CONTENTS Abstract . ix Acknowledgements xi CONTENTS xiii List of figures xv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Area of concern 2 1.2 Aim . 3 1.3 Hypothesis 3 1.4 Objectives 3 1.5 Methodology 4 1.6 Scope and limitations . 5 1.7 Theoretical framework 5 2 The city . 11 2.1 Evolution of Chennai 11 2.2 History and importance 12 2.3 Transport and economic system of Chennai . 12 2.4 Expansion towards south Chennai 13 2.5 Major and minor reservoirs of Chennai . 15 2.6 Climate of Chennai . 16 2.7 Moving towards decentralization . 16 2.8 Neglected waterbodies of Chennai 16 3 Site 21 3.1 Introduction of the selected site . 21 3.2 Upcoming proposals in the site . 22 3.3 Watershed study 23 3.4 Area of intervention 29 3.4.1 Periyar eri . 31 3.4.2 Nemilichery Lake . 31 3.4.3 Keelkattalai lake 32 3.4.4 Nanmangalam lake . 33 3.4.5 Narayanapuram lake 33 3.4.6 Water Canal . 34 3.4.7 Seasonal variation of the lakes 35 3.4.8 Density of the surrounding area 36 3.4.9 Vegetation of the site 36 3.5 Study around undeveloped land 37 3.6 Problems of the site 39 3.6.1 Disappearing of water body 40 3.6.2 Undeveloped urban pockets . 41 3.6.3 Water logging in low lying area 41 3.6.4 Unhealthy construction practices 42 3.7 SWOT analysis 43 3.8 Need for the project 43 4 Casestudy . 45 4.1 Arnhem, Netherlands 45 4.2 Enschede, eastern Netherland 49 5 Strategies and concepts 53 6 Bibliography . 55 7 Refrences 57 8 Design 59