Rasal Mrunmayi Prasad

LA4020

Seen unseen

"Seen Unseen" is a landscape architecture project that re imagines the lakefront of Udaipur through a carefully curated balance between human curiosity and ecological preservation. The core objective of the project is to strengthen visual connectivity while limiting and regulating physical access to protect the lake's fragile faunal habitats. Guided by the idea of "see with hands and touch with eyes," the design invites people to engage with the landscape primarily through sight offering structured viewpoints, framed perspectives, and curated visual corridors that reveal the richness of the lake's ecology without disturbing it. The project adopts a threefold strategy: enhancing visual experiences through viewing decks and sight lines; controlling physical interaction via buffers, terrain manipulation, and access points; and restoring habitats through vegetation islands and edge modifications that attract and support bird life and other fauna. The design responds sensitively to the existing landscape while proposing a future where ecological health and human engagement coexist through thoughtful, restrained interaction.

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Landing takes the form of a poem - a narrative woven from lived moments experienced during my journey and as I moved around the lake’s edge. Each step, each pause, each glimpse contributed to an unfolding story an emotional mapping of place that now guides the layers of design.

Grounding is a process implying successive layers, both visible and invisible. Sometimes the most important aspect of a given site is almost intangible. It is not necessarily what remains visible that matters most, but those forces and events that underground the evolution of a place.

Finding includes developing further on landing which now has a practical base of grounding. When put together, our initial landing can be further found by researching more into the subject matter. Founding includes developing further on you finding which now has a practical base of Finding and Grounding. Founding helps nurture of finding and develop it further with a strong research base.

The lake edge design prototype strikes a delicate balance, catering to the needs of local communities, tourists, and ecological preservation. Through community engagement and research, it incorporates cultural preferences while offering amenities to enhance the visitor experience.

Zone 1 - Viewing Corridor

Zone 2 - Viewing Points

Zone 3 - Viewing Corridor

Zone 4 - Viewing Points

The material palette for Seen Unseen emphasizes natural, locally sourced elements .The plantation palette is curated with native, drought-resistant species that support local biodiversity, especially avifauna, while requiring low maintenance. Together, the material and planting choices reinforce the project's vision of subtle integration with nature, ecological restoration, and long-term sustainability.

The design serves as a model for sustainable waterfront development that prioritizes ecological sensitivity, fostering strong visual engagement while intentionally minimizing physical intrusion.