Revati Desai

UR3001

Blurring the edges

 A program designed to understand the process of building along with nature as our cities today lack such spaces that provide us with such an opportunity of connecting with nature. This choreography of the collision of two extensions of nature; buildings as an extension of people, and trees/landscape as an extension of the ground could become a method of integrating people back into a society where the outside of a house plays as much role and meaning in one’s life as the inside. The boundary wall is modulated and reshaped keeping in mind the different activities it already caters to and the ones it could create in the future. The trees play the most important role in deciding the new shape of these walls as they are shading devices and enhance our experience of the area. There are 3 sites whose designs are detailed out to show what are the different forms the walls can take according to activities. A social and physical resilience can be built through this using an ecological goal and show how agents (architecture and its inhabitants) transform with time to adapt to their surroundings. 


Report Content

The two major open spaces in Rakhial are the property of Mill owners. The mills have been broken down for about two decades. The plot is majorly unutilized till now and is closed off by high boundary walls

The site is closed off by huge boundary walls that do not allow one to know what is on the inside. There are multiple activities that are constantly happening around its edges but they remain limited to the outside.

The intent is to break the barrier standing between nature and humans for a greater interaction between the two.

There are 3 instances chosen along the site according to the activities that takes place along the walls by different users and then altered to cater to new activities/ enhance the existing ones.

The strategies chosen to create these connections between the inside and outside through visual and physical connections and therefore trying to change the negative connotations attached to boundary walls.

plan 01 - Playing with levels. Kids playing, different possibilities of a peek inside the plot

view 01- This corner of the wall aids creative play that can enhance the interaction between kids and the people in the surrounding neighborhood. Since it is in the corner, the visibility increases and creating levels and slopes in the wall play a major role in attracting people to the wall. Creating small balconies could become a viewing spot for people to enjoy the view of the urban forest that thrives inside.

plan 02 - Vendors Creating seating spaces for people through steps and carving out spaces for vendors

view 02- Designing around trees and recognizing the role they play in street vending as a shading device. Allowing the activities to move inside and not just remaining limited to the footpath

view 03 - Carving out spaces in the plot and open them up for multiple activities like play, celebration of festivals, etc.