The Living Basin
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Tags
Public space, Urban Design, Landscape design, productive landscapes, park design, Lake design, parkscapes, waterurbanism
Author: Yasira Shaikh
Set within the industrial landscape of Vastral in Ahmedabad, The Living Basin reimagines a degraded and depleted lake edge into an ecologically regenerative public landscape. As impermeable surfaces continue to increase across the city, resulting in flooding, heat buildup, and reduced groundwater recharge, the project positions the site as a living sponge capable of absorbing local hydrological shocks. Through systems of retention, filtration, and percolation, the revitalized waterbody captures and stores surface runoff while supporting cooler microclimates within the surrounding industrial fabric. Layered native planting creates shaded habitats that support biodiversity and seasonal change while remaining resilient to Ahmedabad’s semi-arid climate. Subtle landform variations and water-retaining landscapes generate diverse spatial and ecological conditions across the site. Integrating blue-green infrastructure with everyday public use, the project creates a restorative urban refuge where water, ecology, and public life become closely interwoven.