Spaces Below the Bridge, Mumbai

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Area: 2.60 Km long Bridge
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Year: December 2021 till March 2022
Scope of Work: Urban & Landscape Design (Concept Proposal)

Re-Imaging the Urban Void: SEEPZ Gate 3 Flyover Bridge Design by Mumbai Architect

Mumbai is expanding and so the per sq.ft. open space available to all is reducing at an alarming rate. Currently in 2025 it is predicted to have gone down lesser than 1.0 Sq.M. space per Person. While we work in the city for developing luxurious architectural & interior projects, as a concerned Architect practicing in Mumbai we were very keen to overlook spaces which have the potential to be developed by the Municipal Corporation. Therefore, in the suburbs of Mumbai, at Andheri we preferred SEEPZ Bridge as it was 2.6 Km long, had a gradual slope, and has interesting spaces below it with trees. We recognized the potential for transformation and suggested our vision to develop a Bamboo groove. This will also include and elevated walkway, a paved walkway with landscaped spaces around, children’s play space, a mountain climbing wall amongst other features.

Although the project was not realized due to the shift in government priorities, the Proposal remains a compelling case study in how design can shape livability & community engagement.

The project highlights a broader shift in Urban design discourse where “spaces beneath bridges”, often stigmatized are now being viewed as critical to the health & vibrancy of our cities.

We hope this proposal of ours inspires others and specifically government officials to better develop such unused spaces in the city. Even though the project will further get developed in some other way or form, but this design echoes the core philosophy of our firm Atelier ARBO.

With this project we thought of serving the city not just in form but inspirit and hoped the design would invite Mumbai to look beneath these bridges – not for blight, but for beauty, possibility and connection.