Mumbai has an ever growing population which needs more public open spaces. One such public park & children’s play area is situated next to Juhu Beach at the end of Birla Lane. This park is located distinctly as an intermediate space between the bustling city on one side and the vast unobstructed Arabian Sea on the other side. Around 20 years back the Juhu Citizen’s welfare Group became the responsible organization to manage and maintain the park.
Project Name: Juhu park
Studio Name: Atelier ARBO
After so many years, the park needed a fresh design intervention which could bring it back to life. This was taken care by the hardworking women of Inner Wheel Club of Bombay Airport. This Chapter of the organization, comprised of 121 active members who work towards social causes throughout the year. As part of their yearly endeavor, they commissioned Architect Rinka D’Monte of Atelier ARBO from Bandra (West) in 2021.
The design firm has worked with BMC in Bandra west, Mumbai for upgrading & revitalizing couple of significant parks in the vicinity. With deep passion towards rejuvenating public open spaces, the team intended to provide a focal point of gathering for the community. The design welcomed the idea of creating an engaging & energizing park environment. Most essentially, the park needed to be user friendly and the design considered ramps and handrails wherever necessary. The strategic space planning and zoning for different users helped in the riddance of pest and foul smell that had increased when the park was not maintained. By incorporating new trees, shrubs & seating spaces along with rain water harvesting, the overall design discouraged the people from throwing garbage / waste inside the park.
During heavy monsoon seasons the local citizens used a shed next to the main entrance. The same was upgraded and designed as a tensile roof shed with a sinusoidal wave which resonates with the form of sea waves. At the center of the park is a large green open space for children to play freely and run to their hearts content. The design seamlessly blended softscape & hardscape elements to create a balance which creates a sense of calmness and serenity. Plantation design was specifically done with special focus upon the fact that the park is next to Sea which attract salty sea Breeze which is not the best environment for growing flowering and evergreen plants. Plants like Kamini, Bougainvillea, Musanda, Pandanus and Dracaena were strategically chosen to enhance the sensorial experience at the park.
The overall revamp provides a peaceful escape from the city life, allowing people to connect with nature. The aim of the project has been to provide a new direction & vigor in developing and making more unused parks as usable public open spaces.
