Khori Garden Transformation and Its Impacts: Tracing the Lost Essence of a Neighborhood Open Space
Abstract
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Neighbourhoods in the city's core frequently have deep symbolic, cultural, and social meaning for local residents. Commercialization poses a serious danger to these neighbourhoods in the present day. In the face of such dangers, they are compelled to take drastic steps to protect their cultural legacy for the sake of posterity and the continuation of their society as well as their own mental health. Under British rule, Karachi too went through a period of rapid growth and gained a reputation as a thriving port city. Karachi's urban and architectural growth was influenced by colonial city planning ideas. Gardens, public squares, halls, and cultural/recreational places for neighbourhoods were central to these ideas. One such neighbourhood is Khori Garden, which was inspired by the Victorian era and features tiny alleys lined with exquisite buildings. Khori Garden in the center served as a communal space for all the people and this place became a centralized hub which became a source of strengthening community ties. Although, this place has transformed drastically due to overcrowding, pressures of commercialization, and uncontrolled encroachments. Large number of hawkers and vendors set up their make shift shops along the walls of the garden, due to which it displays a completely obscured vision at street level. In addition, the demographic changes in the area have resulted in diminishing community-oriented activities that once took place in this neighbuorhood park. The current study aims to attempt at tracing the historical timeline of Khori Garden and its precinct, to identify the catalyst/s for its current transformation. This study further aims at engaging the participation of communities living in the area till date in order to interpret their perceptions and aspirations about the community open space. Moreover, the current study also probes into certain possibilities for the reintegration of Khori Garden as a socio-cultural and economic hub of inner-city Karachi.
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