Shaping the perception of waste in Ernakulam

Kochi’s once thriving ecosystem has been ravaged by excessive urban growth; the city’s once vibrant green and blue spaces have come under huge stresses due to the poorly regulated and illegal development of the built environment and related infrastructure. Biodiversity within the region has thus nosedived, and many green spaces outside of the city centre have ceased to exist. What little remains exists in a vulnerable state, with restricted integration and accessibility. The lifeline of these green spaces has historically been the extensive waterway and backwater network surrounding Kochi.

Public and institutional dumping has become commonplace, physical encroachment is rife, and invasive species have been left unchecked. This has led to the waterways becoming unsafe for humans and much of the local wildlife, as well as becoming blocked and impassable. In order to resolve the severe problems of pollution and poor regulation within the city, drastic governmental action has to be taken. The project thus proposes a catalyst, proof-of-concept canal rejuvenation project, supported by a newly formed joint taskforce for waterway protection and renewal.

. Through connecting the relevant governmental departments and providing a new framework for cooperation and collaboration, the city can work towards efficient and impactful environmental developments. The canal rejuvenation catalyst situated along the Mullassery Canal in Ernakulam city centre will showcase the potential of a reinvigorated water network to provide health and financial benefits to the city’s users. The architectural proposal within this catalyst forms the central hub for the canal renewal project. Situated adjacent to the Maharaja’s College stadium, the wastewater treatment plant and research/education centre provides local users with a place to learn about and foster intrigue surrounding the beauty and benefits of their local natural environment. Embedded within a biodiverse pocket-park and wetland habitat, people and wildlife are provided an oasis of green and blue, juxtaposing the surrounding urban environment. Following the contours and natural features of the floodable wetland park, the proposal is lowered into the ground to reduce the impact of the structure on the surrounding landscape and to cultivate a sense of ‘closeness’ with nature. The curved retaining-wall housing the south-face of the primary aeration pond incorporates a subterranean viewing port looking in to the aquatic habitat below.

Openness and accessibility is paramount throughout the design – many variable viewing points are formed throughout the forms and façades, providing visual access to the ecosystem, as well as the inner workings of the sewage treatment and research process. Flexible learning environments on the interior and exterior of the proposal are formed through the use of stepped seating and manually interfaceable shutters and openings. The close integration of the multiple programmatic spaces has resulted in an enriched and exciting learning environment.