Chakrajeevan Udyan: A Safer Park by Design

In Ahmedabad, Chakrajeevan Udyan has been rethought as a park where everyday users set the agenda, not leftover corners and risky shortcuts. Designed by Hsc Designs, the project starts with a blunt observation: if women, kids, and seniors avoid a place, it is not really public. The redesign aims to make the park feel readable, welcoming, and confidently shared, without turning it into a gated bubble.

Safety that comes from clarity

The core move is simple, and that is why it works: build legible space. A gently winding path acts as a continuous spine, so movement is predictable and orientation is easy. Instead of maze-like pockets, the plan favors open views and smooth transitions, helping people see where they are going and who is nearby.

That same clarity becomes a quiet deterrent. Blind corners, deep recesses, and hidden pockets are reduced so the park discourages misuse through geometry rather than aggressive rules. The result feels more open, but not exposed, because visibility is shared and natural.

Program zones that watch out for each other

Chakrajeevan Udyan is organized into “rooms” that make sense at a glance. Children’s areas and senior zones sit within deliberate visual reach, and seating pockets show up at regular intervals for caregivers, teens, and young adults. This creates a park where supervision happens casually, not as a chore.

A central viewshed stays intentionally open so families can regroup quickly. Parents and grandparents can track play without hovering, and kids can locate familiar faces without panic. Wayfinding is embedded in the layout, so the park teaches itself as you walk.

Circular reuse with real numbers attached

The second foundation is sustainability, handled with more than slogans. Over 30,000 sq ft of reclaimed material (concrete, tiles, mild steel rods, bricks, tires, and wood) is reused and reassembled into paths, gazebos, trellises, edging, benches, and play elements. The material story is not “hidden cleverness”, it is the park’s texture.

The impact is framed in plain equivalents: roughly 36 tons of CO2 avoided, translated into everyday comparisons like long-term tree cultivation, car travel avoided, household electricity, and flights not taken. It is a smart move because it makes environmental performance understandable to non-experts.

Local identity, built to be repaired

Material expression stays proudly Indian, not polished into anonymity. Discarded concrete pipes become climbable rings and shaded portals; reclaimed steel rods form light trellises; salvaged tiles add durable grip underfoot; repurposed wood and tires become seating and playful inserts. The look comes from use, weather, and honest assembly, not decorative cover-ups.

Details lean toward longevity: comfortable grip edges, discreet drainage, inspectable joints, and modular parts that can be repaired. Proportions follow real bodies, especially children and elders, with supportive seating, careful shade placement, and paths that accommodate wheelchairs and prams without awkward detours. In the end, this is exactly the kind of public space Hsc Designs does well: designed for behavior, not just appearance.