marigold and water- Facelifting layers of floral market and Hooghly river

Project idea

Kolkata was formerly known as the ‘City of Joy,’ but it has now devolved into a nearly uninhabitable ‘Dying city.’ A large population, crumbling infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and a weak economy contributed to the city’s negative image. Also, more lucrative commercial developments exhausted the recreational, cultural, and riverfront-edge locales.

Project description

Better circulation patterns and developed areas were analyzed to bring the lost essence of valuable but underutilized riverfront. Therefore, the goals were to reconnect the Hooghly river bank with the urban fabric, redevelop the heritage flower market and dilapidated structures, and revitalize the dead riverfront edge with public interventions.

Technical information

The project is an integration of the following features with the Hooghly river that are:-

1) Wholesale International flower market- The Flower Trade Centre brought the traditional 120-years-old Mullick ghat flower market by refining it. Commercialization on a national and international scale, enhanced facilities and services, improved sales and production, and long-term sustainability were parts of it.

2) Ghats- The revitalization of lost traditional and heritage value of ghats with proper safety measures.

3) Circular railway track- Track that existed on-site from British rule were maintained and secured for the public.

4) Dilapidated warehouses- Structures like Handloom and import-export industries which required proper maintenance and usage, such as retrofitting with architectural elements of Kolkata, were done.

5) Public spaces- Provision of food, retail, exhibition space, and gathering space facilities.

6) Jetty redesign- The dysfunctional jetties were redesigned that helped to connect the passengers at different destinations through water transport.

Documentation

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