raiji.in

A fertile piece of land, between an irrigation canal and a stream carrying overflowed water from the irrigated farms is to be developed as a cluster of vacation homes. The plots for individual houses are kept towards the centre and landscaped public spaces on periphery along the water edge to capture views of the horizon over the neighbouring farms and give access to such a place to more people. The prime criteria behind it were to exploit the organic odd shapes and slopes as well as to tap their potential as a source of water and moisture for nurturing the plants.

The strategy of landscaping was to lure people from all age groups by weaving possibility of activities into it. A series of interconnected maze of hedge interspersed with stone alcoves was developed along a long stretch that would allow people to fool around or introspect. An amphitheatre was carved into a sloped crescent formed by the stream that turns it into a stepped public place for performances for or by the people. A boomerang shaped velodrome of a sort was evolved in a wedge shaped piece that could be used for strenuous walk or just an arena to sit back and watch others enjoying skateboarding, slides, see-saw or a swim in the stream.