Swara Chaudhary Internship Portfolio

PORTFOLIO

Swara Chaudhary

Mumbai, Maharshtra.

Email Id: a20swara@sea.edu.in

Contact No: 8956459317

Hello,

I am a fourth-year architecture student, for me architecture is about creating spaces that serve specific purposes. I believe that each space has its unique qualities, and I'm fascinated by how materials, light, and shapes work together to create different moods and atmospheres. I'm currently exploring how spaces can do more than just serve a function; I want to understand how they can actually impact people's emotions, behaviors, and overall experiences.

Skills

Autocad

Sketchup

Rhino

Photoshop

Illustrator

Indesign

Enscape

Hand drafting

Sketching

Model making

Basic carpentry and masonry

MS word, Excel, Powerpoint

Language

Hindi

English

Marathi

Personal interest

Wall painting

Canvas painting

Singing

Travelling

Education

2008- 2018 - Dr. N.P Shah English Mediun School Agashi, Virar.

Maharashtra State Board. (1st to 10th )

2018- 2020 - Utkarsha Madhyamik Vidyalaya & Junior College, Virar. (11th -12th) Mumbai University.

2020- Present - School Of Environment And Architecture, Mumbai (1st to 4th year B.Arch) Mumbai University.

Workshops

2021- Experiencing home

Anubhav Pradhan

2021- Digital Anatomies and material Autonomies

Dushyant Asher

2022- Drawing Ecology

Dinesh Barap

2022- Human Ecology

Malak Singh Gill

2022- Design for play

Isha Gopal

2022- Landscape Urbanism

Rhea Shah

2023- Printmaking

Sanjana shelat

2023- Making a prototype

Milind Mahale, Dushyant Asher

2023- Street Design

Urmi Kenia

observatory space, Daman. sem 5

Settelment studies, kochi, Kerala. sem 6

Community public school, Trombay. sem 5

field study, Udwada, Gujarat. sem 5

Community public school, Trombay. sem 6

Measuring life

Settelment studies, Pangna, Himalcal pradesh. sem 4

Repair and Retrofit

Housing, Thakkar bappa colony, kurla, Mumbai. sem 7

Museum as, Niraml, Vasai. sem 6

Urban streets, Eksar, Mumbai. sem 6

Rethinking home, Mahim, Palghar. sem 3

Resurrected Ruins

Sem 3

Site: Moti Daman fort, Daman

Pair Work

The project aims to immerse an environment characterized by a web of interconnected networks, delicately balancing various elements to continually produce rhythmic resource flows. These networks encompass intricate interactions involving human and non-human entities, socio-economic dynamics, socio-cultural influences, and socio-political forces, all of which are inherently dynamic. I seek to understand how architecture plays a role in these interconnections, either modifying, disrupting, extending, obstructing, or facilitating certain cycles that either favor or hinder different forms of life. What are the subsequent implications for the coexistence of various life forms, and how does this transformation affect their existence? Traditional building practices have often overlooked these intricate connections among all life forms and their ecosystems. Here I delves into investigating and exploring design possibilities that address these relationships. These connections may be separated by ecological boundaries but intersect in both time (linear, non-linear, cyclical) and spatial dimensions.

The primary objective of the design is to present a building as a conversation between the "built" and the "unbuilt," envisioning a space that respects the past, engages with the present, and contemplates the future. This approach particularly comes to life in the historic fort section of the structure, which responds adeptly to seasonal changes. The design explores the notions of temporality and modularity, creating a harmonious blend of past, present, and future within this ruin.

PROGRAM:

Observatory garden which enables one to observe the growth of vegetation parallely experiencing it in another dimension within the pause spaces. lack of green cover in fort and absence of shade and shadow which serves as a scope for the above.

an ecological infrastructure that will provide holistic ecosystems services and be able to address the issue of climate change within the fort complex. rethinking of the ruin to make it habitable. minimum intervention and maximum output in the design.

PHYSICAL PROGRAM:

Observing and experimenting the foliage of the trees around at various levels.

Getting the overall view of the fort through the watchtower.

Kumbhalangi Edge

Sem 6

Site: Kumbhalangi, Kochi

class work Settelment studies

Building localisation

Sem 6

Site: Trombay, Mumbai.

Over the duration of this study the studio aims to challenge the traditional understanding of "public" spaces as homogeneous and objective by highlighting their complexity, shaped by subjective contestations. It explores how public spaces are often designed with standardized logic but are lived and contested in unique ways. The focal point of this exploration is the Trombay Public School, which not only serves as an educational institution but also as a hub for community activities and gatherings. The language of the built form is to make the storage point not as residual spaces but the most emphasized site. since this points of storage are the regulators or the functional members for the site hence, it would be an effort to make this sites legible. The system used then is to bring about to make it more efficient and the massing of these space is curated through what is stored, how it is stored and how frequently it needs to be accessed. The pattern of the built form would arrive by almost inverting the idea, where the storage gets designed first and then the programmed space later. The project examines how local community dynamics shape institutions and aims to incorporate these influences into architectural design.Furthermore, it places a strong emphasis on the significance of architectural "details" in terms of structure, materials, and consideration of social, cultural, and environmental factors.

The central core of the building becomes smaller courtyard, it serves as common shared space within the school.

The community also gets excess to the school ground by providing smaller alleys in the builtform to hold the community gatherings. The storage spaces inside the classroom becomes a seating space in the common shared corridoors.

The school shares its edge with the community by creating smaller pockets toward the settelment.

Landscape urbanism 04

Sem 5

Site: Udwada, Gujrat

Group work

The course presumes the eminence of landscape architects in designing future urban transformations with a more equitable agenda, and opens up theories that conceptualise landscape as a discipline that in working with living matter, operates on the relationship between the human and non-human. Through theoretical discourse, cartography, fieldwork and representational exercises the course explores landscape as a cultural expression of environmental desires. The study was conducted at Udwada, valsad district in Gujrat. The history and cultural identity of sarodhi lake was found while discussion with the villagers. The evolution and the transforming edges of the lake according to the seasons and their interdependencies were mapped during the study.

Understanding role of the landscape architect has consequently adapted to each political, economic- spatial era, responding to colonisation, industrialization, modernization, the post-industrial and digitization, from a role as gardeners and garden curators, to city planners and landscape planners. Consequently, a landscape archite`cture perspective foregrounds ecological, geological and hydrological processes, defines human and non-human interactions, and conceptualises socio-economic justice through land politics in public space - indispensable approaches for design within the climate crisis.

05

Building making

Sem 6

Site: Trombay, Mumbai.

As we progress in this course we are equipped to carry out detailed development and refinement of building design through technical resolution of structural systems, material performance and experience, member assembly, threshold-enclosure details and process of construction.The focus is to comprehensively resolve the design from concept to actualization and generate a construction documentation set along with specifications, quantities and estimation. There were three folds to the course - first to develop an ability in systems-thinking and the ability in detailing, second to develop an ability to make construction documentation drawings that could be used for the construction of buildings; and third, to develop ability to write specifications, generate bill of quantities and cost estimation for the project. It helped in crafting built form where the logics of spatiality are based on systems and details along with orienting them to the practices around construction documentation and management.

06 Measuring life

Sem 4

Site: Pangna, Himachal Pradesh.

class work Settelment studies

The objective of this field study is to understand the relationship between the tangible physicality of space / form, the context that produces them and the life that they afford. The field chosen here is a small village in Himachal Pradesh named Pangna. Here we got to know about the different types of houses and their cultural significance. Initially, people here built houses using easily available materials like wood and slate. But as they modernized, they started using stronger materials like reinforced concrete for what they called "permanent houses". The way these houses were arranged on the hillside was closely connected to the social structure, with houses placed based on caste divisions. At the top of the hill, there was a temple, which held great spiritual importance for the village. Our exploration of these houses gave us a better understanding of the materials, architectural styles, and building methods that have evolved over time in this village. Through the process of measured-drawing of this site, the spatial logics, materiality and construction techniques were identified and documented. Along with the measured drawing, we also documented older and existing practices through interviews and routine studies. Overlaying the practices with the spatial/formal logics, the mechanics of phenomenological dimensions was established, thereby unearthing the relationship between space/ form and context/practice.

Chowkinuma makaan:

The defining characteristic of the chowkinuma type is its courtyard. The house revolves around a central aangan or courtyard about which numerous activities transpire. The entrance of the house, locally known as beh, leads to the praud, which is a small room that further opens up to the verandah and the aangan. The verandah connects to different rooms in the house such as the oobra. The steps (podi) lead to the first floor (poda), to the upper rooms (kamra) which are connected to the balcony (banglu) and a fireplace. The houses belonging to chowkinuma type were built by merchants, and would be occupied by large joint families.

Repair and retrofit

Sem 7

Site: Kurla, Mumbai.

The traditional approach to the housing issue in India has focused on providing more houses to address shortages, treating houses as commodities rather than homes. However, this has led to poor-quality housing for the poor and cause to continue discrimination based on class, caste, and gender. The course aims to train us to work with settlements facing poor living conditions, like Thakkar Bappa Colony in Mumbai. This settlement, home to Rajasthani migrants and a shoe-making cluster, is over 50 years old. This settelment is undergoing a major demographic shifts. The goal is to develop improvement strategies rooted in the settlement's cultural context. Most habitations in this settlement and in India are built by small contractors, resulting in subpar construction, planning, and infrastructure. This course redefines the housing question as the inability of professional architects and state mechanisms to engage in the housing production process.

This project involves a comprehensive redesign of spaces to address various issues including congestion, limited accessibility, inadequate natural light and ventilation and also the change in demography and livelihood of 9 existing households. The primary approach is to reconfigure the layout, with ground-floor spaces allocated for godowns and shops, while the aim is to enhance social interactions within the neighborhood on upper floors by providing shared infrastructure elements such as staircases, corridors, balconies, and terraces. Also the incorporation of pocket double-height volumes, which are strategically placed between corridors serve as effective sources of natural light and ventilation, addressing previous deficiencies. Additionally, the project takes into account the changing demographics and anticipated living conditions for the next decade. To accommodate these considerations, the design incorporates user-friendly staircases and accessible toilet facilities to the household.

What is a museum?

Sem 4

Site: Nirmal, vasai.

Within the scope of this course It emphasizes the importance of understanding architecture's connection to culture and its evolution over time as well as contemporary everyday practices. It explores how modern institutions have shaped our experiences and societal structures. This studio focuses on one contemporary institutional program and examines its historical spatial configurations through case studies to establish the relationship between society, program, and space.For an art museum in Nirmal, Nalla Sopara, the aim is to transform it into an interactive space. Visitors can not only view but also engage with art by replicating or responding to it. The museum will host local exhibitions and workshops, blurring the line between the museum and public activities like fairs. The site is near the Shankaracharya temple and connects with villages known for rangolis, sculptures, music.The design of this space is kept as an extruded landscape with a free lower section as a fair connector through the museum, and the upper floor program includes a sculpture workshop, display areas, rangoli making spaces, and space for collective art practitioners

The ground floor remains clear to facilitate the smooth circulation of the event within it, while the floor above is seamlessly integrated with the surrounding landscape.

The ground floor gently inclines, forming a connection with the amphitheater space situated beneath it.

Reconceving the edge 09

Sem 7

Site: Eksar village, Mumbai.

Group work

Streets play a crucial role in the well-being and functionality of a city and urban areas. They serve as vital public corridors for the movement of people using various modes of transportation, as well as for pedestrians. In this course, we explored key concepts related to streets and urban design, including pedestrian infrastructure, surface finishes, technical design aspects, street furniture, lighting, landscaping,.Our group of four students focused on studying Eksar Talav and its surrounding context. Eksar Village is situated adjacent to this Talav, and there is a market taking place along one of its edges. Through our design project, we aimed to introduce more subtle and thoughtful interventions that could enhance the market conditions and improve the overall walkability of the street.This approach aligns with urban design principles that emphasize creating streets that are not only efficient for transportation but also pleasant and accommodating for pedestrians and community activities. Enhancing the streetscape with elements like better lighting, comfortable seating, greenery, and aesthetic improvements can contribute to a more vibrant and livable urban environment. Our focus on the softer interventions suggests a sensitivity to the local context and a desire to make improvements of the existing market fabric.

Before After

The boundary of the temple area is transformed into a more gentle and inviting contour through the addition of seating arrangements and a reduction in the existing height of the perimeter railing, all while ensuring that the property line remains unchanged.

A common public plaza has been designed to enhance accessibility to the entrance by making the pathway clear and easily navigable. The installation of bollards ensures that vehicles are prohibited from entering the plaza area, ensuring safety and convenience for pedestrians.

10 Type, Spatial patterns And

material phenomenologies

Sem 3

Site: Mahim, Palghar

This study explores Typology in Design and its connection to Spatial Patterns of Life and Material Phenomenologies in the context of Tembhi village in Mahim. It reinterprets the concept of home and inhabitation, focusing on the needs of the fishing community. The design proposal aims to accommodate four families, with a primary focus on creating spaces for women. Each family's kitchen and rooms face a central courtyard, bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor living, reflecting the unique practices and culture of the community.

Creating a space of compact

living units with shared communal spaces, where all kitchens oriented toward a central commom courtyard.

featuring balconies that open up to a veranda, fostering a seamless connection between the indoor living spaces and the outdoor environment.

Workshops and material experiments

In this experiment we used materials like brick, mud, lime, and construction sand to build a degradable arch with a 3m diameter. Buttresses were added to the arch as the arch had no foundation to it. This hands-on test enhanced our understanding of structural behavior and the use of sustainable materials.

In this workshop, our aim was to design modular units using gravity-inspired shapes and geometry. We crafted different tools to replicate the same coordinates as the original form. We tested materials like fiberglass mesh and resin for strength and durability. We also experimented with various connection methods to assemble these units into a larger structure, ultimately achieving success with an arch-shaped form.

Dinesh Barap, a Warli painting artist, led a workshop where we learned to make natural paints. Each of us imagined a unique idea of "home" and translated it into Warli-style postcard drawings. These individual postcards were combined to create a wall mural, exploring the concept of building a narrative through art and merging it with others.

Creating detailed models for design to thoroughly study and understand both their spatiality and functionality of the space. This approach significantly enhanced thinking abilities when it comes to how structures are designed to respond and behave within their specific context.