Facelift of Mullassery Canal

Mullassery canal located in Kochi, flowing for about a length of 1.3 kms. Historically, the
canal was built for inland mobility connecting the backwaters and the Perandoor canal on the
east. Current situation the canal is rotten and forgotten, half of the stretch is covered with
concrete slabs. The aim of design is to revitalize the canal and bring back its flora fauna.

• Firstly the canal has to be brought to people’s eye sight and cleanup/Desilting,
opening up the canal at intervals, planting mangrove and native species plantation enhancing
the local climate.

• Secondly providing pleasant viewable open green spaces around the canal and also
making the neighborhood point of contact with canal. In order to make it a wholositic
approach, the design is focused on the ecology, community engagement and a multi-faceted
approach in managing the public space to foster an integrated and sustainable approach to
urban development.

• Thirdly improving connectivity, safety for all from idle pockets in the stretch and also
a barrier free environment.

The main objective of the design achieved through URBAN ACUPUNCTURE concept
educates to use small scale interventions at sensitive sites which will have ripple effects to
transform the larger urban context.

The elements used in interventions are landscape and environmental elements accompanied
by human factors improves the ecology, socio-cultural aspects and the urban fabric of the
city.

Through Desilting the canal can be made free of pollutants for a shorter period of time. But
with the correction of the canal slope the capacity of the canal will increase which facilitates
flood control during monsoon and natural cleansing of the canal occurs during high-tide and
low-tide. This provides a long term solution for pollution control and waste management.

The housing settlements abutting the canal should be facing the canal or have their frontages
along the canal in order to reduce the pollution as well as to enjoy the beauty of the canal.
The sewage outlets on the canal should be diverted to run alongside or parallel to the canal
which can be treated, purified and led back to the canal. Natural purification of the canal shall
be integrated with the planting of mangroves along the banks of the canal

The entire stretch shall be integrated with the city by creating a continuous public realm
along the canal by making recreational spaces beside them, establishing connectivity to
heritage locales and by ensuring more responsive and context specific development.
Accessibility can be improved by making the canal navigable, improving connectivity and
enhancing cross connectivity.
The overall design also includes Gender sensitive recreational spaces which provides a
barrier free environment. The design considers pedestrian friendly, child and elderly friendly
design elements, safeguarding the existing trees and ecology of the surrounding providing
minimal impact to the environment.

In this context, the spine of our design is the Mullassery canal and the small scale
interventions are the sub sites. Through these interventions we will be able to create a ripple
effect that will have an impact on the larger urban context.

SUB-SITE A:
Entire site is designed keeping the local context and climatic conditions, a barrier free, gender
inclusive, and to carter community needs.
Rehousing the existing scattered activities of KSRTC inside a block achieving ground
connectivity between sites, also using the reclaimed land by converting them into open
recreational spaces for the neighborhood. Introducing of open recreational spaces enhances
the frequent usability of site and provides safety.
Within this stretch, the canal is opened to people view at intervals to receive sunlight create
awareness about canal and also for Desilting purposes.

SUB- SITE B:
The main objective of this design is to provide a smooth connectivity. The existing fashion
street is revitalized and a smooth accessibility is given to the vehicles and pedestrians, and
designed as fashion food and recreational, paved pedestrian path creates a sense of security
from vehicles. Green areas and recreational activity spaces are provided which relax the
minds and gives a pollution free environment to the people. Opportunity for economic
development of people are given by increasing the space for commercial purposes. Green
areas designed as it will carter all ages and has separate zones for each criteria.

SUB-SITE C:
This site comprises of Educational Institutions, Housing communities, Market spaces, sites of
Historical importance, existing parks, etc. Hence, the user group of this zone is varied with
high pedestrian footfall which enables in universal design methods incorporating all the user
groups without any discrepancies.
The canal is completely open along this stretch which provides the people with an
opportunity to come closer to nature. The provision of recreational parks along the canal
creates a socio-cultural collaboration among people from different cultures. The connectivity
between the canal and road enables ease of accessibility.
The design is done considering the existing features and enhancing the existing flora and
fauna along with the newly introduced recreational activities. The objective is to scatter the
high pedestrian footfall all along the zone reducing the pedestrian traffic and attract the
people to the under-utilized spots of this zone.