PROFESSOR SHONKU PARK

In the midst of redefining public parks in today’s era and a city born of culture, the design of the thematic Professor Shonku Park is an attempt to bring to life one of the most affectionate science fiction creations of Satyajit Ray, the famous director of Bengal Cinema

- Sujoy Das

Professor Shonku Park 

The site for the thematic park occurs between two contrasting settings of urban and environmental significance – the mall of City Centre 2 with a large residential complex and an ecologically diverse wetland ecosystem [which was visited by rare and migratory aquatic fauna]. Pollution and spreading urbanization had disturbed the sensitive aquatic ecosystem. The two-acre government property had been previously used as a garbage dumping site with a nala along it.

Design 

The design is meant to not only create a bridge between these spaces but also provide a transition between them. The native landscape of Kolkata before urbanization was characterized by swamps, ponds and wetlands as it is located on the flood plains of the river Hooghly. These aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological systems now occur as patches and fragment throughout the city and consist of essential wetland flora and fauna including IUCN Red List protected Fishing Cats and Marsh Mongooses. Habitats of such wildlife also used to occur near the site of Professor Shonku Park.