Inspiring Transformation of Juhu Beach Park, Mumbai by Atelier ARBO

Birla Park is situated at the edge of the city; close to Juhu beach in Mumbai. The site has contrasting context on both its sides, i.e one side is densely populated urban land & on the other side it is the vast Arabian Sea. The Park is under the management of Juhu Citizen’s Welfare Group, a trust which is 20 years old. With lack of maintainence over the years, the park needed a design intervention which would bring it back to life. This was then taken care of by the hardworking women of Inner Wheel Club of Bombay Airport. They hired the architect / landscape design firm to envision this public space to make it better for the community.

This Women’s Voluntary Service Organization is the largest in the world and this chapter includes 121 active committed members who work towards various social causes throughout the year. This park caters to people of all ages. As there was lack of infrastructure to collect beach waste, the same would get accumulated throughout the day and get dumped inside the park which also deterring people from using this space due to foul smell.

In order to restore its deserved identity, Inner Wheel teamed up with Atelier ARBO. The design team intended to build a focal point of gathering for the community, one that would be welcoming, engaging & energizing, which any city park environment needs. A design approach that would overcome the existing problems was considered, so as to make the park alive and to provide a better interaction space near the beach. Most importantly the park needed to be user friendly, so the design considered ramps wherever necessary and made the park easily accessible to all. Strategic space zoning helped in the riddance of pest and foul smell that had increased when the park was not maintained which caused hindrance to the neighborhood. By incorporating trees, seating areas and a rainwater harvesting zone at the entrance, it discouraged the people to throw waste in the park. Additionally, designated space was provided for vermicomposting which would provide organic manure to the park.

The entrance foyer included an existing old rusty shed which was used for catering services and yoga practices. This old shed was then rebuilt to a tensile structure which was sandblasted to withstand the corrosion overtime due to the sea breeze. The angular entrance designed for the open garden provided wider spatial perception which helped in creating a welcoming entrance foyer. To optimize the view and encourage interaction, the pathways incorporated recessed seating which allowed to keep the joggers track uninterrupted while a group of people could sit and talk freely. For this seating Red stone was chosen due to its strength and durability. At the center of the park is an open green space for children to play freely and run to their hearts content. The design seamlessly blends both soft & hard landscaping elements, with no barriers created, so the people can move with ease. Considering the site location, the design team had to tackle problems like high wind velocity and salty sea breeze and its effect on plantation. Plants like Christina ficus was selected which provided the robust solution to filter the strong and salty sea breeze while retaining the green lush foliage throughout the year. Every plant was carefully selected to enhance the parks atmosphere and create a sense of excitement, with their delightful fragrance and visually stunning impact. Kamini, Bougainvillea, Musanda, Pandanus and Dracaena were strategically chosen to enhance the parks sensorial experience. There were plants present on the site from the beginning, but they didn't match the design vision. Instead of discarding them, they were relocated to a new location where they could grow undisturbed.

Along with the scenic location, the park is also located in the same vicinity of the Mumbai’s oldest theatre; - Prithvi Theatre. Consequently, the park had an existing stage for various performances which was unused due lack of infrastructure. This was an opportunity for the design team to restore its utility by adding steps and ramps, making it accessible for performers to practice their talents.

The redesigned Birla Park provides a peaceful escape from the city life, allowing people to connect with nature. It strikes a perfect balance by offering a personal experience for individuals and groups of people for exchanging ideas. Birla park has been through a transition from being unused to attracting locals of Juhu beach in various ways. The project aimed to provide an impetus to the visitors to challenge the conditions of other park and public open spaces in the city.