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
Deciduous tree, around 4m
high in this area, bark used for
writing
Near the buildings
Flowering dwarf shrub:
Decorated Gentian
Fragrant, medicinal value
in the meadows
Flowering medium
)Tree:Rhododendron Burans
Evergreen tree, fragrant
flowers in feb-april
Along the pathways, entrance
Fern:Himalayan maidenhair
Fragrant, medicinal value
in the meadows, on rocks
Flower: Himalayan
Chrysanthemum
cm high, fragrant 45-60
At the entrance
Creeper
Himalayan Clematis
Deciduous creeper, attracts
butterflies, fragrant
For Trellis
Flower: Himalayan Iris
cm high, fragrant 45-60
At the entrance
Fruit Tree: Almond
For the sunlit area, south of
gazebo
 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
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Habitat
 Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity

Dolphin habitat

Otter habitat
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 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

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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

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 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.

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 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
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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.

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 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
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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
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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

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Dream The lone tree

Nirona, Kutch Nirona, Kutch