Playground by the Creek by Shreya Mehta

THESIS PROJECT 2018 THE PLAYGROUND BY THE CREEK

A lake park

STUDENT:

SHREYA MEHTA

PROJECT:

The Quotidian

SPONSOR:

Self initiated

PROGRAM:

Undergraduate Professional Programme

AWARD:

Public Space Design

GUIDES:

Kamya Ramchandran

Copyrights 2018-2019 Student Document Publication (for private circulation only) All Rights Reserved Final Thesis Project (Undergraduate Professional Programme) Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology Bangalore - 560064 Karnataka No part of this document will be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, scanning, photography and video recording without written permission from the publishers namely SHREYA MEHTA and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. Written, edited and designed by Shreya Mehta Printed at Pune

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PLAGIARISM STATEMENT I, SHREYA MEHTA, hereby declare that the content of this student documentation and final design/artwork submission is my own original work and has not been plagiarised in full or part from previously published/designed/manufactured material or does not even contain substantial propositions of content which have been accepted for an award of any other degree or diploma of any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in this thesis project. I also declare that the intellectual content of this Thesis Project is my own original work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style and presentation is acknowledged and that this thesis project (or part of it) will not be submitted as assessed work in any other academic course.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT I, SHREYA MEHTA, hereby grant Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology the right to archive and to make available my Thesis Project in whole or in part in the institute’s databank and website, and for non-commercial use in all forms of media, now and hereafter known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act.

Name: Shreya Mehta Signature: Date: 4th November, 2018

THESIS PROJECT 2018

Examiner 1 (name and signature):

`THE PLAYGROUND BY THE CREEK

Examiner 2 (name and signature):

A lake park

Examiner 3 (name and signature):

STUDENT:

SHREYA MEHTA

PROJECT:

The Quotidian

SPONSOR:

Self initiated

PROGRAM:

Undergraduate Professional Programme

AWARD:

Public Space Design

Final Examination Panel COMMENTS:

Date:

Academic Dean (name and signature):

The Playground by the Creek

Proposal I. ABSTRACT The urban areas in our country are increasingly attracting more people but the existing public spaces are not able to accommodate all the stakeholders equally. In this concrete jungle, kids become one of the marginalized groups who are hardly visible in our public spaces. What makes a site like Hebbal unique is the fact that it actually has a good amount of open spaces around to accommodate the needs of the surrounding residential population. But these spaces are constantly underused Spending my childhood in a city, the green and open spaces around us were already rare. Hence, I always looked forward to the weekends when we could finally visit parks and enjoy these spaces. When I visited the site and interacted with people and more importantly, kids there, I realized that this narrative was missing from their lives. This gave me immense motivation to create a space for play for the kids now, much like my childhood. II. CONTEXTUAL OVERVIEW Bengaluru, while one of the youngest cities in India, has fast developed into an urban center with many flocking to it for its employment opportunities as well as the pleasant climate. In recent times, the city has witnessed a tug- of- war of sorts, between the growing needs of the human population and the natural resources, which are depleting at an unprecedented rate. One of the areas of Bengaluru where this struggle is apparent is the Hebbal area, which is called the northern gateway to the city. The area is home to the longest urban flyover, which stands at 5.3 km long. Hebbal also comprises of a bus depot, a railway station, a pop up street market, a BBMP park and a huge industrial as well as residential area, divided by the central flyover. The area is also fascinating in terms of legislation, as the entire region is divided in different wards, which are governed by 2 MLA’s and 4 corporators. The site is also home to the large Hebbal Lake, which recently went through a revival process, and has now become an attraction for migratory birds as well as humans alike. The lake is surrounded by the defense land on the northern side, the NH44 highway on the eastern and southern side and residential areas on the west. Within the lake premises, there are three islands built from the silt of the lake, which have become havens for bird life. A government nursery also operates next to the lake. III. RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. How might we create a safe space for children to play and interact with nature? 2. How might we make the existing resources in the selected area available to children and other groups closely associated with the same? 3. How might we create a balance between the needs of animals and the visiting children around the lake? IV. PROBLEM STATEMENT One of the key learnings which came up during the site analysis of Hebbal was the absolute marginalization of certain groups in a public space. The various tools used in the process highlighted the disappearance of kids from this public space. Whether for an errand or to meet a friend, very few kids were visible in the area and even fewer were unaccompanied. This made me question where the kids played and spent their free time. Upon further investigation, I realized that a lot of kids preferred to spend their free time indoors, and the few that did step out, restricted themselves to the narrow lanes around their homes, devoid of nature and open space. What makes this situation even more ironical is the fact that one of the largest lakes of Bengaluru was at their doorstep, but it remains underused. This is where it struck me to combine these two resources to facilitate an open relationship between kids and nature, whilst keeping the sensitive needs of both in mind. The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Proposal V. METHODOLOGY The core methodology of the project is engagement with children, and essentially, understanding their needs and perceptions of play areas. Community Involvement Strategy (Schools): Who: Government School at Hebbal Buddhi School, H. A. Farm When: 30th August and 4th September How: Phone Direct Engagement What: Exercises include: Make a park using building blocks Draw your ideas for a park, with crayons Pick the park you like the most (using pictures and stickers) Outcome: Direct feedback from the target group Understanding the needs of the same Stimulation of imagination and play The perspective on the topic from kids as well as adults Documentation: Photographs and videos. Community Involvement Strategy (Lake): Who: Users of the park How: Taking permissions from the concerned authority and vendors When: 28th August- 3rd September What: Placing interaction boards in English and Kannada, that gives people a platform to write “what they want in the park? “ Outcome: Community engagement In-depth understanding for needs and demands of the users Direct feedback from the target group Perspective from all the stakeholders involved Documentation: The board itself, photographs, time lapse, video and sketches. The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Proposal For primary research, I have employed Public Life Study tools from Jan Gehl’s ‘How to Study Public Life’ called Counting and Shadowing. Counting is a tool in which certain groups of people are counted on site, during a fixed period of time. This tool enables the observer to understand the dynamics of a space by quantifying its various aspects. By counting people, across time periods, one can get a wholesome and exact understanding about who actually uses a certain space. The disparity in the ratio of various stakeholders of a space was highlighted due to this tool. Shadowing is a tool in which a subject is selected and they are shadowed over a fixed period of time. Using this tool, one can decode the daily experiences of the subject, and what obstacles they face as they make their way through the space. Both these tools are highly effective in examining the tinier nuances of a space which are often overlooked in a design process. My secondary research for this project heavily relies of Jane Jacobs’ book ‘Death and Life of Great American Cities’. It further involves case studies of design projects which focus on play areas for kids, spaces which have developed multiple uses as well as projects where the central goal has been the revival of and reconnection with nature. The case studies are as follows: 1. Water Squares, Rotterdam, Netherlands 2. Urban Thinkscape, Philadelphia, USA 3. Qian’an Sanlihe Greenway, Qian’an, China 4. Sarasbaug, Pune, India 5. Minghu Wetland Park, Guizhou, China 6. Kumasi Children’s Park, Ghana VI. ASSUMPTIONS The key assumption for this project will be that the government and the authorities in charge of the lake will give one enough freedom to mold the site according to how one sees fit. The lake is made accessible for the kids coming from across the roads. VII. PARTNERSHIPS Schools: Government School (Hebbal) Buddhi School, H. A. Farm Authorities: Lake Conservation and Development Authority NGO: Environment Support Group VIII. POSSIBLE DESIGN OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES The possible design outcome would include creating a space for the kids to play. • Playground, Toilets, Space for supervising adults, Access to water (lake) The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Proposal IX. WORK PLAN Date Submission 16th August Draft copy submission 20-21st August Seminar 1 27th- 31st August Planning and Conducting Workshops 4th September Final Copy of Proposal 10- 14th September Collation and Ideation 17- 21st September Iterations and Presentation 24- 28th September Seminar 2 2-5th October 7-12th October Drawings 15- 19th October 22- 26th October Model Making and Detailing 29th October- 1st November Presentation 2nd November Final Submission 5-9th November Doc Book 12- 17th November Seminar 3 X. REFERENCES AND RESOURCES • ‘Death and Life of Great American Cities’- Jane Jacobs • ‘How to Study Public Life’- Jan Gehl • https://www.urbanafrica.net/urban-voices/accras-mmofra-foundation-puts-children-center-public-space-design/ • http://georgeernestasaresstories.blogspot.com/2009/01/kumasi-childrens-park-in-disarray-page.html • https://bernardvanleer.org/urban95-challenge/the-city-at-eye-level-for-kids/ • https://www.pps.org/article/righttoplay-2 • https://www.asla.org/2013awards/062.html • https://www.archdaily.com/39960/dzintari-forest-park-substance • https://www.archdaily.com/590066/minghu-wetland-park-turenscape • https://www.archdaily.com/515442/tagus-linear-park-topiaris-landscape-architecture • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cities-children-design/cities-go-wild-with-child-friendly-design-idUSKCN1IV0RT • https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/nature-playground-gdk493825 • http://www.archiprix.org/2019/qview/?id=3967 • https://www.dronah.org/lake-pichola-and-fatehsagar-udaipur/ • https://www.hcp.co.in/project/kankaria-lakefront-development • http://urbanthinkscape.com/philadelphia/ • https://www.arup.com/expertise/services/planning/landscape-architecture

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Public Life Study Tools Counting and Shadowing

Counting Counting is a tool in which certain groups of people are counted on site, during a fixed period of time. This tool enables the observer to understand the dynamics of a space by quantifying its various aspects. By counting people, across time periods, one can get a wholesome and exact understanding about who actually uses a certain space. The disparity in the ratio of various stakeholders of a space was highlighted due to this tool. Our group conducted the counting over 10 minutes the various stakeholders. Shadowing Shadowing is a tool in which a subject is selected and they are shadowed over a fixed period of time. Using this tool, one can decode the daily experiences of the subject, and what obstacles they face as they make their way through the space. Both these tools are highly effective in examining the tinier nuances of a space which are often overlooked in a design process.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

31 42 500

43 44 500

65 23

500

448 278

500

41 6

500

KEY

THE QUOTIDIAN

Counting Documentation Number of Men

HEBBAL LAKE

PARK

RAILWAY STATION

BUS STOP

LOCATION: Hebbal TIME: Refer to notes RECORDED BY: Group

STREET MARKET

NOTES:

31st July 2018/ Morning slot 1st August 2018/ Afternoon slot

22 25 500

2 4 500 34 2

144 78

500

27 6 500

500

KEY

THE QUOTIDIAN

Counting Documentation Number of Women

HEBBAL LAKE

PARK

RAILWAY STATION

BUS STOP

LOCATION: Hebbal TIME: Refer to notes RECORDED BY: Group

STREET MARKET

NOTES:

31st July 2018/ Morning slot 1st August 2018/ Afternoon slot

0 0

0 0 2 0

0 0

KEY

THE QUOTIDIAN

Counting Documentation Number of Men

HEBBAL LAKE

PARK

RAILWAY STATION

BUS STOP

LOCATION: Hebbal TIME: Refer to notes RECORDED BY: Group

STREET MARKET

NOTES:

31st July 2018/ Morning slot 1st August 2018/ Afternoon slot

Site Analysis

Introduction to the Site Hebbal

WATER BODIES

INDUSTRIAL

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

GREEN PATCHES

MIXED USE

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Areas of Interest Hebbal

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Hebbal Lake Site Map

5. 4.

7. 8.

1. 2.

6. 3.

1. Hebbal Lake 2. Hebbal Lake Park 3. Government Nursery 4. Fisheries Research and Information Centre

5. Defense Land 6. Hebbal Bus Depot 7. Mayur Byranhalli Road 8. Bellary Road

9. Canal towards Nagavara Lake

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Hebbal Lake Site Analysis Lamd Usage

Sun and wind conditions of the site

Circulation

12 p..m.

5 p.m.

Open Land Mixed Use Commercial Residential

Vehicular Traffic Pedestrian Traffic

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Hebbal Lake Site Analysis Temperature: 23- 25 degrees Rainfall: 800-1000 mm Soil: Red, sandy soil Vegetation: Tropical Dry Deciduous Altitude: 900 m

Native Species: Birds Rose Ringed Parakeet White Cheeked Barbet Indian Robin Purple Rumped Sunbird Spot Billed Duck Red Whiskered Bulbul Common Myna Little Grebe Purple Swamphen Eurasian Coot Spotted Owlet Spot Billed Pelican Little Cormorant Great Cormorant Pale Billed Flowerpeker Black Kite Brahminy Kite Common Kingfisher White Throated Kingfisher Asian Koel Gray Heron Pond Heron Purple Heron Shikra Little Egret Great Egret Painted Stork Spotted Dove

Plants:

Alstonia scholaris Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack fruit), Azadirecta indica ( Neem), Bombax cieba (Red silk cotton), Butea monosperma, Ficus bengalensis (Alada mara), F. religiosa (Ashwatha), F. mysorensis Gmelina arborea Kigelia pinnata (Sausage tree) Lagerstroemia speciosa (Pride of India), Mangifera indica (Mango), Madhuca longifolia (Mehwa or Ippe)

Melia composite (Malabar Neem) Michelia champaca, Neolamarkia kadamba (Kadamba) Pogamia pinnata (Honge), Pterocarpus marsupium (Honne) Syzigium cumini (Jaamun), Saraca indica (Seeta Asok) Swetenia sp (Mahogani), Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) T. bellerica (Tare), Tabebuia spectabilis

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Hebbal Lake Site Analysis

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Community Initiative Exercise- I For our project with the Hebbal Lake, we thought of engaging a community which has been sidelined by the public spaces in our country, children, although they are the ones which need this space the most. We went to government school in Hebbal and engaged with them using a list of activities, aimed at gaining information about their understanding about the lake and the park.

Community Involvement Strategy I Community Involvement Exercise

Who: Government School at Hebbal (Private School) When: 30th August and 4th September How: Phone Email Direct Engagement What: Exercises include: Make a park using building blocks Draw your ideas for a park, with crayons Pick the park you like the most (using pictures and stickers) Outcome: Direct feedback from the target group Understanding the needs of the same Stimulation of imagination and play The perspective on the topic from kids as well as adults

Documentation: Photographs and videos.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Government School, Hebbal Community Involvement Exercise I

Observations: The kids were quick to come up with a game as well as come to a consensus about which game to play. The younger boys were shy with us, and would not directly ‘attack’ us. However two girls, who were also the oldest, did not hesitate. Owing to their small number, they were very comfortable with their seniors as well as juniors.

The first activity we introduced was the icebreaker game, where we asked them to suggest a game of their choice and all of us play together. The intention of this exercise is to warm the children up, hopefully making them more comfortable with us and then easing them into the more serious parts of the workshop. We then engaged them in a conversation, wanting to know if they have been to the lake, and if so, what was their experience. None of them had been to Hebbal lake but had been to the Nagavara lake and Lumbini gardens.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Government School, Hebbal Community Involvement Exercise I Observations: • The first things the kids were attracted to were the building blocks, with everyone vying for them so much that fights erupted. • Some groups took up most of the blocks initially, probably estimating that everyone would want them. • All of the groups eventually broke up into individuals who began making buildings. We had to re- group and explain to them that they had to make a garden and push them to use natural elements. • They were very quick in helping us clean up after this activity. Learnings: • All of the kids had the boundary walls common in all their models. • Besides that, they had trees, slides, hills and a huge entrance. • They repeated what the standardised design of government parks, which were perhaps the only kind of parks they were exposed to.

For the second activity, we asked the children to make a park. We provided them with plastic building blocks, twigs, leaves, jute ropes and paper. The idea was to understand what their impression of a park is. We also wanted to give them freedom with the materials, so the expression of their ideas was not limited. While it was difficult for them to go beyond the idea that the building blocks made a building, they were able to come up with varied models.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Government School, Hebbal Community Involvement Exercise I

Observations: • They seemed to have a very structured way of looking at things: the page should have a border, the scenery has two mountains, one sun and a river, etc. • Even in this exercise, we had to go around and remind them that they should be making a park. • The insisted on using a scale everywhere. • It took them longer to work on paper than it had with the blocks. • Since the images for our next activity were already on display, a lot of them tried copying what was shown there, rather than create something new. Learnings: • An activity like this would have given us different results if perhaps the kids got a chance to think over their ideas more.

For the third activity, we asked them to draw what they wanted in a park. This activity took the longest time, and we had to constantly remind the kids that they were to make a park, because they were quite used to drawing only certain things in a certain way.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Government School, Hebbal Community Involvement Exercise I

Observations: • We got direct understanding of their preferences • Further versions of the same idea can be introduced further to get a better understanding of their choices. Learnings: • They preferred the first playground which was more intricate and interesting as compared to the others. • Similarly, they preferred the first image of playing with the water fountain, over the others, though surprisingly, the final image with the serene lake also got a chunk of the votes.

In the final activity, we showed the kids three options for parks as well as access to water, and asked them to choose what they liked the most. This activity would have a more structured question and hence the information received from the kids is also very direct. We also asked the teachers of the school to vote on the different options, which is shown by the big red star sticker.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Buddhi School, H. A. Farm Community Involvement Exercise- I

Observations: • The first things the kids were attracted to were the building blocks, with everyone vying for them so much that fights erupted. • They clearly took their time to ponder over the task at hand and then proceeded with building. • The ideas that they come up with were more complex but they still followed a standard pattern of trees- pathsboundary wall. Learnings: • We realized that the prior knowledge of the kids about the Hebbal area was a boon, as we were able to skip a lot of the introductory parts. • Since the kids were older, we were able to communicate much more easily and fluently with them.

Since we were short of time, we had to skip the initial icebreaker game and dive straight into the activities. But since the kids were acquainted with the area, it was much easier to interact with them. For the second activity, we asked the children to make a park. We provided them with plastic building blocks, twigs, leaves, jute ropes and paper. The idea was to understand what their impression of a park is. We also wanted to give them freedom with the materials, so the expression of their ideas was not limited.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Buddhi School, H. A. Farm Community Involvement Exercise- I

Observations: • The kids showed a lot of awareness through the drawings that they had made, which clearly showed the exposure they had. • Their ideas of a ‘play’ space didn’t necessarily involve nature, but included a lot of more built environment, like malls and restaurants. Learnings: • More active playground stimulus • Their vision is inclusive - they want other groups like older citizens, dogs and cats to be part of their space. • Compulsory access to water.

For the third activity, we asked them to draw what they wanted in a park. It was in this activity that we saw a lot of their initial ideas fleshed out and further elaborated. They were quite clear about their objective and soon got to work.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Buddhi School, H. A. Farm Community Involvement Exercise- I

Observations: • They liked the first option for the park the most because there was more stuff to do. • Surprisingly, a group of kids also liked the third option due to the shape of the structure, which they found fascinating. • They also preferred the more active activity pertaining to the water. Learnings: • A lot of more salient parts of the images were put forth, which made us realise that the kids were not necessarily viewing the images as we had originally intended.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Community Involvement Strategy- II Community Involvement Exercise

Who: Users of the park How: Taking permissions from the concerned authority and vendors When: 28th August- 3rd September What: Placing interaction boards in English and Kannada, that gives people a platform to write “what they want in the park? “ Outcome: Community engagement In-depth understanding for needs and demands of the users Direct feedback from the target group Perspective from all the stakeholders involved Documentation: The board itself, photographs, time lapse, video and sketches.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Community Involvement Strategy- II Community Involvement Exercise

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Case Studies

Conservation of Water Bodies The following case studies have been chosen because of the work done to restore natural water systems and to study the various tools and techniques used for doing the same. The core focus of this study is to the balance between natural and human needs and design which can fulfill both. There is also focus on the body which initiated the said conservation efforts as well as the community which became the end user for the design. Minghu Wetland Park, Guizhou, China Qian’an Sanlihe Greenway, Qian’an, China

Minghu Wetland Park Case Study

https://www.archdaily.com/590066/minghu-wetland-park-turenscape http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2014/08/minghu-wetland-park-by-turenscape/ https://www.dezeen.com/2015/01/11/turenscape-the-slow-down-liupanshui-minghu-wetland-park-meandering-causeways-landscape-architecture/

Location: Liupanshui, Guizhou, China Architects: Turenscape Year of Construction: 20th May, 2006 Organization- in - charge: Liupanshui Municipality Materials: Wood Concrete Wood Cladding Silt Stone Conservation Site Focus: Shuicheng River Conservation initiated by: Liupanshui Municipality

Conservation Strategies: Flood control by incorporating tiny ponds and lakes. Reviving the natural riverbank. Creating a terraced wetland system for water purification, especially collecting, controlling as well as purifying the streams coming down the mountainous area

Through a series of regenerative design techniques, particularly measures to slow down the flow of storm-water, a channelized concrete river and a deteriorated peri-urban site have been transformed into a nationally celebrated wetland park that functions as a major part of the city-wide ecological infrastructure planned to provide multiple ecosystem services, including storm-water management, water cleansing, and recovery of native habitats, as well as a creation of a cherished public space for gathering and aesthetic enjoyment.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Qian’an Sanlihe Greenway Case Study

https://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2011/11/16/a-mother-river-recovered-in-qian%E2%80%99an-city-china-by-turenscape/ https://www.asla.org/2013awards/062.html https://land8.com/from-neglected-to-extraordinary-the-story-of-the-qianan-sanlihe-greenway/

Location: Qian’an, Hebei Province, China Architects: Turenscape Year of Construction: May, 2010 Organization- in - charge: Consruction Bureau of Qian’an City Materials: Wood Concrete Wood Cladding Silt Stone Conservation Site Focus: Sanlihe Greenway Conservation initiated by: Consruction Bureau of Qian’an City

Conservation Strategies: Existing concrete banks removed Wetlands created which act as purifiers as well as flood control for the river. Protection of existing trees and creation of tree ‘islands’.

What was previously a dump yard and a space for sewage disposal, the river was transformed into a green space, complete with landscaping, walking paths and a play area for kids. The designers have payed special attention to creating natural, closed loop ecosystems, which ensure that the river system is very low maintenance. They have also included art installations in the project, like the 800 m long ‘Folding Paper’. This installation incorporates, seating, play areas as well as lighting.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Play Areas for Children The following case study have been chosen because of the engagement and play spaces for the children that it has uniquely captured. There is also a section where the design is de-constructed to bring out the salient elements of the design which determine its success or failure. Sarasbaug, Pune, India

Sarasbaug Case Study

http://yenforblue.blogspot.com/2015/04/s-is-for-saras-baug-and-sambhaji-park.html https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/khau-galli-at-sarasbaug-recognised-as-clean-street-food-hub/story-e8PTxalQjE9mykmBz4ALSP.html http://thepunekar.com/2018/01/sarasbaug-the-green-gem-of-pune/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Sarasbaug-Ganapati-completes-225-years/articleshow/4586192.cms

Location: Pune, India Architects: Mahadev Kumthekar and Anandrao Mane Year of Construction: 1784 Year of Construction: 1950 Organization- in - charge: Shree Devdeveshwar Sansthan Materials: Wood Concrete Stone Pavers

Design Deconstruction: Huge lawn area with various landscape forms. Constant throng of people at all times of the day, which ensures constant supervision. Incentives for the adults accompanying the minors as well, in the form of the temple and the Khau galli. Variety in the activities available for the kids.

The Park in the city of Pune has become a landmark, with a number of families flocking to it on the weekends. Along with the regular recreation, the park is also an important site for Diwali celebrations of the city, far fetched from its use as a garbage dump. It was originally built by Madhavrao Peshwa, and was renovated multiple times since then. An important renovation was done in the year 1950, when the garden was added. Different parts of the Baug were added later. It remains one of the biggest tourist attractions of Pune, attracting local and outsider crowd alike. The main components of the park are the Ganpati Temple, the surrounding lake and the lawn.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Sarasbaug Case Study Views of the Park

Views of the Khau Galli

Views of the Diwali Pahat

Along with the actual park, and the temple, the adjoining lane, called Khau Galli also attracts a lot of visitors on weekends and hoidays. It houses an assortment of food stalls, rides for kids as well as a number of small time vendors selling clothes and accessories. It is informally a no-vehicle zone. Another important celebration of this space occurs during Diwali. In Diwali Pahat, a number of people come to the park and create intricate designs using only diyas. Despite the festival beginning at 4 a.m. , the park is filled with onlookers who then join the puja at the temple.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Multi Purpose Use of a Space The following case studies have been chosen because of the way the designers were able to combine multiple needs of immediate communities and work with a limited area. Urban Thinkscape, Philadelphia, USA WaterSquare Benthemplein, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Urban Thinkscape Case Study

http://urbanthinkscape.com/ https://modelur.eu/the-urban-thinkscape-project-encourages-kids-to-learn-through-play/ https://qz.com/1256248/the-urban-thinkscape-project-sneaks-games-into-public-spaces-to-help-kids-learn-better/

Location: Philadelphia, USA Architects: Itai Palti Year of Construction: October, 2017 Organization- in - charge: William Penn Foundation Materials: Wood Concrete Stone Wood Panels Fabrication

Uses Combined: Bus stop + Visual Puzzle Street light + Shadow Play Empty Plot + Play area

The group, which comprises of 3 psychologists, 1 community partner and 1 designer, tries to incorporate play areas and puzzles for kids within the existing sidewalks and leftover spaces of the city. They particularly focus on kids who do not have access to after school activities as much as their more privileged counterparts. The aim of the group is to combine behaviour psychology and architecture to imbibe play and learning in existing areas.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

WaterSquare Benthemplein Case Study

http://www.urbanisten.nl/wp/?portfolio=waterplein-benthemplein http://rdcrotterdam.com/projects/water-square-benthemplein/ http://publicspace.org/en/works/h034-water-square

Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Architects: De Urbanisten Year of Construction: 24 December, 2013 Organization- in - charge: Rotterdam Climate Initiative, City of Rotterdam supported by the Waterboard Schieland & Krimpenerwaard Materials: Concrete Steel Tiling

Uses Combined: Water Tanks + Skating Ring; Performance Stage; Amphitheatre/ Sports Court Water Channels + Skating Lanes

The city of Rotterdam is plagued with annual floods. A public space was hence created in a square between residential and commercial complexes, which housed three pools. When it rained, all of the water from the surrounding areas would drain into the pools. During the rest of the year, the pools can be used as an amphitheatre, a skating ring and a basketball court.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Design Development

Program Requirements From Community Involvement Exercise

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Master Plan Zoning

NOTES:

Scale : 1: 750

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Play Area Plan

NOTES:

Scale : 1: 200

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Play Area Sections

NOTES:

Scale : 1: 200

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Master Plan Mood Board Bird Watching Tower

Seating and Lighting

Access to Water

Butterfly Garden

Green House

Convention Centre The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Bird Watching Ramp

Steel

Concrete

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Tree Playground

Glass Bottles

Windows

Granite

Concrete

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Sand Pit

Stained Glass

Gears

Concrete

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Maze

Steel

Re-purposed Pipes

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Pop Up Book For Community Interaction

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

Reflective Statement

This project has been a new and challenging experience in a lot of ways. To begin with, the first hurdle of this project was committing to an idea for three months and to really flesh out each aspect and nuance of the same. Constant collaboration between the larger picture and details, understanding the various scales of design, whilst keeping in mind the needs of the community was required throughout the project. The next learning was the community involvement. The target community of this project, children, was by far the most intelligent, perceptive and fun community to work with. In a lot of ways, this project’s design as well as presentation were pushed to be out of the box, but at the same time, adhering to the research questions and requirements of the site. A number of things which I would have taken for granted before, suddenly came into spotlight and required deliberation. An interesting and crucial equilibrium had to be struck between the safety and fun of these spaces. The complexity of dealing with the site has also been at the forefront of the learning experience. The balance between the needs of the biodiversity of the site and the visitors of the site became the central issue, and a question which goes beyond this project. Each design decision required an understanding of both the groups. This project has constantly tried to find a meeting point, or create one where there were none. Whilst one can have a lot of grand ideas, none of them would be useful if one is not able develop, research as well as present them. Herein comes the lesson of management. This project has taught me to not get lost in the grand schemes as well as the nitty- gritty of things. It is necessary to understand when it’s time to take a step back and when to march straight ahead. Rather than a conclusive end, this project is the starting point of a number of questions: What kind of play spaces does one envision for children? Is that the one that they need? In the face of growing urbanization, where does one strike a balance between the various factions in a public space? In an urban space like Hebbal, what future does its design hold? All of the above questions are ongoing inquires, which I would like to take forward in my practice.

The Quotidian; Pre- Thesis Project; Shreya Mehta; PSD

SHREYA MEHTA Final Thesis Project 2018 (Undergraduate Professional Programme) Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology Bangalore - 560064 Karnataka