Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, Kovalam

Kerala Arts and Crafts Village at Kovalam, Trivandrum is a public place developed by the Kerala Government through Uralungal Labour Contract Co-Operative Society. A landscape master plan and detailed landscape design was done to connect the craft village and functions spaces through a designed circulation path, that were intertwined with the landscape. Courtyards, trails, exhibition spaces and amphitheater designs are done to engage and entertain the visitors through thematically curated spaces.

The project won the prestigious “Village of the Year” Award in the International Craft Awards by ICA-2021

Teakayen Ecofarms, Kodai Hills

Teakayen Ecofarms is an eco-community layout in Sembarankulam, Kodai Hills. Exquisite ecological landscapes are designed with sculpted, artful landforms and experiential sequencing of spaces. The master plan was developed after careful ecological analysis of the sloping terrain. Water movement patterns are conserved and expertly integrated in an elaborate water management system which features many manmade lakes and reservoirs. The layout is planned and designed with the central theme of health and wellness.

Wild Orchid Estates, Yercaud

Wild Orchid is an eco-community layout in 75 acres designed by Idea Design. The layout features outstanding landscaped spaces in the form of a Central Park in 4 acres, Lakeside Gardens in 2.5 acres, Stream Gardens and Play Gardens etc. Multiple club houses for incorporating sports, adventure and leisure facilities are well designed with express gardens and careful site engineering. Luxury Villas, Guest Houses, SPA etc. are also part of the layout.

Leisure Club, Wild Orchid, Yercaud

Leisure Club at Wild Orchid in Yercaud is a building designed to tuck away in the landscape. One would see only the facade of the building from outside. Large roof garden merges the building with the hill and extensive vertical gardens cover the slopes and vertical edges. The vertical garden is built with well-engineered custom solutions and careful selection of indigenous plant palette. Pool deck with enchanting infinity pool overlooks the large and deep valley of a blue-green canvas.

Good Earth Resonance, Bangalore

Cluster planning has been a characteristic feature of Good Earth Malhar-Resonance. The emphasis has been on streets as friendly, social and interactive spaces. These streets, with chatty street corners and cluster parks, loop around the neighborhood and converge at the plaza and lead to a large playground. The open spaces are planned at different levels, in response to the natural topography of the land, and are linked to each other, though densely wooded pedestrian paths.

GoodEarth Malhar Resonance has won the 2015 NDTV Design & Architecture Award

Good Earth Palmgrove, Bangalore

Set in a coconut and arecanut plantation, Good Earth Palmgrove is an eco-community layout that is based on ecological site planning and landscape, such that the entire layout enjoys large central open spaces that have various character catering to different age groups. Artful contouring of land and artistic installation of stone boulders make the campus a delightful experience. Indigenous flora adds colour, texture and aroma that would engage the visitor’s sensual experience of the campus.

Adyar Ecopark, Chennai

Adyar wetland reserve and the Tholkappia Poonga Ecopark is an environmentally significant project in the city of Chennai. Idea Design worked on this project as landscape architecture and urban design consultants with Mr. Joss Brooks, renowned ecological restoration specialist of Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants, Auroville. A combined fresh-water / salt-water ecosystem has been 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 planning 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 was implemented by Pitchandikulam Forest Consulatnts and Idea Design provided detailed design services working together with ecologists from PFC.

Once a garbage and debris dumpsite, the park has recently recorded more than 100 species of birds, 100 different species of fish, 56 species of butterflies and 25 species of reptiles. 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 400 indigenous species of plants have been planted in the restored area. Being a brackish water ecosystem, seven different varieties of mangroves and associates were planted on the site, and was able to successfully restore the estuarine wetland ecosystem.

The Project won the Indian Institute of Architects National Award 2020 for Excellence in Architecture

Wetland Park, Wipro EC5, Bangalore

Idea Design has worked on the Wipro Electronic City Campuses of EC3 and EC4 in ecologically retrofitting their campuses with indigenous landscape bringing in elements of Deccan ecosystem in these urban campuses. As a continuation, a detailed ecological regenerative landscape is proposed which will rejuvenate and enliven huge amount of recycled water from STPs of Wipro’s electronic city campuses, taking them through root zones, aeration, flow-forms through a large constructed wetland system, which also becomes a public space, to make the water more lively and making the campus more sustainable.

ATREE, Bangalore

ATREE – Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment is a well known NGO and national research organisation with head office in Bangalore. Their new office building is designed by Good Earth. We developed the landscape design for the ATREE campus concentrating on the narrow strips of building’s yards and courtyards, with indigenous flora. Deccan’s geological specimens add an ecological interest and artistic value to the landscape. Natural stones and bricks are used for creating unique paving patterns. A shade-loving dry garden is designed for the inner courtyard.

Science Centre, IUCAA, Pune

IUCAA – Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune is a campus that is designed by the master architect Charles Correa. IDLA was asked to do the landscape for the science centre at IUCAA. The science centre is engaged in scientific experiments and outreach education, which involves school children. IDLA came up with the concept of the solar system, in which all planets will be symbolically part of the landscape in relative scale. The inner planets are represented by spheres made by different natural stones, the astroid belt is represented by a storm water drain that cuts the site in two and the outer planets are represented by large mounds. A dome-theatre is included inside the jupiter mound, where children can enter, lie down and watch spherical projection of the sky and learn about stars and constellations.