Once a thriving ecosystem connecting paddy fields, wetlands, and backwaters, the Mullassery Canal has gradually degraded into a stormwater and wastewater drain with reduced capacity. Urbanization, coupled with climate change, has led to frequent flooding and cascading impacts on life, property, businesses, mobility, and the overall vibrancy of Kochi’s Central Business District. As the spine of the precinct, the canal’s health is vital to the city’s resilience and urban life.
Our proposal for the Kochi Municipal Corporation envisioned the “Urban Braid”—a biological metaphor inspired by the vascular structure of a tree, recognizing the canal as part of the city’s living, kinetic systems. The design builds on existing site assets, including environmental systems, heritage structures, public infrastructure, institutions, and stakeholder networks, to restore ecological function while creating a vibrant urban public realm.
Role: Masterplanning, design conceptualization, and preparation of presentation drawings.
Bus Depot Redevelopment
This proposal reimagines the Bus Depot site as both vital infrastructure and a flood-resilient urban asset. A large holding pond is introduced to alleviate flooding, while the new building is elevated on either side of the canal to adapt to site conditions.
The structure is designed to rehouse existing programs while accommodating new community needs—including parking, commercial spaces, recreational zones, and sports facilities. A solar roof generates renewable energy for building operations, and reed-beds integrated along the canal provide natural water purification, creating a sustainable and multifunctional urban hub.
The design softens the waterfront by allowing coastal waters in and initiating assisted mangrove regeneration, creating a resilient and biodiverse edge.
While retaining the popular Marine Drive pathway and children’s park, the proposal introduces lightweight public facilities—a café, bird-watching tower, and space for prawn culture—woven into an aqueous landscape park. The planting palette focuses on indigenous mangroves and associated species native to Ernakulam’s coastline, ensuring ecological integrity.
Designed as both a neighborhood park and a destination for visitors and environmental enthusiasts, the project positions Priyadarshani Park as a model for resilient and engaging urban waterfronts.
2020