REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

 Introduction:

In review of literature, the literatures selected are based on researches on Madurai at different periods which focus on the transformations of Madurai city. The historical elements, cultural background of the city, land use patterns, open space built space ratios is considered. The books and researches referred discuss the change that Madurai’s historic core experience and the factors affecting the core. Literatures which deal with cities transformation and conservation strategies are also taken as literature.

 Madurai India, architecture of the city. Julian s.smith ,b.a , Oberlin college .

Research done on Madurai historic core, done in 1976. It deals with the transformation of the city from its traditional image, land use and visual character. He compares the old street pattern with the new and identifies the factors responsible for it.

He was an observer of the entire situation and analysis the reason behind the activity. He analysis the historic elements of Madurai in the current scenario and traces its history and explains in which period the transition was more. The historic elements are observed and its activities are mapped and analyzed. Though commercial activities are making the city survive, they affect the historic elements spatial use and visual quality.

The book takes other planned cities of India compares with Madurai and discusses about the planning concepts. Important views discussed are, the change in the layout of the city during Nayak period, change in the palace area and commercialization of the historic areas.

The present pattern is concentrated more, where the data collected are about the streets, usage of space and activity mapping. The streets give character to a space, especially for a heritage town the character of the town becomes an essential factor. The discussion is about the street, its original character, present scenario and the factors that influence it.

The researcher concludes with transformation has been occurring in the historic core which is because of the developments, tourism and the increase in commercial activity of the place.

 Planning for Historic Cities-A Case Study of the Historic City Area of Madurai

By p.shabitha, dept. of architecture & dr.s.nagan, dept. of civil engineering, thiagarajar college of engineering, Madurai

The paper discusses about the civilizations of India. In particularly, temple towns of tamilnadu and their planning concepts are discussed. The paper explains the history of Madurai and the kingdoms of Madurai till independence. The present scenario is explained with an analysis of activities, change in land use and the traffic issues of Madurai. The listed monuments of Madurai explain the heritage value of the city.

A brief study on the development of the city of Madurai explains the growth of the city. The paper has published an analyzed report on the land use, streetscape, heritage elements and transport and traffic of Madurai.

The analysis explains the change in use of space, change of type of buildings and typology of the town. The authors have suggested strategies which can improve the city with reference to its historicity.

The main concepts concern in the research is the change of land use and factors affecting it. Majority of the residential area are shifted to the outskirts and the commercial activities take over the entire residential spaces. Due to this change of land use the core city experiences more problems of space constrain and movement of pedestrian. The percentage analysis of the space explains the domination of commercial activities and even into the historic monumental site.

The strategies given are to improve the historic core and to provide historic visual quality to the place. The change in land use is opposed and residential area have to be brought back to the core area is the important policy proposed.

Urban renewal program Madurai, 2003.

Directorate of Town & Country planning, govt. of India.

The report is published by the government of India 2003, addressing the problems of historic core of Madurai and analyzed the core area and brought in policies for the renewal of the historic town.

The objectives are to preserve the historic buildings, urban renewal programs in the core area solving the traffic problems and policies to improve the environmental conditions of the town. The elements taken for study are Meenakshi amman temple, raya gopuram , thirumalai nayakar mahal and pudhu mandapam. The elements are proposed to conserve and rehabilitate. The report proposes a long time renewal program, which works at three levels cleaning the temple, the city and the transport problems.

The proposals were worked out for religious buildings and their surroundings. Improvements are towards a better living environment with the cultural background. The expected outcome of the process is improving the social life of the people.

The main analysis corresponds to the change in land use and visual quality of the city. The problems discussed are from the view of the public and their suggestions are taken. The strategies focus on the city’s historical elements and their current situation. Government has taken the first step towards it and chitirai street renewal has been completed and the other level renewal programs are in process.

All the research papers mentioned above discuss the historicity of Madurai and their transition in current scenario. The main problem discussed is the commercial activities acquiring the residential area and historical elements. Thus it affects the elements and their quality. All the researches aim at regaining the historic quality of Madurai and solving the problem of traffic and transportation. The most addressed problem of Madurai is the increasing commercial activities of the core city, which reduces the residential proportion of Madurai resulting in creating a hub of commercial activities.