INSPIRATION FROM BIRENDRANAGAR/ SURKHET VALLEY
Birendranagar, the vibrant heart of Surkhet Valley, is a city where tradition and modernity coexist in harmony. Our design for the Ghantaghar Park draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural and natural heritage, reflecting its unique characteristics. Birendranagar is steeped in traditions, such as the captivating Deuda dance, a significant cultural expression that fosters community bonding and celebration. The city is home to revered temples like Kakrebihar, Sidhapaila, Lati Koili, and Deuti Bajai temples, which are vital to the city’s spiritual landscape. Birendranagar’s local urban biodiversity includes native flora such as Sal trees (Shorea robusta), Asna (Terminalia alata), and Khair (Acacia catechu), alongside birds like House sparrow, Common Myna, Spotted Dove, Bulbul, Robin, Rufous Treepie, etc offering a sanctuary for both people and urban biodiversity. The annual Sidha Paila Mela is a festival that brings the community together and encourages communal activities and festivities. Our design for Ghantaghar Park is a tribute to Birendranagar’s cultural richness, spiritual depth, and natural beauty, creating a space where the community can gather, celebrate, and thrive.
DESIGN DIRECTION
If buildings and roads are the body of a city; parks and open spaces are its soul. One can judge how equitable a city is by judging the status of its parks and sidewalks; judging how tolerant a city is towards its informal vendors and by how sensitive it is about the wellbeing of its grassroots population- the socially marginalized and the economically disadvantaged. This is exactly what we have tried to achieve with our proposal of the Greater Ghantaghar Park; a prototype for a truly inclusive and sustainable urban park in Nepal. Each of our design decisions has been guided by these two core principles, which don't just take an Anthropocene approach to design but also consider the well-being of the ecology and the urban biodiversity. Now what does it mean to be ‘inclusive’ and ‘sustainable’? And how does a planner/architect translate it into a public park/plaza? Below, we have identified subtopics under our core principles that go into the detail of the physicalization of our design principles.
1. MOBILITY
To promote sustainable, inclusive, and active modes of mobility, we have given the best access to walking, cycling, and buses/rickshaws with protected cycle lanes, wide designated walkways, and tactical urbanism to separate modes of mobility on site. Furthermore, we have prioritized bicycle parking over motorbikes and car parks (design cycle parking at
better proximity inside the park compared to motorized vehicles). Similarly, we have designed a bus stop that opens up into the park and a designated rickshaw parking stop next to the plaza.
2. FLEXIBILITY
We want our public spaces to be fluid. We have designed multiuse spaces that can transform between uses seamlessly and can simultaneously host a range of activities. Ex: Our public forum is an open canvas for leisure, physical activities, social interactions, public exhibition, activism, art, and expression.
3. ECOLOGY
We have saved all the existing roadside trees in the proposed design. Furthermore, all the new plantations are local to the area and are home to the local urban biodiversity. This is an intent we have replicated in the selection of grasses, shrubs, and trees. To mimic the natural environment, we have used the layering technique in the plantation.
Finally, we have the legacy of the existing Gulmohar trees on-site (that have established an identity of their own among the locals) and thus proposed plantation of flowering trees such as Gulmohar and Jacaranda throughout the site that will add a touch of color all to the park all year long.
4. SUSTAINABILITY
We have practiced sustainability by using native plants that need minimum care, prioritizing active modes of mobility and mass transit systems, use of locally sourced materials where possible, and promoting the local economy by providing a designated space for the local haat bazaar. Finally, we have carefully mapped the trees about the seating spaces, walkways, and bike lanes about the sun path for temperature control.
Economic sustainability: We have proposed paid parking areas for cars and motorbikes, fixed stalls, and rentable areas that will be a generous revenue source for the city. We also envision the temporary stall spaces for informal vendors to be formalized with a permit system.
5. INCLUSIVITY
As our core design principle, our design is Inclusive, Gender friendly, and Age-friendly.
We have actualized this by designing wide walkways, bollards, and green barriers to protect walkways along road corridors, designing non-slip walkways and smooth pathways suitable for walking canes and wheelchairs, placing tactile paving, ample gender-friendly washrooms with breastfeeding and childcare areas, designing handrails and backrest for the elderly and designing wheelchair-friendly park seating.
6. SAFETY/SECURITY
We have actualized this by Planning ample lighting for the dark, user-friendly navigation through the site, avoiding dark hidden spaces, placing emergency poles throughout the site, placing security booths at major intersections, and placing surveillance cameras where needed.
7. IDENTITY
The design is a reflection of the identity of Birendranagar. The use of carved Stones throughout the site reflects the heritage of craft from monuments like the Kakre Bihar temple.
The use of urban social spaces along the street promotes the local street food culture. Similarly, allowing for a wide cycle path that is designed to fit push carts and planning for a rickshaw stand are some techniques we have used to protect the identity of the city.
8. CONTEXT SENSITIVE
We realize that our site doesn’t function in a vacuum. Thus, we have carefully identified the surrounding context, usage, and how these functions interact with our site and designed the park functions and features accordingly as can be seen in the zoning map and the masterplan.
9. PHYSICAL FITNESS
Our park is designed to promote cultures of walking and biking as mentioned before. Furthermore, we have also planned for multifunctional activity spaces like a Sports ground, outdoor gym, open spaces for yoga and group exercise events, and children's play area.
10. MENTAL WELL-BEING
Some specific interventions to achieve this design principle: Natural sound barriers using greenery and green mounds, ample green spaces, temperature control with shading, layering plantation to mimic a natural green environment, use of organic shapes, calming colors, placing water elements, and soothing ambient sound of birds and waterbody throughout the site.
11. EXPRESSION
The Urban Forum is designed to welcome any form of expression be it art, philosophy, skill, or ideology. Thus, we have strategically placed it at the busiest intersection that interacts simultaneously with the commuters from the bus stand, the plaza, the city corridor, and the university. Such spaces are an essential requirement for a democratic society where every individual has a right to express themselves. We have also placed multifunctional open-air theatres, and interactive group seatings throughout the site. Furthermore, our wide walkways and open spaces throughout the site can be an interesting place for art exhibits and performances.
12. LOCAL ECONOMY
We want to ensure that the park benefits the economically marginalized by providing a designated market for the local farmers and producers, by providing space for informal vendors who promote local food culture, and by designing wide cycle lanes that accommodate push carts to recognize these vendors as an integral part of of the city’s local economy. Furthermore, we have strategically placed the local produce Haat Bazaar next to the car and bike parking zones and major city walking and traffic corridors to ensure that their business gets the maximum traction and footfall.
