Breach Candy Childrens Park in Mumbai, Maharashtra

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Area: 3.0 Acre land
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Year: Feb 2025
Scope of Work: Urban & Landscape Design (Concept Proposal)

A Design Proposal by Atelier ARBO for Mr. Anand Mahindra

In the heart of South Mumbai’s historic Breach Candy neighbourhood, Atelier ARBO envisions a reimagined children’s park that celebrates play, nature, and community. Proposed as a design concept to Mr. Anand Mahindra, the Breach Candy Children’s Park seeks to transform a modest green parcel into a thoughtfully designed urban haven where every element nurtures curiosity, joy, and a sense of belonging.

This proposal aspires to extend the legacy of the Harish Mahindra Children’s Park, revitalising it as a model of contemporary landscape design that remains deeply rooted in its cultural and urban context. ARBO’s vision is to create a layered, sensory landscape—one that encourages children to explore textures, sounds, and colours while reconnecting families to nature amid the dense fabric of Mumbai city life.

The design philosophy centres on three key ideas:

Play as Discovery – Beyond conventional playgrounds, the space invites learning through movement, storytelling, and imagination. Sculptural play elements, natural materials, and topographic mounds allow children to engage freely and creatively.
Nature as Nurture – Indigenous planting, shaded canopies, and butterfly-friendly landscapes provide a safe, climate-resilient micro-environment that supports biodiversity while offering comfort and shade to parents and children alike.
Community as Connection – The park’s spatial layout includes inclusive seating zones, reading corners, and small amphitheatre steps for storytelling sessions and weekend performances—encouraging social exchange and civic pride.

Architect Rinka D'Monte's design proposal balances artistry with functionality, using locally sourced stone, tactile pathways, and vibrant yet durable materials suited for Mumbai’s tropical conditions. Rainwater harvesting and permeable surfaces are integrated to make the park environmentally responsible and low-maintenance.

Nestled between residential enclaves and the Arabian Sea, this envisioned children’s park becomes more than a play space—it becomes a breathing space for the city, a sanctuary where the laughter of children blends with the rhythm of the waves. It symbolises the potential of design to heal urban environments and re-ignite the city’s connection to its green commons.

Through this proposal, Atelier ARBO pays tribute to the Mahindra family’s legacy of community-oriented development, offering a landscape that celebrates childhood, creativity, and care for the earth in equal measure.