Wraparound Arcades

Papdi Talao is a public node built around a lake in the urban vasai region. There are various actors that occupy the site- the visitors of the Ram Mandir and the lake, the workers or vendors, and the residents of the nearby adivasi and middle class settlements. This gave form to different types of public spaces. The entire site lacked a language to unify its identity as a larger public space. This absence of a unifying element indicated towards the tensions between various communities on site. For example the ISKON trust did not want a fish and meat market located adjacent to it. Hence they built a 2.5m tall boundary wall along its boundary to isolate itself from the surroundings. 

The main design idea was to create an arcade that wraps around the entire site in a loop connecting all the spaces together. At the same time a series of garden terraces and walkways get formed at the top which allows the market to be left untouched and provides vantage points. 4 main elements have been used in our design - arcades, courtyards, vaults and terraces. Arcades built by the British in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai to create shade for high ranking officials has now been reprogrammed  as a street market. The Friday market at Papdi Talao observes a hike of 200+ vendors from their daily average of 70. The arcade transforms into a market on those days. The structural system of the arcades provide spaces for the vendors to set up shop while offering the remaining space for circulation. 

Vaults are used in the interior spaces, giving a larger volume to be used as public spaces. The vault runs centrally and opens out to 3m flat slabs on both sides. These 3m wide strips become service spaces allowing the vault to be kept free for experience. The system of alternating flat slabs and vaults creates a dramatic experience, for example in the community hall, the seating is placed beneath the flat slab while the stage is placed under the vault. As a result the audience looks towards a larger volume, creating emphasis. 

In order to break the continuity and monotony of vaults multiple courtyards have been made which form spaces of rest, pause or gathering. The courtyards accommodate the swelling and shrinking of the market as well as community hall during festivals, weddings or other occasions. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul uses arcades and Vaults to guide users along an axis and provide continuity. The proportions of courtyards have been drawn from St Francisco Church in Vasai Fort where the courtyards hold the monastery and church together centrally. Similarly all institutes are placed along a courtyard to allow equal participation of all groups and a shared space for all. 

The terraces becomes spaces of recreation for visitors as well as residents offering walkways, cafeterias and a library. The vaults cascade towards the lake edge to open up to the lake. The vaults become habitable spaces on the terrace with seating provided for people to eat their food outside or read books or meet others. 

The vaults are made of ferrocement, which are placed on top of shear walls that form the main structural system. Perpendicular fins compartmentalize the spaces where inside the market - they divide the space for each vendor or in the community hall where they offer spaces to store footwear before entering or spaces to store chairs. U shaped RCC beams collect all rainwater from the top and channel it into water bodies places in courtyards, creating an experience.