NIRAV CHOUGULE - COMMUNITY DESIGN

THE INITIAL THOUGHT ABOUT THE PARK WAS QUESTIONING WHY IT HAD ONLY ONE ENTRANCE, CREATING A BARRIER IN WHAT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC SPACE. BREAKING THIS HARD EDGE BECAME THE STARTING POINT OF THE DESIGN, LEADING TO THE EXPLORATION OF MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS IN RESPONSE TO THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT.

ANOTHER KEY ISSUE WAS THE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE NGO WORKING TO SUPPORT IT. THE NGO FUNCTIONED AS AN ISOLATED, GATED ENTITY. THE DESIGN ADDRESSES THIS BY OPENING UP THE BUILDING, UNDERSTANDING ITS REQUIREMENTS, AND INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

THE INITIAL THOUGHT ABOUT THE PARK WAS QUESTIONING WHY IT HAD ONLY ONE ENTRANCE, CREATING A BARRIER IN WHAT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC SPACE. BREAKING THIS HARD EDGE BECAME THE STARTING POINT OF THE DESIGN, LEADING TO THE EXPLORATION OF MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS IN RESPONSE TO THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT.

ANOTHER KEY ISSUE WAS THE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE NGO WORKING TO SUPPORT IT. THE NGO FUNCTIONED AS AN ISOLATED, GATED ENTITY. THE DESIGN ADDRESSES THIS BY OPENING UP THE BUILDING, UNDERSTANDING ITS REQUIREMENTS, AND INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

THE PARK WAS ALSO UNDERUTILIZED FOR LARGE SOCIAL GATHERINGS DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF DEFINED SEATING OR CONGREGATION SPACES. THIS LED TO THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER, SIT, AND INTERACT. ADDITIONALLY, DESPITE RESTRICTED ACCESS AT NIGHT, PEOPLE CONTINUED TO ENTER THE PARK, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND DESIGN FOR NIGHTTIME USE.

THE PROPOSAL BRINGS TOGETHER MULTIPLE PROGRAMS WITHIN A SINGLE UNIFIED FORM. ALTHOUGH THE BUILDING OCCUPIES A RESTRICTED PLOT, IT FUNCTIONS AS A COHESIVE MASS ARTICULATED THROUGH A SERIES OF VOIDS THAT ORGANIZE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SPACES.

THE BUILDING INCLUDES A PUBLIC WASHROOM (WITH ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES), A PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND AN NGO UNIT. THE NGO ACCOMMODATES VARIOUS FUNCTIONS SUCH AS EXHIBITION AREAS, ADMINISTRATIVE SPACES, LARGE MEETING ROOMS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INCOME-GENERATING PROGRAMS, AND COUNSELING SPACES. IT ALSO FEATURES AN OPEN AMPHITHEATER WITH SERVICE AND CHANGING ROOMS, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY INTERACTION ZONES. THE ROOF IS DESIGNED AS AN EXTENDED SEATING AREA, FURTHER ENHANCING ITS ROLE AS A SOCIAL AND GATHERING SPACE.