SHILLONG: Beautification of a PWD complex in Barik is underway as the state government finally selected a consortium for architectural design.
Best contemporary urban mobility practices are proposed to manage the heavy vehicular movement around Barik Point, with priority given to ‘green streets’ and safe wide pedestrian walkways and an underground 184 car-parking facility to mitigate traffic issues in the vicinity.
The proposed park at Barik Point demonstrates cutting edge urban and landscape design strategies, integrating expansive green open spaces with citizen friendly civic amenities.
It assimilates notable elements and characteristics of the regional landscape and settlements of Meghalaya, giving the park a distinct local identity and unique ‘sense of place’. 70 per cent of the land is reserved as green space that includes diverse indigenous plant species, ponds, waterfalls, meadows and forested areas; adding a much-needed lung space, an ecological reserve in the heart of Shillong city.
An existing Assam type heritage bungalow on the site is preserved and restored to its original state. Adapted to house a high-tech digital information centre, it serves citizens and visitors alike.
Alongside, a new reflective monolith monument commemorates the founding fathers of the Hill State Movement.
The heritage building and monolith monument together form a central focal point of the park, where pedestrian pathways converge.
In addition, civic amenities and cultural infrastructure are integrated seamlessly into the park design; tucked discreetly under planted earth berms in order to preserve valuable green cover.
These include niche retail and cafes, an exhibition gallery, multipurpose hall, and a 250 seat capacity lecture hall-auditorium.
A special feature of the new park is a sunken plaza and amphitheater that can accommodate gatherings of about 2000 people; a perfect spot for conducting large scale musical events, celebrating local festivals and hosting other large gatherings; potentially active during both day and night.
Amenities proposed at Barik Point complement those present in State Central Library complex.
Together they form a much needed public recreational and cultural precinct for Shillong; set in an iconic new green park.
Urban Affairs Minister, Hamlet Dohling said that the Department is keen to ensure that city gets developed in a planned way.
“Right now, the footpaths are full of hawkers, roads are full of vehicles and all of these problems occurred since Shillong city was not planned,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the Urban Affairs department had conduc-ted an architectural design competition and the winning entry by the consortium of Bangalore based architects– Flying Elephant Studio, Urban Planner-C. Rajagopal and local architect Aiban S Mawkhroh of Atelier A+, proposed a 7 acre public park that seamlessly combines the Barik land parcel and State Central Library complex via a wide pedestrian underpass.
Dohling said that five bidders had participated in the bidding process out of which department selected three and finally zeroed in on the particular firm.
“We want to create something which would symbolise the state of Meghalaya,” Dohling said.
