Sustainable streetscapes play an important role in creating a visual image of the city. It adds to the quality of city's urban environment and makes it safer and comfortable for its people and visitors. This paper aims at developing guidelines for sustainable streetscape in down town Srinagar, Jammu &Kashmir, India rich in its architectural and historic integrity by taking examples from streetscape of Istanbul’s historic peninsula which has sustained for hundreds of years.The paper aims to activate the role of sustainable streetscape as an approach to provide an attractive and safe sustainable urban environment by focusing on the elements and basic principles of sustainable Streetscape.
The methodology is based on theoretical, analytical and applied studies. The theoretical study explains the concept of sustainable streetscape and its elements and principles. The analytical study consists of my experiences in Istanbul as a pedestrian which are applied to downtown streets of Srinagar resembling the built fabric of Istanbul with rich historic integrity.
Srinagar downtown known as Shehr-e-Khas is currently a significant historical and commercial hub of Srinagar, J&K. It’s rich historical and cultural heritage makes it a challenging area for transport and urban planners. The chaotic network of historic and narrow streets presents challenges for accessibility and creates high level of congestion. In addition, the threat of pollution arising from industrialization and rapid urbanization has jeopardized the historical and cultural heritage of the old town. Most of the streets in the down town Srinagar lack good streetscape which adversely affects the behavior of users and aesthetic aspects of built environment, and thus deterioration of the visual image.
But there are conscious efforts being put by various nonprofit organizations to preserve the architectural heritage of Shehar- e- khas and lots of tourists have started flocking that area. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to improve its streetscape and make it more visitor and pedestrian friendly.
The paper concludes with suggestions and proposals of developing the streetscape of Shehar-e-Khas and achieving a healthy and comfortable urban environment for suitable development of the city.