Sahana Deepak | Landscape Architecture + Architecture Folio

S A H A N A D E E P A K

selected works of 2017 - 2021

architecture + landscape architecture

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I II

Penang Bay : Bridging the Past and Future

Synergistic Edges : Landscape Design for a Coastal River, The Case of Cooum River, Chennai

III

PochĂŠ - Alter Ego

Work Experience - Landscape Architecture

Freelance Work

Academic Work

Work Experience - Architecture

Vaksana

Photography

Art + Typography

VII VIII IX X

Penang Bay : Bridging the Past and the Future

Rapidly expanding cities look for ways to revive or boost economy and quality of life. Economical advancement takes precedence, improving the quality of life, secondary and preservation and enhancement of existing ecology rarely considered. Decades of experience has proved that neglecting a balance of development on the planet we live on has only affected humankind adversely. We propose to turn this ideology on the head. Urbanization of cities is an inevitability. We intend for our patterns of urbanization to strengthen and restore natural systems - Creating a framework to accommodate growth, while protecting the ecological systems that sustain us.

CORE GOALS Establish Ecological Sustainability Protect sustainable natural resources, introduce systems to mitigate flooding and environmental degradation. Enhance Efficiency of Existing Built Fabric Adaptive reuse of unoccupied parcels, micro economies, self sustaining neighbourhoods, walkability, upgradation of the quality of existing open spaces. Strategic Location of Proposed Urban Footprint Preservation of ecological systems to determine built footprint. Densify Urban Districts Efficient compact urban districts with self sustaining micro environments. Diversify Land Uses Diverse mix of land uses and economic opportunity to support a multi-generational and mixed income population. Preserve and Enhance Cultural Character Inform how and what we build through - the people, the history, and the culture.

ECONOMIC VISION We propose a two phase development. The first is a five year phase to develop the landscape, sustainable energy and transportation systems. Local businesses may set up base , and claim stake in the future city. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pauseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in development would allow the city to test and improve its sustainable energy systems. The second phase involves investors for institutional and public buildings, looking at land with a much higher value. 20 years hence, we see a city built to sustain future change, well established local business and an influx of tourist activity that continues to boost its economy

Enhance mobility connections Multiple transportation modes and user based corridors. Predict and Provide for Technological Connections Technology that is customized to enhance the tactile quality of cities and communities and considered an inherent part of every facet of development. New types of Sustainable infrastructure Low impact development strategies for storm water, new power systems and distribution networks, wind energy harnessing, solar based transport, vertical farming systems.

Penang Bay : Bridging the Past and Future |

| folio 2017 - 2021

Penang Bay : Bridging the Past and Future |

| folio 2017 - 2021

Penang Bay : Bridging the Past and Future |

Synergistic Edges : Landscape Deisgn for a Coastal River T h e C a s e o f C o o u m R i v e r, C h e n n a i

synergistic (adj.) causing or involving synergy (= the combined power of working together that is greater than the power achieved by working separately) - Cambridge Dictionary Chennai was on the global news for reaching its water thresholds. The crisis in Chennai has been a wakeup call for not only the citizens of Chennai, but to the entire world. Urban coastal river systems are subjected the pressure of the growing city as well as climate change. But is it fair to blame climate change when the anthropogenic reasons for the disasters havenwbeen addressed. The landscape of a city and the characteristics of the river edges undergo a parallel natural and human-induced phenomena. In such a case, the thin line of caution is often breached causing catastrophic impacts. Such is the case of the River Cooum, which flows through the dense central parts of the city. Studies shows that the riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecosystem has been compromised due to several anthropogenic activities and years of neglect. Urban river edges are a repository of natural processes and cultural lineages. In the case of Chennai, the historical value is immense and edifices from the colonial times still find its place in this river landscape. The open spaces have evolved in their typologies from the colonial period and the ever changing needs has a dynamic character to it. There is a need for establishing a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;synergisticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; connect with the river ecosystem, places of historical value and the edges can be seen as an interstitial traversing through this dynamic character. Keywords: Coastal River, Water Urbanism, Public Open Space Design. Synergistic Edges : Landscape Design for a Coastal River, The Case of Cooum River, Chennai |

14 | folio 2017 - 2021