Urban forests play a vital role in the health, social framework and economic sustainability of a city. Infrastructure growth is absorbing the urban forests of Indian Metropolitan cities. Landscape design of Ecospace exhibits, how corporate office parks can contribute to the making of urban forests. These models if replicated in the city will help in improving overall living conditions of the cities.

Global Architecture & Design Awards 2018
First Award | Landscape Design (Built)

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Eco space is a 20 lacs sqft corporate park, occupied by numerous national and international corporate groups. The central landscape area , surrounded by 8 office towers is designed  to create a complete break free zone, an experience which builds  “work life balance “.

Once inside the landscaped zone, the user is completely taken over by the awe of nature. The power of the designed space had to be so strong that the 15- 20 mins of snacks break could rejuvenate the spirits of the user.  The design is devoid of any cosmetic treatment. Its an experience woven out of articulation of the plan, selection of plant material and play of natural light, which works to improve the physical and psychological health of the users. It’s a biophyllic design which connects man back with the rhythms of nature.  Design intentionally uses rustic materials like brick on edge, exposed concrete and paver blocks as finishing materials. This allows for continuous change and evolution of nature’s processes to happen on the designed layers. The indigenous flora selected for the plan palette played an intense role in developing a microcosm in the region. The site was completely barren when the work started and now in a period of 4-5 yrs it looks like an established landscape existing for long.

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Design accommodates a large amphitheatre and different types of outdoor and semi outdoor dining decks for around 1000 people designed around various types of waterbodies and landscape textures. Dense plantation of trees allows for overlapping canopies. The mix of species has developed a natural bioreserve and symbiotic nutrition sharing.  Central mound is planned as a sacred grove which works as the biodiversity reserve of the campus. Numerous insects  and  reptiles like lizards , chameleons etc take recluse on the mound during the lunch hours on the campus and stroll around freely at night hrs. A pair of Raaj Hans a local Swan species was also introduced on the campus to develop another layer of friends on the campus.

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A variety of indigenous flora with strong seasonal variations render the space with diverse experiences throughout the year. Selective variety of fruit trees invite some rare birds also to the campus.  Overall the campus has developed as a well-established landscape. It sits as a rich urban forest which is a microcosm of life in the midst of the urban sprawl.