The Mangrove School

at Dahisar Mangrove Park.

Parnavi Kulkarni and Samruddhi Ratnakar| Semester 3 | 2023-2024

There are various ecosystems on Earth, and many of them are interconnected. The flow of life within these ecosystems intersects with each other, creating a connection. Establishing a relationship is a form of creativity that involves both living and non-living elements, as well as biotic and abiotic factors. There is no clear distinction between nature and man-made structures. Instead, they have a symbiotic relationship that is influenced by daily rituals, practices, and culture.

ABOUT THE FIELD STUDY :

West of the road

East of the road

Mangroves grew here only during the last 15-20 years over what were formerly salt-pan depots. In this landscape, one witnesses a palimpsest of physical infrastructure that regulated the flows of saline waters through bund walls and sluice gates, on the one hand, and claims of Warli and Agri communities, on the other hand. One also witnesses a new landscape of cooperative housing societies, bastis and transportation infrastructures on its edges whose inhabitants have diverse relationships with the mangrove swamp.

We conducted our research in the Dahisar Mangrove Forest, focusing on a wetland area known as a swamp. We were operating in a location where there were residential buildings on one side of the street and mangroves on the opposite side. Initially, we spent a few days working on the field and identifying the flows. The mangroves were situated on the west side of the road, while residential plantations were found on the east side. The area was populated with old trees like the Indian almond tree and banyan tree. On the east side, we discovered numerous small creepers, shrubs, and mangroves.

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Observations:

Details of vegetation:

This is how the place is used by people:

NETWORK MAP :

ABOUT THE SITE- ZEN GARDEN :

There was a metal road leading to the Zen garden. As you moved further west, the density of mangroves became more pronounced, while the east side was filled with shrubs and vines. As we progress westward, the density and age of the mangroves gradually increase. During periods of heavy rainfall, the water level in mangroves can rise as high as 1.4 meters.

STUDY OF FLOWS

- Flow of vegetation

During our intervention assessment, we identified various types of trees, shrubs, and creepers. In the residential side of the road , we primarily found Delonix regia (Gulmohar) trees, which were artificially planted for aesthetic purposes. Other trees in the area include palm trees, tamarind trees, mango trees, Gulmohar, and plumeria (chafe). In the mangrove area, we observed two species: Avicenna marina and Bruguera cylindrica. These mangroves follow a specific pattern, with Bruguera cylindrica growing more towards the edge of the road (near the residential path) and Avicenna marina growing in the middle part of the mangroves.

NEED OF THE INTERVENTION:

Intervention refers to the act of taking action to influence the outcome of something. In our study, we focused on vegetation flow and used this knowledge to determine our intervention. Our intervention involved creating an interactive area with mangroves, as there was a lack of attention towards them. To educate ourselves about mangroves, we came up with the concept of a mangrove school.

Design Intervention:

Iteration 1

In the initial phase of our design, we primarily emphasized the creation of a natural tree canopy. This canopy is formed by connecting branches together. To achieve this, we drew inspiration from projects like the living root bridge in Meghalaya. Various techniques, such as using bamboo for shaping, hand tying, and allowing natural growth, are employed in constructing living root bridges. The support system for this canopy consists of the branches and trunk of trees.

Site plan

We chose to primarily plant delonix regia (gulmohar) for several reasons. These include its local availability, ability to withstand saline water, adaptability to changing weather conditions, and its ability to grow up to 8 to 10 meters in height with a dense branch system. The interconnected branches of the trees helped to create a canopy, which was designed to provide a comfortable sitting space and enhance interaction between plants and animals.

Iteration 2

In the second iteration, we developed a straightforward pathway that spans across the road. The intention was to construct a physical structure that connects two distinct environments while incorporating plants. We created two separate walkways at different elevations: one above the mangroves and another below the mangroves. This difference in height allowed for various observations. For instance, the smaller walkway provided a vantage point to observe the root system, growth, and tidal flow of water in the mangroves. On the other hand, the larger walkway allowed for top-down observations of the mangrove's fruits, leaf structure, foliage, etc. The highest point of the structure served as a lookout tower. The materials used in constructing the walkway were steel railings and pavement blocks.

The design was too basic and did not achieve the desired effect. Therefore, we opted to incorporate additional elements and make it more intricate and lively.

Iteration 3

In the third iteration, we introduced additional elements to enhance the interactivity of the area, such as a gathering space, library, periscope point, and walkways through the mangroves. The area consisted of two main units: a gathering space with a periscope point, and a library with a reading area. Various materials were utilized, including wooden planks, straws, bamboo, and laminating sheets. A small walkway connected the gathering space and the library.

Section of design ilteration

Section 2 of design iteration

Plan of design iteration

We created a suspended library in a residential area by attaching it to the trees. The library was situated amidst a cluster of trees, with their canopies acting as a roof. The structure was made using bamboo mesh and strings, and the books were hung on the tree branches. The elliptical shape of the library allowed it to support both live and dead loads at the same time.

Iteration 4

In the fourth iteration, we made the walkways more compact and connected them to the higher-level periscope point. The periscope point was designed as an observatory area with periscopes placed at different levels, each focused on a specific part of the mangroves such as fruit, leaves, and trunk. Additionally, we added a gaming net from the steps to the periscope point. In this modification, we not only focused on the shape and form of the library but also considered the intensity of the walkways. The materials used included bamboo, straws, and wooden planks.

This design was inspired by the Forest School Bali Indonesia and Water Restro.

3D sketches of fourth alteration showing measurements and materiality

Iteration 5

We created pathways with increased intricacy to add a sense of fun. The two units were connected by a pathway. For the periscope point, we designed a partially open roof. Various levels were incorporated to offer different viewpoints. The materials used included bamboo (Bambusa bambos), straws, wooden planks, and bamboo jali for the roofing. In this structure, we examined different bamboo joinery techniques such as lashing, fish mouth, and thickened clum.

After this round of iteration, we made the decision to create a lightweight structure using the least amount of material possible. The structure itself had to bear the weight of heavy materials, making it impractical to construct a specific shape.

Iteration 6

In the sixth iteration, we merged certain programs together, such as combining periscope point and gathering space, resulting in a decrease in the number of walkways. The reading space underwent a complete transformation, as we created its design by following the shape of trees. Various materials were utilized in this design, including bamboo, straws, cloth jali, and wooden planks.

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References - Abin Choudhary, Treading the mist

Following that, we made the decision to merge the two structures into one.

Final Design

Our design was created by combining various elements such as a periscope area, ramps, internal seating spaces for reading, bookshelves, and an observation deck. The structure was constructed using horizontal and vertical steel members, and the roofing system was made of fabric arranged in a criss-cross pattern to allow sunlight to enter the space. The observation deck, which served as a periscope area, was covered with a thick mesh for clear visibility. The internal seating areas were securely anchored to the ground, and two ramps were installed to serve as an observation tower.

Design model of the Mangrove School

We have developed a more comprehensive concept to create something that integrates different elements, including the identified flows, the program, and consistency among the drawings. This design project has expanded our thinking. The goal of the project was to apply the knowledge gained in structure and materials in a practical way. The focus was on establishing a connection between the environment and the built form. We got a broader idea to create something that incorporates various elements such as the identified flows, the program and consistency among the drawings.

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