"Life is a journey." This was the spirit that guided this project, which was to be a monument to the victims of the earthquake in this area in 2001. The initial break had only one requirement, planting trees as a symbol of rebirth, renewal and hope. It was better to remember the loss of human life through a symbolic act of regeneration
In India a forest in commemoration. Architecture and nature symbol of the rebirth
In Gujarat, the Sanghat Studio designs a park based on trees, the need to give them water, to guarantee an ecosystem. The cisterns thus become Architecture, a monument and a place of pilgrimage for the victims of the 2011 earthquake
The focal point of the project therefore became the maintenance of the trees and it was necessary to very carefully understand how the natural systems work. Only then is it possible to help nature and understand how it will take over. This help consists in identifying local species, identifying the paths that water, soil and nutrients collected by the water during its journey and, above all, identifying the places where water can be collected to penetrate the earth
The other journey was to connect these tanks, where the names of the victims would be engraved, the paths that the pilgrims would cross and at the end where they would rest the points of view they would meet, the horizon they would contemplate. These two intertwined paths became the basis of the project. The idea of democracy and plurality is reflected in the choice to build numerous small reservoirs instead of one or two large basins which also means that they can be built in phases, over time
The tanks allow rainwater to be collected and slowly dispersed into the ground. In the course of time, the gaps between the stones will be filled by the flood carrying water and the seeds trapped in it will sprout the other plants. This not only consolidates the structure, but over time it almost eliminates the building to merge and become one with the landscape
In addition to the park, within the 470-acre site there is a museum, convention and art centre which is used to promote Kutch's industry and craft. A public square for the Nagpanchami festival is also part of the master plan. Public services such as cafes and rest areas along with several gates of the entrance and orientation centres are located on the site. The museum traces the roots of Kutch's unique culture and is thematically distributed in the many galleries that house it
Gallery
