INDIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Mapping of land use to generate an understanding of the surrounding programs such that the resultant design ties into the old and creates a new which can grow into the future. The site LAWN 1 is used in the current design proposal. The lawns have been kept permeable in line with the existing. The site is mainly pedestrian and the existing flow, movement and exchange has been maintained. Lawn 1 has the advantage of being in proximity to Bus and metro lines. The existing terrain is categorized into different landscape elements so that the proposed design can be a derivative and an extension. Use of water is very strategic to entire landscape. The soft scrape is generous while the hardscape is very structured. The topography of the Lawn 1 is flat and covered with dense foliage.

The design proposes a Journey through the mapping of the wars in time. A field condition of wars is laid out on the terrain through an experience generated by materials, topography and movements.

The duration of wars is mapped on site with wars fought; as destinations, which hold the martyrs from each battle. The design is conceived as a journey rather than a destination to the homage point – as wars are more than an occurrence in history. This forms the belief of the design proposal.

The memorial is in situ as it maps the landmarks and draws from the existing by creating an axial intersection that is to become the final homage point. Programs are mapped across the division to create a typological destination which responds to the given brief. The journey is now a project in making.

The project is conceived as a resultant of multiple ideas operating simultaneously on ecology, experience and historic mapping. Three strategies are proposed:

1)    Division in land that maintains the two main program requirements for an event space and a meeting zone as open green spaces;

2)    The given surface of the division is organized into patches and corridors, where patches are occurrences or events defined by function, material and organizational experience and corridors containing movement and services;

3)    History of the wars can be read in linearity or individually but a final melting of the wars at the homage point – VILAY STHAL.

The superimposition of these 3 systems creates a mosaic of artificial surfaces which imbibe within them historic context of the wars and its martyrs surrounded by natural surfaces which allow the memorial to become a Landmark.

Differs materials are explored to emote the battle, war and journey. The main path that leads to each destination is a simple brick path symbolizing – all come from earth and goes back to earth. Red signifying the blood lost in wars. The artificial surfaces are made of natural stones while the homage point – VILAY STHAL is an installation in a pool of water. The installation is reminiscent of all the wars.

The field is an installation of the soldiers arranged in the patches as different formations which try and emote the battles fought. A matrix of formation is generated through the study of the martyrs and their time in combat. The FEILD is a battle field when viewed from outside, the monoliths adding to martyred soldiers. Names of the lost are inscribed in the monoliths which are placed strategically through the installations.