Sourcing Local DNA: Nursery Visits for Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Park

Sourcing Local DNA: Nursery Visits for Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Park

Kadambur, Tamil Nadu, India

This week, November 25, West 8 visited a series of Nurseries to locate the botanical stock for the upcoming Biodiversity Park in India. The design team visited several gardens and nurseries to source the DNA authentic plants, collect seedlings for reforestation efforts, as well as identify the mature plantings that would balance the microclimate and provide the necessary shading for transforming the site.

Following the approval of the design in July 2024, West 8 has been actively collaborating with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Infrastructure Development Board to prepare a phased realisation plan, tender drawing set and detailed project report. The ambition is to start initial groundworks, water engineering and the shaping and engineering of topography in 2025, the expected opening of the first phase is 2026.

Within its various biotopes, Tamil Nadu holds one of the richest diversities of landscapes in India, from mountainous regions to coastal landscapes, forests, and dry deserts. Innovative in its dedication to authenticity, the project celebrates and preserves the characters of these landscape typologies within the Biodiversity park. Grounded in its context, the project will emphasize the quality of the local landscapes and community, with the goal of developing a precedent of both national and international attention.

1 — 4 Nursery visits in Rajahmundry - Understanding the availability of species in south Indian nurseries

2 — 4 Presentation of the plan to the Principal Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department

3 — 4 Nursery visits in Rajahmundry - Identifying plantings for the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest

4 — 4 Auroville Botanical Gardens, Tamil Nadu - Collecting the local DNA and making connections

About the project

Located in Kadambur, in the larger district of the Chennai Metropolitan region in Tamil Nadu, the varied collections of botanic gardens are oriented around the central valley. Designed to represent and preserve the five landscapes of the region — Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Palai, and Neithal – with the ultimate goal of developing the park into a precedent of both national and international attention. In addition, the site masterplan designates spaces for community events across all scales to encourage occupation, local ownership and stewardship of the park’s future. The design is born from the needs of the local context and sustainability and embraces the logic of soil, water and the monsoon season. Embedded within the masterplan are a diversity of sustainability and microclimate measures, including the revitalized large-scale lake, water system and storage. Guests are invited to experience the botanic displays both by foot and by boat by the interwoven water routes throughout the re-graded site.

West 8 brings its global experience, delivering remarkable and sustainable designs to create an outstanding ‘botanical enclave’ across the 137-hectare site. West 8 has assembled a dedicated team of local specialists in the field, together with SPECTRUM Techno Consultants Pvt Ltd, that includes experts in botany, horticulture, architecture, wildlife, hydrology, and financing.

Learn more:
-> Biodiversity Conservation Park

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