Originally developed as an arena for horse races in the 1800’s, the Racecourse in Rajkot has since been used for various activities such as cricket matches, exhibitions and public fairs. Situated on 100 acres of open land in the center of the city and bound on all sides by a Ring Road, it is still a popular destination for locals but its full potential as an urban public asset remains untapped. HCP  was appointed to redevelop the area and integrate, unify and enhance its current activities into a Racecourse Park.
Based on extensive studies of the site’s existing conditions and stakeholder consultations, HCP established design objectives that integrate the race course with its surroundings, strengthen its edges, unify its many activities, attract crowds within by providing vistas and landmarks and provide sustainable irrigation for its landscaped areas. To achieve these objectives, a nodal framework is used to design the masterplan wherein four nodes are inserted in the site that can be accessed by four entrances and direct pathways. This design offers structured movement within the site, flexibility and variety in programmatic themes, potential for creating landmarks and vistas, ease of implementation and minimal disruption to the existing facilities.
The Racecourse redevelopment project is part of HCP’s overarching vision of designing better urban spaces, providing improved public amenities and thereby creating livable cities.
Rajkot, Gujarat
Start Year: 2012
End Year: 2013
Originally developed as an arena for horse races in the 1800’s, the Racecourse in Rajkot has since been used for various activities such as cricket matches, exhibitions and public fairs. Situated on 100 acres of open land in the center of the city and bound on all sides by a Ring Road, it is still a popular destination for locals but its full potential as an urban public asset remains untapped. HCP  was appointed to redevelop the area and integrate, unify and enhance its current activities into a Racecourse Park.
Based on extensive studies of the site’s existing conditions and stakeholder consultations, HCP established design objectives that integrate the race course with its surroundings, strengthen its edges, unify its many activities, attract crowds within by providing vistas and landmarks and provide sustainable irrigation for its landscaped areas. To achieve these objectives, a nodal framework is used to design the masterplan wherein four nodes are inserted in the site that can be accessed by four entrances and direct pathways. This design offers structured movement within the site, flexibility and variety in programmatic themes, potential for creating landmarks and vistas, ease of implementation and minimal disruption to the existing facilities.
The Racecourse redevelopment project is part of HCP’s overarching vision of designing better urban spaces, providing improved public amenities and thereby creating livable cities.