. In ancient times, people moved and settled near the river banks and places with easy access to food. Over time, the search for comfort dominated, leading to unprecedented growth. Villages have become towns, towns have become cities, and cities have become megacities. Inhabiting places have become out of control and not manageable. Planning leads to creating places where people live and work, and this is where town planning comes to the fore.
“World Town Planning Day” is observed every year on 8 November. Planners and communities worldwide come together to celebrate the role of town planners. Argentinian professor Carlos MarÃa della Paolera’s initiative led to this day’s observation and dates back to 1949. The observation is to recognise the role of planners and planning in creating healthy and sustainable communities. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the event.
Town planners from across the globe share their knowledge and leading practices, creating a platform to learn from success stories. The focus is building resilient cities, responding to urban crises, and enhancing the ability to tackle climate change. The observation is also known as “World Urbanism Day.”
If one can locate and navigate to places in towns, the town planners’ effort makes it easy for people living there. Town planning is the process of focusing on the design and development and putting infrastructure in place to enhance the ease of living for the community. The planning involves accessibility, transportation, communication, and distribution networks.
Several ancient town planning sites worldwide are renowned for their advanced and sophisticated designs. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (Indus Valley Civilization), Machu Picchu (Inca Empire) in Peru, and Pompeii (Roman Empire) are a few examples. Ancient Indian town planners were quite advanced in their approach to urban design, incorporating principles that balanced functionality, aesthetics, and social harmony. The principles of Vastu Shastra, Grid Layout, Orientation, Zoning, Water Management and social integration reflect a deep understanding of environmental and social factors, making ancient Indian town planning a fascinating study area.
There are differences between being a civil engineer and a town planner. Civil engineers and town planners have overlapping but distinct roles. While civil engineers might contribute to aspects of urban planning, such as designing infrastructure within a city’s master plan, town planners have a broader scope, focusing on urban areas’ overall development and policymaking.
There are ways to become town planning personnel. Start with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as urban planning, geography, architecture, civil engineering, or environmental science. One can specialise in urban or regional planning at the master’s level. The need for specialisation has increased with the growth of cities and urbanisation. People pursue studies to become environmental planners, transport planners, etc.
The number of people working in town planning can vary significantly by region. In India, there are ~5,000 registered town planners, which is much less when compared to developed countries. Globally, the demand for urban planners is increasing due to rapid urbanisation and the need for sustainable city development. An estimate indicates that India alone will need around 300,000 urban planners to meet its immediate requirements.
Growth is important. The pursuit of comfortable living is natural. But it is equally important not to lose balance. Planned and sustainable growth of living places is the need. It is possible only when the communities come together and work to achieve sustainable living places. Observations like “World Town Planning Day” are reminders to raise awareness of the importance of urban planning and recognise the contribution of urban planners.
Toons: Anusha
Logs: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs
#WTPD #WorldTownPlanningDay2024Â #WorldUrbanismDay
