Michael Little and Biley Menon worked on this ecological landscape design for the ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment) office campus at Bangalore. The landscape design for this campus is an evolving typology of urban ecological landscape featuring granite stones, natural water bodies and indigenous plant communities. Unconventional and cost effective methods are invented for vertical landscapes, courtyard and terrace gardens, creating a functional landscape at this work environment.
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Greenfield Office, Eastern Ghats (Under Construction)
This environment friendly project office of Greenfield Shelters is perched on the exotic location on the eastern ghats overlooking the enchanting valley view. Built with reused steel frames, silver oak wood, bamboo, stone, mud and thatch it is a structure built to capture the nature surrounding it.
A zero energy building which is off the grid, uses biogas based generator, wind power and solar power for all its requirements. The landscape will incorporate all the big boulders of the site in its contours. The waterbody which penetrates the building and culminates in a vertical garden wall becomes the central feature. The Vertical garden itself is made of reused mineral water-bottles, stalked on metal frames and wrapped with geotextile.
Adyar Poonga Ecological Restoration Project is Now Open to Public
Adyar Poonga (Tholkappia Poonga) Ecological Restoration Project is inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 22.01.2011 and will be open to the public from 15.02.2011.
Congratulations to Adyar Poonga Trust, TNUDF and other Government agencies for realising this dream and setting a good model for Urban Ecological Restoration. Great work by Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants who have successfully completed the ambitious project. Once a garbage and debris dumpsite, the park has recently recorded more than 100 species of birds, 56 species of butterflies, 25 species of reptiles and 30 different species of fish. The white-bellied sea eagle for the first time in these parts a month ago. Flamingos and painted stork have also returned here. This richness in biodiversity is in itself an indicator of the success of our restoration efforts. A total of one-and-a-half lakh saplings of 200 indigenous species of plants have been planted in the restored area. Being a brackish water ecosystem, seven different varieties of mangroves were planted on the site, and attempts have been made to restore the estuarine wetland ecosystem.
Idea Design had worked along with Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants and team providing the project’s Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Consultancy.
Wild Orchid Estates, Yercaud
The Wild Orchid Estates sits on a naturally beautiful, gently sloping terrain of Yercaud. Flanged by coffee estates and forest lands, this property is lush green and blessed with plenty of large trees and variety of plants. Wild Orchid Estates is planned in 40 acres of land. This is planned as a community project with members owning estate acres along with holiday homes. The project is planned with all common facilities for passive and active recreation. Plantation crops of coffee and aromatic plants are preserved and enhanced. Landscape of the campus become the unifying and unique feature of the project, which attempts to exhibit the genius of the eastern ghats. The public areas are treated with such finesse giving an international and yet natural feel.
Idea Design wins IIA State Award for Excellence in Architecture
Idea Design wins the Indian Institute of Architects State Award for Excellence in Architecture for 2008 for their project ‘Heritage Methanam’ at Kumbalanghi.
Jury Report Excerpts: The Heritage Methanam, is a renovation and re-adaptation of a bungalow of colonial character into a small hotel. The intervention was very carefully handled removing certain unfitting elements like concrete porch and introducing tiled roofs and courts and new staircases substantially improving the quality of spaces and befitting detailing to existing elements. The introduction of traditional wooden partitions and rustic flooring were commendable. On the whole, the building renovation and adaptive reuse showed a maturity in intervention and conservation.
The award was presented in a IIA Kerala Chapter Function at Trivandrum in January 2009.
Adyar Poonga Ecological Restoration Project, Chennai
Adyar wetland reserve and the Poonga Ecopark is an environmentally significant project proposed in the city of Chennai. We have got the opportunity to work on this project as landscape and urban design consultants with Mr. Joss Brooks, renowned ecological restoration specialist of Auroville. A combined fresh-water / salt-water ecosystem is to be revived to make it an ecologically rich and diverse system for migratory birds and estuarine ecosystems along with coastal vegetation being the significant link to tie them together.
Environmentally sensitive approach is given for the water and waste management. The sewage and waste water which flows from the city to this creek is treated using ecological techniques. Each aspect of the park demonstrates a strong commitment to the environment. An ecoforum is proposed where man can interact and interpret different ecosystems of the park. The park will also become a center for education and environmental awareness. Demonstration of working models of sustainable technologies for human habitation is another important feature of the park. Idea Design worked as part of the team who prepared the Ecological Restoration Master Plan. The Project is being implemented by Pitchandikulam Forest Consulatnts and Idea Design is providing detailed design services working together with ecologists from PFC.
Nilgiri Biosphere Conservation Park, Anaikatty
Nilgiri Biosphere Conservation Park is a project by the Coimbatore Zoological Park Society. Originally conceived as a Zoological Park at the beginning of the park in 1992, the project, over the period has transformed into a biosphere conservation project.
The park located in Anaikatty at the foothills of the Western Ghats is planned to exhibit various ecological zones of the Nilgiri Biosphere. First step of this was achieved through the identification of various biological zones such as evergreen, moist – deciduous, dry deciduous, thorn forest etc and planted in ecologically suitable location within the park. Interestingly, over the period of 15 years the ground water of this area has increased, and PH value of the soil, which was alkaline has come back close to neutral. Idea Design Team has been working on this project in association with renowned zoo and botanical garden designer, Ar. David Hancocks of Australia on conceptual stages of design and renowned zoo personality, Ms. Sally Walker of USA on technical aspects of setting up this nature park and later went on to prepare the detailed master plan document for the project which is being implemented in phases.
Cloud 9, Munnar
This resort is situated in one of the beautiful locations in chinnakkanal. The site planning and landscape is done with minimum disturbance to trees and indigenous plants have been selected to give it an eco friendly feel. We had a wonderful time in solving levels and pathways, which resulted as one of the best resort property in Munnar.
Good Earth, Kottayam
A housing project on the sloping terrains in the midlands of Kottayam. A steeply sloping site of 8 Acres with access at several levels, site planning held the key for the entire development. Promoted by eco-friendly builders, the project was carried out with lush green landscape planned for the the entire project area. The blocks are designed to bring a unique character to the entire housing complex. The slopes were negotiated by split level planning and thus maintaining the natural landscape intact as much as possible. Planned to have a water harvesting system based on a lake planned in the central green space.
Heritage Methanam, Kumbalanghi
This traditional house on the backwaters of Kumbalanghi had undergone an intense restoration process to get itself converted into a heritage hotel with 7 Keys and 20 Cover Poolside Restaurant. The traditional charm of the building was reinvented through a surgical effort for removing a later concrete addition to this structure. Located right at the entrance to the Kumbalanghi Island, this project marks the entrance to the Model Tourism Village. The premise is expressly landscaped with indigenous plants and local grass lawns. The project won IIA State Award for Excellence in Architecture for the year 2008
