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Forest can be explored fully by immersing yourself in the forest; the experience thus becomes an experience of meandering through the landscape. The design was initiated with a concern of keeping the existing function of the nursery in place and making the visitors meander through the entire site and experience it by taking pause at various nodes holding programs.
Process
Initially steps were to analyze the site in all of its aspects including the slope, ridge, valley, trees, existing structures and pathways. Keeping all those things in mind the programmes are spread along the spin. For the shops and the resource center to be more accessible for all the people it is placed near the main road. The cafe is formed near the existing structures which makes it the center for spending time. The kitchen is right next to the cafe to simplify the process of serving. Workshop becomes a slightly bigger place specially where the trees and the ground would not be affected very much. The toilets are placed near the swamp where the dried leaves from the site are currently collected to make manure. The bio waste from the toilet can mix up to become manure.
Overall planning
The central spine with existing structures became the area of work where pathways lead to different programs. The existing trees canopies majorly cover the site making it a playful area with light and shadows. Contours of the site are such that they form a valley in one part of the site which I turn holds water. Directing the water here can help in ground water recharging. Following the contours and defining them created ways in which one can explore the site at different levels. Gabion walls formed along the contours acts as a barrier for water and allows maximum ground water recharge. These walls also act as seating spaces. It folds in and out to form a site boundary. The site boundary scoops in to accommodate shops and the resource center near the road which makes it accessible for the passerby also.
Café and Kitchen
The café is located between the existing structures. Café is a semi open structure with seating around the trees and a pathway through the structure. The kitchen is right next to the café so that the services are easier and faster. The kitchen is a stone structure with mangalore tile roofing and stone plinth.
Shops and Resource Center
Shops are located on the southern edge of the site which is closer to the road. Easy access to these shops will increase the foot fall on the site . Shops are modules which opens up to the public in interesting ways. All the shops are walk in shops. Resource center is a transformation of an exiting structure, where a grid of bamboo makes the entire fascade. The structure extends out to form a semi-open structure which can be used as aa seating space.
Workshop
The workshop is worked out on 2 levels which can hold multiple events at the same time. With the help of a pivote doors. The space transforms such that it can become 2 smaller spaces or 2 bigger workshop spaces whenever needed.
Nursery
Nursery forms a pathway which allows people to interact with the planters . It incorporated various pause spaces like seating and craft the whole experience around it.
Office
Following the contours on site the office is located at an angel from the cardinal directions . The structure has as a courtyard in the center which acts as a light well for the site. An outdoor deck can become a work place for the non-monsoonal season.
Views
Joinery Details
For all the structures stone is used as a material for the plinth, followed by bamboo for the walls and the roof framework and manglore tiles as a roofing material.
Gabion walls all along the site curates the flow of people and water.
All the pathways are made up of stone by anchoring stones directly on the mud.
Bill of Quantity
Aditi Bhandari, Harshita Patel, Pranjal Sancheti
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