Reclaiming Waterfronts

RECLAIMING WATERFRONTS WATER A MOVEMENT FOR THE PROTECTION India Pavilion PK Das & Associates London Design Biennale 2021 Principal Architect: PK Das OF MUMBAI’S SEAFRONTS Project team: Samarth Das, Rutuja Phanse, Vidhi Sanghrajka, Nikita Kulkarni MUMBAI’S NEGLECTED AND ABUSED WATERFRONTS One of Mumbai’s greatest assets is its coastline which forms a series of unique and picturesque waterfronts. Unfortu- nately, these have become the backyard of the city and degenerated into its biggest dumping ground. Reclamation, sewage disposal and encroachment have ravaged the waterfronts. VERSOVA BEACH JUHU BEACH While the eastern coast has been put to use for defence and docks, thus restricting public access, the city’s 34-km, western coast has never been considered in the planning and development process. But, for the millions who live in the crowded city, the waterfronts are the only major open spaces, whether it is Marine Drive, Chowpatty, Haji Ali, Worli Sea CARTER ROAD Face, Dadar Beach, Bandra Bandstand, Carter Road, Juhu Beach or Versova. BANDRA BANDSTAND LAND’S END The waterfronts are Mumbai’s most significant and popular public spaces. People from all sections of society, from the MAHIM BAY city and its suburbs, and tourists flock to these places to relax. Unplanned commercialization has destroyed the natural DADAR BEACH environment considerably. The absence of a master plan for development of the waterfronts has encouraged the rich and the powerful to manipulate and grab land along the coast, thus gradually depleting the city of its most vital open WORLI SEAFACE spaces. RACECOURSE BREACH CANDY PRIYADANSHINI PARK CHOWPATTY MARINE DRIVE BACKBAY Our objective is to restore and preserve their natural beauty. For the rejuvenation of these waterfronts, we had to offer simple and pragmatic design solutions that work within the existing realities to solve key issues along with selective real- location of spaces and activities and with very minimal re-structuring. Most importantly, these waterfronts must remain the collective assets of the city and its citizens and vibrant elements in the environmental and social fabric. A sense of pride and belonging can be seen in the people who live around these waterfronts and those who visit it. 2 Prevailing condition Storm surge event MITIGATING RISK OF STORM SURGES AND PROMOTING INTERACTION WITH WATER The typical approach of authorities in Mumbai to mitigate flooding risks has been to put up massive concrete retaining walls that are built along the coastline. Two iconic waterfronts of Mumbai - Marine Drive and Worli Sea Face are glaring examples of this environmentally unfriendly approach, that severs the relationship of people with water, and is also detrimental to the natural rock beds. Typical Wall Approach Stepped Edge Approach On the waterfronts of Bandra Bandstand and Carter Road, we took a different approach and promoted the idea of a stepped wall which enables better participation of people with the water. Those on the waterfront can also perceive risk and rising levels of water in slow manner that allows for necessary measures of restraint to be adopted. This allows the promenades to be used during low and high tides, but also allows water to take over during storm events. Stepped Edges at Bandra Bandstand Promenade 3 BANDRA BANDSTAND AND CARTER ROAD PROMENADES AMPHITHEATRE Simple programs enable a diverse participation of people DOG’S PARK NATURAL ROCK BED CHILDREN’S PARK STEPPED RETAINING WALL The redesign and development of both waterfront promenades is an urban design project not limited to simply the edge of the water. These projects ensure active participation across various groups of people by way of programming and activities that these public spaces enable. The promenades stretch over a total length of 2.5 kms and feature amphithe- aters, art courts, outdoor gyms, central gardens, kids play areas, several other pocket gardens, large central forums with a gallery of steps leading down to the water - a feature of the development that fosters a dynamic and mutual relationship of people with the water. Born out of strong public movements for protection and re-appropriation of their neighbourhood’s coastal edges by local citizens and neighbourhood residents, these promenades propagated a new model of governance as well as vigilance of natural areas and public spaces in the city of Mumbai. It has been 20 years since the promenades were first developed, and are now being maintained by local authorities albeit under strict supervision of residents groups. 4 PROTECTION OF MUMBAI’S NATURAL COASTLINE - MANGROVES AND ROCK BEDS The promenades and waterfronts development projects of Bandra Bandstand and Carter Road fulfill multiple objectives - not only are the public spaces born out of intense citizen’s struggles for the enhancement of public spaces, they also ensure protection and further enhancement of natural assets by way of active vigilance of people using these spaces. Mangroves along these edges were on the decline due to dumping of debris, neglect as well as illegal sewage lines that were allowing raw sewage to flow straight into the sea. With the development of the promenade at Carter Road, the illegal sewage outflows were severed and re-routed, duping of debris and garbage came to a halt and the coastal edge was cleaned up. The natural rock beds that support many small coastal species of plants and animals were restored. This has allowed the mangroves to flourish over the years. Not only have they regained their original footprint, they have grown out much further into the sea due to the natural process of sedimentation that occurs due to their proliferation. 5 CARTER ROAD PROMENADE MASTER DINANATH ROAD MASTER DINANATH ROAD MANGROVES PATHWAY CHILDREN’S PARK MANGROVES AMPHITHEATRE MANGROVES DOG’S PARK NATURAL ROCKBEDS EXTENSION OF PROMENADE PLAN FOR CARTER ROAD PROMENADE BEFORE AFTER 6 BANDRA BANDSTAND PROMENADE AND LAND’S END AMPHITHEATRE PUBLIC TOILET CHILDREN’S PARK BANDSTAND ROAD BANDSTAND ROAD ROCKS PARK CENTRAL GARDEN SAND PIT ART COURT ROCKS PATHWAY PARKING PATHWAY PLAN FOR CARTER ROAD PROMENADE BANDRA LAND’S END FORT: The transformation of the once derelict Bandra Fort into a cultural hub that dominates the urban landscape, proves that all it takes to restore our imposing forts is determined, concerted effort. Mumbai’s ancient forts represent important landmarks in the city’s history. Developing them into meaningful public open spaces as neighbourhood initiatives, supported by government, can ensure greater vigilance and protection of these sites. Ironically, this is the only open air amphitheatre in Mumbai - a city on the water. BEFORE AFTER AFTER BANDRA LAND’S END FORT AND AMPHITHEATRE- A CONSERVATION & RE-INTEGRATION PROJECT 7.

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