Waterfronts provide a considerable opportunity to blur the edges and engage seamlessly through programs and activation, as well as enhance the conservation and restoration of ecology. Considering the future of urban expansion, the studio is developed to explore how effectively we can design urban lakefronts to maintain their natural processes in a self-sustaining manner.
Freshwater aquatic systems such as lakes can adjust to seasonal variations in soil moisture, composition, and water levels. They also play a crucial role in the broader regional ecology by serving as reservoirs that collect and manage run-off water, thus mitigating the risk of flooding. Urbanization has led to a significant metamorphosis and alteration of the natural ecology of lakes in peri-urban areas. The studio will start with documenting and assessing selected urban waterfronts, focusing on their physical characteristics, community engagements, cultural significance, and environmental impact. Based on the findings, each student will propose strategies and a typological design framework that can be applied on selected sites along the waterfront. The studio aims to empower students with the skills to create designs that align with the intricacies of this natural system
Stage 1: LANDING_TRANSECT STUDY - Observing and recording first impression of site (along Govardhan sagar lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan).
Stage 2a: GROUNDING_Regional study - Observing existing secondary literature and reading cartographic maps (along Govardhan sagar lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan).
Stage 2b: GROUNDING_TRANSECT STUDY - Observing existing documents and recording on-site conditions (along Govardhan sagar lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan).
Stage 3a: FINDING AND FOUNDING - analysis of recorded data and finding inference and Stage 4: DESIGN STRATEGIES - collective investigations and interventions (along Govardhan sagar lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan).
Stage 3b: Individual detailed part plans/design demonstrations - design proposal (along Govardhan sagar lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan).
