Transforming a neglected urban void into a thriving public space, One Hive houses a tranquil urban plaza within a commercial mixed-use campus in the bustling financial district of Mumbai. Catering to over 2,000 corporates working in the campus, One Hive has become a relaxing open space for lunch, informal meetings and campus events.

Preserving the existing trees and plants on site were amongst the cornerstones of the design. The triangular space has a simple organization with a system of prefabricated modular concrete pods forming an amphitheatre on its two sides forming a dynamic seating arrangement.

These pods are made from recycled concrete aggregate giving carbon credits to the LEED Platinum building campus. Designed sensitively with three different modules: a grow module with planters within, a seating module with edge seating and a step module. Minutely crafted details of leaf imprints add a touch of softness to the otherwise concrete pods.

A simple concrete plinth was the base work for these prefabricated concrete pods, which were then directly transported to site and assembled to formulate the seating. The natural result is an organic, staggered arrangement comprising dynamic seating and steps interspersed with landscape and trees that connect the different levels of the amphitheatre.

The central part of the plaza is a raised deck with tensile canopies for shade and seating below. Food trucks are parked on the edge allowing for temporary cafes that enliven the space during lunch hours.
The edge seating and the central plaza is seamlessly integrated with a dynamically designed flooring pattern made with stonecrete, a mixture of locally available natural stone and concrete, allowing for a seamless walking surface and increased durability. The landscape is richly planted with local species of trees and shrubs further reducing urban heat island effect and improving the air quality.

Project Data

Landscape Architecture: StudioPOD

Other designers involved in the design of landscape:

Lead Landscape Architect and Urban Designer: StudioPOD
Softscape Expert: Enviroscape
Lighting Consultant: Lighting Concepts
MEP Consultant: Arkk Consulting

Design year: 2020

Year Built: 2021

Client: Nucleus Office Parks

Photographer: Umang Shah, Manish Malli

Manufacturer of urban equipment: Godrej and Boyce Construction – Pre-cast Recycled Concrete aggregate pods