Abstract i Acknowledgements iii CONTENTS v List of tables ix List of figures . xi List of maps xv 1. Study conceptualization 1 1.1. Introduction 1 1.2. Need . 1 1.3. Background: . 1 1.4. Design intention . 2 1.5. Objective 3 1.6. Methodology 3 1.7. Scope 4 1.8. Limitation . 4 1.9. Expected outcome 4 2. Literature Review 5 2.1. Literature inferences 5 Image of the city- defining the image- . 5 Making Legible City Form -A Case for Urban Design 5 Literature Synthesis Grid 6 2.2. Literature case studies 8 Sofia, Bulgaria- . 8 Rome, italy 9 Macchu Picchu . 9 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 9 Tokyo, japan .10 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 10 2.3. Literature case study synthesis .14 Inference: 15 3. Case studies: 17 3.1. Mumbai: .17 Heritage and culture-inclination with water as a cultural melting point: 18 Morphology: .18 Marine drive as a wide open space connecting city to the sea edge: 19 Open spaces 20 streets 20 3.2. Mattanchery 21 Heritage and culture-inclination with water as a cultural melting point: 21 Morphology-built use, façade: 24 Open Spaces 24 Streets and the Activity Network 25 3.3. Case study inferences: 26 4. Site Documentation .27 4.1. Site Introduction .27 Facts about site context: 28 Development pattern .30 4.2. The evolution of cochin estuary: 31 4.3. The city history: .33 4.4. Site Selection Criteria.33 4.5. The site .34 4.6. Site study 35 Mapping and analysis . 37 4.6.1.1. Major paths and nodes . 37 4.6.1.2. Land use 38 4.6.1.3. building type 40 4.6.1.4. `Open space . 43 4.6.1.5. Publicly accessible space 45 4.6.1.6. Figure ground map: . 46 4.6.1.7. Urban block: 47 4.6.1.8. Site topography: 48 4.6.1.9. Canal network : . 49 4.6.1.10. Tree cover 50 4.7. Site study inference: . 52 Image elements . 53 4.7.1.1. Water as a constant space for convergence of city- a unifying space 53 4.7.1.2. Open spaces . 54 4.7.1.3. Streets: . 57 4.7.1.4. context sensitive built heritage: . 59 4.8. Concerns and Strategies . 61 5. Design 67 References 74