This is a unique park designed as a tribute to the father of the nation in the heart of new capital city Amaravati, as the Government wanted to offer its architectural reverence and homage to a great soul.
A First of its kind In India, the park Picturizes the entire life of Gandhiji spanning from boyhood till the time of demise in landscape, architectural and sculptural forms and spaces.
Taking cue from the ancient times, where architecture has celebrated light and its cyclical periodicity to commemorate with monumental architecture like Stonehenge, Mayan Pyramids, etc.,
the present concept spatially spreads itself between 2nd Oct. and 30th Jan. letting the sun mark the precinct of experience according to the birth and demise time of Mahatma Gandhi.
Using the spinning wheel as an integrating tool which brings all the spokes to the centre, the design idea symbolically integrates the spatial experience on the periphery to the centre as a monumental column of 79 ft. tall (Gandhiji’s age at the time of demise).
The arc of experience (2nd Oct. to 30th Jan) spreads with 79 trees representing Gandhiji’s age, and it (Freedom Path) forms an edge between the experience (events in Gandhiji’s life) and the synthesis (79 ft. tall monument) of Mahatma.
A series of statues of Gandhiji from boyhood to ripe old age chronologically complement and highlight the story of Gandhiji on the Freedom Path.
On August 15th, every year the 79 feet tall monument’s shadow touches the 220 ft tall Indian national flag signifying India’s independence (Freedom).
As an architectural landscape that embodies an experiential learning for the progeny, the design is envisioned in a nineteen-acre site that abuts the banks of the river Krishna. The design integrates itself into the overall masterplan with access from land and water. The water edge is carved into an Amphitheatre with a floating pavilion and the astrological chart of Mahatma Gandhi is engraved onto it.
The pavilion can host public performances. Provisions for light and sound shows on the water are also accommodated with a floating sculpture of Gandhiji in the background.
A restaurant designed as a Railway wagon parked by the station is designed to nostalgically to transport one into the time of Gandhiji’s early struggles in South Africa that announced the arrival of Gandhiji into the world as the Non-violent Hero.
The arrival plaza by the land greets one with the murals of Gandhiji’s Freedom struggle and leads into a Freedom plaza that greets one with the tallest Indian National flag. A National integration fountain sits in the background with blocks of granite signifying every state of Indian Republic.
The bike path that contours along the freedom path allows the outsiders to pass through the park without an interference with the park goers. The bike path is adorned with the landscape foliage of Indian national flag colours on one side and the national heroes of Indian freedom struggle on the other side in a mural format.
The freedom path signifies the various eras of Gandhiji’s life and events that defined his personality. Right from his boyhood to the ultimate end several replica structures are proposed to commemorate the journey of Gandhiji. To celebrate a local-connect with the park, a specific plaza is dedicated to Pingili Venkaiah (Andhra Pradesh local) who designed the Indian National flag and was approved by Gandhiji.
The park is a homogeneous mould of history that culminates with the futuristic tomorrow., uniquely designed to embody the spirit and evoke nostalgia, architecturally creating spaces that are experientially symbolic of Gandhiji.
The life story of Gandhiji from Birth to Demise has become the backbone of the concept. and the whole experience is documented spatially as a learning for the young minds. Architecturally the park is designed as a monument celebrating the very spirit of Gandhiji by chronologically unfolding the spaces highlighting the journey of a small boy from Porbandar who emerged as a MAHATHMA. (great Soul).
The spaces proposed encourage and educate the connoisseur about the lofty ideas of Gandhiji that made him the father of Nation. The spatial Experience inculcates Gandhiji’s values of universal brotherhood, Non-violence, and National integration.
