The Mumbai Green Mile design responds to the existing flyover’s limited accessibility, unused spaces, lack of greenery and physical amenities, as well as significant ambient noise pollution. The client initially proposed to repaint the existing structure with blue graphics made by local street artists to assert a strong visual identity for the revitalisation. Expanding upon the design by local architecture office StudioPOD, MVRDV extended this visual identity to all elements of the space, with sinuous blue stripes indicating the new pedestrian route and creating a concept for the Mumbai Green Mile that offers a delightful and holistic urban spatial experience.    

A hilly landscape of stonecrete and recycled rubber paving transforms the 2-dimensional visual features into a 3D spatial experience, accommodating a whole range of different programs and providing a dynamic physical attraction that articulates and defines the intervention’s bold character and qualities. Visual accent colours in materials and graphics make all aspects of the intervention recognizable as a whole. The space is divided into a series of public “rooms” with diverse functions: lounge, gym, shaded seating area, performance space, and reading room.

The project exemplifies a circular economy approach. The design increases the social utility and value of the flyover itself; in addition to transporting cars, it acquires a new purpose as a sheltered, occupiable public space. It thus contributes greatly to the social sustainability and resilience of the area, providing needed play areas for children, informal study spaces, and social amenities in which communities can strengthen their bonds. Engineering features store and filter monsoon water to irrigate the Green Mile’s extensive network of plants.

Adding to the current 800m project, a future extension will expand the public space revitalization to 3 km of the flyover’s 11.22 km total stretch, which extends from Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi racecourse to the Dharavi Mangrove Region.