Prasanna Desai runs an architectural and urban design practice in Pune, emphasizing the role of an architect in the Public Domain with a people-participatory approach focusing on Equity and Empathy to Evolve an approach in affordable housing for the masses as well as safe & socially shared streets leading to the creation of healthy hygienic & humane neighbourhoods. He is an inspiring teacher and has been active in academics for the last four decades. He firmly believes that an Architect who is trained to be a sensitive person also needs to be an aware citizen, thus playing a much more significant role in the development of society and contributing considerably to the betterment of the quality of the built environment in the cities. The firm has designed around 100kms of streets & completed over 50kms in Aundh, Pune for PMC & PSCDCL, last mille connectivity for 5 Metro Stations for MAHA METRO Pune, Akurdi, Pimple Nilakh, Bhosari, Saudagar, Nehru Nagar, Ravet Streets, Mumbai Pune Road, Spine Road in PCMC & PCSCL, plus streets in Baramati, Kolhapur & Nagpur for PWD and in Mumbai for MCGM.
Since the past more than two decades, the firm has been involved in the designing of streets as safe and socially vibrant spaces with people’s participation. These projects demonstrate the need of design based interventions that can be taken up by Architects, Urban Designers, Planners (who can be termed as the Doctors of the City) which do not necessarily require large investments but certainly needs understanding of the ground situation, behavioural pattern of all users, active public participation, support from the administration & political will with unending patience & perseverance.
These efforts by the firm has led to numerous success stories of well-designed and implement-ed streets in Maharashtra in particular, where these streets have turned into vibrant public spaces for the neighbourhood and have helped in resolving conflicts and improving the character and quality of life of the citizens, creating a safe, shaded and socially vibrant network in the neighbourhood.
- Pimple Gurav and Pimple Saudagar BRTS Road, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2022)
- Pimple Gurav and Pimple Saudagar BRTS Road, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2022)
The street was designed by balancing the three aspects of walkability, Safe cycle movement, & parking. Pimpri Chinchwad Smart City aims to create a Safe and Healthy Neighbourhood for the citizens to enhance the quality of life for people of all age groups.
The Streetscape project includes Organised Parallel Parking, a Dedicated Cycle Track to comfortably cycle around the neighbourhood, a Continuous Footpath with Tactile paving at one level, and an adequate amount of seating along the edge making the street design safe & secure movement promoting universal accessibility & connectivity with minimal dependency. The entire stretch creates a network of 8kms of a cycle track as well as a safe pedestrian network. Existing trees with beautiful shaded canopies were utilized by designing stone seatings around them thus acting as breathing space for all trees on street. Additional precast mudas seatings are also provided with the alcoves crafted with various patterns using granite strips, cobbled stones and pebbles.
The 4 kms long public realm along the linear garden has become the green lung of the neighbourhood with yoga, walking, jogging happening in morning hours followed by office going people, college students etc. using the shaded spaces during the day and afternoons, culminating into a vibrant family recreation space in the evening and night.
- Akurdi neighbourhood Streets, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2021)
- Pencil Chowk to GaDiMa Auditorium Street, Baramati (2023)
A street in an institutional realm at Baramati in Maharashtra –
All Indian cities and towns are craving for walkable and safe streets which need to cater to the needs of people from all age groups. This street connects Pencil Chowk a prime junction on the main Baramati Bhigwan Road upto GaDiMa Auditorium. Taken up as pilot project the design incorporated a safe, secure and shaded walkable street which also has now become a social as well as a recreational space and a destination point for the citizens of Baramati.
- 8 to 80 Park, Sudarshan Chowk, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2021)
PROJECT INFORMATION
- Firm : Prasanna Desai Architects
- Lead Architect : Ar. Prasanna Desai
- Project :
- ITI Road, Aundh, Pune (2018), 21 Cr. with new underground utilities. 1.5KM Including DP Road.
- DP Road, Aundh, Pune, (2016), 21 Cr. with newunderground utilities. 1.5KM Including ITI Road.
- Pimple Gurav and Pimple Saudagar BRTS Road, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2022), 35-40 Cr. including surface redevelopment 4KM.
- Akurdi Neighbourhood Streets, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2021) 55Cr., 7.8KM.
- Pencil Chowk to GaDiMa Auditorium treet, Baramati (2023), 7Cr., 0.6KM.
- 8 to 80 Park, Sudarshan Chowk, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune (2021), 2Cr., 1550sq.m.
