Ahmedabad, the city with many unique things of visitor attraction, is glowing with yet another embellishment, and of a new genre. A Glow Garden, in the heart of the city, with a vast variety of enticingly glowing flora and fauna. Two locally-based solution providers came together to weave in the magic of lights amidst dense greenery.
An SIA exclusive this month:
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Ahmedabad – the capital city of Gujarat – is known for many things. While being rich in history and culture, heritage, traditional amalgamations, it is also known for its strides in science and technology, research, education and entertainment, and the new genre of infotainment.
The latest embellishment to adorn the city’s appeal and tryst with modernity is the Glow Garden on the Sabarmati Riverfront- an ambitiously envisioned infotainment project initiated by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL).
Conceived as an experientially immersive initiative that redefines the traditional concept of a botanical garden, the project seeks to blur the boundaries between technology and nature with a mesmerizing display of light, color, and wonderment.
“It’s as if you’re strolling in a garden of flowers glittering in the dark,” says Dip Patel, Managing Director of White Engery Picovolt Private Limited, the design consultant for the project. “As you wander through the gardens, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights that bring the natural beauty of the flora to life,” Patel explains. “The innovative use of LED lights and fiber optics creates an ethereal atmosphere, making one feel as though one is walking through a dream world.”
In brief, the Glow Garden is characterized by:
- Over 50,000 square feet of illuminated gardens and exhibits
- Interactive experiences that respond to visitor movements and emotion
- Advanced LED lighting technology
- Interactive installations that adapt to the environment
According to him, the Glow Garden – or the Night Flower Park, as the lighting integration project is also called – is a revolutionary outdoor space where art, technology, and nature converge to create an unforgettable experience.
The lights are carefully programmed to simulate the natural growth patterns of the plants, creating an ever-changing display of colour and light that is both mesmerizing and educational.
The objective behind this SRFDCL initiative was to create something unique visitor attraction in the heart of the city that is easily accessible from all parts of the city, and an ensemble that mesmerizes every one of every age group.
“Having been entrusted with the big responsibility, we decided that it should be an interactive experience that invites visitors to engage with the natural world in new and exciting ways,” informs the Rahul Yadav, Director of White Energy. “The garden should respond to the movements and emotions of its visitors, creating a truly immersive and dynamic experience.”
GLOW GARDEN FACT FILEProject Name: Night Flower Park (Glow Garden) Project Location: Riverfront Flower Park, Riverfront, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Project Owner: Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) Project Segment: Infotainment Project AV Design Consultant: M/s. White Energy Picovolt Private Limited, Gujarat Project AV Systems Integrator: M/s. Aura Bright Light India Private Limited Project Cost: ₹ 3.67 crore (with three-year comprehensive O&M) Project Commencement date: 1st October 2024 Project Commission date: 3rd January 2025 |
According to him, an essential part of their job was to clinically assess the client needs, recommend fixtures that precisely meet the requirement, and create plans that enhance aesthetics while ensuring functionality and energy efficiency.
“Our expertise focuses on transforming environments, with an emphasis on safety and ambiance while adhering to industry standards,” Yadav prides. “We were in fact glad that we measured the client intent right,” he explains. “They appreciated and endorsed our designs and recommendations.”
Stroll the glow in the dark
As one strolls through the garden’s winding paths, one will experience a mesmerizing array of illuminated flora and fauna, carefully designed to mimic the natural world. From towering trees that shimmer like stars to delicately tiny flowers that bloom with an ethereal glow, every detail has been meticulously crafted to transport visitors to a world of wonder and awe.
Among the glowing greenery, a pride of luminescent lions laze in the shadows, their manes shimmering with an ethereal light. Nearby, a family of radiant hares hop playfully, their fur aglow with a soft, pulsing glow. The gentle creatures seem to be one with the garden greenery, their bioluminescent bodies blending seamlessly into the radiant landscape.
As the night falls, the uniquely vast diversity of luminescent creatures come alive, transforming the already enchanting garden into a realm of wonderment.
Wild fauna glowing in the dark, is present a spectacle that has not been hitherto seen, and captivates visitors like nothing.
Consider the glowing wonders:
- Dynamic Glowing Pixel Entry Gate with gobo projection
- Glowing Animals: Beer family, lion family, tiger family, giraffe family, deer family, rabbit family, tortoise family, zebra, elephant, horse, herd of peacocks, swarm of butterflies etc.
- Glowing Trees & Plants: 500 nos of glowing rose, over 10-feet-high cherry trees, 25 nos of lotus, two numbers of lotus plants size of 6 ft long, 20 nos. of 360-degree rotation base sunflower, 6 nos of coconut palm trees, 6 nos of willow tree, 60 nos. of bamboo trees etc.
- Glowing Installation: 6 nos of swing, 10X 8 ft long butterfly swing and 8 nos of bench & table, 32-ft long dynamic object, 60-ft long name backlight glowing name of location, 8-meter height and 4-meter long 3D fountain, 15 nos of glowing balls etc.
- Glowing Tunnel: 200 ft long triangle shaped tunnel, 150 ft half-circular tunnel
- Glowing Pathway: 200-meter glowing kerb stone and paver block, and 300-meter glowing pathway
- Interactive glowing touch base round shape element with synchronic music system.
- 3D Glowing Element: With a view to engaging children, glowing characters of Chota Bhim, Motu-Patlu, Chutki, Doraemon etc.
Hard work behind the glow in the dark
Unique effort that it is, the Glow Garden hasn’t come to life without a challenge. It indeed pose many, some of them being very tricky, and potential too.
“Initial impression of the site was not that overwhelming; but the site was completely undulated,” Rahul discloses. “We had to explore our options to stabilize the installations in such a way that while installing the elements it should give a proper perspective view.”
Being very rich and densely vegetated, the site is full of trees, both big and small, and the designers wanted to make them part of the project with a view to giving a feel of natural habitat to visitors.
Also, being a government project with a slew of stakeholders – different government departments, local civic authorities and agencies relating to various functions – coordinating with all of them, and bringing them on common platform for strategic decisions was a big challenge of its own kind.
“Coordinating all that did demand a fair degree of patience and composure,” admit the White Energy execs.
“Good lighting design can make a space, but great lighting design can transform it,” comments Dip Patel. “We create a new concept of Night Walk for tourists,” he asserts. “Post inauguration, the park witnessed three-fold increase in its visitor flow.”
