PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO
biodiversity
ecology
by Harshbir Kaur
design
landscape g
in
plann
Mandu, Madhya Pardesh
2
Table of content
1 Personal statement
2 Himalayan Museum and Sustainable Park
3 Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity
4 Jindal Home
5 Mr. Mittal House
6 ICIMOD Headquarters Landscape
7 Photography
3
Personal Statement
N ature is the integral element
that inspires us with those possibili-
ties that one may not imagine with-
4 out its existence. I beleive, the best
teacher who teaches us about sea-
sonality, ecosystem, colours, texture,
fragrance, sounds (with wind and
water), shade and light is nature, for
its diversity and dynamism. All these
components are used in landscape
designing. The prime goal for land-
scape design must be designing in
tune with the ecosystem and then
integrating this goal with the function-
ality, experiences, colours, seasons
etc. And if we start doing that, we will
be able to support the ecosystems
more in todays world where nature is
being badly affected and that needs
lot of attention from all of us.
Himalayan Museum and
Sustainable Park
Lying at the elevation of 3800 m, the biological processes at the site are very slow when com-
pared to the lower altitude. For example, growing a tree will take longer time at this elevation if
compared. Also, the site has unique landscape, surrounded by juniper forest on the north and
the east. Being a part of Sagarmatha national park, it is rich in fauna- birds, bees, butterflies,
insects, rodents, a few mammals. Right now, area is struggling with poor solid waste manage-
ment that has a huge impact on the ecosystem and one of the goals of the project is to upcycle
the waste.
Keeping in mind all these factors the landscape had to be designed with the nature, respecting
the native plants and trees, water conservation, exterior walls as habitat for bees and birds,
carefully using the existing slopes.
5
Himalayan Museum and Sustainable Park
Bird/Insect/bee houses Gaps in the Spreading pathways Boulders as seating Sculptures made
along the walls surrounding wall for merging with the along these pathways out of recycled
fauna to enter and feed landscape solid waste thrown
around
Meadows- small flowering shrubs,
grazing grasses, small stones (present
)on the site
Eco-friendly wall Eco-friendly retaining wall Bird/Insect/bee houses along the walls Boulders as seaters
Himalayan Museum and Sustainable Park
Large Tree: Himalayan Birch Flowering medium Flower: Himalayan Flower: Himalayan Iris
Deciduous tree, around 4m )Tree:Rhododendron Burans Chrysanthemum cm high, fragrant 45-60
high in this area, bark used for Evergreen tree, fragrant cm high, fragrant 45-60 At the entrance
writing flowers in feb-april At the entrance
Near the buildings Along the pathways, entrance
Flowering dwarf shrub: Fern:Himalayan maidenhair Creeper Fruit Tree: Almond
Decorated Gentian Fragrant, medicinal value Himalayan Clematis For the sunlit area, south of
Fragrant, medicinal value in the meadows, on rocks Deciduous creeper, attracts gazebo
in the meadows butterflies, fragrant
For Trellis
Himalayan Museum and Sustainable Park
8 House
Gallery/Cafe
Interpretation
centre
Workshop
Experiential Pathway
Pathways for people to reach the wild
Dense Juniper Forest
Meadows mixed with sculptures made out of recycled
material, spread around
Stone Paving with grass joints
Gazebo: acts like an
entry/exit
Boulders as seaters
Trellis with creepers
Fruit Trees with seaters
Chautaro: Central artifact with seater
Welcoming Walls
Planting Interventions along the natural paths 9
Junipers extended and mixed with
sculptures and meadows
Conservation of Wetland
Biodiversity
Lying at the confluence of rivers Beas and Satluj, Harike reservoir is the largest wetland reservoir of North
India of an area of 46 hectares. The wetland provides habitat to migratory birds and mammals like otter,
Indus dolphin etc. , fertile land for agriculture, for fishing and recreation. As the wetland is exploited by water
pollution, noise pollution, illegal activities and siltation. There is a need of planning and guidelines in order
10 to control all these issues in the wetland through zoning.
Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity Because of the variation in water depths of
the wetland vegetation diversity exists and
so the habit. The wetland mainly consists
of seasonal herbs and shrubs, with good
amount of reeds and very less area under
woodland. Going to the habitat, mudcliffs
along the Beas river offers habitat for birds
of prey, the richness of Beas river offers hab-
itat for Dolphins and otters. Rest of the vege-
tation, which exists along deep and shallow
water provides habitat to swimming, wading,
terrestial, climbing and perching birds.
Hydrology
Vegetation
11
Habitat
Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity
Dolphin habitat
Otter habitat
12
Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity
Phytoremediation
plants
13
Extended
Wetland
Noise
Buffer
Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity
14
Reedbed is essential for the habi-
tats of many birds, the purification of
water. Plants like Typha augustata
(Cattail) must be planted to protect
the shoreline of the wetland.
Aquatic emergent vegetation to be
Shallow water being the main hab-
kept on check, for many birds feed
itat of wading birds, area must be
on it
regularly monitored to check silt-
ation and pollution of this habitat.
Wetland Islands to be conserved and rather should
be increased in number in this area.
Native tree planting to provide roosting and nestling of
birds. Seed collection from the native trees can be done
by volunteers and local people.
Area with the seasonal shrubs and herbs
can have access to the bird watchers
with the minimal intervention.
Jindal Home
Lying in a high end area of Green Avenue in New Delhi, the plot has existing trees, shrubs, hedges and flower beds. The idea was
to document each tree to design the residence with the nature. Also that the area of the plot is as huge as 6 acres, the idea is to
treat this piece of land thinking about overall sustainability at a larger scale.
Saptaparni Kadamb Ashoka Ashoka
Neem
Tecoma Stans
Jasmine
Ficus benjamina Hedge
Ficus Longifolia Tecoma
Office Lawn
Waterbody
15
Kadamb
Gulmohar
Caryota Urens Tecoma stans
Pygmy date palm
Driveway
Jindal Home
Flowerbed- Chamomile
Mound
Golden Bottlebrush,
Neem, Ashoka, Bauhinia
Doob grass Hibis
Kadamb
Jasmine Budd
Jacaranda Mimosifolia Calendula officinalis bamb
Saptaparni
16
Rubber Tree Calendula officinalis O
Ficus benjamina +300mm
Mound Cartiya
Mimosops elengi
+150mm
Mound
Pipal Driveway
Gulmohar
Mixed planting
-Ficus benjamina topiary Yellow Bamboo
Curtain
-Ficus benjamina variaegated Creeper
topiary Mixed Planting Firangipani (small trees)
-Nerium oleander -Bougenvelia Golden Bottlebrush
-Cygas revoluta -Tecoma stans Shrubs
-Hibiscus rosa-chinensis -Rica palm Shisham
-Morpankhi -Furcaria
-Ashoka -Chinese fan palm Trees
Driveway
-Tecoma stans
-Royal Palm
-Golden Bottlebrush
-Powder Puff
Trees Flowerbed
-Tecoma stans -Nasturtium
-Royal Palm -African daisy
-Golden Bottlebrush
-Powder Puff
Flowerbed N
-Calendula officinalis
01 2 4 6 10m
Ashoka Tree
Mound Mother- in-laws tongue
Ficus benjamina
Ficus benjamina
Danda thor and Marigold
Pergola
Existing unused water-
scus, Draceana Flowerbed
-Poppies (Red and Yellow)
dhas belly -Dog flower
boo -Alyssum flower
Trees
-Tecoma stans
Office -Ficus longifolia
-Saptaparni
-Cygas revoluta
Narangi
Clerodendrum wallichi
Pygmy date palm and Tecoma
Mound Stans
Hibiscus rosa-chinesis
A
Furcaria, Hibiscus, Ficus longifo-
lia, Ashoka B
Trees KEY
-Ficus benjamina topiary
-Ficus benjamina variaegated boundary wall office unused waterbody elevated feature boundary wall
topiary
-Hibiscus rosa-chinesis
-Cygas revoluta
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SECTION A
pylon pathway pantry office boundary wall
boundary wall
SECTION B
Jindal Home
18
Mr. Mittals House
Lying in the untouched hills of Dharamshala, the house stands at a highly sloping site. The idea is to keep minimal cut and fill of
earth, still make interesting experiences in the landscape. The planting design goal is to keep diverse native species. The area
gets treated with abundant rainfall throughout the year that supports tropical planting.
19
Mr. Mittals House
OLD
20 COTTAGE
Initial Sketches
HOUSE
SERVANT
S
QUARTER
FUTURE
DEV.
Mr. Mittals House
PLAZA
FRUIT TREES
UPPER WATERBODY
MEDITATION GAZEBO
PERGOLA
BOULDERS AND GRASSES
FOR SLOPE STABILISATION
WATERWAYS RUNNING
ALONG THE PATHWAYS
PARKING
LAWN
BARBEQUE AND
OUTDOOR DINING
FIREPIT
CENTRAL TEMPLE
KIDS PLAY AREA
SLOPE STABILISATION
ADULTS OUTDOOR GYM
21
PATHWAYS WITH WATER FEATURES
FLOATING DECK
LOWER WATER BODY
ICIMOD HQ
An important institution for the researchers in spatial analysis of Hindukush belt, ICIMOD staff are also very keen on having an
eco-freindly landscape with native plants, more green and using local materials. The bike forest further becomes an interesting
component of landscape, encouraging the bicycle riders. Various fruits trees have been proposed in the bike forest where people
tend to spend more time. Perennials have been also encoouraged in the planting design to have an interesting pattern throughout
the year.
22
ICIMOD HQ
starting points
parking
drainage and water conservation
permeable paving for grass
23
native planting
5.5 m driveway trees relocated
pedestrian/ cyclists
ICIMOD HQ
canteen
24
main build-
lawn
entrance drop-off
new building
pedestrian pathway
pedestrian pathway
stepping stones
around chautaro
BIKE FOREST
ICIMOD HQ
BIKE FOREST
new stone paving
cycle stand
cycle track
new icimod written on
drop-off area
central stone sculpture Bicycle Parking
2.1 m high trellis with Bicycle Parking
creepers to hide as a buffer
stone paving on the drive-
way to slow down traffic
Creepers/ Perennials
Motorbike
bus parking Parking
Trees and Perennials
plan- bike
CONCEPTUAL PLAN forest
parking Bicycle Parking
entry to child care from the Bicycle Parking
other side
Creepers/ Perennials
Motorbike
child care Parking
Trees and Perennials
Green Driveway Bike forest
CONCEPTUAL PLAN
CONCEPTUAL SECTION
25
entry section through
bike forest
bike forest
Green Driveway Bike forest
Photography
26
Ruins
Mandu, M.P.
A happy goodbye
Nirona, Kutch
Cuteness in the shyness
Nirona, Kutch
27
Dream The lone tree
Nirona, Kutch Nirona, Kutch
