Thimphu 2020 Thimphu 2020

ThimphuThimphu 20202020 AlternativeAlternative VisionsVisions forfor Bhutan’sBhutan’s CapitalCapital CityCity Prepared for the World Bank Institute South Asia Urban Management Course Thimphu, Bhutan June 2001 Thimphu City Corporation – MIT – World Bank ThimphuThimphu 20202020 AlternativeAlternative VisionsVisions forfor Bhutan’sBhutan’s CapitalCapital CityCity “For“For Bhutan,Bhutan, therethere areare imperativesimperatives thatthat transcendtranscend narrownarrow economeconomicic interpretations…”interpretations…” “Our“Our independence,independence, sovereigntysovereignty andand securitysecurity willwill continuecontinue toto bebe dependentdependent uponupon thethe assertionassertion ofof ourour distinctive Bhutanese identity … in dynamdynamicic and developmentdevelopment orientedoriented waysways soso asas toto ensureensure thatthat itit maintains its relevance … for a society in transformation” “…“… architectsarchitects andand buildersbuilders [should][should] maintainmaintain andand adapadaptt asas necessarynecessary ourour traditiontraditional and distinctive formsforms of architecture … which can be interpreted by local communities as a commitment to Bhutanese traditions and values and not as alien intrusions. … It would not be difficult for us to project an image to the world thatthat wewe mightmight referrefer toto asas “sophistication“sophistication andand civilization”.civilization”. Sophistication would give expression to the typestypes ofof economiceconomic activityactivity wewe wouldwould likelike toto promote,romote, linkedlinked toto ourour naturalnatural …… endowments,endowments, whilewhile civilization would refer specifically to the distinctiveness and uniqueness of our cultural heritage.” “It“It isis possiblepossible toto bebe thethe sasame, while being distinctly different” – Bhutan Vision 2020, Royal Planning Commission 1999 Contents ! Introduction: A Course and Studio ! Thimphu Today "" Areas of investigation "" Existing Strategic Plan ! Alternative Scenarios "" Assumptions and Goals "" Key QuQuestionsestions "" The Mature City "" The Cultural City "" The River City ! Towards a Consensus Vision Thimphu 2020 – City Corporation - MIT - World Bank 3 Acknowledgements We would like to thank Lyonpo Leki Dorji, Honorable Thimphu Urban Design Studio Deputy Minister of Communications for his unwavering Participants included: and strong support. We are also indebted to Tshering Thimphu City Corporation Dorji, Director-General,, UrbanUrban DevelopmentDevelopment andand HousingHousing Thimphu City Corporation Department, Ministry of Communications; Ms. Kreszentia Phuntsho Wangdi,, ThromponThrompon M. Duer,, WorldWorld Bank;Bank; Dr. Mila Freire,, WorldWorld BankBank Institute;Institute; Tshering Phuntsho, Planner and especially Dr. Kim Cuenco,, WorldWorld Bank,Bank, forfor theirtheir R.S. Tamang, Deputy Director support and encouragement. Particular appreciation is Sangay Penjore, Development Control offered to Phuntsho Wangdi,, Thrompon,Thrompon, Thimphu,Thimphu, andand hishis Cheungay Penjhore, Head, Sanitationtation staff for their generous hospitality hosting the studio at the Karma Tshoring, Survey Section City Corporation. Very useful critiques and valuable Mahesh Pradhan, Engineering insiinsights on the scenarios were provided by City Sonam Tashi, Architecture Cell Councilors, and we are grateful forr theirtheir paparticipation.rticipation. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Prof. Dennis Frenchman World Bank Institute Dr. Reinhard Goethert South Asia Urban Prof. Jan Wampler Management Course Students: Participants made Alexis Bennett significantficant contrcontributionsibutions inin Rosemary Dudley analyzing and detailing the Trevor Hardy alternatives, and their Rachel Loeb participation is much Karl Munkelwitz appreciated. Komal Dutta (Delhi) Thimphu 2020 – City Corporation - MIT - World Bank 4 Thimphu City Corporation Massachusetts Institute of Technology The World Bank Mr. Phunjtsho Wangdi School of Architecture and Planning World Bank Institute Thrompon Prof. Dennis Frenchman Dr. Mila Freire, Course Coordinatorinator P.O. Box 215 Dr. Reinhard Goethert World Bank Institute Thimphu, Bhutan Prof. Jan Wampler 1818 H Street, NW Email: [email protected] 77 Massachusetts Avenue Washington, D.C. 20433 Cambridge MA 02139 Email: [email protected] City Design and Development Program Bhutan Urban Development Project Room 10-485 Dr. Kim Cuenco, Task Manager Note: Note: Email: [email protected] The World Bank Panoramas and attachments 1818 H Street, NW requirerequire QuickTimeQuickTime SIGUS -- Special Interest Group in Washington, D.C. 20433 and MS Word to Urban Settlement Email: [email protected] view. Room N52-357A Move cursor on panoramas to view. E-mail: [email protected] Thimphu 2020 – City Corporation - MIT - World Bank 5 “For Bhutan, there are imperatives that transcend narrow economic interpretations… Introduction “Our independence, sovereignty and security will continue to be dependent upon the assertion of our distinctive Bhutanese identity … in dynamic and development oriented ways so as to ensure that it maintains its relevance … for a society in transformation.” – Bhutan Vision 2020 Click Here for Panorama ThimphuThimphu 2020 2020 – - CityCity CorporationCorporation- -MIT- MITWorld - World Bank Bank 6 A Course and a Studio Thimphu will grow, and probably willwill growgrow fast.fast. conserving the unique historical cultureculture andand Where and how will thisthis growthgrowth taketake place?place? heritage. Time is of essence: change is How will the pressures of urbanization impact occurring at an ever increasing pace. thethe traditionaltraditional cultureculture andand forms?forms? HowHow willwill thethe built environment confront the challenges of The Thimphu 2020 studystudy usesuses thethe builtbuilt formform globalization, with the opening up to tourism, as an entry point for exploring a broad range of informationinformation techtechnology and the ‘new‘new fundamentalfundamental issuesissues whichwhich includeinclude urbanurban land,land, economies’? planning, and economic development. The overarching goal was the development of a Form matters. The spatial layout of the city has livablelivable city,city, bothboth nownow andand inin thethe future,future, profound and long-term effects. Form dictates respectingrespecting thethe landland andand thethe culturalcultural traditions.traditions. initialinitial capitalcapital investmentinvestment andand setssets long-termlong-term maintenance requirements. A studio and a parallel course on urban management explored these challenges. A These issues are particularly acute for Bhutan studio developed three alternative urban with its unique cultural and natural assets. It is growth scenarios for Thimphu, which became imperativeimperative toto strikestrike aa balancebalance betweenbetween thethe basisbasis forfor examinationexamination inin thethe course.course. accommodating growth and change, while Thimphu 2020 – City Corporation - MIT - World Bank 7 World Bank Institute South Asia Urban Management Course This course provided local government officials Approximately 50 professionals from through- and planning professionals with a platform on out Bhutan attended the 2-week course. which to learn and explore the key aspects of urban planning and management. Participants A key element of the course was the use of were provided with a comprehensive knowledge alternative development scenarios for of the challenges and issues facing urban cen- Thimphu as vehicles for understanding urban tersters andand theirtheir administration,administration, andand skillsskills forfor suc-suc- management issues, while exploring tradeoffs cessful leadership and effective management. thatthat thethe builtbuilt formform scenariosscenarios entail.entail. Click Here forfor CourseCourse Schedule Thimphu 2020 - City Corporation-MIT-World Bank 8 The Studio A team of Thimphu City Corporation staff and ! Review existing plans; MIT faculty with advanced graduate students MIT faculty with advanced graduate students ! Determine goals and assumptions; tackledtackled thethe issuesissues ofof thethe growth of Thimphu ! Undertake field investigations Valley through a design studio. The goal was ! Undertake field investigations toto prepareprepare alternativealternative scenariosscenarios exploringexploring ! IdentifyIdentify keykey questionsquestions facingfacing thethe citycity urban planning issues and their implications on urban planning issues and their implications on ! Determine concepts and directions; livabilitylivability andand thethe builtbuilt form.form. TheThe scenariosscenarios ! Design alternative scenarios. highlighted the critical cultural issues and ! Design alternative scenarios. explored ways to incorporincorporateate and maintain the traditionaltraditional heritageheritage whilewhile engagingengaging thethe changing world. Three scenarios were prepared, with a time horizon of 2020 and a targettarget populationpopulation ofof 150,000:150,000: aa ‘Mature‘Mature City’City’ concept with a concentrated center, a ‘Cultural City’ concept with two subcenters, and a ‘River City’ concept with a linear development pattern. The studio process involved six steps: Thimphu 2020 - City Corporation-MIT-World Bank 9 “…architects and builders [should] maintain and adapt as necessary our ThimphuThimphu TodayToday traditional and distinctive forms of architecture … which can be interpreted by local communities as a commitment to Bhutanese traditions and values and not as alien intrusions”

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