Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

All for a walk: The beach road and the adjoining area near Kailasagiri was spruced up as part of the beautification project taken up by VUDA in Visakhapatnam.

Having behind him several parks and community spaces that have diligently been made spaces that could create a sense of calm, Raghuraman insists the green work takes credit only with the overall integration of concrete structures. “Creating a vi sual correlation isn’t easy as the amalgamation is in the judicious mix of both thought and material,” is his premise.

The architect goes on to explain how a landscape is the first casualty when a construction takes shape on an old premises that retained a lot of greenery. “Don’t disturb my garden, I have taken decades to grow my plants,” said his customer before he took up a residence renovation in Whitefield.

This is virtually unavoidable in areas that provide access to the construction site which might have been one of the fringes landscaped in the earlier space.

“High volumes of dust, heavy traffic and pedestrian movement in the form of labourers who can seldom be educated to understand the ground rules of not walking on the grass or using it for a variety of activities, including a siesta, spell the death knell for plants. Instead of cribbing and moaning and complaining about the contractors, an easier path to having your green in health would be to relay your green stretch,” advises Raghuraman.

This will not be a financial burden, he insists, “as any landscaped area needs to be totally overhauled, at least once in seven years. And re-doing the landscape brings in elements that will help the old and new bridge and merge into a wholesome green fabric.”

In large public spaces where landscaping and walkways and sitting and relaxing areas have to be made, what needs to be looked into are the interconnecting corridors that make movement easier, the areas to be greened and the elements of landscape that throw a serene feel even as the pathways where human beings slowly walk along for pleasure should not be placed in such a way that they become stretches of crowding or a distractive segment.

“The walk-along should drive one to take more time getting out,” he says. So, if we have a large lawn area, seeing only green, however soothing it may be, would be tiring to the eye after a while. To break the monotony, marginal level differences have to be created across the area in a variety of configurations, according to the architect.

This provides a visual impact and also relief to the one walking the stretch, as “the walk is not in a hurry here with the cell phone in hand from one space to another. People come to public parks for relaxation.”

If the park has a huge building in the foreground with a long road running by the side and also has a water body in the vicinity, providing greenery and stoned pathways help integrate the larger concrete structures.

“A large shrub or a tree cluster in the foreground effectively reduces the enormity of the concrete structure behind by filtering the view,” says Raghuraman.

“The level differences should also be so subtle that they do not interfere with one’s normal tread and are yet part of the overall visual plan, as it would be seen from the meandering pathways from all over the park zones.”

Meandering pathways are not generally regularly shaped, they are meant to meander rather aimlessly, just to give the users a few more rounds of wander and stroll.

“Where the pathways intersect, larger pockets such as cul-de-sacs are created.

Earthy mounds for visual diversion are classic when it meets the stone scheme jocularly referred to as ‘crazy path.’ “Even irregular pieces of rough granite that allow bits of grass to grow between them makes for good corridor or pathway sense,” says Raghuraman.

Wood pergolas for shrub clusters near the concrete structures would be value additions to gain a signature green look. Creepers running down the pergolas add to the impact, just as any kind of green in pots near the seating arrangement would stamp the area into a comfort and peace zone.

• Pathways should not become  crowded.

• They should be soothing to the  eyes.

• They should be meandering.

• Irregular pieces of granite give

  visual relief.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail