13 Case Study _ Marina-1

K. Raghuraman

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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 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.

 

Concept

  • Indo Saracenic Architecture
  • Victorian Architecture
  • Roman & Greek Architecture
  • French Architecture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 STATUES
SUBRAMANYA BHARATHIYAR STATUE

 

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Bharathiyar saw beyond the social taboos to build a new earth through co-operative endeavour. The  roposed 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.

 

PROPOSAL FOR BARATHIYAR STATUE

 

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.

 

 

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

The landscaping around the Avvaiyar statue is redefined with pop fountains,small mounds, colourful planting & since the gooseberry is so synonymous with Avvaiyar ,gosseberry trees are proposed to create an unique identity to the space.

 

 

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Landscaping around the Kamarajar statue is redefined with the concept simplicity & integrity which is achieved in design through vast openness ornamental stone columns flanking at the entry,linear dwarf walls in between the mounds which visually means he was always ahead of times.

 

 

THE DESIGN PROPOSAL

Mahatma Gandhi the “Great soul” led India to independence and inspired movements for nonviolence, civil rights & well known for his “Ahimsa”.

The space around his statue is designed with lush greenery , water fountains on either sides of the statue & clump of trees as a backdrop which implies simplicty & serenity.

 

 

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

 

 

 

THE WALK IN FOUNTAIN

The walk in fountain – First of its kind in Chennai.

 

THE CHESS BOARD CONCEPT

The concept of chessboard is very captivating for the children ,it serves the purpose of play & stands out as a landscape element as well.

 

 

DESIGNING THE OPEN SPACES

 

The FOLIAGE concept

THE FOLIAGE CONCEPT is adopted to the south of Gandhi statue where in every single curve the seating is provided that way the space is put to its maximum usage with accent trees to break the monotony of the space & to provide shade as well.

 

 

 

OPEN SPACE ON TO THE SOUTH OF MAHATMA GANDHI STATUE

• On the southside of Gandhi statue tree courts & seating are provided which holds maximum shade.

• Existing trees are retained while a variety of trees are proposed which Blends with the whole setting.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

WESTSIDE STREETSCAPING

  • The design intent of the westside streetscaping is to define the linear stretch with a unifying character.
  • This is carried out by fitting uniformity in compoundwall , railing , accommodating seating & creating a pattern in the pathway & providing appropriate lighting.

PROPOSED DESIGN FOR THE SHOPS

 

• Tensile roofing

• Wave concept

• Linear arrangement

• Symmetrical

 

 

 

 

 

REDESIGNing THE BUS STAND

  • The existing Bus stand is not put to its maximum use & doesn’t visually create an identity as it lacks its Imageability.
  • Hence forth the new bus station is designed to complete the wave concept.
  • The form is achieved through tensile steel structures & over hanging supports.

    PROPOSED VIEW OF THE BUS STAND

 

 

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