16/04/2021
One of our recent projects @ Ambattur, Chennai, TN, India.
The Fluttering Fabric - a public space designed in front of Kosmo One Business Park - designed by Late Ar. Zaha Hadid.
We have tried to articulate a narrative that resonates itself with the intent of the Architecture of the campus.
Most importantly its been thought of like a prototype that can morph into multiple variants when extended all along this Industrial Corridor.
Triangle has been taken as the repetitive module, that orients towards the built and the unbuilt (Road) alternatively.
The metal rods chosen to trace these triangular modules are inclined at an angle to draw sight lines towards the buildings / campuses, and also to prevent people from jumping over the triangular metal screens which are basically fences to protect the space and its contents. The rods also helped us mimic the groves in the highway pillars and after much deliberation it was the ideal choice to get the fluidity that the building was expressing. They were imagined to be a fabric wrapping the pillars and the breeze making them flow towards the building - thus the incline rising up towards the building.
Vandalism and a web of public services and infrastructure (underground) have been the 2 major reasons for us to choose not to go for in ground planting but Potted plants.
The entire space happening in the under belly of the fly over - the elevated part of Chennai - Bengaluru Bye pass, poses another challenge of shadow cast for most time of the day. The space literally receives light just for a 40 mins a day, late in the evening. We did see that as an opportunity and appreciated the clients interest and passionate offer to maintain the space themselves and gave a planting palette that is normally reserved for High end Residential Interior Landscapes.
Much to our delight, despite the dust, the plants have been faring amazingly well.
Other challenge being the risk of getting posters stuck on all available surfaces. Its not really something that can be fought against and we made the screen more porous by increasing the gap between each rod to ensure no sticking is feasible. Also the walls will be filled with ivy and ipomoea creepers eventually also making it non conducive for posters sticking. Well, fingers crossed :-)
The metal screen running across the entire space will be lit from below, with an accentuating LED strip light at night.
More pictures expected soon. Watch out our page for updates on that soon.
Photo Credits - Murali Rama Krishnan thank u so much murali for the beautiful pics
