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Architecture

07-03-2026

Photographer : Vreidarch studio – Ar. Shivam Vasava

Text provided by Architect

In the dynamic heart of Surat—a city celebrated for its layered urban fabric, ceaseless movement, and entrepreneurial pulse—lies an unexpected transformation. Beneath the soaring concrete span of a busy flyover, a once-overlooked void has been reimagined with intention, empathy, and urban intelligence. What was earlier seen as an inevitable leftover of infrastructure is now recast as a vibrant ground for play, interaction, and community life—a living example of how neglected urban interstices can be reactivated for the public good.

This particular flyover under space sits at one of Surat’s most active junctions, bordered by residential clusters, schools, retail corridors, malls, and bustling markets. Despite its strategic location within such a dense and energetic neighbourhood, the space had long existed without purpose—relegated to the category of ‘urban residue.’ The design intervention, conceived for the Surat Municipal Corporation, uses this unique setting as an opportunity to redefine the narrative. Instead of allowing the space to persist as an unused void, the project reshapes it into a fully functional and inclusive sports facility—an offering to the city that enhances public health, social cohesion, and urban vitality.

At the heart of the project lies a strong commitment to urban equity. The idea that beauty, dignity, and well-designed public spaces should be accessible only to a select few is challenged head-on. By activating the underside of the flyover—a typology typically associated with neglect—the project raises a larger civic question: Why should high-quality public spaces and recreational environments be confined to privileged zones? Why should the everyday urban experience be compromised for the majority? Through its sensitive design choices, the intervention positions itself as a counterpoint to this disparity, arguing that inclusive spaces can and should emerge from the most unexpected corners.

Surat,gujarat,india

Architects	:	Aangan Collaborative LLP
Area	:	11,033 sq. ft.
Year of Completion	:	2025
Website	:	https://instagram.com/aangan_architects?utm_medium=copy_link

Exterior view of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

Passage that connects play area of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

Pedestrian Path of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

The spatial organisation unfolds through a gently meandering pedestrian spine, finished with textured stone chips that offer direction, grip, and an understated visual rhythm. This spine becomes the primary movement channel along which a series of enclosed micro-cement courts are arranged. These courts—robust, low-maintenance, and engineered for performance—bring together the needs of a wide spectrum of sports and users. A lightweight envelope of aluminium mesh and polycarbonate wraps the courts, creating a semi-permeable skin that ensures safety, mitigates noise from the busy junctions outside, and allows natural light to filter through. It strikes a harmonious balance between enclosure and openness—providing security without sacrificing breathability or visual connectivity.

However, the project’s impact extends beyond its materiality and programming. It functions as a vital social catalyst in a neighbourhood starved of open and recreational spaces. In many Indian cities, flyover under spaces are typically abandoned, encroached, or treated as logistical backyards. This intervention challenges that stereotype by demonstrating how such fragments of the city can be thoughtfully repurposed to serve collective needs. It sets a compelling precedent for adaptive reuse at an urban scale—one that other cities can replicate as a sustainable model for public space creation.

Pedestrian Path of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

Seating space of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

Community Area of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

Accessibility forms the backbone of the project’s ethos. With minimal entry fees, no membership structures, and generous operating hours, the facility becomes a truly democratic space—where socioeconomic background does not determine access. Children from nearby schools, teenagers seeking a safe zone to play, working adults looking for a recreational break, and senior citizens in need of gentle activity—all find their place here. The design fosters a sense of shared ownership, where users feel welcomed, not intimidated.

Badminton Court of The Under Space Revival by Aangan Collaborative LLP

Ultimately, this space showcases an approach to urbanism that is human-centric—layered, intuitive, and generous. At a time when cities increasingly lean towards privatized enclaves and exclusive recreational formats, the Surat Flyover Under Space stands as a refreshing counter-narrative. It reminds us that the city’s potential for beauty and belonging is not limited to its iconic monuments or manicured plazas but is equally embedded in its forgotten pockets.

This intervention invites us to rethink the city—not as a collection of rigid boundaries but as a landscape of possibilities. It asserts that every hidden corner, every infrastructural underside, and every overlooked fragment holds the promise of transformation. Through thoughtful design and civic imagination, ordinary spaces can be reborn into extraordinary places of activity, vitality, and community pride.