Thursday, November 16, 2017

Govt. of India calls entries for International Design Competition for Development of State of the Art Railway Stations [Closing Date 12 Jan 18]


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Dear Colleagues,

IRSDC [A Special Purpose vehicle is a Joint Venture company of Ircon International Limited (a Govt. of India Undertaking, under Ministry of Railways) and Rail Land Development Authority (a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways)] is organizing a competition for award of consultancy services towards Preparation of Station Development Plans for three (3) identified railway stations at Nagpur, Gwalior and Beiyappanhalli (Bengaluru) across India. 

It is inviting Multi Disciplinary teams of experts/ consultants to participate in International Design Competition for selection of schemes for Station Development Plans of these stations.

This Two Stage Design Competition is one of its kind for India, where interdisciplinary participation is sought for regenerating public infrastructure. It invites proposals that rationalize and integrate inputs of urban design, architecture, environment, landscape, public space, mobility network, financing et al for station area improvement.

Design Vision
  1. The competition seeks ideas to revitalize railway stations and its precincts by improving amenities and exploring options for property development. The intervention is expected to create examples for financially viable projects.
  2. The combined design visions for 3 selected Stations include.
  3. Design solutions to improve urban aesthetics and be based on principles of Transit Oriented Development/ Smart Urbanism.
  4. Design solutions to explore alternative scenarios of land use mix to arrive at suitable sizing of development taking into account its impact on traffic and other infrastructure requirements either existing or proposed by the competitors.
  5. Design solutions to propose architectural schemes to encourage Private Partnership for Redevelopment of Stations.
  6. Design solutions to integrate elements in the precinct coherently so as to maximize functionality of urban space on a daily basis.
  7. Design solutions to propose multi-modal integration to allow seamless interchange between various modes of transport from stations to all parts of the city.
  8. Design solutions to promote and improve connectivity, pedestrian mobility and active public life in station precinct .
  9. Design solutions must reinforce pride and ownership among stakeholders.
  10. Design solutions to be innovative and explore relevant opportunities for value addition.
  11. Design solutions to uphold historic significance and environmental properties of the context.
  12. Design solutions to be practical, buildable and financially viable Station areas.
  13. Design solutions to meet energy efficient- green building principles.
Stages of the Competition :

The competition will be conducted in two stages:
Stage-1

Schematic Design Stage (Ideas Competition-open for both Category participants) – will initially seek broader ideas about the respective station areas. Participants are expected to project how a station and its surrounding area could support people-oriented, thriving and vibrant urban center.
 Stage-2
Detail Design Stage (Detailed design competition between Category-1 winners of Stage-1) – implementable design schemes for station areas and other facilities will be sought from Category-1 winners of Stage-1. These should be intelligent, sensitive, and highly functional designs to adequately capture land value. The design of the regenerated Railway Stations should be balanced, i.e. architecturally ambitious, intelligently frugal, financially viable and beneficial for all stakeholders and users.
Design Principles

Entries will be reviewed for compliance with key Design Principles, and the response to these will form a significant component of the evaluation. Design Principles include:

a. Identity and context
The competition seeks designs that will assist in improving the identity of respective Stations in the broadest possible way. It is desired that the winning design will be a positive place to use, stay or pass through, will be a significant landmark for the area and will act as a positive gateway element for the respective cities. The design must make a positive contribution to its location and engender a sense of civic pride. The cultural context – setting, landscape, built history, memory, indigenous cultural conditions, understanding of the past, and continuity into the future – should all inform the design outcome. A good design proposition will add value by making the most of the site, its surroundings and their opportunities.

b. Site design
The concept must propose a well-designed use of the site, and respond appropriately to factors including orientation, natural light, maintenance and servicing. A built form and site movement strategy that works positively with the site topography is essential. Visibility, lighting, signage and way finding will all be important factors.

c. The public realm and urban fabric
The design must contribute to its place by careful integration into the existing urban fabric. Designs should create a distinct urban character and sense of place which complement the identity of respective cities and adjacent projects and other citywide strategies, without cliché.

d. The organisational diagram
A succinct organisational diagram must underlie the design concept, with intuitive patterns of movement that invite pedestrian activity within and through the site. Connections and networks beyond the site should be identified and strengthened.

e. Station area mobility aspects
  • Railway station being a transit hub, design of operational areas and comprehensive planning for mobility, access and circulation is of utmost priority. Following are some key aspects:
  • Station access and dispersal transport system from different parts of city
  • Multimodal integration at station with all motorized/ non-motorized modes including integration with neighbouring communities
  • Adequate parking arrangement for public and private vehicles
  • Segregation of pedestrian and vehicular movement. Within vehicles segregation of public and private vehicles
  • Seamless transfer of passengers entering into and exiting from the station
  • Circulation system which facilitates segregation of vehicles and faster and safe flow of passengers
  • Segregating of non- terminal use (office, retail etc.) traffic with terminal traffic
  • Surrounding network circulation and traffic management plan to account for terminal generated traffic including entry/exit planning
f. Form, massing, appearance
The concept must propose an attractive and well-considered addition to its place, and indicate appropriate relationships with regard to scale, form, mass, materials, finish and function of all elements. The re-visioned site must mediate between the station and rest of the respective city.

g. Functional planning
Clarity and intelligence in the planning and spatial arrangements of all spaces and elements of the design must be evident, together with demonstrated understanding of amenity and convenience.

h. Use of resources
The design must take account of environmental issues in an effort to be less resource intensive. Considerations include orientation, light, energy, water, waste and the proposition of inbuilt flexibility. The stations should aim to meet highest standards of IGBC Green Building ratings for similar projects. IRSDC aims that the Station Development achieves platinum rating based on the IGBC rating systems for Green Railway Stations.

j. Safety and security
The re-envisioned place must be designed to be used safely (both day and night) and to offer the perception of safety to its users. Designs should embed qualities that contribute to public safety including improved sightlines, informal outlook and natural surveillance, positive way finding and appropriate lighting initiatives.

k. Materials
The materials for the new Station will need to create a positive user experience, yet remain robust and suitable for their use (and without unacceptably high or expensive maintenance requirements) to deal with the tough conditions associated with such a public infrastructure project.

l. User Perspective
The user perspective should be manifest throughout the design, with the design recognizing and responding to the needs of all users. This includes universal design for people of all ages and abilities, travelling by any mode as well as those seeking to cross the rail line.

m. Community Priorities
In general all stakeholders and local community, aspire that the station precinct be safe, vibrant, sustainable, accessible and connected, comfortable, convenient, with an inspiring design that is reflective of respective cities.

Last Date for Registration extended to :  12 January 2018

For details of Eligibility Criteria and conditions of registration and  closing dates etc. and please visit  Innovate.MyGovt.in