Waste Management Through Structures at Dahisar Mangrove Park
Environmental Flows
Shraddha Thorwat & Divya Khivansara | Semester 3 | 2023-2024
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Course Outline
The course focused on perceiving the environment as interconnected networks, generating rhythmic flows of resources involving human, non-human, socio-economic, socio-cultural, and socio-political elements. It explored how architecture can alter, interrupt, prolong, hinder, or empower certain cycles, affecting life forms and interspecies interactions. The emphasis was on ecologically sensitive terrains and how architecture can promote ecological equity. The central project involved (re)imagining a mangrove swamp in Mumbai as a park, challenging its historical perception as a wasteland. The course taught us the importance of considering the complexities of architectural interventions in dynamic environmental flows and how design can foster sustainable relationships between nature and humans. It encouraged innovative thinking and the responsibility of architects in shaping harmonious ecosystems.
SITE ANALYSIS
The site given to us was Dahisar Mangroves. Our stretch of site was for around 150m in length and 40m in width. From this stretch we had to choose the site we wanted to work upon. When we observed the site, the first thing that came to our mind was the garbage piled up on the side of mangroves. We decided to work with garbage as our flow. We studied on how the garbage enters our site ,where does this come from and how it flows out. We made network charts and clicked various pictures of the waste. We studied that on the right hand side where there was the residential area , the waste was collected by the dumping truck every day, and on the other hand of the mangroves , there was piles of waste being dumped and no one would collect it. There were plastic bottles,wrappers, alcohol bottles, left out furniture, tarpaulin sheets, leather bags and even god idols on the site. During this we also observed how humans were interacting with the flow of garbage and how they became a part of this whole process. The hawkers, rickshaw drivers and many other outsiders were the ones throwing waste and the furniture came from the construction sites.
PROGRAMME AND DESIGN INTENT
PROGRAMME AND DESIGN INTENT
Upon observing the site, we chose this one as it had maximum clearing so we could avoid cutting of trees. Our vision involved creating spaces that seamlessly integrated with the mangroves, blurring the boundaries between human and natural environments. By engaging with the entire stretch, we aimed to make people feel a personal connection to the area, consequently discouraging dumping.Our aim was to create a harmonious blend of public or private spaces alongside the natural environment, fostering a sense of ownership and care among people, thus reducing dumping. Additionally, we developed a garbage system where designated areas allowed people to dispose of waste, ensuring that it was collected in one place for easy pick-up by the government's dumping truck. Our design intent aimed to promote environmental responsibility and foster a sustainable relationship between human activities and the mangroves.
ITERATION'S
FINAL DRAWING'S
The structure that we've designed is a yoga centre as well as a place for aerobics. It has a deck for public to engage with. The garbage system here is designed thinking about where all will we need the dustbins. The waste from the upper level will collect down into the common dustbin and from there it can be pulled out. It has wheels on it to pull out easily on the grooves. From there the garbage truck can easily collect the waste. Also the dustbin is not very evident to lay man's eye and thats how we thought of managing the waste as well as beautifying our structure.The skin of the structure is porus and breathing. It opens to the mangroves to different degrees/ intensities. It could be completely open, or semi-open or completely shut depending upon the external factors. Thus the light and air could be controlled. Also the fabric walls at the top can allow a play with light.
FINAL MODEL
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