The concept of "sensorial Platforms" refers to viewing the forest as a complex sensory system or a living sensory experience. It goes beyond considering the forest solely as a collection of trees and plants but rather as an interconnected network of living organisms and natural processes that engage our senses in various ways. Viewing the forest as a sensorium highlights the importance of our sensory connection with nature. This perspective can be beneficial in fostering environmental awareness, conservation efforts, and promoting the overall well-being of individuals who engage with nature through their senses.
Hence the design focuses to enhance these sensorium's through the idea of Pavilions which are these elevated platforms, which is explored with the idea of Modularity. A single module is derived from the parametric form of the tree and the platforms creates pathways which creates different scales of courtyards. The elevated platform essentially allows several flows to happen below it. It allows the growth of the roots of tree and passage of animals. The intent of the design is to incorporate the sensorium's and make one feel connected to the forest.
Assemblage of foliage and textures : The combination of different tree species, understory vegetation, shrubs, herbs, vines, and epiphytes forms a complex and interconnected community in the forest.
Overlapping boundaries : The Green takes over the hard boundaries and makes it soft and porous. Being in a forest, it feels as if you are in a place where there is no sense of boundary, it is endless.
Vegetation making the pathways : In the forest we saw how the vegetation created its own pathways or trails.
Canopy : The forest canopy serves as a complex and diverse habitat, supporting a wide array of species and ecological interactions.
Different experiences of walking on ground : The land is not always the soil, there are several ups and downs on the ground. This is due to the fallen leaves forming layers and layers which become a new ground which is porous in nature.
Sound and smell : The forest offers a varied amount of soundscapes and smells. Chirping of birds, rustling leaves, trickling water, insects, wildlife calls are various soundscapes.
A single module is derived from the parametric form of the tree
Two modules come together to form a hyperbolic parabola, for a connecting roof
Bamboo sheets, blinds, plants can be used as screens
Individual modules can be connected together through walkways creating courtyards of different scales
The concept behind zoning these programs was to create a cohesive layout, avoiding fragmentation throughout the site. The shops are placed along the roadside to enhance accessibility. The pre-existing shed has been rethought to become a kitchen,while the cafe is incorporated alongside.This arrangement provides a seamless flow between both the programs.
The modules along with the walkways create these courts in between. The walkway deviates along to nest various programs within and beside them. The modules fragment, come together,uplifts for different programs.
Anika Pugalia, Jinal Trivedi, Darshan Dedhia