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(Re)evolution of the Waterfront
Mumbai has been fighting a losing battle for open spaces over the last few years over the increasing population on one hand and encroachments on the other. Mumbai's open space area is much worse than most metropolitan areas in the country. There are hardly any public open spaces left for leisure, while most of it is either encroached upon or used for commercial purposes. There is no access to the sea in Mumbai except for certain areas like Gateway of India, Haji Ali, Chowpatty and Marine drive, thereby creating a driving need for making sea fronts universal to all.
Interventions at such a place are necessary to tackle the density of population, cater to various age groups, address the post-pandemic era, and promote sustainability amongst the high rise culture.
This proposed design is inspired by the existing tetra pods, a sea wall, which keeps Mumbai and the Konkan coast from flooding, making it a region where the land gradually translates into the sea, creating pathways and spaces with unique identities. Having flexible seating with different heights and levels, anthropometrically designed, mimics the essential function of the tetrapod and allows users to experience leisure in the way they want to. Since the settings are placed at intervals, with varied permutations and combinations, it gives them a choice of assembly, while enabling the maintenance of social distancing norms as individual pods of communication are created. There are three levels to the design, at 0.25,0.5 and 0.75 m respectively spread across, and the design is a mere play of these levels. This makes a smooth flow of interaction as well as possibility of separation of groups between the elderly, young, and the kids due to the ease of using this intervention, thus tackling the density. The seating is proposed to have a green cover to it for visual and aesthetic connections in response to the dwindling green cover in the city. There is an element of play that the user experiences with spaces that change with changing configurations.
Along with the seating, a proposal for revamping the existing bus stop is put forward. The design includes sustainable green roof power by solar panels and plants native to Mumbai. It is another take on flexibility on leisure and waiting spaces.
Karishma Hathiram Urvi Khadakban Pranit Zarkar Krish Mewawala
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