Mumbai is a vast and expansive suburban city with tall skyscrapers and concrete buildings occupying almost every inch of land. In this constant surge of urbanization, the value and significance of open public spaces is somehow diminishing day by day. Owing to this current scenario, a young design firm, Atelier ARBO collaborated with the local ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to rejuvenate and revitalize the glory of an old and neglected land located along the Bandstand Promenade in Bandra.
Taking into consideration the notable landmarks like, the Bandra Fort, Mannat (a renowned Bollywood celebrity, Shah Rukh Khan’s residence), and Taj Land’s End Hotel, situated along the promenade and around the park, a dire need to provide a refreshing and relaxing open space for the extensive footfall of visitors passing through this promenade was felt. The design team and the local corporation authorities visualized a tranquil space for people to sit, relax, interact, and enjoy in while they admired the beauty of the sea and the magnificent aura of the iconic landmarks.
Accessible from the main road, the 12,000 Sq. ft Bandstand Park 1 creates a serene atmosphere for a visitor with fresh green vegetation, blooming flower plants, comfortable seating spaces, and a meandering walkway for people to take a leisurely stroll. The central zone of the park has an intriguing and thoughtfully crafted children’s play area which comfortably rests under the shadow of the central tropical tree having an expansive foliage and thick, leafy branches. The children’s play area aptly caters to the fascination and curiosity of children by creating an interesting track, with a ‘Start’ and a ‘Finish’ mark, of different activities like a climbing net, three baskets for basketball, a circular slide, a balancing beam, a hopscotch pattern, and a merry-go-round.
A seating area cozily rests under the captivating play of light and shadows of a trellis having beautiful, fragrant creepers and situated along the neatly designed walkway which navigates a person throughout the park. Enhancing interaction between fellow visitors and also providing a quiet space for self-reflection and relaxation, the seating area has a comfortable low backrest and casts admirable views of the scenic landscapes present inside the park.
Sprawled along the promenade, Bandstand Park 1 takes in the magnificent views of the sea through a separate seating zone aligned along the side of the park which faces the sea. Visitors can sit, interact, and calmly adore the beauty of the sunset which fills the skies with golden and warm hues. The seating spaces are comfortably arranged with a backdrop of lush vegetation and the sweet fragrance of bright flowers.
With a vision to provide a usable, functional, and invigorating public open space for the frequent visitors of the Bandstand promenade, the renovation of Bandstand Park 1 marks a significant growth in the upliftment of open spaces for the citizens of Mumbai. This Park aims at imbibing the importance of exhilarating open spaces in a city where extreme population growth and the growing concrete jungle can make our lives suffocating.
