System Ontologies

SITE

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

The area chosen is the national park area in Borivali east which is in the Northern suburbs of Mumbai. During the previous module, we were in close contact with the people from the settlements living inside the national park and after talking to them we realized that there were 12 such settlements inside and they have been living there for 8 generations. Also, we got to experience their traditional art form which is warli and their traditional building techniques.

Despite being an integral part of the forest there is no mention of them and their settlements on the map. So we wanted to create a space where the people have a platform to express their history.

SITE INTERVENTION

The site we have chosen is 800m from the main entrance. It is right next to the nature interpretation center which has information on the animals, plants, butterflies inside the park and also has a biodiversity zone. It is also near the boating area and Krishnagiri railway station. The people from settlements work in the park itself such as guides and in the railway station and the women sell fruits along the plinths. The site has many trees in a linear form.

PROGRAM

Workshop- a space for people from the community to teach people directly about their art and building techniques

Reading space- a space where people can read about the history, art, architecture and culture of the tribal settlements inside the national park

Visual library- a walkthrough space for a brief on the life of the tribal people inside the national park

Cafeteria- a space for the people sitting on the plinth to come and sell their fruits and snacks

INTENT

To Retain the idea of walking and exploring, which will give a sense of fluidity and walkthrough space. A space that doesn’t differentiate between the inside and outside. The different programs can all be connected through a buffer. To include nature inside the structure by building around the trees present at the site. The experience shouldn’t be foreign as walking through the park itself. Creating various pockets through scale, materiality, and openness. A visually connected space that can afford incrementality. Using trees as a structural element and integrating them inside the structures and creating an experience around them. Using materials that the people have worked with and can maintain thus generating employment.

PROCESS DIAGRAMS AND MODEL

1. ITERATION I
Habitable roof and walking

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2. ITERATION II

Thinking through workshop, trees, and weave.

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3. ITERATION III
Inculcating trees more and using them structurally

In the next process, we tried to center the space more around the trees and create experiences through tree spaces and foliage

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The tree gets used in multiple ways such as a structural element, a light source, and a shading element.

FINAL MODEL

In the last iteration we tried to densify the roof and create more habitable and fluid spaces. The 15m span happens at this bamboo weave in the workshop space.

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PLANS

CUT PLAN

The plan is cut at 1..5m above ground level. There are two entrances and from this entrance you go directly to the buffer space between the park and the ground. As soon as you get down from the buffer space you get to see the workshop space happening. Most of the plinth is at sitting height so people can use it regardless of an active workshop going on or not. Then from the other side you enter the visual library space. The space between the visual library and reading library can act as a storage space. The reading library. Towards the other side of the workshop facing the road is where the cafe space happens. There are places for the people to sell under the cantilever.

ROOF PLAN

In the roof plan we can see how the roof comes together with the reinforcement bamboo and the mud layers and where it happens. And how the weave of the workshop happens.

SECTIONS

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JOINERY DIAGRAMS

In the visual library the bamboo column and beam come together through tying with jute thread and then there is cross bracing and the finer dense weave happens through karvi sticks and covering with mud and cowdung for water proofing.

The buffer space happens by curving two split bamboos and reinforcing with bamboo and covering with mud.

EXPERIENTIAL PHOTOS OF MODEL

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SYSTEM ONTOLOGIES

PROCESS DIAGRAMS AND MODEL 1. ITERATION I Habitable roof and walking

PROCESS DIAGRAMS AND MODEL

1. ITERATION I
Habitable roof and walking