B.arch portfolio by Aayush Das Anat

Aayush Das Anat Portfolio. archi tecture

CV. CV. Education.

Education. Experience. Recognition. Experience. Recognition. Experience. Recognition. Experience. Recognition.

Skills.

Experience. Recognition.

www.aaydas.me This portfolio contains selected and This portfolio contains selected and abbreviated works from design projects abbreviated works from design projects developed during my 5-yr tenure at Virginia developed during my 昀椀ve-year tenure at Tech, and 3.5-yr tenure at RNT Architects. Virginia Tech. The projects were chosen to highlight the diverse scale and approaches adopted in my design education. Explorations of space, tectonics, time, awareness and representation have all been presented. Aside from my curiosities in architecture, I am constantly learning new things and exploring my creativity through 昀椀ne arts and music.

Skills.

Skills. Skills. Languages.

Skills. Languages. Languages.

Languages.

aayush97@vt.edu aaydas1997@gmail.com +1 540 998 0802. 5409980802 1009 Progress St. Blacksburg, VA 24060. 4450 38th St, San Diego CA www.aaydas.me aayush97@vt.edu aaydas1997@gmail.com +1 540 998 0802. 5409980802 1009 Progress St. Blacksburg, VA 24060. Bachelor’s Architecture 4450 38thDegree St, SaninDiego CA www.aaydas.me School of Architecture + Design Virginia Tech Class of 2020. Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture Academic School of Architecture + Diego, Design CA. 1/ RNT Architects | San 1/ Hanbury | Norfolk, VA. Excellence Virginia Tech a. Marston Middle School Site Modernization 1/ ‘Visual Communication for Whole Architects and Summer Scholar 2019. Class+ofNew 2020. Construction Designers’ by Margaret Fletcher, 2020 Schematic design and Institute development of allocated b. HUBBS-Seaworld Research Portfolio published. lot in Colonial Williamsburg, VA into a residential + c. La Mesa Library VA. 1/ Hanbury |retail Norfolk, development. 1/ KRob ‘Visual Communication for Architects 2/ Delineation 2018. and d. LaArchitecture Costa Residence Summer Scholar 2019. Designers’ by Margaret Fletcher, 2020 Finalist AIA National ProfessionalJune and 1Student - Augustcompetition. 09, 2019. Schematic design and development of allocated August 2020 - October 2023 Portfolio published. Project published and exhibited lotBook in Colonial Williamsburg, 2/ The Amber | Blacksburg, VA. VA into a residential + 2/ Hanbury | Norfolk, VA. retail development. 3/ Edition. 2/ 24-hr KRob competition Architecture Delineation 2018. Rendered 31st ARE exam educational videos Summer IF-ideas Scholar 2019.Professional Honorable forward competition. Finalist AIA National and 1Student competition. June - August 09, 2019. Designed competition submission boards Schematic design and development of allocated lot Project and mention IAA 2018 published AIA Blue Ridge Project published and exhibited exhibited in Colonial Williamsburg, VA into a residential + 2/ The Amber Book | Blacksburg, VA. AIA Small Projects 18 AIA Innovation awards 3/ Architecture 24-hr 31st Edition. retailcompetition development. Rendered ARE exam educational videos 4/ in Perspective 2018. June Honorable IF-ideas forward competition. May 01 --August August 09, 2018. Student American of Architectural Illustrators Designed Society competition submission boards2019 Project published and exhibited mention 2018 AIA Blue Ridge competition. award of IAA International Professional and Student 3/Riva RivaResidency Residency Program RivaSan San Vitale, Switzerland. Project published and exhibited atSwitzerland the Architecture 3/ Program | |Riva AIA Small Projects 18 AIAVitale, Innovation awards Distinction Semester long Architecture Study Abroad +Travel. 4/ Architecture in Perspective 2018. and Design museum, Los Angeles and Tokyo. Semester long study abroad + travel at -the Steger May 01 August 09, 2018. Student American Society of Architectural Illustrators Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Center International Scholars. 5/ School A+D FourthProfessional year competition 2019.competition. award of offor International and Student August 10 - December 10, 2018. 3/ Riva Residency Program | Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Project published and exhibited at the Architecture Honor R. Kark Architecture Distinction Warren August -scholarship December 2018 Semester long Architecture Study Abroad +Travel. 4/ CASA | San Miguel, Mexico. and Design museum, Los Angeles and Tokyo. Award 147 participants 4/ Amber Book | Blacksburg, VA studio + travel with Steve and Riva San Architecture Vitale, Switzerland. Summer 5/ School of A+D Fourth yearAugust competition 2019. House from House+House architects. Rendered AREThird examYear educational videos and designed 10 - December 10, 2018. 6/ School of Cathi A+D competition 2017. Honor Warren R. Kark Architecture scholarship 05 - July submission boards forMay IAA 2018, AIA10, 2017. First competition Warren R. Kark Architecture scholarship 4/ CASA | San Mexico. Award 147Miguel, participants AIA Small Projects 2018 and AIA placeBlue Ridge, 147 participants Summer 5/ AMITASHA | New Architecture Delhi, India.studio + travel with Steve and Innovation Awards Cathi House from House+House architects. for Upliftment of under-privileged 6/ School School of ofFoundation A+D Drawing Third Year competition 2017. 7/ A+D competition 2016. May August children. May 05 - July2018 10, 2017. First Warren R.and Kark Architecture scholarship First W.Wyatt Annette M. Hibbs scholarship Math and English teaching faculty. 5/ CASA | San Miguel de Allende, Mexico place 147 participants participants place 147 5/ AMITASHA New| New Delhi,Delhi, India. India. Summer Architecture mentorshipofwith Steven and Foundation for Upliftment under-privileged January - April 2015. 7/ School School of A+Dfrom Drawing competition 2016. 8/ A+D Second Year competition 2016. Cathi of house San Francisco based studio children. First 'House+House' W.Wyatt and Annette M. Hibbs scholarship Honor G. Preston Frazer scholarship architects. 6/ RNT Architects | San Diego, CA Math and English teaching faculty. place 147 participants participants Award 147 Autodesk Certi昀椀ed: Revit Adobedrafter Indesign - August 2017 Experienced Designer and May architectural New Delhi, India. AutoCAD Adobe Photoshop 6/ AMITASHA | New Delhi,Year India history of aand demonstrated working in the January - April 2015. 8/ Walter School H. ofwith A+D Second 2016. 9/ Beal Helen H. competition Beal Scholarship. Rhino + VRay Adobe Illustrator higher education industry. Honor G. English Preston Frazer scholarship Math and faculty at the foundation for Academic 6/ RNT Architects | Santeaching Diego, CA Sketchup Adobe After Effects Award 147 participants upliftment of under-privileged children Excellence Autodesk Certi昀椀ed: Revit Designer and Adobe Indesign Experienced architectural drafter Adobe Lightroom August 2020 - October 2023 AutoCAD Adobe Photoshop with a demonstrated history of working in the January - April 2015 9/ Walter H. Beal and Helen H. Beal Scholarship. Rhino + VRay Adobe Illustrator Academic School of Architecture + Design 1/ Hanbury | Norfolk, VA. Excellence Virginia Tech 1/ ‘Visual Communication Architects and Summer Scholarfor 2019. Class of 2020. Designers’ by Margaret Fletcher, 2020 Schematic design and development of allocated Portfolio published. lot in Colonial Williamsburg, VA into a residential + 1/ Hanbury |retail Norfolk, VA. development. 1/ KRob ‘VisualArchitecture Communication for Architects 2/ Delineation 2018. and Summer Scholar 2019. June - Augustcompetition. 09, 2019. Designers’ by Margaret Fletcher, 2020 Finalist AIA National Professional and1Student Schematic design and development of allocated Portfolio published. Project published and exhibited lot in Colonial Williamsburg, 2/ The Amber Book | Blacksburg, VA. VA into a residential + retail development. Rendered 31st ARE exam educational 3/ Edition. 2/ 24-hr KRob competition Architecture Delineation 2018. videos June - August 09, 2019. Designed competition submission boards Honorable IF-ideas forward competition. Finalist AIA National Professional and1Student competition. 2018 published AIA Blue Ridge Project mention IAA Project published and and exhibited exhibited 2/ The Amber Blacksburg, VA.Innovation awards AIA Book Small |Projects 18 AIA Rendered ARE exam educational videos 3/ Architecture 24-hr competition 31st Edition. 4/ in Perspective 2018. May 01 - August Designed competition submission boards09, 2018. Honorable IF-ideas forward competition. Student American Society of Architectural Illustrators IAA 2018 AIA Blue Ridge Project published and exhibited mention award International Professional and Student competition. 3/ Rivaof Residency Program Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Small Projects| 18 AIA Innovation awards Project published and exhibited at the Architecture Distinction AIA Semester long Architecture Study Abroad +Travel. 4/ Architecture in Perspective 2018. and Design museum, LosMay Angeles and Tokyo. 01 - August 09, 2018. Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Student American Society of Architectural Illustrators 5/ School of International A+D FourthProfessional year competition 2019.competition. 10 - December 10, 2018. award and Student 3/ Rivaof Residency Program | August Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Project published and exhibited at the Architecture Honor R. Kark Architecture scholarship Distinction Warren Semester long Architecture Study Abroad +Travel. 4/ CASA | San Miguel, and DesignMexico. museum, Los Angeles and Tokyo. Award 147 participants Riva San Architecture Vitale, Switzerland. Summer studio + travel with Steve and House+House architects. 5/ School ofCathi A+D House Fourthfrom yearAugust competition 2019. 10, 2018. 10 - December 6/ School of A+D Third Year competition 2017. 05 - July 10, 2017. Honor Warren R. Kark ArchitectureMay scholarship First Warren R. Kark Architecture scholarship 4/ CASA | San Mexico. Award 147Miguel, participants place 147 participants Summer 5/ AMITASHA | New Architecture Delhi, India.studio + travel with Steve and Cathi House House+House architects. Foundation forfrom Upliftment of under-privileged 6/ School School of of A+D A+D Third Year competition 2017. 7/ 2016. children.Drawing competition May 05 - July 10, 2017. First Warren R.and Kark Architecture scholarship First W.Wyatt Annette M. Hibbs scholarship Math and English teaching faculty. place 147| participants participants place 147 5/ AMITASHA New Delhi, India. New Delhi, India. Foundation for Upliftment of under-privileged January - April 2015. 7/ School School of ofchildren. A+D Second DrawingYear competition 2016. 8/ A+D competition 2016. First W.Wyatt and Annette scholarship Honor G. Preston Frazer scholarship 6/ RNT Architects | San Diego, CAM. Hibbs Math and English teaching faculty. place 147 participants Award 147 participants Adobedrafter Indesign Autodesk Certi昀椀ed: Revit India. Experienced Designer and architectural New Delhi, AutoCAD Adobe Photoshop with a demonstrated history of working in January - Aprilthe 2015. 8/ Walter School of Beal A+D and Second Year 2016. Illustrator 9/ H. Helen H. competition Beal Scholarship. Rhino + VRay Adobe higher education industry. Honor G. Preston 6/ RNT Architects | SanFrazer Diego,scholarship CA Academic Sketchup Adobe After Effects Award Certi昀椀ed: 147 participants Adobe Indesign Autodesk Revit Excellence Experienced Designer and architectural drafter Adobe Lightroom August 2020 - October 2023 AutoCAD Adobe Photoshop with a demonstrated history of working in the 9/ Walter H. Beal and H. Beal Scholarship. Rhino + VRay Adobe Illustrator Autodesk Certi昀椀ed: RevitHelen industry. Adobe Indesign higher education English (昀氀uent) ItalianAfter (beginner) English Sketchup Adobe Effects AutoCAD Adobe Photoshop Hindi Hindi Adobe Lightroom Rhino(昀氀uent) + VRay Adobe Illustrator August 2020 - October 2023 Sketchup Adobe After Effects Adobe Indesign Autodesk Certi昀椀ed: Revit Adobe Lightroom English (昀氀uent) Italian (beginner) English AutoCAD Adobe Photoshop Hindi Hindi Rhino(昀氀uent) + VRay Adobe Illustrator English English (昀氀uent) ItalianAfter (beginner) Sketchup Adobe Effects Hindi (昀氀uent) Hindi Danish (beginner) Adobe Lightroom English English (昀氀uent) Hindi Hindi (昀氀uent)

Italian (beginner)

Work. Work. Academia

1/ Residence: 1 - 2 1/ Residence: 11/- 4Residence: 1 - 4

Work Work

2/ Renovation: 3 5-6 2/ Renovation:2/ 5 -Renovation: 6

3/ Reach 11: 4 3/ Reach 11: 7 -3/8 Reach 11: 7 - 8

4/ Riva: 6 - 8 4/ Riva: 9 - 16

5/ VA Beach: 9 - 10 6/ Competitions: 11 - 12 4/ Riva: 5/ VA beach: 175/- VA 20 beach: 17 - 206/ C 24 5/ VA beach: 17 - 920- 16 4/ Riva: 9 -6/16Competitions: 21 - 26

B:B

C:C

1/ RNT Architects: 13 - 17 6/ Competitions: 21 - 26 1/ RNT Architects: 25 - 33

1/Residence.

20’-0”

Christiansburg, Virginia. 03/25/17 - 05/12/17. Year: Second Year (03/25/17 - 05/12/17) Professor: Henri de Hahn. Project Supervisor: Henri de Hahn (hdehahn@vt.edu) 20’-0”

This project aimed for a home that celebrated it’s interior and it’s exterior. This inside-outside integration resulted in a system of modules with courtyards in between them. Each module was given a speci昀椀c function, combined or separated with another module, and then incorporated all together to form an architectural entity.

8’-0”

This allowed for a new way of living. Right: The grid shows the structure and the organiza琀椀on of the modules. Essen琀椀ally based on a 5’-0”x5’-0” grid, the modules are 20’-0”x20’=0” squares.

The house uses 琀椀mber balloon frame construc琀椀on - a method adopted by the vernacular architecture of Virginia in which the wooden studs run from the founda琀椀on wall to the ra昀琀ers.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

A sec琀椀on cut through the circulatory-path that runs along with the guest bedroom. The circulatory-axes (shown above in sec琀椀on and in sec琀椀on-perspec琀椀ve) is essen琀椀ally a glass ves琀椀bule that cuts through the courtyard.

Perspective (pg 4.): Approach to the residence. Upon approach, one enters via the central circulatory-axis, centered about the double pitch. While the part of the house on the right appears solid and heavy, the left and public side opens up to invite inhabitants towards the courtyards and towards the modules.

Section 2 shows the master bedroom with its own private courtyard as well. Section 3 shows the master bathroom and the library. This project was essential to understand the relationship between part and whole, to understand the composition of one and many, and most importantly to understand the relationship between the interior and the exterior. It was an exercise that challenged a new way of thinking to strive for a new living. As a second-year student, this project was a fun and challenging introduction to the world of architecture and helped me realize my values and interest in light, in phenomenology, in the dialogue with the site, in the composition of a sequential narrative, and in production and thought by the hand.

Section (pg 4.): The three sections are cut along the tripartite horizontal division of the plan. Section 1 shows the 3 circulatory-axes (left-end, right-end, and the center), along with the play of light and shadow with the fenestrations along the many surfaces of the residence. In this section, the guest bedroom on the right is shown with its own private courtyard.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

Upon approach, one enters via the central circulatory-axis, centered about the double pitch. While one half of the house appears solid and heavy, the other remains open and light, readily invi琀椀ng inhabitants to the many courtyards and to the modules within. (above)

2/Renovation. Kentucky 02/02/17 - 03/15/17. Year: Second Year (02/02/17 - 03/15/17) Professor: Henri de Hahn. Project Supervisor: Henri de Hahn (hdehahn@vt.edu)

A:A

A 昀氀oor of a pre-war factory was to be renovated into an apartment space. This project sought to enable its residents to be able to walk in a hallway of windows. The apartment, composed of a hallway that loops around its functions, creates a unique experience lacking in archetypal apartment space today.

would allow its users to circumambulate around its the apartment, while bringing generous light and views into the apartment.

This project was a response to the archetypal apartment space of the 21st century- a standard without identity and individuality. The proposal asked Can you walk around your apartment? to look with a new perspective as it sought after a This question sought to enable its residents to be new way of living. It taught me that architecture can able to walk in a hallway of windows - a hallway which question the lineage and reason behind the existence of a certain typology, interpret it and then yearn for a Above: Zero-degree axonometric render of the apartment with its new perspective; that as an architect it is one’s role to looping hallway. An a琀琀empt to express its ‘lightness’ and ‘openness’. question and to interpret.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

In order to achieve such a gallery along with the apartments, it was necessary to push all the functions back towards the center of the apartment, thus leaving a path to circumnavigate the apartment along with its windows. The section above shows the circumambulatory path as it wraps around the apartment. Le昀琀: Organiza琀椀on of the func琀椀ons within the apartment. Right: The circumnaviga琀椀ng path along the many windows of the apartment.

3/Reach 11.

Kayenta, Arizona 02/02/18 - 05/15/18. Year: Third Year (02/02/18 - 05/15/18) Professor: Margarita McGrath. Project Supervisor: Margarita McGrath (mmcgrath@vt.edu) Site

Proposal

An oasis for weary travellers.

The site sits beside Route 160 and the Peabody Kayenta mine, which although now shut down, had ravaged the Navajo land and contaminated it with Uranium while driving thousands of Native Americans off of their lands. A 40 year long and arduous period saw the shutting down of this mine and now only it’s remnants exist.

The project tries to honor history by using the earth itself to create a rest-station for the drivers of Route 160. This Earthen Wall works effectively in the warm Arizona climate and pays homage to the ancient building techniques.

A:A Upon entering the sta琀椀on, visitors are welcomed by a tree and its courtyard. This open and stepped-courtyard, an oasis in a desert, has two important features- a rainwater reservoir to collect fresh and uncontaminated water, and a system of layered walls which shaded the courtyard throughout the day. These layered-labyrinth of earthen walls contain this courtyard along with a welcome center (a cafe, washrooms, and a si琀�ng area). The welcome center will host na琀椀ve art and sculptures, along with tes琀椀monies and stories of local folks to share the story of the site with the visitors.

The dual-axonometric wall sec琀椀on above a琀琀empts to show both the interior and the exterior characteris琀椀c of this earthen-wall in one drawing. Both sides of the wall exist in stark contrast: the exterior exists as rigid and organized due to the many lime erosion-breakers embedded into it, and the interior exists with undula琀椀ng layers as an organic and uncontrollable form. This drawing a琀琀empts to show how this duality of the rammed earth wall can be experienced at the same 琀椀me.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

An operable ceiling-window promotes ven琀椀la琀椀on and convec琀椀on. Thus, these rooms are allowed to breathe to stay cool under the harsh Arizona sun. The room and the bathroom employ air-gaps in their roof structure to further insulate the room from the harsh desert heat.

Solar panels above these air gaps collect energy from the harsh sun to feed the radiant 昀氀oor-hea琀椀ng/cooling pipes in the ceramic 昀氀ooring琀椀les. A tall rammed-earth wall exists as the facade of these rooms, shielding them from views from within the parking lot.

4/Riva.

Riva San Vitale, Switzerland 08/09/18 - 12/06/18 Year: Fourth Year (08/09/18 - 12/06/18) Professor:Supervisor: Henri de Hahn + Heinrich Schnoedt. Project Henri de Hahn (hdehahn@vt.edu)

(1)

The project was divided into two parts: (A) a rede昀椀ned enclosure (B) and a chape for the existing cemetery.

A/Cemetery enclosure. The proposal for an enclosure (2) is driven by the rede昀椀ning of the transitions into the cemetery - both for the body and the visitors. A pedestal welcomes the body and marks its arrival into the cemetery - from the world of the living to that of the dead. While the visitors embark on a walk around and into the cemetery, they prepare themselves for the next step the burial. Hence, both the dead and the alive arrive at the same destination, but via different architectural moments.

A. (2)

B. (3)

Sec琀椀on through ramp which leads to the cemetery. This ramp, and its wall, 昀氀ank the cemetery and protrude towards the pedestrian street.

(1) Exis琀椀ng cemetery of the town of Riva San Vitale. (2) Part 1: A proposal for an enclosure and a new de昀椀ning entrance condi琀椀on. (3) Part 2: A proposal for a cemetery chapel.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

(Above) Project part 1: Sec琀椀on through area approached a昀琀er ascending the ramp. (Below) Sec琀椀on through pedestal: the doorway for the casket. The project dealt with the transi琀椀on of the human body, both dead and alive, ino the cemetery. The dead are carried through the condi琀椀on above - the transi琀椀on element. The alive circumnavigate and prepare themselves on their walk to the cemetery, where they once again meet the casket.

B/Cemetery chapel. This project looked at the transition of the human body - both the dead and the alive, into the cemetery. The existing cemetery has only a gate trough which visitors and the casket pass.

(1.)

(2.)

(3.)

The project rede昀椀nes this boundary and proposes a narrow and tall wall enclosure slowly ramps up and opens up into the chapel (1. and 2.) The body rests on an operable altar (3.) and after the procession, the altar opens up and reveals the cemetery, preparing the body and the visitors for their transition into the cemetery.

Perspec琀椀ve render: A昀琀er the procession is concluded, the altar opens up into the cemetery.

Here, a procession is in place within the chapel, hence visitors are using the stones as an alternate path to reach the cemetery. Inside, the doors are shut, hence the space is rela琀椀vely darker. 2 skylights bring in so昀琀 light into the chapel.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

(Below) The chapel becomes the transitory element into the cemetery. The body is placed on an operable altar. After the procession is concluded, the altar swings open to reveal the cemetery where the body would be buried. A separate passage exists which allows visitors to enter the cemetery without disturbing a ceremony.

(Above) Context axonometric representation. The chapel, 昀氀anking the cemetery from the side, sits beside a vast empty lot. The entrance condition is rede昀椀ned and the movement of visitors is modi昀椀ed. Elevation of Cemetery enclosure from street.

Figuring out the organiza琀椀on of the spaces to decisions for the human scale.

Plan: The plan talks about the rela琀椀onship of the old and the new. Here, the chapel does not touch the exis琀椀ng stone cemetery walls (in grey). It exists as an individual en琀椀ty si琀�ng respec琀昀ully next to the old.

1” : 4’

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

(Clockwise from top-le昀琀) (1) Inside the chapel. The wall above the entrance passageway is gently grazed by so昀琀 outside light. (2) The co昀케n placed on the altar, illuminated. It remains the only source of light in the chapel. (3) A昀琀er the procession, the altar opens up to reveal the cemetery and the body is carried out. (4) The Chapel with accompanying pools. (5) View of chapel from the road over the gradually shortening wall enclosure. (6) View of chapel from the neighboring empty lot.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

(Clockwise from top-le昀琀) (1) The cemetery chapel. (2) The chapel with the wall enclosure leading up to it. (3) Cemetery chapel aerial shot. (4) The chapel on approach. (5) The view of the chapel from the street and through the wall enclosure. (6) The chapel view from within the cemetery.

Models of cemetery chapel and the wall enclosure leading up to it.

5/VA Beach. Virginia Beach, Virginia. 08/09/18 - 12/06/18 Year: Fourth Year (23/01/19 - 15/4/19) Professor: Joe Wheeler.Joe Wheeler Project Supervisor: (joewheel@vt.edu)

This project was an exercise that delved into urban planning and focused on the development of two primary elements within the urban fabric: the Courtyard and the Street. These elements are extremely signi昀椀cant elements for a city as they offer to become catalysts for social interaction. Streets and courtyards engage its users.

In A, a dense neighborhood of 15t-wide single-family row houses stands around a soft-dirt pedestrian walkway that connects it to other parts of the campus. While the residents park their cars on grade, the houses themselves are elevated off the ground to create a pedestrian street secure from vehicles and from noise. This street would connect these houses to other parts of the campus.

The project emphasizes a reduction of dependency that people have on cars to create a better community made up of intimate and interconnected villages. The campus was divided into two types of residences: Type-A being designed as high-density row-houses which celebrated their street, and Type-B being designed as a cluster of low-density town-houses which celebrated the courtyard. The site was approached to reduce the dependency on vehicles and to promote pedestrian traf昀椀c.

B encompasses low-density town homes in the middle of the campus. In plan, their geometric order is designed on the basis of an expanding fractal. The advantage of this planning is that it gives the residents ample green space in the form of courtyards.

Right (axonometric): High-density rowhouses which celebrates an elevated pedestrian street. Its eleva琀椀on provides a secure space for pedestrian tra昀케c. The street connects residents to other parts throughout the campus.

Le昀琀 (axonometric): Low-density townhouses which celebrate the courtyard.

Below: 2 Sec琀椀on-perspec琀椀ve of high-density Type-A rowhouse residency. The drawing a琀琀empts to show the proposed street and the subsequent street culture.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

Perspec琀椀ve render. A昀琀er the procession is concluded, the altar opens up into the cemetery.

Various light studies were done to create sensual effects and understand the play of light throughout the interior of the rowhouse. The charcoal drawing above shows the render of a window along with the effect of light obtained with this particular window assembly. The window is covered by an opaque panel that hovers 0’-6” off of the wall, allowing light to softly graze the walls from the sides of the panel. This gives a softly lit room and a comfortable atmosphere to the room. The panel operates on two hinges, and its 4 parts are able to pivot 180 degrees. Thus, users can engage with this assembly and open panels which would apply to their needs. Color on the inside of the opaque panel can be re昀氀ected onto the walls to obtain a play of light and color.

Organiza琀椀on: Red: Bedrooms; Blue: Bathrooms; Green: Kitchen; Beige: Public Spaces.

Circula琀椀on: The architecture revolves around the stairway for the ver琀椀cal circula琀椀on

Staircase: The base form of the undula琀椀ng and meandering staircase.

Essentially, landings of staircases are in The end of every stair sees a reason rather limbo - they are the middle where nothing than being a void. is happening. They are the background, This project allowed me to question and while the end of the stairs is the foreground. investigate at the urban scale during the stage Landings end up being nothing more than of master planning, and at the more intimate another requirement of the treacherous scale of the human while experimenting with code. This section works on a split the play of light by designing the windows. organization where it tries to incorporate It was an important exercise that showed me a function/destination on each landing. the scope of architecture.

Laid out on a 5昀琀. x 5昀琀. grid, the house sits 15昀琀. wide and 55昀琀 long. The challenge with this slender and thin form was responded with split-level organiza琀椀on of spaces. Func琀椀ons are connected by an undula琀椀ng staircase which slithers across the height of the building.

Above: The site was divided into 3 zones: Rowhouses (A) marked red, Town-houses (B) marked yellow, the commercial zone marked blue. The remainder of the site was allocated to the natural landscape marked as green.

A pedestrian society. The proposal aimed to provide an urban space which provided refuge from cars by being designed to promote pedestrian tra昀케c, and the subsequent social energy, throughout its campus.

Below: trails connect residences to other parts throughout and outside the site.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

6/Competitions. Submissions from di昀昀erent compe琀椀琀椀ons throughout my tenure as an architecture student.

a. SoA+D 2nd year competition: Honorable mention.

b. SoA+D 3rd year competition: First Prize

10/12/16 - 10/19/16.

10/12/17 - 10/19/17.

Annual yearly competition. Create three gong-towers in given forest site.

Create an extension for the School of Architecture+Design as a building which would host a cafeteria for the university, and an exhibition space + pin-up space for architecture students.

147 participants.

147 participants. The aim was to produce a sequential and episodic phenomenological-trio, each of which would offer a different auditory perception due to changing spatial conditions.

While in the left-most tower the gong is located at the bottom would echo and produce an interstellar burst of noise, the gong in the right-most tower would not as its sound would dissipate into the nearby alpine forest. The board shows the plan of the three towers, a section through the towers and the site, and diagrams to show the key characteristic of each tower. The three-towers were designed with the idea of phenomenological-trio, each of which would o昀昀er an auditory percep琀椀on unique to the tower itself. Spa琀椀ally, while the le昀琀-most tower is underground, dark and cavernous, the others open up to the elements. Thus, the quality of the sound produced by the gong in each tower is signi昀椀cantly di昀昀erent.

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

Thus, as one walks from one tower to another, their auditory perception of the same gong continually changes.

The building proposes to host exhibitions on the 昀椀rst-昀氀oor so that the subject-on-show would be directly visible and accessible to the busy university pedestrian traf昀椀c outside, a cafe on the second 昀氀oor so that it may be connected to the neighboring student center, and pin-up space on the third 昀氀oor to be used by the SoA+D.

The pin-up rooms on the top 昀氀oor consist of drop-down ceiling panels which become pin-up boards for students. Thus, while the room and its audience remain dark, the presenta琀椀on board and the student who is presen琀椀ng remains under light.

In its organization, there is a clear distinction between the served and serviced spaces, each of which gets their own half.

Depending on the use, one or all panels could be dropped down to provide a di昀昀erent ambiance every 琀椀me. The hinge of the ceiling and the pop-down pinup panels for the architecture students.

In section, the 昀椀rst 昀氀oor hosts the exhibition hall, the second 昀氀oor hosts the cafe, and the third 昀氀oor hosts the pinup-spaces.

c. 24-hr competition: Honorable mention. 7 am. 10/6/19 - 7 am. 10/7/19.

24-hr architecture-ideas competition by ‘If’: ‘Ideas Forward’, is an international contest thatW aims to present 24-hour architectural responses to the problems affecting cities today and consecutively the world, with a very strong focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly measures. 443 entries.

Team: Aayush Das Anat, Sudhansh Agrawal. Create the new Babel Tower.

Proposal: Constructing nature, planting the building.

The purpose of this exercise is to recreate what would be the Babel Tower today. A tower that symbolizes the unity of peoples, regardless of their color, race or religion. A tower that values the human race as one. Above all a tower that breaks with the current building model. An environmentally friendly tower.

We have separated nature from culture. We prefer the oversimulation in hypermodernity to sensory integration in nature. We have scarred the ground we tread on and our house is on 昀椀re! It isn’t much longer till there is no turning back.

There is no speci昀椀c program for this tower. More than its function, we want to deepen new, environmentally friendly building systems for a new model of sustainable cities. It is essential that the new Babel Tower represents a break with the past and present with regard to building systems.

25 23

B.Arch Project (2015-2020)

The Tower of Babel was built by our pure drive to reach the Gods, to inhabit the skies. The tower of today should be built by the same yearning to bring nature closer to our urban fabric. Years later, we see humanity prepare for another journey. Slowly, a frame rises above the city, giving way to a new ground. Here, people and nature come together as one.

We are looking for a building, Carbon 0, a building that marks a change of mind and that serves humanity and not the economic interests of capitalist societies.

26 24

PROFESSIONAL WORK

RNT Architects, San Diego Aug 2020 - October 2023

Work.

August 2020 - October 2023

Projects worked on: Projects: 1. Wilson Middle School Construc琀椀on Administra琀椀on 1. Wilson Middle School - Construction Administration 2. Morse High School 2. Morse High School - Construction Documentation Construc琀椀on Documents 3. Pleasant Valley School District - Schematic Design 3. Pleasant Valley School District + Construction Documentation Schema琀椀c Design 4. TPHS Gym and Locker Moderniaz琀椀on 4. TPHS Gym and Locker Modernization - Schematic Schema琀椀c Design Design 5. Psychiatric Hospital 5. Psychiatric Hospital of San Diego County and Health Services Complex - Door replacement Construction Documentation Project Construc琀椀on Documents6. Marston Middle School Whole Site Modernization 6.Marston Middle School - Whole Site and New Construction - Construction Administration Moderniza琀椀on and New Construc琀椀on 7. HUBBS Seaworld Research Institute - Feasibility Construc琀椀on Administra琀椀on 7. HUBBS Seaworld Research Ins琀椀tute Study + Schematic Design Feasibility Study 8. La Costa Residence Tenant Improvement 8. La Costa Residence - Tenant Improvement Schematic Design + Construction Documents Construc琀椀on Documents 9. La Mesa Library - Feasibility Study 9. La Mesa Library Feasibility Study 10. Architecture at Zero Farmworkers Housing 10. Architecture at Zero Farmworkers Housing Competition Compei琀椀ton

Projects: 1. Wilson Middle School Construc琀椀on Administra琀椀on 2. Morse High School Construc琀椀on Documents 3. Pleasant Valley School District Schema琀椀c Design 4. TPHS Gym and Locker Moderniaz琀椀on Schema琀椀c Design 5. Psychiatric Hospital and Health Services Complex - Door replacement Project Construc琀椀on Documents 6.Marston Middle School - Whole Site Moderniza琀椀on and New Construc琀椀on Construc琀椀on Administra琀椀on 7. HUBBS Seaworld Research Ins琀椀tute Feasibility Study 8. La Costa Residence - Tenant Improvement Construc琀椀on Documents 9. La Mesa Library Feasibility Study 10. Architecture at Zero Farmworkers Housing pages of this portfolio contains The following Compei琀椀ton selected and abbreviated works from design projects developed during my 3.5 year tenure at RNT Architects, San Diego, California.

RNT Architects (2020-2023)

1313

RNT Architects (2020-2023)

1313

1/HUBBS - SEAWORLD RESEARCH INSTITUTE Carlsbad, California 2022, 2023 Role: Design Lead, Job Captain

Team Size: 2 Nakamura, Aayush Das Anat Team: Kotaro Phase: Feasibility Study Project supervisor: Kotaro Nakamura (nakamura@rntarchitects.com) HSWRI required an addi琀椀on of lab, research, housing, o昀케ce and greenhouse spaces for their exis琀椀ng research facility. This ins琀椀tute was to house scien琀椀sts, students and faculty from SDSU and UCSD, while improving the exis琀椀ng research spaces and addressing unmet needs. As Job Captain on this project, I was responsible for developing the design, coordina琀椀ng with the client, researching local regula琀椀ons and preparing the 昀椀nal package for the client.

Situated on the shores of Carlsbad in a residen琀椀al area with a popular trail surrounding the site, HSWRI asked for this ins琀椀tute to engage the exis琀椀ng trail by showcasing the facility to pedestrians and walkers.

RNT Architects (2020-2023)

2/MARSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL WHOLE SCHOOL MODERNIZATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION Clairemont, California 2023 Role: Job Captain, Junior Architect Team 4 Terada, Monika Banakaite, Ruth Fajarit, Team:Size: Chikako Aayush Construc琀椀on Das Anat Phase: Administra琀椀on This projects provides a contemporary learning space for students and faculty by modernizing classrooms, locker rooms, cafeteria, main o昀케ce and bathrooms. The new construc琀椀on in this project includes a new Gymnasium, new parking lot, new drop-o昀昀 area and new Joint-Use Grass Athle琀椀c Fields. My role in this project was coordina琀椀on with the consultants, contractor, IOR and school district, performing rou琀椀ne site walks to address issues and ques琀椀ons, and ensuring the work done meets the design intent.

RNT Architects (2020-2023)

3/LA COSTA RESIDENCE - TENANT IMPROVEMENT Carlsbad, California 2022, 2023 Role: Design Lead, Job Captain Team: Alicia2M. Lafferty, Aayush Das Anat Team Size: Project Alicia M. Lafferty Phase: supervisor: Feasibility Study (lafferty@rntarchitects.com)

This project asked for renova琀椀on of the bedrooms, bathrooms and living room, and exterior improvements for a Japanese-style contemporary residence in Carlsbad, CA. The clients asked for major remodelling of the master bathroom and upgrading the residence to make it ADA compliant and user-friendly. My role in this project was developing the design, coordina琀椀ng custom details with the client, and comple琀椀ng the contract documents.

RNT Architects (2020-2023)

4/LA MESA LIBRARY

5/FARMWORKERS HOUSING COMPETITION

La Mesa, California 2022, 2023

San Diego, 2022 Achievement: Special Recogni琀椀on Award, $25,000 Prize, publica琀椀on

Role: Job Captain Team: Raul 2 Diaz, Aayush Das Anat Team Size: Project supervisor: Raul Diaz Phase: Feasibility Study

Team: Ralph R. Roesling, Tyson Cline,Uriel Lopez, Kailie Johnson, Aayush Das Anat, Sarah Havener, Catherine Young, Team Size: 6 Tarah Brown

Architecture at Zero is a design compe琀椀琀椀on for decarboniza琀椀on, equity and resilience. The 2021-22 compe琀椀琀椀on was to create a昀昀ordable housing for farmworkers in California’s Central Valley. This project applies carbon-posi琀椀ve building prac琀椀ces, applying new carbon-capturing aggregate technology and bamboo panel walls as well as a photovoltaic system with ba琀琀ery storage to achieve a project with net carbon posi琀椀ve embodied energy a well as net carbon posi琀椀ve opera琀椀onal energy. Applying these allows the rest of the project to be simple to operate and maintain, and will allow for easier deconstruc琀椀on at its end of life.

(diaz@rntarchitects.com)

La Mesa Library feasibility study is a report that is a part of the City of La Mesa’s e昀昀ort to assess and improve the exis琀椀ng La Mesa Civic center and library facility. Three design op琀椀ons were presented to the City Council of La Mesa. Recommenda琀椀ons were fashioned based on previous Masterplan study, surveys, Library sta昀昀 input and city input. My role in this project was to develop three design op琀椀ons, coordinate our design intent with 昀椀ndings from community surveys, and coordinate our proposals with the cost es琀椀mators. A 昀椀nal report and presenta琀椀on was presented to the City Council of La Mesa, and one of the op琀椀ons was voted by the City Council.

INSTEAD OF DESIGNING TO ADDRESS SCARCITY, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DESIGN TO CREATE ABUNDANCE? This project is a study in how to create places of extravagant welcome. As William McDonough noted in his book “The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability - Designing for Abundance,” as we become skilled at closing the loop, using more resources will no longer be unsustainable because those resources (including energy and carbon) will be recycled and upcycled. We have studied the application of carbon-positive building in practice, applying new carbon-capturing aggregate technology and bamboo panel walls as well as a photovoltaic system with battery storage to achieve a project with net carbon positive embodied energy as well as net carbon positive operational energy. Applying these technologies also allows the rest of the project to be simple to operate and maintain, and will allow for easier deconstruction at its end of life. We apply a similar philosophy of abundance creating more abundance to the spatial design and amenities of the project, creating a living environment centered around the ideas of pride, independence, and dignity. In order to incorporate welcoming gathering areas on a high density site the project team took inspiration from Dutch city planning to feature a Woonerf, or living street.

This axis cutting through the middle of the site takes into account pedestrians 昀椀rst, and auto tra昀케c second. The neighborhood now gets an expansive shared environment, while creating an e昀케cient use of space (and because the woonerf acts as a primarily pedestrian artery, passing cars are forced to slow down.) The development’s density respects the neighborhood’s context, while o昀昀ering an alternative approach at traditional a昀昀ordable housing design. The intent is that this community will foster a positive feed back loop, creating a generation of homeowners who will also help extended family and friends to achieve the dream of homeownership. Sustainability, especially with respect to carbon emissions, has been weaved into every aspect of design from the orientation of the woonerf and individual building blocks down to the careful selection of building materials. By utilizing LED lighting, heat pump water heaters, and electric appliances, and by providing PV panels with battery storage to each unit, operational carbon has been eliminated. Additionally, by selecting building materials with low embodied carbon and some that actually sequester and permanently store carbon, the project performs both immediately and into the future as a net carbon positive development.

Annual Energy Use Summary Table HVAC (6.0 kBtu/sf): Comfort can be expensive. Improved envelope insulation and air in昀椀ltration control is essential to real reductions in energy use. Lighting (2.4 kBtu/sf): Good daylighting and daylighting controls as well as occupancy sensors are essential for lower energy use when used with a foundation of LED lighting. Equipment/Plug Loads (5.1 kBtu/sf): Once energy e昀케ciency building strategies are implemented, plug loads remain as the last major energy use. It is tempting to reduce their magnitude in the model but plug loads are almost always higher in practice. Domestic Hot Water (2.5 kBtu/sf): Moving to heat pumps increases energy costs but decreases emissions and increase absolute energy e昀케ciency. Gross EUI: 16 kBtu/sf Renewable Production: 20 kBtu/sf We aimed to o昀昀set 100% of energy use with onsite renewable energy production. In order to completely o昀昀set carbon emissions, based on the provided Energy and Emissions spreadsheet, even more onsite renewable energy may be required, but purchasing 100% renewable energy from the grid is also possible. Net EUI: -4 kBtu/sf

Bldg. Foundation

Superstructure

Exterior Envelope & PV

Finishes & Misc.

Sitework

Other

Proposed net embodied carbon: Baseline kgCO2e net embodied carbon: -451,579 (sequestered) 994,556 kgCO2e

INSTEAD OF DESIGNING TO ADDRESS SCARCITY, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DESIGN TO CREATE ABUNDANCE? Proposed Baseline net embodied carbon: 994,556 kgCO2e (sequestered) -451,579

This project is a study in how to create places of extravagant welcome. As William McDonough noted in his book “The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability - Designing for Abundance,” as we become skilled at closing the loop, using more resources will no longer be unsustainable because those resources (including energy and carbon) will be recycled and upcycled. We have studied the application of carbon-positive building in practice, applying new carbon-capturing aggregate technology and bamboo panel walls as well as a photovoltaic system with battery storage to achieve a project with net carbon positive embodied energy as well as net carbon positive operational energy.

Carbon Sequestered

Carbon Emitted

We apply a similar philosophy of abundance through a living environment centered around the ideas of pride, independence, and dignity. In order to incorporate welcoming, gathering areas on a high density site, the project Woonerf,, team took inspiration from Dutch city planning strategy of the Woonerf or living street. This axis cutting through the middle of the site takes into account pedestrians 昀椀rst, and auto tra昀케c second. The neighborhood receives an expansive shared environment, while creating an e昀케cient use of space. Cars are forced to slow down because the woonerf acts as a winding, pedestrian artery. The development’s density respects the neighborhood’s context, while o昀昀ering an alternative approach at traditional a昀昀ordable housing design. The intent is that this community will foster a positive feed back loop, creating a generation of homeowners who encourage others to seek homeownership.

MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND OPERATION SUMMARY

EMBODIED ENERGY NARRATIVE

The mechanical system employed in this project is heat pumps (2.05 COP Heating, 3.0 COP Cooling) with ducted fresh air supply and return; no heat recovery. This means all outdoor air is highly 昀椀ltered if outdoor air quality is compromised. The project also incorporates operable windows on opposite sides of all units allowing for cross ventilation. Cooling is further provided by fans in the unit living spaces, cooling through enhanced evaporation and convection instead of mechanical cooling. The lighting system is all LED with 100% daylight sensors and 50% occupancy sensors. Units incorporate light courts to bring daylight into the middle of the footprint. Interior shades are provided to modulate daylighting. The project’s renewable energy system consists of roof, trellis and over-parking mounted 22% e昀케cient PV panels sized to provide 597 kW generation capacity (an average of 5.5kW renewable energy per unit). This is combined with battery storage (7 kW Tesla power wall) for each unit rated for exterior installation to store extra power generated during the day for use at night. The energy model does not include energy storage for reduced emissions, however it appears from the load curves that enough photovoltaic-generated energy can be stored during the daytime to account for nighttime use in all seasons. Domestic water is provided by individual heat pump water heaters. They are programmable to use grid energy when it is greenest, or focus on producing warm water when the PV panels are generating energy. The energy model does not include shifted water heating loads for reduced emissions.

During our research, we found that embodied energy of the building materials is a major component of the overall lifecycle greenhouse gas release associated with buildings. Additionally, since the State of California has required that the energy grid be carbon neutral by 2045, we anticipated that buildings running solely on electricity (as this development proposes) will be carbon neutral by default within 2 to 3 decades. Therefore, the greatest positive impact can be achieved by using carbon-positive building materials as soon as they are available. We employed Bamcore, a structural bamboo wall system which is recently available in the local market and sequesters large amounts of carbon in fast-growing bamboo. It also greatly reduces the thermal bridging associated with stud walls, allowing the design to avoid using high-GWP board insulations and gypsum board at those walls. We also are using Blue Planet aggregate, a revolutionary carbon-capturing aggregate that more than balances the GWP of the portland cement in concrete and is anticipated to be brought to market in 2022.

RNT Architects (2020-2023)

2021

ARCHITECTURE AT ZERO

IT’S A WOONERFUL LIFE

4/LA MESA LIBRARY

5/FARMWORKERS HOUSING COMPETITION

La Mesa, California 2022, 2023

San Diego, 2022 Achievement: Special Recogni琀椀on Award, $25,000 Prize, publica琀椀on

Role: Job Captain Team: Raul 2 Diaz, Aayush Das Anat Team Size: Project supervisor: Raul Diaz Phase: Feasibility Study

Team: Ralph R. Roesling, Tyson Cline,Uriel Lopez, Kailie Johnson, Aayush Das Anat, Sarah Havener, Catherine Young, Team Size: 6 Tarah Brown

(diaz@rntarchitects.com)

Annual Energy Use Summary Table HVAC (6.0 kBtu/sf): Comfort can be expensive. Improved envelope insulation and air in昀椀ltration control is essential to real reductions in energy use.

B.Arch Thesis 2020

Lighting (2.4 kBtu/sf): Good daylighting and daylighting controls as well as occupancy sensors are essential for lower energy use when used with a foundation of LED lighting. Equipment/Plug Loads (5.1 kBtu/sf): Once energy e昀케ciency building strategies are implemented, plug loads remain as the last major energy use. It is tempting to reduce their magnitude in the model but plug loads are almost always higher in practice. Domestic Hot Water (2.5 kBtu/sf): Moving to heat pumps increases energy costs but decreases emissions and increase absolute energy e昀케ciency. Gross EUI: 16 kBtu/sf

This link takes you to my Thesis Book

Renewable Production: 20 kBtu/sf We aimed to o昀昀set 100% of energy use with onsite renewable energy production. In order to completely o昀昀set carbon emissions, based on the provided Energy and Emissions spreadsheet, even more onsite renewable energy may be required, but purchasing 100% renewable energy from the grid is also possible. Net EUI: -4 kBtu/sf

submitted to the Virginia Tech School

Bldg. Foundation

Superstructure

of Architecture + Design as a part of

Exterior Envelope & PV

Finishes & Misc.

Sitework

Other

Proposed net embodied carbon: Baseline kgCO2e net embodied carbon: -451,579 (sequestered) 994,556 kgCO2e

the Thesis Program (B.Arch.) 12"X12".

INSTEAD OF DESIGNING TO ADDRESS SCARCITY, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DESIGN TO CREATE ABUNDANCE?

For Virginia Tech 2020 School of

Proposed Baseline net embodied carbon: 994,556 kgCO2e (sequestered) -451,579

Architecture + Design thesis news page, please visit: Carbon Emitted

Carbon Sequestered

https://arch.vt.edu/news-andevents/spring-2020/2020-pella-prizefinalists-recognized.html

The following pages of this portfolio contains additional MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND OPERATION SUMMARY

EMBODIED ENERGY NARRATIVE

drawings done during my tenure at Virginia Tech.

2021

ARCHITECTURE AT ZERO

IT’S A WOONERFUL LIFE

18 17

MISCELLANEOUS

Travel Sketches.