Tundikhel: Because it is not just an Open Space!…

Tundikhel: Because it is not just an Open Space! – It is a legacy well earned.

City Open Spaces speak history and identity of the city. They make our cities liveable, safe and welcoming for everyone. How we plan and use it matters! Maybe not for the elites and dominant groups, but it matters for the most vulnerable ones, for the marginalised population. Are we inviting them to explore these spaces or taking one more chance away from them from experiencing their city, taking one more basic right away from them? In different centuries the use and understanding of public space has changed due to the influence of cultural exchange, politics, economy and technology. And in the 21^st century is this how we envision our public space? By turning it into a mere football ground? A dynamic young leader like Mr. Shah could manifest much more.

Open Spaces

A city is a dynamic fabric. Its dynamism depends on how well-planned its Open Spaces are. Strategic planning of these spaces offers numerous benefits, promoting sustainable development through cultural preservation, social inclusion, environmental, health as well as economic benefits and overall, a beautiful city.

Just adding the right type of greenery to urban open spaces significantly reduces temperature and improves air quality. The air quality index of Kathmandu looks scary. It seems there is no discrimination here, as we all breathe in the same air. Perhaps some have air purifiers at home. But then it means they cannot go outdoors in their own city, now see who is discriminated here.

Public Open Spaces work best when they establish a direct relationship between the space and the people who live and work around it. It starts with independent mobility and freedom of exploration to how you slowly develop ‘place attachment’ and feel the urge to protect it and take care of it – a mutual connection developed through a long span of time, childhood on.

To achieve urban integration means thinking of urban open spaces not as an isolated unit – but as a vital part of the urban landscape with each category having its own specific set of functions. River corridors and regional parks provide biodiversity and ecological values along with an opportunity for recreation and religious activities; a small parcel of land on a neighbourhood scale can be a playground or a place to relax; historical courtyards, streets and squares can still provide traditional functions. Open Spaces should also cater for sports facilities which could be on the outskirts with large unused lands. Likewise, City Open Spaces like Tundikhel play the role of preserving the identity of the city and providing a sense of belonging to everyone. A ‘network of open spaces’ with linkages, access and continuation is needed to strengthen them.

City Open Space – everybody’s equal access and say

As a City Open Space, people should be able to enjoy the urban experience as a venue for a range of different activities, from outdoor eating to street entertainment; from play areas to a venue for civic or political functions; and most important of all an inclusive and inviting place for walking or sitting-out. We actually have to create a ‘canvas’ where the public can do their art with their movement, we create a theatre where the public will perform their acts, we create a universe where public create their own ecosystem along with other species. As beautifully written in the book ‘Public Space’ by Carr Steven “Public Space is the stage upon which the drama of communal life unfolds.” This unfolding creates numerous images of the city as perceived by the individuals, which helps them bond to their city with its identity, as Kevin Lynch explains in his book ‘Image of the City’.

Khula Manch (Tundikhel) is this stage for us, we need it to be the salad bowl where the mixture of different cultures can find their individual expression instead of being a melting pot. The very concept of a democratic society till the twentieth century as a melting pot which mixes all the cultures together and homogenises into the one expression of national culture does not fit in today’s world. It has been mostly replaced by the pluralist approach which embraces diversity in needs, attitudes and expression rather than expecting conformity.

Another example is the Newroad. It is an open space which comes in the category of ‘Streets and squares’, which thus should be planned and managed likewise. Though I completely support that the city cores should be pedestrianised or atleast should be made pedestrian-friendly, but doing any intervention without a democratic process will pay back harshly. Streets in the city core are much more than just open spaces with functional linkage. They speak history, they have witnessed different eras and transitions, started a completely new revolution, or continued a legacy for generations. These infinite layers of social, cultural and political events have been well encrypted in Newroad too. Studying in detail, unfolding each layer delicately, identifying the sensitive aspects, healing the bruises and carrying forward the regenerational elements is just taking one right step towards its revitalisation. And this cannot be done without proper process and methods, a team of well-versed experts who value the local knowledge should start the process using innovative methodologies and in collaboration with the local people and stakeholders. The team should not go with a solution but start working together with the local community to find the issues in the first place and then work together to find solutions. In case of Newroad, there should have been a research and study team just to understand the core of new road and develop a framework for its redevelopment, then an open design competition following these guidelines should have been made, several rounds of presentation of the design to the local people and wider public, feedbacks must have been taken, a team to evaluate all these must have been formed, I can go on, I hope the gist is understood here.

Open spaces are where democracy is worked out literally on the ground. Many voices have been raised, many rulers have been challenged and revolution has taken its toll. It’s only a matter of time before the voices get louder, sooner or later, everybody wants to live in a society where they feel their voices matter. If a city fails to cater for this, they show their rebellion either by leaving the system (youth go abroad), expressing negative gestures (teenagers leave graffiti on the walls) or sometimes simply by littering. This liberation is rooted deep down in humanity, oppressors lose their glory in a blink of an eye. True leaders must be able to serve. As long as collaboration exists, we can envision a just society where our open spaces are ours one more time because we thrive together – a genuine participatory approach must be considered.

Creating the Canvas

If we want our city to thrive, we must study it, make plans for it and then act upon it – not once but in a continuous cycle. While studying let’s be open, let’s be systematic, let’s be inclusive, let’s find categories, let’s identify core strengths and problems, let’s do critical reflection and find methods to find solutions, let’s collaborate and then work together for solutions. And let’s apply these solutions taking all measurable and immeasurable impacts. And after taking these actions, let’s reflect upon our processes and adapt and improvise, be flexible and democratic, let’s transform and educate ourselves to comprehend the next phase of studying, planning and then taking action. We must keep on working, but in each new action we are a little more aware, a little more equipped and a lot merrier. This is how a city works, amongst the chaos, amongst the unanswered – question everyone and hear their answers.

And when it comes to planning city open spaces, a thorough understanding of the community’s needs, preservation considerations, and a commitment to sustainable and inclusive intervention is a must. Engaging with the community and relevant experts will be key to making an informed decision that respects both the historical context and the contemporary needs of the area. This would help the city move towards the right direction, not reach the destination as off, but just start on the right path.

What’s going wrONg

I do believe instead of trying to prove that one can make a difference or can bring about the (visible) change, a leader should focus on forming a system, and institutionalising correct order. “If you are not here to prove anything to anyone but to really make Kathmandu sustainable and developed, believe me, you would take this approach.”

As the mayor himself says reconstruction of Dharahara is a ‘white tower’. So how are we reconstructing the image of our intangible heritage is the question we need to raise together! “An open space where you could play football too” or “a football ground where you could do other things too”. The image of an open space is not merely physical but shaped by diverse activities occurring at various times. It is more than a piece of land; it embodies the heritage of activities from the past to contemporary society. As old residents lose their identity and new ones struggle to find one, we must contemplate if this is the path to societal development.

People who play football will find a way to play football anywhere. But people who are reluctant to explore these open spaces will be even more constrained. We must design and manage cities for this population. Then we can talk about inclusion, equal rights and opportunities. People from every field and every walk of life must understand this. If we design cities for cars we will get cars, if we design cities for people, we will get people. But if we design and make them accessible only for certain groups of people, we can bid goodbye to the philosophy of our federal democratic republic nation.

What should be done

So how do we design and plan our spaces so that it works for all? Where children can run around free and wild, elderlies find their chitchat spot not so far away from the children’s laughter, a young girl finds solace under a tree or a visually impaired boy smells and feels a fresh breeze of air? We do not tap into our expertise, we do not tap into our authority, but as Amanda Burden has said, we tap into HUMANITY!  She was appointed by the city commission to improve the quality of life of the people in New York City. With her humble approach she was not making plans for the big apple sitting at her desk, she went out walked every street and corner, identified the needs of the city and its people, and then was able to create landscapes that literally worked for all, supporting diversity and biodiversity. One such example is the ‘Highline’ which was an abandoned railroad. Rather than demolishing it rehabilitating was a great approach.

How can the process start

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) should start by identifying the different types of open spaces and then develop a framework, assigning different functions and features to each category. These should be provided to the communities who can then use them to develop their open spaces using these guidelines, along with monitoring and maintenance. But again, when it comes to open spaces like Tundikhel and Newroad, KMC has to take an innovative, sensitive and contemporary approach, to plan and manage it, taking diverse perspectives, approaches and expertise, and not forgetting communities are the most important experts. So, to create a sustainable, inclusive, equitable city, we must work in that direction, as is mentioned in my favourite quote from a very famous urbanist/author/activist.

‘Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.’ – Jane Jacobs.

Are we ready as experts, as authorities, as people in the position to play our roles to provide the citizens, especially children, their rights to live in a healthy and thriving city and, in the process also make them responsible? Or do we want to create more constraints and thus make our society ever more ill and disintegrated? Our open spaces have been resilient throughout centuries but they are struggling to survive, it’s time to make them lively again so that our lives are also enriched. Do we want to create a win-win in this scenario or do we want to lose as a society?

To thrive, Kathmandu Metropolitan City must embrace collaboration and actively listen to the diverse voices within its community. Let’s start a green revolution, an Open Space movement!