Landscape Architecture
Public Space
We were briefed to help create a unique retail destination in Vizag, India, that would capitalise on the city’s stunning natural surroundings and create a new urban landmark. The primary challenge was to design a multipurpose destination in a site that lacked multifunctional spaces, with no balance between passive and active areas. The InOrbit Mall had to excel as both a public realm offering and vibrant retail development – the largest in Southern India – where patrons could relax and socialise.
Working with our architectural colleagues, we designed the ground floor plaza, roof garden, central atrium and two entrance landscapes to complement the overarching concept. Each space has its own unique programming that provides opportunities for entertainment and socialisation. Our landscape design is inspired by the banyan tree, which grows locally. Specifically, the organic form of the landscaping is an abstract representation of the tree’s root structure, which symbolically anchors the new development to the site’s natural heritage.
Our designs have provided a strong conceptual foundation for a dynamic and green public realm. The shared identity of the plaza, rooftop, atrium and entrance landscapes resonates with the architectural language. And with active and passive spaces now balanced, visitors can take advantage of opportunities for play and socialisation, with all areas fully accessible to all people. Meanwhile, the landscape furniture is locally sourced and the selected plant species are indigenous, making the project sustainable as well as culturally relevant.
