Sikandarpur Pahadi – Lopez Design

Finding your way through Sikandarpur Pahadi

WAYFINDING STRATEGY + SIGNAGE SYSTEM + IDENTITY DESIGN + PLACEMAKING + TECHNICAL DETAILING + SUPERVISION & QC

The stone inlay map sign gives an overview of the forest topography, access points and connecting roads.

Spanning 80 acres of land, the ecological park of Sikandarpur Pahadi is an integral feature of the Gurugram landscape. Located in the northern region of the Aravalli foothills, this forested region is the site of a large scale eco-restoration project undertaken by iamgurgaon, a citizen-driven initiative. iamgurgaon’s mission is to restore Gurugram’s green habitat and bring ecological balance for which they collaborate with various partners. Lopez Design joined hands in their endeavour to bring back the green, happy for the opportunity to give back to the community. Our role involved us in designing a wayfinding and signage system that would help people navigate and explore the Sikandarpur Pahadi forest and it's trails.

The face of the forest: Project Identity and it’s translation in stone.

We translated the identity that is inspired by the native Chamrod tree, using a pink stone that reflects the natural beauty of the region. The typefaces Mukta and IBM Plex Sans were selectively paired for the signage system.

Directional signs guide visitors to the landmark destinations. The signage design system allows more content to be displayed by panel size variation.

The orientation map gives an overview of all the landmarks and the exploratory trails.

Landmark Identification Sign with interpretive content on the back.

Portrait panel signs are tall in height, and carry content on both sides. The front side carries the Identification Sign of the location, while the rear supports the mission of iamgurgaon with educative information about the upcycling processes and materials used for the restoration of the forest.

The signs are fabricated out of stone and powder coated mild steel, taking into consideration their hardiness, sustainability and wear and tear. A shade of auburn red was selected, as this clearly stands out against the dense green backdrop of the forest cover. The signs are designed for low maintenance, easy repair and are vandalism resistant. The sign panels vary in size while the form remains consistent, so that the system is effective and appropriate across a range of applications.

Location signage like this one for the Heart Pond Loop, doubles as both Identification and Directional sign, orienting visitors to their destination by providing the travel distance.

The trail identification signs convey information on the length of the trails and time taken to cover them. Each trail is defined by signs on both ends to enhance the pedestrian experience. A cluster of interpretive zones have been built near each of the four entrances. These narrate the history of the site and particulars about the flora and fauna of the region.

Sign family includes directional, identification, information, interpretive and behavioural signs.

Sikandarpur Pahadi is not just another restored forest. It welcomes a shift in public perception: towards a greener tomorrow, towards collective ownership of landmarks such as forests, and towards pride and participation in the uplifting of the city. Our firm is humbled to have had the chance to strengthen the space through our measured interventions.

Team

Mainak Das

Spatial Experience Designer

Gerleo Nimalan

Communication Designer

Kashika Kharbanda

Product Designer

Aditi Lunia

Spatial Experience Designer

Era Namjoshi

Communication Designer

Ajay Sharma