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Parametric Infrastructure at Scale: rat[LAB] Studio’s Role in Bharat Vandana Park, New Delhi
- rat[LAB] Press
- Jul 18
- 5 min read
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A National Landmark in the Making
Bharat Vandana Park is envisioned as one of the most ambitious public infrastructure projects in India’s capital city—a massive 220-acre thematic recreational complex being developed in Dwarka, New Delhi. With an architectural language rooted in symbolism, culture, and ecology, this urban mega-park is positioned to become a central landmark for residents and visitors alike. The project is spearheaded by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), executed by NBCC (India) Ltd., and designed by Arcop Associates, with structural consulting from Eckersley O’Callaghan (UK).
Spread across a lotus-inspired masterplan, the park will host multiple thematic zones—ranging from a "Mini India" petal housing replicas of iconic monuments to boating lakes, adventure zones, meditation spaces, and ecologically restored water bodies. At its centerpiece lies a striking infrastructural feature: a 1.2 km-long skybridge supported by nine 50-meter-tall pylons—a structural and architectural feat demanding the highest level of precision, coordination, and design resolution.
Where Design Meets Complexity: The Need for Computational Rationalization
While Bharat Vandana Park stands as a feat of design imagination and engineering, translating its ambitious geometry into constructible reality presented a unique challenge. Enter rat[LAB] Studio Studio—a specialist in computational design and parametric modeling—who was brought in to assist the architects and structural consultants by rationalizing this complexity into a coordinated, constructible, and fabrication-ready digital framework.
Although rat[LAB] Studio was not involved in the architectural design, our core contribution was the development of a robust Parametric BIM workflow to translate high-level design intent into precise geometry. At the heart of our involvement was the rationalization of the 50-meter pylons and the continuous 1.2-kilometer skywalk, which span the central axis of the park and offer panoramic views across the site.
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What is Parametric BIM?
Traditional BIM workflows often rely on static 3D models embedded with information. However, when working with highly dynamic and non-linear geometries, such as the curving pylons and bridge decks of Bharat Vandana Park, a parametric approach becomes essential. What we term as "Parametric BIM" at rat[LAB] Studio is the integration of rule-based geometries and data-rich models that not only represent form but also embed relationships, constraints, and logic into every element.
For Bharat Vandana Park, this meant creating a model capable of:
Simulating multiple design scenarios.
Encoding structural logic into geometric parameters.
Coordinating with architectural and structural teams to ensure accuracy.
Segmenting geometries into a "kit of parts" for ease of fabrication and assembly.
Serving as a digital twin for future development and facility management.
Skybridge and Pylon Geometry: A Kit-of-Parts Approach
The nine pylons that support the skybridge were anything but conventional. These 45- to 50-meter-tall structures were conceived as sculptural vertical elements with complex diagrid structures. To enable their realization, rat[LAB] Studio created a high-resolution parametric model that discretized each pylon into thousands of components.
Each node, strut, and panel was parametrically defined, making it possible to not only visualize the structure but also to map fabrication logic, tolerance, and material behavior. The skywalk segments—spanning over 1.2 km—were coordinated to seamlessly integrate into this system, accounting for curvature, structural dynamics, and real-world constraints such as crane erection height limits imposed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Our model became the common ground for coordination between Arcop (Architects) and Eckersley O’Callaghan (Structural Consultants). With thousands of interrelated elements, only a parametric system could facilitate real-time change management and validation.
Computational Design as a Bridge Between Disciplines
In projects of this scale, cross-disciplinary alignment is paramount. rat[LAB] Studio’s computational design tools and parametric workflows provided a neutral, data-rich platform where structural loads, architectural form, and fabrication tolerances could be aligned without compromising the original vision.
We worked with:
Architects: Arcop Associates
Structural Engineers: Eckersley O'Callaghan (UK)
Client: NBCC (India) Ltd.
Governing Authority: Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
rat[LAB] Studio’s role, though behind the scenes, was instrumental in bridging the gap between design and realization. The success of this digital coordination directly contributed to smoother workflows on site, better-informed decisions during procurement, and enhanced clarity for fabrication teams.
Digitizing the Park: Creating a Digital Twin
By encoding geometric logic, component hierarchies, and assembly sequences into our model, we effectively built a digital twin of the skywalk-pylon system. This virtual prototype is not merely a visualization but a performance-aware, data-centric representation that simulates construction, monitors tolerances, and integrates material logistics.
It has the potential to be extended into the operation and maintenance stages of the project—a growing application of digital twins in infrastructure development.
Challenges Faced
Extreme Detail Resolution: With over thousands of elements involved, precision modeling was critical. Tolerances had to be accounted for digitally to avoid surprises on site.
Coordination Delays: As the project spans years and involves multiple teams, maintaining model relevance required agile updates and version control.
Non-linear Geometry: Rationalizing complex, organic forms into repeatable modules required a deep understanding of computational geometry.
On-site Constraints: Crane limitations, prefabrication feasibility, and load dynamics needed to be factored into the model.
Construction Status
As of 2025, Bharat Vandana Park is approximately 87-88% complete. Key infrastructural components like the skywalk and pylons have moved into advanced stages of erection. According to public sources, a partial public opening is expected in mid-2025, with full completion scheduled by the end of the year.
The project is expected to become one of Delhi's largest and most dynamic recreational destinations, equipped with sustainable water systems, animatronic attractions, and event venues—making it a true cultural-ecological hybrid.
rat[LAB] Studio: Beyond Buildings, Into Systems
This project reaffirmed rat[LAB] Studio Studio’s role as not just designers, but enablers of complex systems. Our years of experience in computational design found new application in a public infrastructure typology—a sector often governed by traditional workflows.
With Bharat Vandana Park, we pushed our own boundaries of what parametric modeling could achieve. Our contribution to this project marks a key milestone in our journey to redefine how infrastructure, geometry, and computation intersect in the urban fabric of India.
Project Credits
Project Name: Bharat Vandana Park
Location: Dwarka, New Delhi, India
Site Area: 220 Acres
Skybridge Length: ~1.2 km
Pylon Height: ~45-50 meters
Client: NBCC (India) Ltd.
Architects: Arcop Associates
Structural Consultants: Eckersley O'Callaghan, UK
Parametric Modeling & Geometric Rationalization: rat[LAB] Studio
Governing Body: Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
Final Thoughts
Bharat Vandana Park is not just a public park—it's a convergence of design, engineering, ecology, and digital innovation. Through our deep engagement in computational design, rat[LAB] Studio Studio helped shape the structural and geometric backbone of this complex public project.
As the park prepares to open its doors, we are proud to be part of a collective effort that brought together the best of architecture, structure, and computation. This is infrastructure reimagined—where every curve is coded, every node is data-driven, and every element tells a story of precision and collaboration.
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#ParametricDesign #BIM #ComputationalDesignIndia #PublicInfrastructure #BharatVandanaPark #ratLABStudio #SkywalkDesign #DigitalTwin #Arcop #EckersleyOCallaghan #NBCC #DDA
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