Shrayana Ray

UR3009

Neo Habitat

Neo Habitat aims to conserve the existing complex habitats and create more diverse habitat complexities for the biodiversity hotspot region of Vishwamitri at the center of Vadodara.Vishwamitri’s ecosystem supports a vast amount of fauna species which includes 77 bird species and 8 mammal species. The project aims to alleviate this rich species diversity. It deals with the agglomeration of dynamic landforms for biodiversity habitats as well as integrates the insertion of public spaces by also retaining existing vegetation. The River's flooding nature has been taken as an advantage to channel water and allow it to swale around the biodiversity mounds.

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Transect Study : From genesis to death shows how the Vishwamitri river evolves from the first site that starts from the outskirts of the city where the river enters to the last one where the river leaves the city. The illustrations are the zoomed in noticeable details of the sites whereas the larger drawings show how we viewed the river from the bridges. These sketches then became the identity of each site how it was perceived and remembered.

Observe and Record : Through the site visit and literature studies, the context in form of land use, water, vegetation and fauna has been documented.

Observe and Record : Quadrant Mapping of 50m X 50m land patches have been done to understand the edge of Vishwamitri River at multiple sites

Analysis and Inference : The complex habitats for the fauna were identified along the river stretch and was overlayed with the species diversity of each site resulting in the identification of the biodiversity hotspot region starting from the river edge near Sama Talav to the Kala Ghoda circle.

Process Drawings : Series of abstract drawings were created to establish the idea of the biodiversity habitat mounds. The drawings show how a site and it's elements evolved.

Site selection and Zoning : Each Neo Habitat area is divided into 3 parts; biodiversity habitat and gravel zone, forest zone and community zone

Neo Habitat Area 01 : It deals with the agglomeration of dynamic landforms for biodiversity habitat as well as integrates the insertion of public spaces. The design takes the advantage of the flooding nature of Vishwamitri to allow water to enter the retention ponds and swale around the biodiversity mounds.

View of Neo Habitat Area 01

Neo Habitat Area 02 : The design evolves through the land modification of the existing oxbow lake in the site to accommodate avifauna and fish habitats along the series retention ponds and hills.

View of Neo Habitat Area 02