Floral Homage: Ephemeral Landscapes Of Remembrance

Shaurya Singh

UR3001

The Gujarat riots of 2002 had a profound impact not only on people’s lives but also on public spaces in the affected areas. The violence left many realms scarred and damaged, one of which was Malek Saban, Bapunagar, Ahmedabad. The trauma of the events has had long-lasting effects on how people perceive and associate themselves with the vacant parcels of the edge and previously the stadium which got converted to a lake post the riots. One of the most significant impacts of the riots on Malek Saban was the loss of social cohesion and trust between communities. The public spaces that were once sites of interaction and exchange between Hindus and Muslims were now left contested. This led to a fragmentation of public life and a loss of shared identity and collective memory, essential for a healthy and dynamic public realm. The project's intention is to introduce an intervention to rebuild opportunities for natural interaction between different communities to restore social cohesion, while also remembering the memories of the site

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The Project Manifesto…

An attempt to map the memories of Malek Saban since ancient times, while also analyzing the areas and the larger impact of The Gujarat Riots 2002, especially on the eastern part of the city (where lies Bapunagar)...

Analyzing the history and memories of Bapunagar and Malek Saban through time…

Understanding the impact of the 2002 riots on urban spaces and what people remember of that tragedy…

Analyzation of how we tend to hide the memories of the city in order to strive for development and the project inspiration of using flowers as a symbol of remembrance…

After rigorous site research, it was observed that the majority of residents were involved in flower-selling businesses in Jamalpur and other areas. The Hindus and Muslims were both engaged in selling the same flowers at temples, and mosques. Thus, taking a ‘flower’ as a common symbol of remembrance of the tragic past, and honoring the precious lives we lost during the riots of 2002, Malek Saban is proposed to be covered with flower beds proportionate to the size of a ‘grave’. The organization and design replicate Muslim burial practices and give the user the impression of walking in a cemetery…

The flower beds are oriented to be perpendicular to the direction of the Qibla (i.e. Mecca) where the markers are at a height of no more than 30 centimeters (12 in) above the ground. The decisions of the same follow the rules of Muslim burial practices…

The views explaining the organization and the spacial experience of the user…

The project also provides a strong revenue-generating cycle to the local residents of Bapunagar. The space could be a city-scale landmark known for its flower production and a public space to visit, especially during the blooming seasons. The intervention will also encourage meaningful interactions among residents while engaging in the flower farming process, regaining each other's trust while striving for social cohesion…

Envisioning the flower farms through the seasons acting as a symbol of remembrance…