Career in Urban Planning for Architects........

Career in Urban Planning for Architects........

“Cities have the capacity of providing something for everybody, only because and only when, they are created by everybody”........

Jane Jacobs......

Master Planner Jane Jacobs explained it very well. When all the inputs from everyone counts together 'A Simple Place' becomes 'A Liveable Place' and each one of us becomes a Planner ourselves.

If we talk technically, An Urban Planner is someone who develops plans and programs for the use of land. They use planning to create Communities, Accommodate growth and to Revitalize Physical Facilities in town, cities, counties and metropolitan areas.

Urban planning is perhaps one of the most critical roles in a city today. As a ravages of global warming lead to annual flooding in many regions, continuously increasing pollution index. All these problems are across world and not a single country is untouched. So it will take the vision of expert urban planners to device new and innovative measures to minimize or eliminate these issues and can help tackle a societal menace.

So for the Aspiring and Ambitious youth of today, there could be no greater challenge than that what Urban Planning offers...

Who can be a Urban Planner

Candidates who have Bachelor degree in Architecture / Planning (B.Arch /

Planning) are eligible to pursue this course.

Eligibility Requirements for Admission to Architecture in India:

HSC in Science Stream, with 50% Aggregate and 50% Aggregate in PCM.

Qualifying Entrance Exam: NATA or JEE-Paper II

(For any details contact us)

Website: www.tsapmumbai.in

E-mail: tsap@thakureducation.org

Contact: 022-67308001/02

Whatsapp: +91-9833665446

Scope of An Urban Planner

Urban planning was first recognized in ancient Rome, where the population was estimated to have reached one million people. Now in current scenario as an urbanization keeps rising rapidly, the pressure on cities and the urban infrastructure increases proportionately. Today with city population soaring globally, urban planning offers a slew of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

A career in urban planning calls for finding solutions in using land and resources.

Urban planning involves engineering plus social and political concerns, in some way it is a technical profession and an academic discipline too.

Consequently, aspirants must be adept at managing political opinion and public participation.

The planning process could be achieved through a formal master plan covering an entire city or specific areas only. If we talk about the great town planners in yester years from Sir Petric Gidds to Ebenzer Howards to Jean Jacobs to Le Corbusier to Clarence Stein, their approach was to balance conflicting needs of aesthetic appeal,  economic growth, social equity and environmental sensitivities.

Urban planners can ascertain that city life becomes more liveable for residents by controlling the use of resources.

Career in urban planning is not only limited to master planning but also involve,

(1) Developing buildings and structures as a part of Physical Planning.
(2) Highways, roads as a part of Transportation Planning.
(3) Open parks, play ground, landscaping as a Recreational Planning etc.

Thus the subject of urban planning covers,

 I) Research and analysis,          II)Strategic thinking as well as           III)Architectural     and designing elements among others.

As a One-Size-Fits-All approach does not work in urban planning since each region throws up its own challenges.

The overall work culture of an urban planner involves
•  Meeting Government officials , city/area residents and the stake holders in dividing the usages of land and resources.
• Conducting regular field visits and on-site activities for obtaining an adequate understanding of specific issues or hurdles in particular area.
•  Understanding changing demands of consumers, companies and stake holders.
• Reviewing plans with other officials and departments for improving and making necessary changes in urban plan.
• Practical solution approach in resolving city-centric problems, including inadequate drainage system, flooding and low water reserves.

Key skill required to pursue career in urban planning
• Aspiring students should be good at Strategic Thinking, Designing, Research-Analysis and Architecture, including legal issues linked to urban planning.
• Candidates should also be technology savvy, because GIS(Geographic Information System) and Remote Sensing is now deployed in mapping for existing urban infrastructure and projecting system while planning future goals.
•    One more essential quality for urban planner is soft skills, important for handling the challenge of dealing with government officials and bureaucrats. To secure planning, environment and other relevant permissions one requires tremendous pro activity, patience and perseverance.

Urban planners must be flexible in their approach and realistic in setting deadlines considering out of control variables.

Above all urban planning is akin to societal development work. As a result those who want to pursue this as a career must posses a sound understanding of both urban and regional planning.                                             

                    By- Ar. Anamika Mohite (Architect-Planner)

                                                                                    Assistant Professor, TSAP