CHENNAI: Our playgrounds, parks and public spaces have been shrinking over time. Our lakes and rivers have also been encroached. So, where do Chennaiites go if they want to ‘chill’ and not spend any money for it? Except for the beach and a few parks, the city barely has any public spaces to hang out and relax.
Solution: Revamp the spaces we already have…at least that’s the idea architects at Triple O studio suggest. Their latest project is to revamp the Government Multispeciality Hospital on Mount Road, which was built to be the Secretariat.
The architects suggest that the campus can be revamped into a public plaza or a space for people to just get together and socialise — ‘a democratic space’ — Triple O co-founder Tahaer Zoyab calls it. “If you notice, there are absolutely no public spaces on the entire stretch of Mount Road.
Except for the YMCA grounds, which not too many people visit. There is no space where a person can just sit and relax for a couple of hours,” Zoyab adds.
Reiterating how the beach seems to be the only place in the city that’s open to everyone, Zoyab said, “Even the protests we saw last week, where would it have happened if we did not have the beach? There should be some areas in the city where groups can gather.”
The multi specialty hospital is over 9.3 lakh square feet with 400 beds. While the front of the hospital is always bustling with activity, the rear is untouched. But wouldn’t a public space disturb the patients? “The opposite, really. The vibrant plaza would be a huge value addition from the hospital point of view.
The rear entry of plaza connects to it. The fact that it is at the back of the hospital shouldn’t affect daily operations too,” said Zoyab.
The gate to the rear end is locked, restricting entry. All kinds of construction materials are stacked against the gates including rusting barricades, asbestos sheets, broken pieces of wood and tree debris too. No one enters that part of the hospital and it is completely deserted.
The revamp that is being suggested is neither very elaborate neither nor exorbitantly expensive which is the main aim of the designer. The blueprint of the revamped campus suggests a bridge that will be built in the centre of the hospital and in the same circular shape as the hospital, “People can get on the bridge for a nice vantage view of the city,” Zoyab said.
“My team had noticed a lot of big steps leading up to the building that seemed unnecessary from the architectural point of view. The building is gigantic and hence can be intimidating. We have decided to club some steps together in certain spots, and turn it into either a seating area or do some landscaping.”
The landscaping would be a crucial aspect. “We have to make the place attractive to the public and for those visiting the hospital as well. So, of course, a lot of trees and other greenery will be added.”
The team had already proposed the idea once to the Greater Chennai Corporation when it was under Vikram Kapur and Zoyab said they had got a lot of feedback and were awaiting a date with the corporation to follow up on it. Their aim was to spot more such areas that had the potential to become welcoming public spaces. When they found it in the campus, they took photographs, got feedback from people within and outside the campus, and tried to paint a visual idea.
“What we want is to present this idea to the general public and local bodies that can help us bring the project to life. Usually in our regular building projects, we’re given a commission and then asked to design. Here, all we have is an idea and want to make it accessible to all,” adds Zoyab.