A heritage senior friendly vacation home villa layout is designed in Kanjiramattom. A borderless community living is envisaged, to give the atmosphere of a resort, with villas set in large gardens. Exquisite gardens, lotus ponds and soft pavings provide maximum greenery in this small urban layout. The plan of the villas include 2-bed or 4-bed options with living, dining, pooja/study and a kitchenette. The facilities include a community kitchen, common house keeping, common laundry, dining hall, yoga hall and an ayurvedic wellness centre – fully serviced villas perfect for vacations, renting as home stays or for senior citizens.
This residential project in Nedumbassery is set in a nut-meg grove. The sprawling residence sports open planning around large landscaped courtyards. Designed with climatic architectural considerations, the house receives plenty of daylight and ventilation, suitable for its warm-humid setting.
Colonial influenced exteriors features eclectic and simple interiors and landscape. Living spaces of the residence is set around a huge courtyard with large sliding openings, connecting the indoors seamlessly with the outdoors. The bedroom section opens into yet another courtyard. Decks, patios and balconies enrich the living experience of these spaces.
Teakayen is an Eco Farm Community at Kodai Hills. The club house is set at an attractive location by the side of a large man made reservoir, looking into the outstanding mountainous landscapes. The club house is designed with minimalistic and modern approach of steel and glass, that absorb the view of the beautiful public gardens and reservoir along with faraway misty mountains in the backdrop.
Sembra Valley is an eco-sensitive development in the rare folds of the true nature of Kodai Hills far away from human habitation. A place is created, submerged and surrounded by nature, where an ecological garden becomes the canvas and eco-sensitive architecture plays out as eco-lodges, eco-topos and eco-forums. An organic vegetable farm becomes part of the planned facility, which promises ultimate naturopathic experience.
Atisaya retreat is a project envisaged around a century old British Bungalow in Yercaud. Compact and modern lifestyle cottages are planned around green patches of gardens. Seamless connect between interior and exterior spaces through patios, verandas and gardens make it a haven for inmates.
The theme for the resort is based on wellness and healthy living. The layout has an Ayurvedic Spa and Kitchen which serves organic food. Jogging tracks, passive and active recreation facilities, spaces for yoga, meditation etc. aims at holistic wellness.
A layout and villa designs was prepared for Kutralam Hill Eco-community Project in about 30 acres of land is located in a scenic area inside a mango orchard in Courtallam Hills. The fertile soil and humid climate allowed a highly ecological approach to planning and landscape. A total water harvesting plans including couple off large reservoirs were planned. A full fledged club house, landscaped gardens and other amenities and services were also incorporated. Stabilized mud roads and stone pitched swales are planned to minimize use of concrete in the layout. The villas are built with CSEB bricks and mud plastered finish. Use of traditional Tamil Nadu wooden columns and bamboo roofs completed an eco-sensitive approach in material application.
Ecological Site Analysis and Site Planning were carried out for the International Cancer Research Institute at Trivandrum. Proposed in a campus of over 30 acres of land in a steep terrain, the site analysis aimed at preserving and conserving ecological features of the site. The detailed vegetation and hydrology study resulted in protection of drainage channels and existing biodiversity. The site planning carefully delineated various functions while preserving a large part of the site as conservation area. Also accessibility, noise levels, traffic control etc were considered while placing the research institute, housing areas, palliative care zone, healing landscapes etc.
Ecological Site Analysis and Site Planning for the Wayanad Institute of Medical sciences involved study of the topography, soil structure, contours, slope, hydrology, vegetation etc. A comprehensive site analysis of the existing land enabled effective site planning. Further, detailed landscape layout plan was developed with site sections and detailing of key features.
Wetland Park a conservation and research centre for Wetland eco-system, its flora and fauna is proposed in one of the islands in the Vembanad Estuary. The park itself will be a live demonstration centre for wetland ecology, mangroves, life cycles of its avian, terrestrial and aquatic fauna.
The project consists of an interpretation loop comprising of walkways, boardwalks, hanging bridges and a parasol ride. A wetlnd interpretation centre is proposed, where initial orientation will be given to the visitors. The eco-sensitive design of the interpretation centre follows the theme of traditional boat architecture. A wetland resech station is proposed in the site, which will become an on-site research station for the department of environmental studies at the local university.
Idea Design had worked on a conceptual presentation for Ecological Restoration of Lakes, primarily prepared for Lakes of Bangalore, but applicable for Lake Systems of the sub-continent in general.
The presentation looks at restoration from a regional planning level to restoration of edges and mosaic of ecological-patches and finally to the lake’s urban interface and landscape solutions. A comprehensive landscape planning approach will only ensure the success and longevity of restoration. Each lake will have its own ecological and urban context, both of which have to be studies and carefully dealt with to come up with solutions which are sustainable.
This is a unique project planned 600 acres of plantation hills in Vandiperiyar. The project while preserving its essential farming component (mostly tea, along with coffee, cardamom and other spices), converts the entire farm land to 200 virtual dairy farm units of 1Ha and 20 Cows each owned by investors.
The joint management will continue the plantation activity along with developing joint milking parlors for the cows owned by investors and the company, creating one of the largest cattle farms in India. Being located in Vandiperiyar on the Western Ghats (near Thekkady), this project attracts many tourists. Plantation and farm visits are the major tourism attractions in this otherwise stunning landscape. The task involved land planning for Dairy Farm Units and overall Landscape Planning. (Status: Unbuilt)
While Dravidians dominate the south and dictate urban culture, tribal communities still inhabit some hills and jungles. In the Nilgiri hills of northwest Taml Nadu live the Toda, and other smaller tribal groups survive in the dense rainforest of the Western Ghats. Toda’s are most interesting and least numerous, tribal people of Tamil Nadu.
Biley & Chitra went on a study trip to the Nilgiris and sketched down some interesting aspects of Toda Architecture and Site Planning.
This public space situated in one of the oldest part of the city, Fort Cochin is named after the great Malayalam poet, Pallath Raman, who had spent his last seven years in this land. Owned by the Corporation of Cochin, it is part of the Heritage Zone and adjacent to many historical as well as religious monuments and structures.
The Landscape for Pallath Raman Memorial Cultural Centre tries to see it as a multi-functional Public Space. The vocabulary of design and selection of plants are inspired by the Heritage Zone itself. The main purpose of the organized public space is to give space for large public gatherings during occasions of cultural programs and performances. During other part of the day it also can act as a public space/park where people can just be and probably spend time in the shade, or have a morning / evening walk or a play space for the children or gathering space for cultural groups.
Architects, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers – Cochin, Kerala, India
