Mumbai firm breathes life into iconic Bandra steps
Photography: Alan Abraham
Abraham John Architects have re-eingeered the steps of St Stephen’s Church, a historic landmark in the locality of Bandra, Mumbai. The firm is using the flight of stairs to create a new space for the thriving community around it.
The stairs, directly aligned with the gate of St. Stephen’s Church, breaks at mid-landing into a central gathering area. The space will also act as a cultural corridor for performances during festivals (e.g. the Bandra Festival).
An open-air theatre along with a children’s play area has been introduced to the space to encourage various communal events and recreational activities among the local population. The design also manages the addition of urban necessities with the provision of a zebra crossing, a raised platform on both sides and bollards for the demarcated area lying parallel to the road.
The proposal includes a 15.3 meter high, 88 meter long and 12 meter wide concrete staircase with the inclusion of a ramp to allow ease of access to pedestrians and also compose a barrier-free public space.
