Walk On - Creating Public Experiences

This is my entry for the Berkley Prize Essay Competition 2011. 

Theme:Architecture for the Public Good

The evening sun sets gently. The dance of the orange -pink hues reflected in the water. A simple pleasure of life, the experience made memorable by the setting. The cool breeze flows unhindered, –free for everyone to enjoy, cutting across class and caste. This celebration of freedom and of public space is an everyday affair on the Carter road promenade, Mumbai.Once an abused and derelict waterfront, it is an epitome of social infrastructure development that I aim to explore and emulate for Mumbai`s 140 km long coastline.The burgeoning real estate prices and subsequent land grab spelt doom for Mumbai`s recreational spaces. Waterfronts -once the raison d’être of Mumbai fell into neglect, viewed only as dumping yards. Owing to the efforts of concerned citizens and activist -architect Mr P. K. Das, a fresh lease of life was infused into the claustrophobic urban fabric of Mumbai. For a city so starved for open spaces (0.003 acres/ 1000 people) the best public building could well be one with no building in it. A twofold strategy was adopted- to revive the water fronts and open up spaces for the public. The intervention was simple and effective to the hilt; an unobstructed slow moving pedestrian zone specially designed for recreation with convenient access. This flowing ribbon of public space interspersed with greenery also bound the critical interface of the sea and the land. My essay will elaborate the physical and social impact of this project on our burgeoning mega polis, the unique socio-cultural milieu it created and the transformation of the city especially the waterfronts, in its wake.The project enlisted citizen participation and the process forged strong bonds of community. People too embraced the space with open arms. Locals and students are often seen jamming with their musical instruments or perfecting their soccer moves. A stone`s throw from college, many an evening are spent unwinding by the amphitheatre after an intense day in the studio, watching pets frolic in the dog park, senior citizens in a laughter club, kids reveling in their innocence, people relaxing or brisk walking to shed that mozzarella topping.The promenade is a delicate and clever intervention engaging you in a series of experiences. The low tide reveals a rocky patch where unfold many a drama of everyday life. A poor man trying to catch fish, young men treading down the rocky jetty playing knight to their beloved, kids sail paper boats or exploring crevices for crabs and shells. Dhobis lay out abstract portraits of laundry, an inadvertent Mondrian which changes every day. A cluster of mangroves stand testimony to the transformation; salvaged after intense conservation efforts by residents. Further down, the fishermen’s nets and boats rest after a hard day`s toil. The promenade then curves up to the amphitheatre venerating an existing shrine. This statue of Lord Ganesha is believed to have miraculously appeared from the sea-the perfect seasoning of mythology and faith typical of the Indian phenomenon. The final stretch incorporates gazebos, street furniture and walls framing views of the setting sun and informally extends into the rows of prawn/fish strung out in the sun to dry in the fishing village of Khar Danda, offering glimpses of Mumbai of the yore. Meandering through 1.25 km it reaches out to meet the sea and recedes in places to let in the tide.Set aside from the fast paced city by the porous line of parapet, there is a sense of festivity, a celebration of the everyday -the sun, sea and humanity that surrounds us.Everyone has that off day where you want to put the city behind you without leaving it; you want solitude but not loneliness, to slow down, walk without being stepped on and breathe for the pleasure of it. The promenade is that oasis of the urban dweller - A place to get inspired, create, hope, nourish, introspect, protest, debate and discuss, hear see learn and teach, build dreams and resolve- a place for democracy.