Akhilesh Shisodia | Urbanism Portfolio 2016-21 | TU Delft

AKHILESH SHISODIA MSc. Urbanism ‘23, TU Delft Selected works 2016-2021

AKHILESH AKHILESH SHISODIA SHISODIA

a.s.shisodia@student.tudelft.nl a.s.shisodia@student.tudelft.nl +31-682312510 +31-682312510 Language: English,English, Hindi Hindi Language:

EDUCATION EDUCATION

AWARDS AWARDS

Technische TechnischeUniversiteit UniversiteitDelft Delft

The The Holland Holland Scholarship Scholarship (Multiple) (Multiple)

MSc. MSc. Architecture Architecture&&Built BuiltEnvironment Environment (Urbanism) (Urbanism) 2021-23 2021-23

2021 2021 | Msc. | Msc. Urbanism Urbanism

School School of of Planning Planningand andArchitecture Architecture (Bhopal) (Bhopal)

Dr.Dr. D.S. D.S. Meshram Meshram National National BestBest Thesis Thesis

B.PLAN| B.PLAN| Class Classof of2020 2020 Graduated GraduatedFirst FirstClass Class(CGPA (CGPA8.26/10.0) 8.26/10.0)

2020 2020 | Second | Second Award Award

TU TU Delft Delft

Unlocking Unlocking Underground Underground Real Real Estate, Estate, Connaught Connaught Place Place

Best Best Thesis Thesis Award Award | Urban | Urban Planning Planning

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE mHS mHS CityLab CityLab||Delhi, Delhi,India India January January 2021 2021--Present Present||Researcher Researcher

2020 2020 | School | School of Planning of Planning and and Architecture, Architecture, Bhopal Bhopal Unlocking Unlocking Underground Underground Real Real Estate, Estate, Connaught Connaught Place Place

Neo-Delhi Neo-Delhi Design Design Competition Competition 2019 2019 | Honorable | Honorable Mention Mention UNIUNI Competitions Competitions

Produced ProducedContstruction Contstructiondrawings, drawings,graphic graphic && research research for:for:

B4h B4h Resilient Resilient Design Design Competition Competition

- NEEV: NEEV: Digital Digitaltool toolfor foraccessible accessiblehousing housing parameters parameters

2018 2018 | Third | Third Prize Prize

SEEDS SEEDS India India||Delhi, Delhi,India India February February 2021 2021--March March2021 2021| |Consultant Consultant - AI: AI: Early Early warning warningmechanisms mechanismsagainst against heatwaves heatwaves (Micro-scale) (Micro-scale) (In association associationwith withMicrosoft Microsoft&&Gramener) Gramener)

UrbanWorks UrbanWorksa+u a+u||Johannesburg, Johannesburg,SASA

Disaster Disaster Resilient Resilient Resettlement Resettlement | Bangladesh | Bangladesh

SqrFactor: SqrFactor: Housing Housing for for OneOne 2018 2018 | Top | Top 30 30

TetriLocked TetriLocked SqrFoot SqrFoot House House

Current Current Practices Practices Trophy Trophy | NOSPlan | NOSPlan XIX XIX 2017 2017 | Winner | Winner

October October 2020 2020--December December2020 2020| |Urban Urban Design Design Intern Intern

Kakinada Kakinada Waterfront Waterfront Project Project | Andhra | Andhra Pradesh Pradesh

Produced Produceddesign designdrawings, drawings,iterative iterative models models && visualizations visualizations for:for:

Urban Urban Writing Writing Scripts Scripts | NOSPlan | NOSPlan XIX XIX

- Operationalising Operationalisingthe theIUDF IUDFRoadmap Roadmap (Major (Major Designer) Designer) - Township TownshipEconomic EconomicDevelopment Development Strategy Strategy (Team) (Team) - Braamfontein BraamfonteinPublic PublicEnvironment Environment Upgrade Upgrade (Team) (Team) May May -- August August2019 2019||Intern Intern - JFP JFP Market MarketPrecinct PrecinctDevelopment DevelopmentStrategy Strategy (Team) (Team) - Balfour Balfour Mall MallPrecinct PrecinctReal RealEstate EstateNarrative Narrative (Team) (Team)

Senvo Senvo India India May May 2018 2018||Intern Intern - DDA DDA Govt.

Govt.Residential ResidentialProject Project(Team) (Team)

2017 2017 | Winner | Winner

Kathakaar: Kathakaar: CityCity as an asOrganism an Organism

Vowels Vowels Studio Studio Design Design Competition Competition 2017 2017 | Top | Top 8 8

Vowels Vowels India: India: The The Courtyard Courtyard Council Council

PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS Research Research Papers Papers Incongruities Incongruities in ainSocialistic a Socialistic Smart Smart City City 2019 2019 | Presented | Presented & Published & Published | Karlsruhe, | Karlsruhe, Germany Germany

SKILLS SKILLS 3D Modelling Modelling

RealCorp RealCorp Conference Conference 20192019

Vernacular Vernacular Architecture Architecture for the for the Displaced Displaced 2018 2018 | Presented | Presented & Published & Published | Bali, | Bali, Indonesia Indonesia

Sketchup, Sketchup,Houdini, Houdini,Rhinoceros Rhinoceros

ICCCS ICCCS 2018 2018

Graphics Graphics

Planning Planning forfor thethe ‘Urban ‘Urban Displaced’ Displaced’

Photoshop, Photoshop,Indesign, Indesign,Illustrator, Illustrator,MS MS Office Office

Animation/ Animation/Rendering Rendering

2018 2018 | Presented | Presented & Published & Published | Delhi, | Delhi, IndiaIndia UPACE UPACE 2018 2018

Blender, Blender, Vray, Vray,Lumion, Lumion,Twinmotion Twinmotion

Book Book Chapters Chapters

Mapping Mapping

Lessons Lessons forfor humanitarian humanitarian architecture architecture

QGIS QGIS ,ESRI ,ESRIArcGIS, ArcGIS,ERDAS ERDASImagine Imagine

Drafting Drafting AutoCAD, AutoCAD, Revit Revit

2020 2020 | Elsevier | Elsevier | Published | Published

Enhancing Enhancing Disaster Disaster Preparedness Preparedness

Jiyo Jiyo Delhi: Delhi: Reimagining Reimagining the the city city center center 2020 2020 | UNI | UNI

UNIUNI Design Design Yearbook Yearbook 2019-20 2019-20

CONTENTS Projects 01

JIYO DELHI

Unlocking Underground City Center

02

MAJHI SANCTUARY

Rohingya Refugee Camp, Bangladesh

03

A FOLDED CITY

Narratives for the Dutch City

04

JOBURG FRESH PRODUCE Market Precinct Development Strategy

05

BRIDGE BAZAARS

Sub-City Mobility Plan, Jhansi

06

OPTIMISING FRINGE Peri-Urban Local Area Plan

Supervisor: Sheuli Mitra Academic Project 2020 Collaborator: Vishal Kumar Competition 2019 Supervisor: Marco Lub Academic Project 2021 UrbanWorks Studio 2019 Professional Project Supervisor: Sheuli Mitra Academic Project 2018

Supervisor: Paulose N. Kuriakose Academic Project 2017

Other Works: Concept/ Ideology 01

DOON CITY

The Game of Stakes and Memory

02

PANOPTICON CITY

Rhythms within Swarm Movement

02

UnBOUNDED

Decoding a Room for Communication

Supervisor Contacts: Sheuli Mitra : sheulimitra@spabhopal.ac.in Marco Lub: M.Lub@tudelft.nl Paulose N. Kuriokose: paulosenk@spabhopal.ac.in UrbanWorks Studio: thiresh@urbanworks.co.za

Conceptual Narrative 2021

Experimental Research 2018

Conceptual Narrative 2018

PAR

PROJ

Academic | Compet

RT 1

JECTS

tition | Professional

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

YEAR: 2020 | LOCATION: DELHI, INDIA | (INDIVIDUAL) | TYPE: ACADEMIC (THESIS)

01

JIYO DELHI UNLOCKING UNDERGROUND CITY CENTER

When cities are ‘designed’, they function under an entropy (randomness) similar to atoms held by varying bonds defining their current state. Cities operate under the same molecularity which govern the formation/ change of shape, structure and political framework. Assuming such a complex Bio-mechanical system for cities, their entropy is influenced by the stability between Economy, Transport, Land market, Social life and Neutral Built-mass; factors which are the primary source of morphing cities.

The proposal for Connaught Place (Delhi’s city center) gives a new dimension to ‘Increasing Real Estate Supply’ by considering surface and underground in continuity to neutralize land dynamics and major entropy changes. The project is supported by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) consisting of the Urban Local Body, Transit authorities and interested private sector on surface, for holistic execution of an underground network of anchors which reimagines and supplements the current city center.

The project was a part of the final-year Bachelors thesis research.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

The research intended to analyse the relation of functions based around the built-mass of CP. Dense composition of hospitality and commercial sector is based around the colonnades, serving as a counterpart of shoppers within the site. Hence, a perception study helped to analyse and achieve a balance of supply and demand. To neutralize the land dynamics, vertical expansion is essential.

However, CP colonnades comprise of heritage value and hence restrict the number of levels above ground. With the existence of underground assets and a dense network of MRTS, integration of these existing assets with a reconfigured real-estate based product mix can help augment the supply of space and functionality. The project specifically considers user’s perception for design process.

1

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

BALANCE OF ENTROPIES: Measuring potential growth of Delhi city center

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

a

The new city of Delhi was constructed 100 years ago with a visionary idea to house the imperial capital. The city is held together by complex network of entropies.

New Delhi is supported by linkages of sub-city centers within the NCR region, where majority of flux is concentrated around the commercial center, Connaught Place (CP). Today, it is a popular market built in colonial style architecture.

The imageability of the market offers locational advantage to commercial anchors while inviting more than 5 lakh shoppers a day.

Historic landmarks of Delhi currently experience relatively low concentration of pedestrians.

Connaught Place, however, being the crown jewel of Lutyen’s Delhi, exhibits high rentals and low vacancy levels. The density of social hotspots contained within its catchment provides the approach that housing corporate shift in existing heritage will prevent the city’s identity turning into a liability.

CP possesses a high-street character. Transit stations and retail interface within the inner circle influences the major share of pedestrian flow within the site.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

STREET CONTEXT: Connaught Place Colonnades

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

2

DEMAND DYNAMICS

The site receives higher floating population than any location within the municipal boundary. The existing MRTS network attracts shoppers from as far as 15km within the city. Users commuting from greater distances belong to a wider range of income groups.

USER’S PROFILE VS. COMMUTE

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

The project identifies three parallel demands for underground real estate; shoppers, shopkeepers and offices. Matching consumer and retailer demand with their willingness to shift provides the immediate real estate demand for supply projections.

3

U.G. COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT The real estate pressure C.P. offers makes it impossible to let the space to Bazaars and any increase in F.A.R. would lead to disconnection of people from ground and social activity.

Hence, the design considers positioning the vertical growth for high-end commerce beneath existing colonnades. Perforations from these underground structures connecting to existing Rajiv Chowk Metro Station would justify the maintenance and economic viability; feasibility of placing bulk volume of commerce below ground.

Supplementary anchors underground

WORKABLE U.G. NETWORKS The colonnades and surrounding public spaces were redesigned to cater to the diversity of users, promoting pedestrianization and creating parallel space unlocked below, leaving surface heritage to small-businesses and reinstating the ‘right to the city’

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Connaught Place as the activating center

Delineating underground real estate supply

4

Underground complex is designed to maintain a linear retail and commercial format to provide the users with a seamless pedestrian experience, uplifting the perception of underground space. The primary anchors are complex based instead of individual allotments.

Existing underground MRTS network is integrated with the new urban underground real estate. The first phase of design places supplementary anchors underground to support surface-flows as well as generate space for a wider range of uses on surface.

Co-working spaces and retail outlets were placed along paths of seamless transition between surface and underground, connected to para-transit. Making underground ‘Appealing’ for commercial anchors activates the surface for uses like pop-up street markets.

It is essential to determine the nature of expansion underground i.e. vertical or horizontal. This inversely influenced the potential rents and willingness to shift. So, the design was restricted to a maximum of 3 levels below ground and oriented linear to the outer circle.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Phase 1: Year 0 Centrality

Phase 2: Year 10 Branching

Phase 3: Year 18 Assimilation

Phase 4: Year 25 Rhythmic City

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Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Jiyo Delhi activates various levels of Connaught Place as porous layers with uses like exhibitions, co-working spaces, virtual offices, retail and supplementary services.

However to let an underground complex breathe, it is important to incorporate coherent urban design interventions which prevent the formation of parallel social layers.

Underground expansion is carried out in sync with surface assets, welcoming previously barred economic players within the site.

To retain the locational value of the heritage center, the intuitive street knowledge of pedestrians needs to be sustained, helping to restore flow of opportunities within CP instead of NCR centers.

6

THENGAR CHAR ISLAND Until Dec’ 1999 the island did not exist. On slow gradual deposition of silt the upper part of the island started rising above sealevel from 2005. Thengar Char is prone to severe weather conditions with frequent tropical storms. Excessive flooding has kept the site away from habitation till 2018.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

YEAR: 2019 | LOCATION: BANGLADESH | TEAM EXERCISE | TYPE: COMPETITION

02

MAJHI SANCTUARY ROHINGYA REFUGEE CAMP, BANGLADESH

Vernacular design approach is harmonious, culturally connective, adaptive and responsive to its surroundings. It bears the acquired knowledge of a community withstanding natural constrictions and disasters. Conscious design of such nature for mitigation may provide a solution for establishing a conducive self-sustaining environment for the refugees and cater to disaster resilience.

The project aims to accomplish tactical and contextual designing of a ‘Majhee’ consisting of 150 Rohingya households in a refugee camp on the floating, shape-shifting island of Thengar-Char. It also explores the approach of user-based self-sustaining settlement to propose a holistic program for the settlement.

Majhi Sanctuary is an urban design competition entry based on the concept of resilience. On an individual basis, the tasks involved site documentation; case study-based comparative research; graphical representation of macro-level site features and cluster design.

The last two years have been witnessing to what is considered as the worst humanitarian crisis in a century-inadvertent displacement of entire communities fleeing persecution, war, conflict and climatic hazards. Rohingya, of the northern province of Rakhine (Myanmar), have played host to the most severe calamities.

Mass ethnic cleansing has rendered them stateless and obscure in dilapidated camps, entrapped in a state of temporary permanence. The Government of Bangladesh is planning to go ahead for their resettlement on the remote island of ‘Thengar char’ to prevent them from affiliating with Bangladeshi citizens.

7

STUDY CONTEXT The unfavourable weather conditions, distance from the mainland and the geological conditions of the island makes it challenging to establish any type of human settlement on it.

A detailed topographical and climatic site analysis helps identify potential pockets for development within the chosen parcel on island to act as a prototype; assisting the delineation of vegetation belts and positioning of water bodies and socio-economic activities. When reviewed, the existing refugee camps were comprised of blocks of approximately 150 acres each, and within each block, about 8-10 Majhees were contained.

Thengar Char island surfaces within last 3 decades

Thengar Char has an area of nearly 10,000 acres of land about 80km away from Noakhali city center in the junction of Meghna river and the Bay of Bengal, which makes it highly affected by tides everyday, although it has been nearly 13 years since the formation of the island.

The riverine island is subject to sedimentation of alluvial soil in the delta region. Given the context, following forms of resilience approaches were determined.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Current clusters planned by Bangladesh govt.

The manner in which plants and trees adapt their form hints at ways buildings might do the same.

2016

SOCIAL Community strength acts as a medium to establish identity and recover from trauma; Identification of vulnerable households 2017

ECONOMICAL Connecting areas of economic opportunities like agricultural fields, fishing harbour and skill development centre with the clusters.

2019

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

8

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

STAGE I

STAGE II

STAGE III

Modular units arranged so that they share front courtyard with connected backyards

All dwelling units are oriented uniformly around hierarchical courtyards.

Dense planning near harbour with ponds and trees acting as landmarks within clusters.

Several case studies are used to infer disaster resilient strategies in similar contextual and space syntax. Bakkhali, Majhuli and Kirinda exhibit two prevalent clustering patterns. Coastal winds can cause immense damage to structures made out of vernacular materials and uproot dwelling units. So, a vegetation barrier ‘bio shield’ at the coast (along the lines of methodology used by Akira Miyawaki) is used to cut down tidal waves and cyclonic winds. This helps obtain time during emergency evacuations.

The orientation of dwellings in villages bring out energy-efficient strategies to cater to the wind flow as well as sun-path in the areas without hindering the connectivity in the villages.

9

Socially interactive spaces

Author: Vishal Kumar

Resilient features

s of dwelling unit

Economic opportunities around dwelling

Understanding of Rohingyas social order to give importance to privacy in design, entire cluster has emerged to balance interaction and hierarchy of semi-public and private spaces. Entrance to units is through shared and interconnected courtyards to achieve social resilience. Front courtyards are mostly used by male members of the community while female members interact through connected backyards.

10

CLUSTER DESIGN Following an approach of community participation, the social and economic needs of the refugees were identified. A thorough study of their instabilities and social fears was conducted to indicate the activities and uses they require within the spaces for community interaction.

DWELLING UNIT DESIGN Memories from Rohingya houses in Myanmar are the source of inspiration for unit design. The materials used in constructing the dwelling units are easily and locally available including the bamboo used in wall panels and roof frame, lime obtained from coastal shells nearby and palm leaves for roofing.

Author: Vishal Kumar

The units have been provided with five incremental orientations according to domestic needs. Vegetation nearby protects dwellings from strong winds adverse climatic conditions. Integrated water harvesting strategies like fog harvesting have been implemented to address freshwater scarcity.

The goal of this proposal is to transition a refugee camp into a settlement with a sense of permanence, empowerment, physical as well as social stability; to establish that refugees can help themselves. A self-sustaining ecosystem such as this will help an individual suffering from prevalent refugee stigma to redefine spaces and identity.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

11

MATERIALITY & STRAIN

YEAR: 2021 | LOCATION: AALSMEER, NETHERLANDS | (INDIVIDUAL) | TYPE: ACADEMIC

03

A FOLDED CITY NARRATIVES FOR THE DUTCH CITY

Adding ‘time’ to the exsiting three dimensions of the city answers the rationales of ‘Why is the city here?’

Aalsmeer and Uithoorn are two cities situated next to each other in North-Holland. In the late 1950s, Netherland’s largest flower auction moved to Aalsmeer as the production was here. Next to that, the new airport Shiphol is situated nearby. These patterns of historic events form a skeletal base for city’s current shape and structure.

Mapping these historic trails in combination current dynamic trails of the city such as noise profile, green buffers and permeability, establishes a storyboard for Aalsmeer-Uithoorn. With the onset of a post-pandemic evolution of cities, the relation of space and the existing economy of the city is bound to change in the near future.

Hence, it is essential to take into account a layered understanding of the intricate systems the city offers in order to imagine its sustainable future. The compact and ‘Folded’ nature of Aalsmeer poses a few concerns for research regarding activity and economic threads it shares with Uithoorn. This tense membrane lies at the center of approach to unfold the cities.

INTERACTION

ALTERNATION

LOCALIZATION

INTEGRATION

SOFT BORDERS RECONFIGURE

The primary concept of the atlas takes inspiration from the ‘Analogue City’ imagined by Aldo Rossi.

It is an attempt to read Aalsmeer as a distorted composition of layers depicting physical, economic and socio-spatial scenarios.

The city constitutes elements, runnning four parallel forms of narratives namely Narration, Abstraction, Scale and Information to draw comparison between city strain and material.

The notations for the future would be aimed at reimagining the interface between the existing natural assets and citizens of Aalsmeer.

Introducing softer transitions at city periphery in terms of building functions would stretch the extent of local attachment to surrounding urban areas and integrate the existing urban cores with each other, making space for localized business with a balance of greenfield and brownfield development.

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NARRATIVE: SCALE

Sound Profile

Color Bands

HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS

LOCATIONAL ADVANTAGE

FORM EVOLUTION

INTERCITY MOVEMENT

URBAN LANDSCAPE

URBAN STRIPS

NATURAL ASSESTS & VOIDS

AALSMEER-UITHOORN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

RECLAIMING VOID

BRANCHING INTERFACE

CONVERGING LOCAL OPPORTUNITY

The infrastructure landscape of Aalsmeer presents interesting directions of potential growth of city’s character in sync with Uithoorn’s development.

These have enabled strips of urban expansion providing us with arrows to point the future. The Urbanist’s interventions need to act as suture to this operation of holding ‘Global’ at bay and then gradually restore local’s right to the city.

While claiming the existing spatial voids created by logistics in the city is possible, planning for supplementary requirements of incoming residents needs to be accounted for. The Flower economy plays a crucial role in the city’s identity as well as its relation with neighboring cities including Uithoorn. Reducing its monetary influence would lead to wastage of built-assets.

It was established that Aalsmeer shares a delicate geological landscape with overlaid infrastructure circuit. To protect the city from any future risks, it is essential to introduce temporality towards ground-level use of space. The infrastructure circuit, due to its economic value, is a relatively permanent asset. Hence, it is rather viable for interventions to be in sync with it.

RESPONSE TO DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE

13

NARRATIVE: ABSTRACTION

POLAROID

CHRYSALIS

SENSES & MEMORY

SURFACES

TEXTURE OF HISTORY

FLOW OF FORM

URBAN RHYTHM

SPACE SYNTAX

VOIDS

PARALLELS

OPPORTUNITY

RIBBONS

UNFOLDING AALSMEER

COLLABORATIVE NARRATIVE REARRANGEMENT

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Improving supporting services and logistics, separate suppliers and buyers. Modernize the market to create a user-friendly environment.

Consolidate and grow market’s share of 44% in the Fresh Produce Markets industry and harnessing opportunities for growth within agro-processing.

Expansion of trading area for future growth and integration of trade halls with complimentary facilities. (Additional 45,000 m2 of trading space)

Extend and improve current working area for the tenants of retail Mandela Market tenants and accommodating increased number of people.

Assisting the emerging farmers with a facility that will grade and package their products for market. (Maximize economy of scale and market access)

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

04

YEAR: 2019 | LOCATION: JOBURG, S.A.| TEAM EXERCISE | TYPE: URBAN DESIGN

JOBURG FRESH PRODUCE MARKET PRECINCT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Urbanworks studio was appointed

by JDA and JoBurg Market to develop a precinct concept strategy for Joburg Fresh Produce Market.

The process included a thorough review of all previous projects undertaken and by the market authorities. These were documented to understand the range, scope, scale and priority of existing projects. Their integration and impact were tested in terms of site-suitability.

Key principles guiding the configuration of the precinct include: transformative infrastructure, highly functional and consolidated spaces to leverage the market as a destination and cultural asset.

The Market is conceptualised as a space for a broad range of participants to engage in. Individual work under the project included logistics strategy, visualization and digital modelling of the site, including interventions.

15

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

HIERARCHY | LOGISTICS | LINKAGE The Market occupies 64 hectares where about 1,400,000 tons of fruit and vegetables are sold per year. The market agents and tenants operating within JM’s facilities create jobs for up to 6000 employees. The site provides an interface for a wide hierarchy of logistics between buyers and sellers.

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INFRASTRUCTUR

EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

ASSET IDENTIFICATION

HIERARCHY

Bulk infrastructure and investments are accepted as given. The project does not dismiss fundamental services.

Key Operational Assets: Trade halls, Logistics systems, superhighway, specialist storage facilities.

Establishing clear coherent zones for goods, vehicles and pedestrians to overcome conflicts.

LOGISTICS OPTI

OPTION 1

i) E-W trade floor expansion ii) Integrating 9a & 9b iii) Lettable wholesale retail

OPTION 2

i) N-S trade floor expansion ii) Complimentary facilities

OPTION 3

i) N-S trade floor expansion ii) Support services: 9a & 9b iii) Separated Superhighway

WHOLESALE RETAIL

EXISTING ASSETS

FETCHING ARM

CONNECTIVE TISSUE

The spatial organization of functional spaces: residential, services, retail, parking.

Circulation including vehicles, public transport to drive pedestrians towards anchors.

Access to recreational services at the entrance to retain footfall.

RE OPTIMIZATION

HALL OPTIMIZATION

FLOWS & LOGISTICS

SUPPORT SERVICES

Expansion of trade halls is done to both consolidate its operation, allowing effective trader-visitor experience.

Circulation strategy for i) Public; ii) Forklifts for internal goods movement; iii) loading and dispatch

Modular units arranged so that they share front courtyard with connected backyards

OPTION 5

OPTION 6

IONS EXPLORED

OPTION 4

i) N-S trade floor expansion ii) Demolishing Halls 9a & 9b iii) Wholesale Retail east wedge

i) E-W trade floor expansion ii) Separating 9a & 9b

i) N-W trade floor expansion ii) Support services: 9a & 9b iii) Lettable Wholesale Retail

L: ASSET BUILDING

NEW SERVICE ASSETS

NEW RECREATIONAL ASSETS

NEW RESIDENTIAL ASSETS

Augmenting anchors and devising a real estate asset framework to benefit shopkeepers.

Rejuvenating spaces near parking, providing a vantage point for traffic-flow in-front of market.

Housing block typologies serving administration, looking specifically at ratios to parking and FAR.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

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Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

A PEOPLE’S MARKET : JFP Joburg Fresh Produce reconsiders and reconfigures a marketplace as the focus of an extended mixed-use development as a “Town Center”. This builds on the current assets that already host alternative uses but are not integrated.

The strategy imagines the market as an efficient walkable mixed-use district.

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MISSION COMPOUND

JHANSI FORT

TOPKHANA

SADAR BAZAAR

LALKURTI

CANTONEMENT

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

YEAR: 2018 | LOCATION: JHANSI, INDIA | (INDIVIDUAL) | TYPE: ACADEMIC

05

BRIDGE BAZAARS SUB-CITY MOBILITY PLAN, JHANSI

Jhansi has an opportunity to further encourage and expand adaptations to previous mobility plans; refurbishing it with multi-functional walkable and bikable spaces. The mobility plan bases the nucleus around existing cultured markets with alterations and efficient utilization of available road infrastructure and land-use.

The project filters down interventions to the cantonment area of Jhansi, consisting of adequate land parcels for intended proposals and a socially uniform demography best suited to welcome innovative approaches to reprogramming streetscapes to be responsive to existing social nodes and rising urban density. The proposal shapes around revitalizing growth in existing ‘Bazaars’ within the cantonment board; supporting these three sites with infrastructural interventions to integrate change in Land-use and public transport.

The city-level research was divided into several groups, out of which, individual work is illustrated as follows.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Sadar-Bazaar, shaped around mix-use, consists of several spatial assets in close vicinity to play a growth-driver even within a defense-restricted site. The streets are citizen-centric, allowing through traffic redirected and vehicles to slow down near residential areas.

Market-streets prioritise walking and cycling, inducing a weavethrough pattern along the city’s cultural assets, with adapted structures to sustain an area economically. This invites public transport to be a major modal choice, posing a requirement of seamless linking with NMT.

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Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

RIVETING STREETS

DIVERSE FOOTFALL

VANTAGE: TOPOGRAPHY

RISING SERVICE CLASS

STREET OBSTRUCTION

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

ILLEGIBLE NETWORKS

PUBLIC TRANSIT DEMAND

The cantonement region of Jhansi poses complexities for design interventions as it follows a different ownership mechanism than the rest of the city. Hence delineation of land-use was the primary task undertaken for the project.

Road networks and zoning of origin and destination were taken into account. The spatial density of trips directed the delineation of land for interventions and para-transit routes. The 3 markets across the cantonement attracted the highest vehicular flow.

A network dataset was prepared in a geodatabase. Using network analysis, new routes were opted with nodes on the available dataset of road network. Routes can be optimized by calculating shortest distances between major junctions.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

20

The project aims at smoothening the modal transition through an integrated network of private, public as well as an NMT, developed within the project to promote the digital interface in transit.

Land utilization and sub-zoning of activity patterns; specifying zones for vending and parking.

The concept is fairly new to the locals and hence, requires constant public consultations through different phases of the planting networks to ensure that the plan is perceivable.

Traffic management and area circulation to evenly distribute street infrastructure;modal integration

Interventions for modal integration were concentrated primarily within Sadar Bazaar, the site receiving considerable inflow to generate viability.

Road geometry alterations to cater bicycle tracks and walkability- centered route-designs.

Densifying road-network was opted over route-alterations within cantonment for mobility plan to be locally acceptable, analyzed through space-syntax.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

EXTENDING GRIDS

MERGING EXISTING AND NEW

Expansion over existing street infrastructure to improve accessibility, establishing viability of existing social infrastructure within the site.

Introducing bus stations (BRTS) near busy junctions and integrating them with existing stops, connecting cantonement population to adjacencies.

NMT NETWORK ESTABLISHMENT

TRANSIT-SWITCH EFFICIENCY

Proposing designated bicycle tracks along major corridors to induce NMT safety and integrating these with pedestrian pathways.

Rerouted traffic as well as time-specific entries were discouraged for convenient integration of local transport with cantonement logistics.

CONNECTOR

JUNCTION

ARTERIAL

21

DYNAMO BICYCLE This sub-component was opted to cater the sector of walkable neighborhoods, utilizing the rising use of electrical gadgets within site to generate demand of non-motorized transport, providing lastmile connectivity. ‘Dynamo Cycles’ were designed to lower fuel consumption; generating power through alternative sources.

Projected subsidized costs for bicycle infrastructure are mere 42% of what was incurred for similar projects in nearby cities, justifying its financial as well as social-benefit assessment by providing cheaper local transport with negligible emissions.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Vending Zone

Pop-Up Spaces

Bicycle Lane

Docking Station

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE PLAN The Docking stations follow ITS GPS, equipped with power storage for assimilation into street furniture. The stations use self generated energy to charge electronic devices. Additional space is provided for docking private bicycles.

A bicycle plan was prepared along with costing for the street infrastructure along pedestrianized lanes within sub-city catchment.

Introducing bicycle culture to Jhansi creates a safer interface between different modes of commute around bazaars.

Sadar Bazaar has been provided with pop-up market structures flexible to different uses throughout the day catering to the varying pedestrian-flow around the space.

Vending zones also provide an alternate space of expression for street artists.

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Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

YEAR: 2018 | LOCATION: BHAIROPUR, BHOPAL |(INDIVIDUAL)|TYPE: ACADEMIC

06

OPTIMISING FRINGE PERI-URBAN LOCAL AREA PLAN

The Local Area Plan bases itself on local needs and characteristics.

The LAP process, is intended to produce development strategies and when implemented, facilitate more cohesive growth and utilize the local resources in an effective manner. The plan boundaries are best delineated based on homogeneity of socio-cultural, land use and cohesive built form characteristics.

This project intends to explore the models of real estate development and public-private partnership for making more citizen centric plans. The role of stakeholder and community participation to identify the demand side dynamics and cater upcoming real estate on the supply side, to achieve more equitable development model would be the prime focus of the plan. The studio exercise was carried out among two teams. The real-estate based concept strategy and housing-level interventions (team-based) are represented in the following sections.

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Due to shift in land-use overtime, excess of public semi-public landuse has been utilized as Land bank with additional 30% land from transport land-use masterplan. The demand for this real estate was addressed in 3 phases where the macro catchment acts as a residential reservoir. Superimposing affordability, location preference and push-pull factors channelizes a sustainable growth pattern.

The project involved a team exercise of spatially reconfiguring land-use through density simulations. Stacked lego-blocks were used to propose scenarios and respective rental brackets and land supply. Varying combinations of ground coverage and vertical rise helped quantify the composition of mixed-use and commercial establishments along the freight corridor passing through the site.

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BHOPAL: POPULATION SHIFT (1992-2019)

PROVINCIAL STATE

INDUSTRIAL ANCHORS

FREIGHT CORRIDOR

PROJECTED EXPANSION

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

BHAIROPUR VILLAGE The site lies on the urban periphery of Bhopal abutting the Hoshangabad road i.e. NH46. It is characterized by urban villages as a continuum of rural periphery, gated communities and institutional development exhibiting strip expansion.

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

PERI-URBAN EXPANSION Bhopal grew intensely in north-west and southeast zones in 1977-1992 due to industrialization in the region. The industrial layouts came up in southeast along with housing colonies and urban sprawl in other parts of Bhopal.

Prior to the industrial advent in Bhopal, city had few planned industrial colonies such as BHEL. After establishment of satellite colonies of industry towards the south, major working population shifted towards the periphery.

BUILDING HEIGHT

The results of sprawl analysis show exuberant growth of urban paved surface due south which led to growth of suburban towns, generating need of appropriate infrastructure to cope up with plodding growth, giving vast opportunities to real estate market.

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

BUILDING-USE

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

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The visible contextual differences between two sides along the freight corridor hints towards an intangible social divide between the existing village and newly developed townships. Hence, social-cohesion in LAP is essential.

The existing villagers, given the satisfaction levels with existing infrastructure, have developed a sense of belonging towards the locality, depicting low willingness to shift to any new development projects.

To sustain the potential and upcoming infrastructure growth within the site, the villagers require a model-based cooperative solutions to assist local economy and be a part of an FDI model with wholesale companies nearby.

The rising residential-use within the site would require more integrating initiatives such as cross-subsidy mixed-use at building level to prevent establishing monotonous large-scale commercial spaces.

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Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

Hexamino: Ambulatory modular rooms

RESIDENTIAL UPLIFTMENT

Through collectivization of common areas, the proposal creates a generosity of space, flexible in its use and function, creating modular units which are no longer a series of bounded rooms with a set of predetermined behaviour. It explores the notion that small-scale design can lead to large-scale effect. By the use of a retractable unit, a user can modify a space to adapt with functions.

Each inhabitant has the ability to create or dynamise his/her own spacetemporally, creating different spaces with diverse uses within confinements of his/her house using an ‘Ambulatory’ minos. Local Residents can construct their own hexaminos.

The units are provided with convertible workspaces and shop mechanisms as a medium of livelihood thus saving transport costs.

The unitary clusters comprise of houses arranged around communal courtyards. Each cluster unit contains a series of hexaminos interlocked together in the form of a tetris to optimize usage of space, in-turn creating prospects of more spaces and inducing social resilience. It depicts organically developing community strings in an ordered frame to prevent sprawling.

Convertible Workspace

Exploded View: Hexamino Type A

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

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PAR

OTHER W

Conceptual Research | Ex

RT 2

WORKS

xperimentation | Ideology

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Shruti

Age: 45 Occupation: Teacher

Rajat

Age: 15 Occupation: Student

Vivek

Age: 26 Occupation: Artist

Ruskin

Age: 87 Occupation: Writer

01

YEAR: 2021 | INDIVIDUAL| TYPE: CONCEPTUAL |LOCATION: DEHRADUN, INDIA

DOON CITY THE GAME OF STAKES AND MEMORY

A city is a product of collective active and passive memories. The conflict and juxtaposition of memory through the course of different ages propel/mold the neutral residue of a city into a new dynamic ground for each generation.

The city of Dehradun is envisioned as a simulated game offering choice and stakes of memory one may hold within a city. It invites players from different generations to explore their city through retrospection, realization and speculation. The cards in the game (representing each constituent element of the city) provide an interface for collaboration and competition of one’s temporal influence where each player can pursue a different route to a potential narrative for the city. The system of ‘action’ and ‘response’ to sustain memory opens up the city to a chain of strategic moves to trump elements over and over, welding them into a new city while players come and go, depending on the stake-chips they own.

NODES

LANDMARKS

PATHS

DISTRICTS

EDGES

These cards list an element’s parameter ratings to determine their rank in the suit. The table for the game serves as a permanent neutral field to invite players carrying different experiences, tactics and skillset to play out initiatives. The combination of cards on the table at any point of time constitutes the identity of Dehradun, constantly evolving with entropies generated by each player’s skill and logic.

This game features a challenging bidding system where each player tries to predict the highest rated parameter of respective turns before the play even begins. The remaining players try to bid their memory stakes and choose their own element card to trump the bidder. The Parameters (from top of each card) are: Imageability; Accessibility; Sustainability; Facilitation; Cohesion.

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Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

The ant-swarm represents a specimen of self-organised systems.

The total behavior of the swarm emerges from mutual interactions of each subject, resulting in variable alignments.

02

YEAR: 2018 | INDIVIDUAL| TYPE: CONCEPTUAL

PANOPTICON CITY RHYTHMS WITHIN SWARM MOVEMENT

A Panopticon is an experimental institution of power in which behavior can be modified and studied.

Planning for a system that is sprawling at an extremely higher rate than its projections is a challenge in itself. Simulation models and approaches to behavior might open prospects to an invisible discipline within a city functioning on mutual needs and benefits.

This experimental study attempts to analyse the factors that influence and strike the intricate threads of social behavior and interactions in a city. In an urban system, before laying down the networks of monopoly and capitalistic interventions, it is essential to understand how the physicality of a city is maneuvered by the instincts of individuals and the rhythm it exhibits temporally. The study uses ants to mimic interactions of citizens, to allow natural homogeneity to be morphed by differences of power and personal choice.

When formulating a design language for a macro-scale urban system, urban constants should be included in the design process.

Using an organism’s instinct-based responses to physical space can help modulate urban expansion.

Swarm intelligence at its roots, provides algorithms to navigate through physical obstructions to find favourable pockets of land to initiate a settlement.

Subject ants are introduced to the panopticon mechanism for a few minutes (15m) to obtain a randomized arrangement. Physical obstructions are fixed into the mechanism e.g. variable contours, angled walls to let subjects familiarize themselves. The patterns and movement shift is photographed and recorded for analysis/ response to hierarchy, access, repulsion and provided space.

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BASE SCENARIOS

SECTORAL DENSITIES

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=15

x=0

5 4 3 2 1 y= 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 5 4 3 2 1 y= 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 5 4 3 2 1 y= 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 5 4 3 2 1 y= 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 5 4 3 2 1 y= 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 5 4 3 2 1 y= 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5

X= Observation Time (minutes)

Y= Intensity Factor

The experimental scenarios present variable crests and troughs when analyzed with respect to aspects which attracted concentration or notable pattern. These combine to form distinct vector waves. To permute and club different scenarios, resultants waves of different vectors provide a mix which can be used to simulate specific patterns in a city.

x=15

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=15

An urban region is contained inside complex interconnected feedback relationships, layered on social, environmental and economic networks. Its dynamic behavior further complexifies the system. A traditional model of planning has been to formulate an optimisation of problems to minimise risk or cost. But policy problems rarely have best solutions.

Hence similar model scenarios can be used to obtain contextual city models. This reconnects to the concept of in-situ development, increasing efficiency and acceptance amongst the people. The results from panopticon city can be used as a socialistic basemap to be further layered with complex thematics like real-estate governance and environmental policies.

x=15

x=0

x=15

x=0

x=15

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

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CAN A BEING COMMUNICATE IF IT HAS NO FRAME TO IMAGINE ?

SEQUENCING

       

ARBITRARY

       

MEMORY

       

                                                                                

A multiple series of interactions strike due to these fragments of 'memory', which amend and alter due course of one's existence and form the grounds of its being. A living entity itself through retrospection, observation and insight, shapes its own 'ideal' room for communication which is the rationale behind its existence.

03

YEAR: 2018 |INDIVIDUAL|TYPE: IDEOLOGY

UnBOUNDED DECODING A ROOM FOR COMMUNICATION

Communication is a space which is being constantly morphed into arguments, visions, and sonorous grids. It is pure, decontaminated of all designed perfections. It belongs to a being.

A being shall design it for itself.

The room exists along with what’s outside. It isn’t designed. Ethan chooses to translate the space around him and put margins to it. He designed the room for communication.

Communication has evolved through the time, through body language to online messages. The dominant method to interact these days is through technology. We have expanded our range of communication, but have we forgotten the physicality. What is the role of physical interaction in this digital reality? In an era of time-space compression, over-information and social networks, has communication lost its spatial aspects? How can architecture generate interaction?

Author: Akhilesh Shisodia

We’re provided with a room. It is well lit. It has a door and two windows. There’s a pleasant view of the landscape outside. Two chairs rest inside. Ethan enters the room. He looks around the room and exclaims,

He breaks the room down. The walls, doors, the chairs are merely planes and figments of geometry now. He then plays with them.

Ethan has made a face, a tree and a plane out of these figures. He stores these creations. Ethan discovered a new language.

“It’s a set-up!”

Ethan Communicated...

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AKHILESH SHISODIA MSc. Urbanism ‘23, TU Delft Selected works 2016-2021

a.s.shisodia@student.tudelft.nl