Connect : Weaving the unsown part of an ecosystem

Ketki Sandeep Nandanwar

UR3009

Vishwamitri river is one of the main features of Baroda. Although it cuts the city through its centre, the river remains neglected by its citizens. It is confused by the people to be a drain instead. This has happened because of the way the river has been treated by the city for years, dumping most of its sewage in it. The edge of the river can be recognised by the untouched greens adjacent to the river. Even though the water of the river is extremely polluted, the edge has managed to maintain a very strong ecosystem.
The project aims to enhance the now-neglected river and restore its identity by increasing human interaction on the edge. It does this by connecting the people of the city to the three elements that make up the ecosystem - the flora, fauna and water. The intervention aims to achieve this by retaining the vibrant experiential quality of the vegetation patterns along the river edge.

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Transect Study (1st Impression of the site) : The river being the central spine of the city, was perceived by different people in different ways. The illustration describes how the city has views the river

TRANSECT STUDY (Observe and Record) : Grounding- Documentation and Analysis of the site through different modes and record both visible and invisible layers.

TRANSECT STUDY (Observe and Record) : Grounding- A detailed study of 50m x 50m quadrants at various points throughout the river, zooming into the edge.

Analysis and Inference : Plantation patterns throughout the edge were observed and analysed for different seasons to map the experiential quality of the edge.

Site selection and Zoning : The main aim here was to connect the people with the three aspects of ecology - flora fauna and water. Different zones of contact were allotted for the same

Zone 1 : Contact with flora This patch was designed to create a zone of contact with the flora on the edge. The pockets made mimic different plantation patterns existing that were observed on site retaining the experiencial quality of the river edge.

A view from the the zone 1 pedestrian bridge.

Zone 2 : Contact with fauna and water : This patch was designed to create zones of contact with water and fauna. Where multiple artificial water bodies are introduced which seem as if they are a part of the river itself. While still mimicing the existing plantation patterns.

A view from the zone 2 pathway looking over the artificial trails