REVITALIZATION OF TANKESHWOR
The Edible Landscape
Tankeshwor is a corridor of unused land beside the holy Bishnumati River. The river carries religious, cultural and social values that screams for a development and proper utilization of the space.
The design here is for a Design Competition namely "Revitalization of Tankeshwor" organized by Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA), Nepal.
Concept: Re Think
Given the current circumstances in the world, all of us are in a stance of trauma and therefore this has brought us to re-think the ways we have been designing the spaces around us. And for the landscapes which are traditionally designed as a space for human interaction and more of aesthetically pleasing flowers, fountains and ornaments, I propose for an “Edible Landscape” instead that aids in the sustenance of the locals.
Basically, the site is divided into three major parts that is derived from the lines taken from the points of the site itself. These three parts are divided as; religious, social and sustenance space.
The religious space is for the religious offerings and occasions like Chhatha Puja along the riverbank connected by a series of steps.
The social space focuses on the social interaction with an outdoor gym that fulfills the physical and mental stability of the people.
The sustenance space is the edible landscape focusing on the herbal garden which caters the needs of the locals to get fresh herbs and also acting as an aroma therapy and insects repellent against the smell of the polluted river.
The pathway with Pavegen (kinetic tiles) that allows for generation of energy when movement occurs. Also the landscape walls and vertical create a play of shadows on the pathway allowing a shaded pathway.
The shaded pathway with a canopy of colored sheets that creates a play of reflected shadows. Berms allowing a soft restriction between the street and the park which also caters as a sitting space. The seatings alongs the pathways cater the plants and vegetation with levels of sittings for different age groups. Also the low level light fixtures on the seating lights up the pathway.
The promenade along the river fulfills its purpose of enjoying the holy river and also for cultural rituals.
An ariel view showing the various functions divided by the pathway.
An ariel view of the landscape with the indication of the spaces and their funtions.
The promenade in its function.
