Redevelopment of Kapadia market at Matheran

Abstract

During Colonization a number of hill stations were developed at different locations all over the British India. One among these hill station is located just 87 km‟s from Mumbai which is Matheran. It is now the only pedestrian tourist hill station in Asia. One of the important activity in all of these hill stations was a local market of Matheran built after 1917. The market place was located on the lower street (King's Street) now Mahatma Gandhi Road to serve for the upper street now named Kasturba Gandhi Lane (Queen's Street) and other parts of the town. After Independence when Britisher's moved out it marked the beginning of transition of Matheran from a very exclusive use of the market to becoming a tourist attraction. The use of the market place and the street along the market place also started catering to tourists. So with time the built architecture has remained the same but the use has changed and therefore there is a need of ' Rethinking Market of Matheran'. This study aims at rethinking of market area In Matheran, which is very much known as a tourist spot. The study will try to understand the existing context and the specific needs of market place with respect to contemporary time. This study will also try to define the market place as the main element to strengthen the hill station. Rethinking “Market”, (a dynamic architectural space) to explore its concepts in contemporary time and it will strengthen the socio-economic fabric of the place.