The Under Space Revival | Aangan Collaborative LLP

The Under Space Revival, In the heart of Surat, a city known for its layered urban fabric and entrepreneurial spirit, an underused space beneath a flyover is reimagined—not as a leftover remnant of infrastructure, but as a vibrant, democratic ground for play and pause.

Set within one of the city’s busiest urban junctions—surrounded by schools, residential blocks, malls, and markets—this flyover under space had long remained underutilized to its potential. The design, for Surat Municipal Corporation, reframes this interstitial space as a sports facility for all, transforming it from a residual urban void into an accessible engine of community life.

At its core, the intervention embodies a belief in urban equity—that beauty, dignity, and access in cities should not be the privilege of a few. By activating the underside of infrastructure, the project tackles a deeper civic question: Why should aesthetics and active spaces be reserved only for the elite?

The design unfolds as a fluid pedestrian spine, surfaced with textured stone chips that serve both directional and anti-skid purposes. Along this soft-edged path, a series of enclosed micro-cement courts emerge—offering durable, high-performance surfaces for various sports. Encased within a lightweight skin of aluminum mesh and polycarbonate, the entire facility offers a sense of enclosure, security, and acoustic insulation from traffic chaos—while maintaining visual openness and breathability.

More than a sports venue, the intervention acts as a catalyst for urban cohesion. It bridges a critical gap in a dense neighborhood otherwise lacking open spaces, while also setting a precedent for adaptive reuse of flyover spaces in Indian cities. This is infrastructure, not as an obstruction, but as an opportunity.

Importantly, the project champions accessibility and affordability in design. With marginal entry fees, no exclusive membership, and open hours, it becomes a space of shared ownership—used by children, teens, working-class adults, and senior citizens alike.

This is urbanism at its most human: layered, open-ended, and designed to invite, not intimidate. In an age of privatized cities and gated experiences, the Surat Flyover Under space stands as a reminder that every corner of a city holds the potential to be transformed into a place of beauty, Activity, Vitality, and belonging.

Project Info

Architects: Aangan Collaborative LLP
Area: 1025 m²
Year: 2025
Country: Surat, India
Photographs: Vreidarch studio – Ar. Shivam Vasava
Manufacturers: Vyara
Structure Engineer: The Edifice Consultant
Tiling: Vyara Tiles
Principal Architect: Ar. Vishal Shah, Ar. Vishal Desai
Project Cordinator: Ar. Prakruti Desai
Project Engineer: Er. Harry Icecreamwala
Project Team: Ar. Roma Patel, UD. Juhi Desai
Fabricators: Shanti Structure Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Nandan Trada
Flooring: Vyara Tiles