Right of Way: Rethinking Pedestrian Infrastructure

Project idea

“Right of way” is an exploration in creating infrastructure for the future that is deeply rooted and contributes to the neighborhood it sits in by adding urbanity to an otherwise monotonous rigid structure.

Project description

The state of current infrastructure (especially transport and pedestrian) in India is function driven and extremely rigid. It fails to go beyond its basic needs and give back to the city and its citizens. These bulky and static structures are plonked at various locations in the city with no design intent and without responding sensitively to the neighborhood and climate.
In a growing city like Mumbai, the intervention intends to rethink pedestrian infrastructure (the sky-walk) by using various smart design strategies and dynamic form explorations which helps it respond to the site conditions, climate and user/transport needs. The project will add to the public life of the city and help create an identity for the locality while enhancing the citizen’s experience as they make their way through the city.
Quipped with technology, the sky-walk, at the junction of 3 major modes of transport (the railway, metro & bus), is able to process vast amounts of information collected in real-time which can be fed back into the Government database to provide more effective services and improve future designs while enhancing the citizen’s experience. A kinetic roofing and facade system is introduced that responds to the climate of the region allowing the entire structure to close and open up depending on the sun’s position. This creates a dynamic and unique experience for the pedestrians. With introduction of pause-points on the sky-walk, the program of the sky-walk is pushed beyond a mode of connection, to create a thriving public life for the neighborhood.

Technical information

The new sky-walk proposal incorporates various elements like viewing decks, rest/social spaces with seating, eateries, information kiosks, green areas, etc to the design which enhances not just the overall functionality but also its looks, appeal, comfort factor , response to site as well as climate and its ability to adapt. It transforms the bulky, rigid and monotonous walk into a dynamic, inclusive, interactive and memorable experience. By integrating a kinetic skin adapted to various factors and conditions along with smart technologies, the responsive nature of the sky-walk isn’t merely formal but propels the functional aspects forward too.

Documentation

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