23 Case study _ fort kochi, alleppey, sarovam

Alleppey

Waterfront development of alleppey canals the heritage canals… Alleppey canals

The town of alleppey has a network of canals included in the west coast canal system which are used for navigation. The important canals are vadai canal and commercial canals and the link canal between these two canals.

The back water system and their adjoining areas are subjected to seasonal flooding and are utilized as filtration ponds for aquaculture and pokkali (salt resistant variety of paddy).

The design approach …

• The landscape proposal  for  the  canals of alleppey  started  not  from  the  drawing  board, instead, from the site itself.
• The canals were desilted & re-connected to the sea to revive the natural flushing of waters due to tidal activity.
• Sewage & wastes flowing into the canals was curtailed.
• Banks were stabilized to clearly define the canals.
• Tracts of land along the water, was identified as possible green recreation zones. These areas varied from 15m to barely a few feet in width.
• Walking trails were identified at various levels & were evolved in a way so as to retain the existing trees.
• Steps or “padithurais” were designed to connect all horizontal planes.
• Play spaces & other recreational zones were conceived along the stretch.
• Seatings &  view-points  were  devised  as  both  static  &  dynamic  spaces  to  enhance  the landscape design.
• A revised lighting scheme was formulated so as to avoid dark spots and thus prevent anti social activities.
• Vernacular style of architecture was followed in all structures used in the landscape design.
• Retain existing vegetative cover as much as possible.
• An urban landscape plan was formulated keeping in mind the street furniture, hoardings, imagery of the site.
• A suitable  maintenanace  strategy  was  also  thought  of,  so  as  to  make  the  project  self sustaining.

Design approach:

• Creation of identity for alleppey.
• Establish a relevance to exisiting landscape.
• Creation of seating galleries, paved walkways, pedestrian plazas, etc.
• Design to accommodate existing proposals of road widening/ expressway.

Salient features

• Meandering walkways have been created to add interest to the walking experience.
• Planter boxes and green pockets have been introduced.
• Plant selection to suit coastal areas.
• Area in front to accommodate future road expansion.

The design approach:

• Creation of a paved walkway along the length of the beach.
• Creation of seating plazas along the walkway.
• Creation of multi level user spaces along the beach stretch.
• Creation of green zones.
• Introduction of pergolas, seaters, fountains, etc.

Landscape layout – part 01 – at southern end

Lanscape layout – part 03

Children’s play area in park

Existing photos….