The Living Threshold

Inspire is proud to announce that Jeel Patel’s submittal for Tactical Urbanism NOW! 2025 has been selected as a finalist. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about the important work our employees are doing, both inside and outside the office. As part of a collaborative entry for the Tactical Urbanism NOW competition by Terraviva, Jeel's team developed The Living Threshold, a project reimagining the vulnerable boundary of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. The competition encouraged designers to transform overlooked spaces through small, low-cost, community-driven interventions.

Responding to the park’s shrinking edges and ongoing urban encroachment, the proposal challenges the idea of a solid boundary wall. Instead, it envisions the edge as an active, community-led interface an approach aimed at protecting the park by the people and for the people.

Using simple modular units, the design adapts to varied site conditions while empowering residents to shape and maintain the space. These modules create pockets for resting, gathering, play, community gardens, bird habitats, and pollinator-friendly landscapes. Partnerships with upcycling groups like ReCharkha further support sustainable material use.

Across social, communal, and ecological zones, The Living Threshold demonstrates how tactical, incremental interventions can safeguard biodiversity while enhancing everyday public life along the park’s edge. Ultimately , it shows how small, collective actions can transform an encroached boundary into a vibrant shared space for both people and nature.

Written by Jeel Patel