One of the original concepts which generated the lake idea.

One of the original concepts which generated the lake idea.

(I am unable to upload it on the Blog so please ref to the text as under and the attached diagram)

The new SPA campus is on the edge of one of the last remnants of the South Central ridge and on the fringe of rapid urbanization. Undoubtly the two main site forces are man and nature. As an integrated campus for a School of the built Environment we see this is an opportunity to recognize the independence of both the natural and the manmade and thereby link the genius loci of the site with the nature and program of the institution.

One of the key interventions is converting the big artificial crater in the site into a 'living lake'. A lake which then mediates between the Ridge and the city and is a symbolic response to the interaction between man and nature.

The lake is also seen as a neighborhood level recreation space and one of the key devices to create a self-sustaining campus (a hub for micro-generation, passive ecological design and renewable energy technologies). The banks of the lake can have a dual character- wet land, grass, nesting grounds etc. to the west and ghats/ promenade/ tea stalls to the east with the SPA buildings as backdrop.

Following is an explanation of the diagram and a description of the zoning:

Main objectives include
a) to conserve, nurture and exemplify the healing characteristics of the ridge
b) restrict sprawl and propagate a 'dense city model'- one this is active, integrated and stimulating.

Medium/ High density fabric to the east and south of the lake which connect the site to the city.

Think 80% coverage. Think large black blob with large and small green courts and strips embedded into it.



To the west a huge chunk of the site can be retained as an extension of the ridge and then littered with small pavilions. Think 5% coverage. Think different shades of green with small black rectangles linked by paths. Think informal patterns; think alternative construction.