Wetland Conservatory at Sewri

The Sewri Wadala region is an Ecotone- meaning that flora and fauna of two distinct natural habitats co-exist in one region. A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally.

The need for conservation arises due to a general lack of awareness about such natural environments and ignorance by the people who raze down lands to build mega-structures.

The brief specified programs of 3 types- research, testing and administration.

INTENT:

The need for excavation or fill-as well as increasing costs, large scale earthworks, increases the risk of erosion by

1.Altering soil stability and water run-off patterns.

2. Increases sediment run-off during construction

3.Significantly affects natural biodiversity by removing soils and plants

The buildings footprint would be reduced by raising it on stilts and hence minimal excavation of the site would occur.

Adobe Scan 16 Feb 2022_1_edited_edited.j

Planning and Materiality

The initial attempts towards design were influenced by the direction of winds and monsoon received on site. The site receives mainly winds from the North and North-west throughout the year.

Making the massing models nudged me to introduce a staggering in the spaces - in order to understand the variation in the light received.

Since my intent was to be as light as possible on the ground, I chose bamboo as the main structural as well as infill material. Also The site is located close to the edge of the sea and i didn't want to choose a material that could possibly rust or be affected by the salinity.

Since my intent was to be as light as possible on the ground, I chose bamboo as the main structural as well as infill material. Also The site is located close to the edge of the sea and i didn't want to choose a material that could possibly rust or be affected by the salinity.

The walling system consists of 4 different types of panels that would repeat throughout the structure according to the direction of openings as well as programs.

In plan they are indicated according to the legend seen here-