INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STREET DESIGN AND URBAN VITALITY THROUGH ‘SMART-CITY INITIATIVE’ CASE OF PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

The design and use of street furniture play a vital role in the design of public places and in making vibrant urban places. The street and seating area serves as a public meeting place for a variety of interactions and activities. This study aims to explore how street furniture can be designed based on its location, and how it can be improved by comparing real-world scenarios to theoretical principles. This study takes into consideration the context and surroundings of the streets developed under the Smart City initiative, as well as their interaction with the citizen's life. Accessibility, livability, and connectivity are the defining characteristics of urban vitality. The urban street design has become more prevalent in locations with obvious commercial activity. The study aims to investigate the elements of street design and street furniture and their effect on urban vitality and its relationship with the surrounding land use. This analysis is done using qualitative methods such as on-site observations, content analysis of photographs, and walk-along interviews with the users.