15 Case Study _ Marina – 2

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MARINA BEACH

 

A Design Response To Re-Defining The Streetscape Of Kamarajar Salai – An Urban Landscape Outlook

Architecture of Chennai

  • Chennai architecture is a confluence of many architectural styles.
  • From ancient Dravidian temples built by the Pallavas, to the Indo-Saracenic style (pioneered in Madras) of the colonial era, to 20th-century steel and chrome of skyscrapers.
  • Chennai has a colonial core in the port area, surrounded by progressively newer areas as one travels away from the port, punctuated with old temples, churches and mosques.
  • The European architectural styles, such as Neoclassical, Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance, were brought to India by European colonists. Chennai, being the first major British settlement in the Indian Subcontinent, witnessed several of the earliest constructions built in these styles.
  • The initial structures were utilitarian warehouses and walled trading posts, giving way to fortified towns along the coastline.
  • Although several European colonists, namely, Portuguese, Danish and French, initially influenced the architectural style of the region, it was chiefly the British who left a lasting impact  on  the  city’s  architecture  succeeding  the Mughals in  the  country.  They  followed various architectural styles, with          Gothic, Imperial, Christian, English Renaissance and Victorian being the essentials.

 

Kamarajar salai

  • The entire beach promenade stretch, called KAMARAJAR SALAI features numerous statues and monuments.
  • The beach stretches along the eastern side of the road and the western side is dotted with various governmental institutions, historic and stately buildings from the British rule all along its length. Some of these historical buildings are:

Indo Saracenic Architecture

 

The application of the architectural features of the Islamic, Hindu, Byzantine styles into the Indosaracenic  buildings  designed  and  built  during  the  British  colonial  period  in  Chennai (Madras) city.

 

Salient features of Indo saracenic architecture

  • Onion (Bulbous) Domes
  • Overhanging Eaves
  • Pointed Arches
  • Cusped Arches or Scalloped Arches
  • Vaulted Roofs
  • Domed Kiosks
  • Many Miniature Domes, or Domed Chatris
  • Towers or Minarets
  • Harem Windows
  • Open Pavillions
  • Bierced Open Arcading

Salient Features of Indo Saracenic Architecture

 

One of the most important aspects of a building is that of material choice. What one builds the exterior envelope of their space with  affects its ability to breath to retain temperatures and its strength.

DESIGNING THE MARINA BEACHFRONT…

NEED FOR THE PROJECT

  • Imageability of the city
  • Improve the urban fabric of the city
  • Better usage of the open spaces.
  • A beachfront development

 

THE STRETCH TO BE DESIGNED

THE CONNECTIVITY

 

The stretch to be developed & landscaped starts from the NAPIER BRIDGE TO THE ENDS AT THE LIGHT HOUSE .

 

The distance covered is  3.8 kms.

Commercial activities ,play areas   & even public promenades can be drawn close to the beach

through landscaping , making it the vibrant heart of the urban fabric.

 

SPACES TO BE DESIGNED

  1. DESIGNING THE SPACES AROUND THE STATUES – Reviving the history & culture through specific landscaping elements recreated around the statues.
  2. DESIGNING  THE  GALLERIES  –  Developing  &  Landscaping  the  spaces  around  the galleries to put the space to better use & to make it visually appealing.
  3. WESTSIDE STREETSCAPING  – Providing seating ,appropriate lighting , highlighting the pedestrian pathway, detailing the compound wall etc
  4. FOCAL POINTS & NESSESARY NODES – highlight the stretch & creates an identity to the space.

 

THE DESIGN can  be ACHIEVED THROUGH    DEVELOPING  THE  STRETCH WITH THE landscaping ELEMENTS BELOW

 

  • WALKWAYS
  • SUNKEN COURTS
  • ACCENT PAVING
  • PERGOLAS
  • MOUNDS
  • FEATURE WALLS
  • PLANTERS
  • SPRINKLERS AND FOUNTAINS
  • PLAY AREAS
  • LIGHTING
  • MASS FOLIAGE PLANTING

 

THE   open spaces around the statues

  • The statues lack a uniformity , spatial identity & its unique character.
  • The spaces  around  the  statues  have  been  proposed  with  landscape  elements  that complements the particular statue .
  • Simultaneously the  character  of  the  space  is  also  being  accentuated  through land undulations , planting , water bodies etc.

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Bharathiyar  saw  beyond the social taboos to build a new earth through co-operative endeavour . The  proposed Bharathiyar   statue  enhances  his  distinctive  character  of  modernity  &  straight fowardness through squares & rectangles , fountains on either sides , hedge plants of different colours  thereby creating a strong emphasis , sametime maintaining the character of the space.

SUBASH CHANDRABOSE STATUE

 

AT PRESENT..

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Subash chandrabose is known for his very militant ideas, strength in character courage & supported an aggressive revolt . His courage & aggressiveness is achieved through landscaping by creating vibrant colour hedge plants & angular cutwalls & boulders simultaneously holding on to the spatial character.

TIRUVALLUVAR  STATUE

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

The Landscaping around the Tiruvalluvar statue is proposed with  wavy paving pattern , colourful planting & undulations, low height walls creating a sense of openness & unubstructed view to symbolise his precise style of his writings.

G.U. POPE STATUE

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Since G.U.POPE was always considered to be ahead of times & modern in his thoughts ,the landscaping around his statue is designed with clean lines,cut angles with difference in paving materials,bright foliage planting & waterbodies creating contrast & harmony that pertains to its spatial character.

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Bharathidhasan’s  writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement ,his ideas & attitudes were advanced to be accepted in the past.

The landscaping around the his statue is defined by ornamental stone columns as a backdrop with seating , mass foliage planting , lush greeneries & tall trees.

CHILDREN’S  PLAYAREA

Design features

  • A central plaza – gathering place
  • Interactive water features
  • Totlots
  • sandplay
  • Open air seating to watch performancees
  • Playground
  • Pathways for walking
  • Appropriate Lighting

OPEN SPACE OPPOSITE TO THE IG OFFICE

The design intent of the    huge open space opposite to the IG office is to create a contrasting character through difference in materials  by providing –

  • boardwalks
  • juxtaposing palmtrees
  • stone seating
  • connecting the chesscourt & gallery

 

DESIGNING  THE  GALLERIES

 

GALLERIES

The Galleries have a vast expanse of space which is not being used because it has lacks shade. Tensile structures are integrated into the design  which is informal ,flexible ,reasonable &  blends with  the spatial character as well.

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