Third Place Winner
Reform Wave
Design by
Shailee Bhatt
The concept of using marine drive's reform waves as inspiration for recycling waste and creating multifunctional street furniture is creative and innovative. Incorporating solar panels, 5g small cell antennas, and using recycled materials from local sources adds to the innovation. The proposed design aims to serve multiple functions such as sitting, waiting, talking, and providing breaks, making it functional. The use of solar panels and 5g small cell antennas for Wi-Fi, along with the incorporation of planting bay leaves for air purification and dustbins for cleanliness, adds to the practicality. The multifunctional design and consideration for user experience, such as providing seating and relaxation spaces along a busy shopping street, contribute positively. The incorporation of green elements and cleanliness facilities also enhances user comfort.
Shailee Bhatt
Shailee Bhatt, Professionally, she is an Architect with a postgraduate degree in Urban Design. Her design ideology is based on socio-economic principles for the community. She has worked on the master layout of housing, complex hospital designs, and urban redevelopment projects in India and Europe. Currently, she is focusing on her research topic in sustainable planning and design in architecture.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
Please introduce yourself briefly and provide some insights into your background in design.
This is Shailee Bhatt. Professionally I am an Architect with postgraduation in Urban Design. Design ideology is based on socio-economical design for the community. Worked on master layout of housing, complex hospital design and Urban redevelopment projects in India and Europe. Working towards my research topic in sustainable planning and design in architecture.
Could you give us an overview of your winning street furniture design?
The Reform Wave a concept is contextual design algorithm of an infamous ocean site: Mumbai City in India. Main purpose of design is to elaborate the function of space and usage by giving local and recycling idea to execute. Financially giving importance to contextual waste and transferring into a reuse element to work in any site with various dynamics of community expansion. Including distinct functions with pure environmental footstep towards pollution. Planting air purifying vegetation and energy saving elements are enhancing the design of an urban street art.
Urban street furniture plays a crucial role in enhancing the cityscape. How does your design consider the specific needs and aspirations of residents, visitors, and people with disabilities in urban settings?
Reform Wave: Near Mumbai marine drive, Veer Nariman road as per Bombay Municipal corporation the spine of five-meter road is full of green trees and proposal is asking for street furniture for beautification of a historic spine of a Victorian architecture. Providing shelter with usage of contextual materials with accessible approach to neighbourhood and retailers.
The design itself a shape of a form of a wave which is open from all directions to use, to sit, to lay down, either stand or using dustbin or putting phone for charging. Dustbin is depicted through tactile to understand by physically challenged people.
Sustainability is a key focus in this competition. How did you incorporate sustainable design principles into your street furniture design?
Through this design, I aim to incorporate the idea of reusing old materials for a new purpose, to create a sustainable design for multiple uses, and justice for reestablishing a legacy towards green designs. The design is inspired by natural ocean waves, as well as the choice of materials, which are recycled plastic from the sea and transformed into seating. Use old containers to renovate, redesign, or recycle to separate design and basic form.
Can you walk us through the stages of your design process? How did you approach the first ideation, development, and refinement of your concept?
The location was chosen based on its history and progress in reducing water pollution by removing plastic from the ocean. Local small businesses, such as Re Bell: Econiture, isolate the same amount of plastic for manufacturing recycled furniture. This brand is gaining clients and notoriety in the green market as part of the corporation's Better India programme. Collection of plastic trash, segregation of plastic by colour, processing of waste into small particles, and usage of these particles by moulding them into any shape of any design without any colour, metals, or particles. After the design has been set up, durability testing is performed. Container debris from the Port yard of Marine Drive was used as a sustainable material in the construction of urban structural walls.
Government of India has launched small 5g cell design as per TRAI for less wiring and easy internet for users.
Design is taking a shape of curve form in respect to provide wide audience to enjoy the space at a time. Incorporating 5g small cell and solar panel for energy consumption while provision of internet which is a key aspect of working anywhere. To keep hygiene, designed a dustbin in respect to collect a dry waste and recycle it for other purposes.
Use of Solar panels for collecting solar energy for charging pots in the shape of flower with parametric design.
Street furniture is a part of the urban fabric. How do you envision your street furniture design positively impacting individuals, communities, and the overall urban environment?
Visitor in a store nearby can charge their mobiles, take a break, and relax, wait for their partner outside the store underneath a solar panel roof pole shelter structure.
Reform Wave is an inviting street furniture to its nearby retails, stalls, parks, and commercials as they shop through the area and relax for their break or trip. It will attract various people, enjoy their free time, and take a break to avoid traffic on crossroads.
It’s shape and materials can be change as per the location of requirements. Ambiguities opportunities for use in Parks, open plaza and connecting street furniture.
Drawing from your experience, what advice would you give to aspiring designers who are enthusiastic about creating innovative and sustainable street furniture solutions?
In my opinion, upcoming new designers should focus on issues and their solutions. Generally, you can find it overlooking besides the idea of how you produce. Creating innovations through new techniques along with old materials ad try to make something new rather than making entirely new which will not last more than 5-10 years. As Urban designer, Public wants fresh and unique ideas which is fast and easy.
Winning the Urban Experience: Street Furniture Design Competition is a significant achievement. How does it feel to be recognized for your outstanding work?
This is my first ever experience in winning an award for my solo entry for a design competition, which made me astonished at first and am very honoured and humble to my mentors to given me the strength to achieve. I did not believe that I won a third prize, quite a surprising moment. It gave me confident.
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