22 May 2020
Sustainable Solutions for India’s Architectural Landmarks – Smriti Van Earthquake Memorial
Gabion structures with Macline GCL chosen for their flexibility, durability and aesthetic appeal
Bhuj, Gujrat – Smriti Van Earthquake Memorial, commemorates the death of more than 13,000 people in the 2001 earthquake. This project was conceived by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat during that period.
The memorial design included 52 step wells which are interconnected with four distinctive shapes that complement the natural beauty of the surroundings. To remember the loss of life of loved ones, trees were planted, each representing a victim and these trees are irrigated by the check dams storing rain harvested water.
As the location falls under the Seismic Zone V, the structure was required to be flexible, durable and sustainable. Maccaferri India proposed permeable gabions structures with MacLine GCL (Geosynthetic Clay Liner) making them suitable to store water. Gabions structures were chosen over conventional RCC structures thanks to their lower carbon emission and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Maccaferri gabions made from steel wire protected with Galmac (zinc – aluminium alloy) & PVC coating were used for the first time in India. Approximately, 50,000 cum of gabions and 15,000 sqm of MacLine GCL were used for this project. The stones used to fill the gabions were chiseled in order to make 0.15m thick steps and were fabricated at site under Maccaferri’s expert technical assistance.
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