NEW DELHI: At the First Biennial Congress On Urban Green Spaces 2012 Delhi, Alex Davis was was asked to present a proposal to highlight the aesthetic identity of Delhi, one of the world’s greenest capitals. “It’s a honour I’ve been considered,” said Davis.
Calling his presentation the ‘Dilli Bagh’ project, Davis views the Ashoka tree as his motif for the installation, as it has been extensively used in royal gardens and miniature paintings in the past. The overall dimensions of the proposed horticultural installations will be 75 meters in height, and 14 metres in diameter. They will be positioned prominently at all entry points into Delhi. “With these, the city will be defined as a garden,” he says. Each tree will have a steel structural core, with planters containing bougainvillea or begonia with built-in drip irrigation. “They can also serve as cultural centres, with galleries, shops, cafés, amphitheaters etc. by incorporating a base design around these tress,” he says.
‘Dilli’ was the original garden city. No wonder Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, part of the ‘garden city design movement’, planned New Delhi as a seat of power with well laid-out gardens, avenues and circles. “I’m waiting for final government approval. It’ll take about one-and-half years to execute,” said Davis.