Through the Art in Transit project that is set within the context of the Cubbon Park Metro Station, the project Repurposing looks at redeveloping existing spaces in and around the metro station that have no current use or functionality and can be transformed into more exciting spaces with a redefined sense of purpose. The first intervention of repurposing looks to convert a dead space into an interactive means of transit. A vacant escalator space has been converted into a climbing area by installing climbing holds on the passage. The second part of the project is a design proposal for the repurposing of an overhead space outside the station into a landscaped area with appropriately designed elements that are relevant to the context of their surroundings. This has been done with the objective of transforming it into a community area that offers an enhanced public space experience to its users.
I am a Public Space Design student. Craft practices have always been of high interest to me and I draw influence and inspiration from them as part of my making processes, exploring materials such as paper and fabric. I give a lot of weightage to sustainability as a factor for all my design outputs. I feel sustainability should be an indispensable part of design in the world we live in today. My understanding of public spaces comes from the manner in which people interact with the space. I believe in the ideology that spatial design must always be people oriented for it to be truly successful.
The larger idea behind the project Repurposing comes from this knack that I have had even as a child to try and use waste materials to create and see how they could be put to better use before investing in new materials for any need or problem at hand. In school I had an annual ‘best out of waste’ competition that I would eagerly wait for to create things. I believe that my desire to repurpose, coupled with my love for climbing, and my learning and understanding of public spaces at Srishti has directly led me to my two interventions for the Art in Transit project.
