Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary
Bhigwan is a small town on the border of Pune district in Maharashtra, India. Famous for birdwatching, the USP being the migrating flocks of flamingoes accommodated here, a bunch of viewing points have emerged for wildlife photography along the circumference of the Ujjaini River.
We were tasked with scoping, creating and developing a signage system for recognition and larger footfall at Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary
My Role
Wayfinding System
Identity Design
When we asked around local bus stands and tourist attractions of the city of Pune, if people had heard about the existence of Bhigwan, only 9 out of 47 people answered in the affirmative.
The Challenge
To increase the visibility of a bird sanctuary 7.56 acre large and create an internal and external wayfinding system that connects multiple viewpoints for visitors coming from different parts of the state
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The Solution
An external signage system that helps connect the highways to these viewing points- to an internal navigation system within the sanctuary that simply enhances the experience of birdwatching.
I first found out how people travelled to this Bhigwan and mapped out various decision- making points. As visitors comprised of locals and city folk who spoke the native language, we had to create bilingual signages.
Agneepankha Viewing Point
We then traveled to Agneepankha (Flamingo in hindi) to experience bird-watching as keen tourists. Agneepankha is a private nature conservation group handled by Sandeep Nagare. Further conversing with him, we found out that they host 1 and 2-day travelers ranging from Families, Birdwatchers, Photographers, Students, and Nature Enthusiasts.
Existing System
A 7.56 acre scape with 70% of barren land and 30% of marshy land near the river, the space has medium-sized shrubs and grass for visitors to pitch tents.
Designated parking spots and camping grounds were marked.
They also had one bathroom for visitors near the ticket collection point / eating area.
One Day Traveller
In response to the absence of amenities and the desire to explore revenue opportunities for the village, we aimed to introduce an operational system featuring cost-effective infrastructure and an effective signage system, transforming Agnipankha into an enriching experience.
Our proposed systems attempted to work towards the pain points brought up by each one of our stakeholders. It included allocation of sanitation facilities that were very limited in the existing system, revenue streams that benefitted the internal workings of the sanctuary. Minimum cost of material sourcing for the signage, and sustained information systems for visitors to navigate through the space as they learned about it
Design System
Taking inspiration from the shape of the flamingo these signage stand tall to avoid short shrubs and water in their way.
Bilingual boards with ground mounted and made out of aluminium anti-corrosive and UV-resistant composite panels were suggested
Every board has a minimum of 3 feet as a clearance height. The clearance height has been determined after analyzing the user’s cone of vision. The parking and cycle routes have a 5 foot clearance range due to less information, they are being placed at a distance for people to notice.
