Abstract
The spread of urbanization and industrialization has widened the bridge between human beings and nature. It is despite numerous studies illustrating that bio-aesthetics; a factor of nature has positive outcomes that include economic, psychological, spiritual, and functional outcomes. It is therefore imperative that targeted efforts be undertaken in order to improve the bio-aesthetics of various public and private spaces. The Mysore City Authority has identified the need to improve bio-aesthetics within the city through the development of parks. However, measures have to be undertaken to improve residential bio-aesthetics as well. It is especially the case considering that the number of residences is larger than that of public spaces and its impact is therefore bound to be larger. Residential gardens are the most effective means of improving bio-aesthetics within the residence. As a result, it is recommended that the MCC take steps through city zoning by-laws and various incentives such as lowering license fees for compliant development plans so as to encourage the creation of residential gardens in Mysore.
Introduction
As urbanization and industrialization spread across various parts of the country, the closeness that human beings have with nature becomes eroded. The contradiction is that the loss of closeness with nature is often as a result of the need for development. However, it is the case that bio-aesthetics have a far greater benefit over and above the aesthetic value that they provide. Such benefits are functional as well as economic and environmental. Therefore, it is critical to incorporate aspects of bio-aesthetics into residential and urban development (Porteous, 1996).
The need for incorporating development and bio-aesthetics is particularly important for the city of Mysore in India’s Karnataka state. The city has traditionally been surrounded by unique architecture such as palaces, monuments, and gardens. However, as is the case with numerous other cities across the globe, the phenomena of urbanization and industrialization has meant that there has been a rapid increase in the population levels.
High levels of population growth have created planning concerns for the city, which have also had an impact on the bio-aesthetic aspects in the city. This is because with the population increases, unplanned residential areas especially slums, spring up. Such uncontrolled and unplanned developments negatively affect the bio-aesthetic beauty of the city.
Bio-aesthetics through residential gardens
Bio-aesthetics may be defined as a deliberate plan for setting up flora and fauna with the aim of beautifying a space. For the case of Mysore city, the process of improving of its bio-aesthetics may take place within new residential areas or in the process of rehabilitating old residential areas in the city especially those affected by the slams menace.
Residential gardens have emerged as the most common type of gardens relied upon to improve the bio-aesthetics within a space. It is as a result of the ability to customize such gardens according personal preferences. It is also as a result of the high prevalence of private residential spaces over public spaces that may be available for gardening. Gardens have traditionally been associated with human settlement and are known to have numerous benefits (Brendan et al, 2010).
Such benefits span from aesthetic, economical, psychological, as well as spiritual. Often times, residential gardens contribute to a raise in the values of property. It is therefore the case that bio-aesthetics within a residence is not just an abstract concept but one that has practical outcomes.
Residential gardens incorporate a number of factors. Such factors include but not limited to form and function. Form and function imply that residential gardens can be tailored to suit the needs of the owner. Residential gardens also incorporate the aspect of balance; in designing the residential garden, a balance between the garden and the structure has to be attained if the aesthetic value of the garden is to be attained (Brendan et al, 2010). Often times, this involves adopting a minimalist approach during the design process for the residential garden.
Another aspect of residential gardens is that they tend to be practical in that they are subject to the nature of the landscape at hand as well as limitations of the law especially within a city area such Mysore. The residential gardens also serve as a reflection of the lifestyle and personality of the owners of such residences.
Generally, the considerations taken into account in contemporary gardening also apply to residential gardening. Such considerations include the type of soil, the climate of the area, personal tastes and preferences, as well as time and budgets. Residential gardens generally tend to have limited spaces and as a result present a number of challenges.
The limited spaces imply that there is limited choice on the type of flora and fauna to be accommodated. Therefore, undertaking residential gardening, there has to be prioritization. Secondly, aspects such as color use should be minimal while each of the flora and fauna must be purposeful in order to optimize the limited space. There are numerous types of residential gardens that can be adopted by residents of Mysore city with each being dependent on the type of residence and space available. These types of residential gardens include front, back, court yards as well as on windows, the balcony and patios.
In contemporary residences, front yards may include aspects such as motor courts, walkways and fountains. In often cases, backyards tend to consist of scaled down vegetation so as to achieve a minimalist effect. Vegetables and herbs may be planted in the backyard. Such aspects of a backyard imply that it serves to illustrate the sustainability component of residential gardens (Brendan et al, 2010).
For the case of cities such as Mysore, the concept of development implies that residences have shifted more towards apartments which mean that spaces for residential gardens have become even more limited. However, that does not prevent the owners from improving their bio-aesthetics.
In such spaces, bio-aesthetic improvements may be undertaken on roofs, the balcony, and patios. In such a case, gravel beds may be created in which suitable plants are then planted. It is generally the case that when such a kind of residential gardens are adopted, slow-growth and low-growth plants are desirable.
Methods
In conducting the research, the theoretical construct is that residential gardens can be used to improve the bio-aesthetical value of the city of Mysore. The research will involve a qualitative study on the value of residential gardens in improving bio-aesthetics within the city. As a result, the sample will be drawn from the population of the city’s residents that have already embraced the concept of residential gardening. The sample population while not having a maximum threshold will incorporate at least 200 respondents from the city.
The criterion for inclusion into the study is that the individual must be a resident of Mysore and that their residence must have some of form residential garden. Interviews with be undertaken to ascertain the aesthetic, economical, psychological, and spiritual value that the individuals derive as a result of the residential gardens.
Discussion
Khanna (2008) is of the view that human beings are inherently one with nature and as such one cannot be viewed as mutually exclusive to the other. As a result, people will more often than not have the urge to be closer to nature. This is especially the case for persons in these urban areas where affinity tends to be high due to a wider extent of separation.
Ramyar (2011) argues that such gardens could therefore be used as restorative gardens. Restorative gardens could then be widely adopted for therapeutic purposes. Ramyar (2011) holds that the restorative gardens work by evoking rhythms that serve to energize the body. It is a view supported by Bhagwat (1975) on the restorative attributes of Indian gardens.
Takano, Nakamura, & Watanabe (2002) are of the view that such spaces could also increase the longevity of individuals. Walkable spaces serve as an incentive to city dwellers to become more active. It is an important aspect given that with the changes that have occurred within the society, urban dwellers tend to spend more time indoors. This might have negative implications for the health of the affected individuals which in turn affect their longevity.
According to Khanna (2008), bio-aesthetics are deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology. Khanna (2008) depicts the Hindu treatise of “Ramayana” as being a naturalistic ideology in line with space planning and landscaping.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Urbanization and industrialization have turned the once architecturally unique city of Mysore into an eyesore with regard to nature. This is attributed to the rapid growth in population,which in turn has led to the development of slums. The slums coupled with poor space planning have negatively affected the integrity of the public and private spaces available for bio-aesthetics. The need for bio-aesthetics within urban areas is not just for abstract purposes; there are long term tangible benefits.
As illustrated above, the benefits that accrue as a result of improving bio-aesthetics range from economical to spiritual, psychological and functional. Adequate efforts have to be undertaken by Mysore city authorities towards addressing the problem. While it is important that public spaces such as parks are bio-aesthetically improved, residential areas provide the most effective chance for such improvements. It is because the number of residential areas is far larger than the public spaces. Bio-aesthetically improving residential areas also shifts the burden of financing from the city authorities to the developers and property owners. In light of these, the following are the recommendations:
Mysore city by-laws should incorporate Local Area Plans (LAPs). The LAPs will set out the minimum requirements for developers, service providers, and future residents with regard to gardening spaces.
MCC should incentivize residential property developers by way of license fees for development plans to embrace architectural designs that maximize use of available space for residential gardens that may include Indian cultural window trims and exterior casings for garden beds.
During development permit application process, MCC should encourage greening of adjacent lanes that do not contain driveways and parkways.
During the development permit application process, MCC should ensure that garden design landscapes are designed in a manner that supports and retains more mature vegetation. Such vegetation could be used as fences. Chain link fences should be discouraged.
References
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Ramyar, R (2011). Unity in Restoring: A Study on Healing Attributes of Persian Garden.
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Takano, T., Nakamura, K., & Watanabe, M (2002). Urban residential environments and senior
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