Transformation of Islamabad: The Study of a Planned and an Unplanned City

In the early 1960s, the famous architect and urban planner, Doxiadis designed Islamabad based on the ideological principles of Ekistics (the science of human settlements), Dynapolis (dynamic city), and Ecumenopolis (the city of the future). The project was idealized as a rectilinear grid city that can naturally develop in a fourth dimension over time without disrupting the existing pattern. However, the scheme concentrated solely on accommodations and facilities for government employees and officials while neglecting the low-income socioeconomic strata. Within half a decade, Islamabad transformed from a planned dynamic city to a mismatch with more than 63 informal settlements or katchi abadian. While the discrepancy within the city has sparked debates about social justice, the slums’ communal life, and urban features have received less attention. In this context, this thesis explored Islamabad’s founding principles of Ekistics, Ecumenopolis, and Dynapolis and how they relate to urban planning and the deviations from the masterplan. A vital part of the study examined the informal settlements and the adverse effects on the urban fabric. In addition, the study investigated the eponym of Islamabad and the factors responsible for the unplanned settlements’ physical characteristics, living conditions, and community life.

The research utilized various qualitative methods and data collection such as descriptive study, case study, and field research. While many compendiums have been published about the planning philosophy of Islamabad, the textual analyses of existing literature, especially those written by the planner Doxiadis and Doxiadis Associates, are essential to understand the ambiguous ideology and terminologies. Data were collected by analyzing maps, drawings, and Islamabad’s master plan to elucidate the planning features, transformations, and growth. Through site observations, and photographs, the study analyzed the physical attributes and living conditions in three case studies of the informal settlements: France Colony F-7/4, Musharraf Colony G-8/4, and Faisal Colony G-7/1.

Although Islamabad is a planned city, the analysis revealed significant shortcomings in the Doxiadis’ strategy. The grid plan was a pastiche of the Hippodamus Greek city of Miletus that failed to incorporate a zone for low-income community members. Even though Islamabad literally means Islamic city, the imitation of Greek city planning deviates from the tenets that emphasize religious and cultural norms. The absence of affordable housing was a key factor impacting the informal settlements, especially in a developing country where affordability transcends elegance. As a result, the design was not adequately adapted to the end users’ local context, which adversely affected the city’s urban fabric. Moreover, the Ekistics, Ecumenopolis, and Dynapolis strategies are unrealized since the grid plan stifles Islamabad’s future growth. All the informal settlements share similar derelict physical characteristics, such as poor living conditions and lack of amenities compared to the planned areas. Lastly, the study offered various strategies emphasizing the revival of informal settlements for a sustainable future.