URBAN MARKET PLACE: MARKETECTURE

Abstract

From early human civilization, Market Place existed throughout the world which has been established for the exchange of goods providing shelters for buyers & sellers promoting the proper trade. Markets have existed as an important part of a city and town as well as rural/village life as a part of placemaking which comprises socio-cultural, economic activities. In the context of Nepal, the market architecture existed as a place of socio-economic centers of the urban as well the rural fabrics with the essence of placemaking. The existing market infrastructures today have the urban issues of traffic congestion, pollution, and solid waste management. The works carried out by Kathmandu Metropolitan as well the Lalitpur Metropolitan for clearing the footpath market & having Wide Street for easy traffic movement has been observed recently. The conclusion here was the relocation of street vendors. This report was prepared to document the research carried out to discover & understand the design as well as incorporate the elements of a proper marketplace prioritizing the local products creating public realm. The overall research is guided through the history of a market, types & elements of market, processing of a successful market, problems, and trends as well the culture of market architecture, placemaking, socio-economic as well the socio-cultural activities through various literature review & case studies. The findings of this report can widen the horizon as well as perception generalizing the essence as well the conclusion of a market architecture. Keywords: marketplace, placemaking, market architecture, public realm, street vendors