Natural riverfronts support complex ecologies that have evolved to flourish along the boundary between land and water. These ecologies adapt responsively to the seasonal changes to the river character to both floods and droughts. Traditional human settlements were also developed in response to these varying natural processes creating diverse points of interest and cultural association.
In India today rapid urbanization has resulted in extreme alteration to inhabited waterfronts. The highly engineered and homogenous nature of riverfront development no longer reflects the spatial condition of either natural or traditional responses to the riverine landscapes.
In this studio we explore the question: how to design responsive urban riverfronts that allows people to live in better relation with natural systems in urban areas?
Students will explore the challenges associated with sustaining natural systems while designing for modern day waterfront living. The studio will combine group and individual projects including: Research and literature review; longitudinal study of the river system; briefing and explorative strategic design and individual master-plan proposals illustrated though renderings and modelling.
The studio will reveal the exquisite complexity of natural river systems and equip students to design for modern living in harmony with these natural orders.
Stage 1_LANDING_First impression (Individual work) - Observing and recording first impression of site (along Tapi river, Surat, Gujarat)
Stage 2a_GROUNDING_Regional study (Group work)- Observing existing secondary literature and reading cartographic maps (along Tapi river, Surat, Gujarat). Three zones identified, with different land conditions.
Stage 2b_GROUNDING_TRANSECT STUDY (Group work)- Observing existing documents and recording on-site conditions (along 18km stretch of Tapi river, Surat, Gujarat).
Stage 3_FINDING AND FOUNDING (Individual work)- analysis of recorded data and finding inference. Further, developing and suggesting design strategies for a selected zone of 6 km, by adapting to a design approach.
Stage 4a_DESIGN STRATEGIES (Individual work)- collective investigations and interventions, on either of the selected zones and Stage 4b_DETAILED DESIGN (Individual) - design demonstrations in part plans (along Tapi river, Surat, Gujarat).
