Contents Exploration - Academic
1. Collective Urban Block
Explorations in collective form
2. Social Living
Affordable Mass Housing
3. Urban Regeneration
Bunhill- Above and Below
4. Urban Intervention Art and Culture Centre
5. Micro Institution Anganwadi
Enquiry
- Research - Documentation
6. Community Living
Co-existence of Builtform and Community
7. Drawing Inferences
Related Study Programme
Experience
- Work - Competition - Workshop
8. Professional Internship Cadence Architects
9. Design Competition iHUB, CnT Architects
10. Practical Exposure Anika Redwood Homes, CnT Architects
1. Collective Urban Block Explorations in Collective Forms A framework based approach for inner city peripheries The research is dealing with the inner peripheral area of Camden, looking at developing it as a collective urban block. Exploring the relationship between the industrial and residential environments with infrastructural elements, it aims at establishing a new kind of neighbourhood based on synergies between these otherwise distinct environments. This research raises a discussion on how the emerging notions of sharing and collectivity are used as tools to retain complex environments within city centres and at the same time cater to density and diversity requirements of urban areas. It presents the need for a framework based approach for urban transformation that includes the dimension of time. A master-program that provides a richer role to the design as a choreographer on how dynamic and evolving urban transformations interact with fixed and stable points. Further, it presents a new version of developmental model, an urban experiment that serves both as an urban housing strategy ( density, diversity) and a social framework (inclusivity, well-being, collective living), thought of at scales of the superblock and single building, that can be re-adapted into different urban contexts. The thesis emphasizes on considering morphological and typological shifts and exploring form and composition in designing the frameworks for urban areas to allow new collaborated ways of living.
North-South Armatures
Block Re-structuring
Morphological compositions
Interface between big and small
The concept is in combining the two types of urbanisms: the normal grid and the individual objects, as a basic urban housing model. The mid-rise development would provide the generic urban container of housing and infrastructure. The second system of large buildings as a series of objects would hold light industries, production spaces, collective spaces and public amenities. The place where grid reconciles with the objects gives the public amenities shape and generates another layer of public space, and with landscape ties the project to the city at a larger scale.
Inner City peripheries in London marked by infrastructural severances.
With the presence of knowledge quarter, infrastructure and industries at the door step, the under-utilized sites of inner peripheries carry great potentials to be transformed in a way to relieve pressure from city centres and create employment opportunities for suburbs.
Analogy between the development around Central St Martins and the proposed shed in Camden.
Urban diagram showing a network driven approach in inner peripheries to retain complex environments within the city centre.
The ground floor of the building operates as a public realm that is connected and transparent towards the landscape. With its premeable ground, it extends and connects the large building to the canal and further inside the building through stairs and platforms, raises the public realm to the level of highline within.
Urban diagram showing the potentials of extending productive landscape armatures between the highline and canal.
Landscape armatures functioning as high-performance bringing the infrastructural elements, industries and ho
e horizontal surfaces, ousing together.
Establsihing a well-integrated food ecosystem involves other industries such as logistics, manufacturing, creative businesses. It activates the civic facilites and generates subsidary uses and activities along side.
Housing cluster showing the structural and access systems across different typologies.
WohnProjekt, Vienna, Single-family homes
Stadterle Cohousing Project, Base
Individual Studios and Clustered Apartm
el
ments
Housing cluster showing the internal arrangement of blocks. Cluster accomodates single family homes, cluster apartments and dormitories. At ground level all the typologies have communal facilities.
Spreefled, Berlin
S1516, Berlin
Shared Living
Short term Accommodation
2. Social Living Affordable Mass Housing at Rajkot A place to call as home The program was to re-design housing for economically weaker section of the society in the city of Rajkot with density of 1400 people per hectare on a site of 1.7 hectare which had middle income group housing colonies, educational institutes and a public park adjacent to it. The design evolved as linear arrangement of houses to share resources and services to make it economically feasible. The form evolved as linear masses arranged in angles to create different scales of common open spaces in centre for the people. Another aspect of the design was to develop it as a vertical neighbourhood by creating open spaces for each dwelling in all floors to provide the much needed interface between the built and open as it is a necessity for Indian lifestyles and provides the opportunity to connect with the neighbours and outside environment and create a lively atmosphere. The design had three sizes of dwellings according to family size, occupation and needs, 45sqm dwellings with shops on ground floor, 35sqm dwellings and 25sqm dwellings with possibility to increment on upper floors with personal open spaces for each dwelling.
Linear arrangement of built masses
Different scales of open spaces
Attaining required density
Creating vertical neighbourhood through terraces
Ground Floor Plan
Vehicular Pedestrian Connecting spine
Movement/Circulation/Connection
Shared open space Built
Services/Plumbing/Structure
0m
Toilets/Wet areas
Built v/s Open/ Linear arrangement
10m
Connection of open spaces Built
Section AA’
Process of development of open spaces
Site model with proposed massing
Stacked Floor plans depicting the open spaces at all levels creating vertical neighbourhood
View depicting the vertical neighbourhood created by visually connected open spaces at different levels allowing social life to prevail.
Typical part section showing the staggering of modules and the open spaces at all floor levels. The corridors are detached to provide privacy from the movements of the people passing by.
Fourth Floor 3 module types
Third Floor 4 module types
Second Floor 3 module types
First Floor 2 module types
Ground Floor 1 module type-with shop
The module of eight dwellings is repeated in linear arrangement along the corridor, which is doubly loaded at certain places. The modules of different sizes and internal layout are designed to cater to needs of different family sizes.
3. Urban Area Regeneration Bunhill Above and below
Affordable living and workspace environment in London Bunhill is an emblematic example of the forces of change that intervene in many city centres. As a Central Activity Zone, a hyper economic driver of the city, it is undergoing growth with all the creative and fintech industries. The accurate reading of this area reveals the potential specially due to it location in proximity to central London, the financial capital; the available infrastructure and the morphological and typological opportunities that it offers. And with this, the challenges of achieving further intensification and the difficulty to reach a balance with affordable entry points talking in terms of housing, workspace, light industry and civic facilities. The Compact City model provides procurement, developmental and spatial strategy that is able to achieve compactness, intensity, affordability and is able to include different actors in the urban process.
Plot envelope, 100x100m
Flexible grid with different plots
Variety of Program and housing types
Diverse residents and users
Diverse building blocks and forms
Urban Ensemble
Sectional Axo depicting the city plot concept in existing housing estate.
The low density and number of public spaces allows to change the morphology of the block to achieve spaces to live, work and learn.
Flexible ground floor allowing different modes of mobility and building usages and connections.
Adding new typologies and mixed-use building types on edges ensuring the coexistence of a variety of players and spaces.
The heirarchy of streets working together establishes a sequence generating different characteristics in relation to the adjacent courtyard.
The reuse of existing typologies in interaction with the new ones securing the variation in functions, housing types, scales, residents, users, initiators, public spaces and routes – all in one plot.
4. Urban Intervention Art and Culture Centre at Raipur An urban platform to celebrate the heritage of the state The project seeks to promote unique identity and polyvalence of the art and culture of Chhattisgarh state and develop spaces for public to know about their tribal art and culture. Project is to design a art and culture centre in Raipur. This centre would be a place for people of all age groups; a platform for exchange of ideas and use of new technology; a platform for the artisans to teach and learn and source of livelihood for them. The whole project would be assembly of the four sects in which the art and culture of the state now dwell, the art museums and galleries to display, the art halls for workshops and seminars to promote, the designing and production unit and the market place. This centre will also provide a developed public place for the city, where people can come and know about the arts and crafts of the state and be a part of celebration of the tribal traditionally festivals and events.
Raipur,the capital of Chhattisgarh, is a fast developing city, which in its planning aims to promote the art and cultural heritage of the city. Raipur being capital and also better platform for trade and economy was the best city to design this centre.
Map of Chhattisgarh showing the districts Chhattisgarh is a state rich in its cultural traditions and art forms. The tribal arts and crafts of the state are spread throughout the state, mainly is Bastar, Raigarh, Kondagaon, Sarguja, Kanker, Dantewada districts. Map of Raipur city
Landuse plan of region near EAC Colony
Dhokra Art
Painted clay relief
In the dense fabric of Raipur city with need of public open spaces and recreational space, 2 hectare of land is allotted to be developed as cultural hub in the redevelopment plan for EAC colony. In the proximity of site are located District court, CM house, Speaker house, Railway station, Bus stand, Pandri market.
Bell Metal Casting
Wood Carving
Basketry
The proposed site by government has it parts lying on two major roads- Canal Linking Road and Gaurav Path.
Public Interface
Extended Public Interface
The site on Canal Linking Road has extended public interface.
The site has lot of trees and level difference of 4m. Both this factors became the main guiding force for design.
Space/Activity relationship The relatiosnhip between the four major activites and its subset spaces is established with the nature of spaces and its connectivity and access required. The planning at site level and location of the activities further developed from this relationships established.
Concept - To create central core space with all spaces converging to it. This space would symbolize the union of four sects of states tribal art and craft.
Direct access Directly adjacent Visually connected Noise levels Public access
Zoning/Usage Design space Central core
Market space Display space
Promotion space Public interface
Roof Plan
Organizing principle - Notion of central core | Four sects converging to one platform
Open space network | Cultural theme park merged with courtyards and gathering places.
3
10
0m
10m
Ground Floor Plan The concept of the design was to have a central core space, which would act as an anchor of all the activities happening in the centre. The design is integration of network of open spaces with open air display units holding it together and depicting the various tribes of the state. The network of this space would be used by general public and for occasions of festivals and other gatherings. The open space has levels and courtyards which connects the various buildings housing various activities.
1
2
4
5
First Floor Plan
(Interpretation Centre)
6 9
Underground Floor Plan (Auditorium)
7 8
1. Interpretation Area 2. Permanent Exhibition 3. Temporary Exhibition 4. Central Core Space 5. Market Area 6. Cafeteria 7. Production Area 8. Parking 9. Administration 10.Event Ground 11.Auditorium
Section AA’
Placement of different zones
The design is integration of network of open spaces with open air display units holding it together and depicting the various tribes of the state. The network of this space would be used by general public and for occasions of festivals and other gatherings. The open space has levels and courtyards which connects the various buildings housing various activities. The roof is used as an connecting element which would also provide informal gathering spaces and connects the levels and binds the central space. Those informal spaces will be overlooking the courtyards on which various kinds of display would be done.
5. Micro Institution Anganwadi at Ishwariya Village A place of learning for kids and social space for village The project seeks to learn the co-relation of open and built spaces and nature of open spaces based on user group and activities associated with it. The proposal was to design an anganwadi for kids and multipurpose space which can be used for women empowerment programs and during festive celebrations in village. The site is located at the main temple chowk of the village, which provides a strong context to respond to. The chowk serves as the community space of the village with all sorts of interactions happening at the temple otla throughout the day, to kids playing in the evening time, from women going to temple daily to all the festive celebrations happening in the chowk.
Multi purpose Space Section AA’
Entrance
Roof Plan
Public Front
Chowk in front of Temple
Multi purpose Space
Classroom
Otla of Temple
Section BB’
Section AA’ 1. Entrance 2. Administration Classroom 3. Multipurpose Hall 4. Kitchen 5. Restroom 6. Central Court
Ground Floor Plan
0m
5m
View of the Anganwadi
The concept was to create a sequential hierarchy of open spaces, each designed according to its use. The open space at the entrance followed by the multipurpose hall would act as extension of the activities happening in the chowk at village level. The central court is designed as an introvert open space which will be used by children majorily. Usage of elements like tree and otla would control the scale of the space. With the multipurpose hall is attached another introvert open space which will be used by the women to do their work in privacy. The otlas and steps at the periphery are placed in response to the context, as it allows interactions with the people at otla of temple.
Hierarchy and nature of open space
6. Community Living Coexistence of Builtform and Community A study of community life in self initiated settlements of Ahmedabad The research seeks to understand the co-relation between the builtform and sense of community. There are the social aspects that creates community. And built environment has physical manifestations which generates the sense of community. The architecture of a building should depict the community it is built for and create sense of belongingness for its people. Architecture and community define each other, give identity to each other and the fabric around it. This study aims to understand that how the settlements in urban fabric keeps the community life intact though there is pressure of urbanization. The study is focused on self initiated settlements as they have stronger sense of community. The study is divided into two parts. First part is a discussion on understanding community as a phenomenon. Different social and physical aspects of community living are discussed to understand how the sense of community is manifested in built environment. Second part is case study of self initiated settlements of Ahmedabad city. The work program includes study of three settlements - Informal settlements, Slums. -Historic settlements, Pol houses -Engulfed Village, Gamtal
Understanding the Phenomenon The relationship between Architecture and Community is as old as time itself. Human settlements, basically are outcome of nature of man to live in community. The concept of community itself is very complex. Community emerges as a fabric woven of many different functions and needs of varying degrees at many levels. It evolves from the act of living together within a common culture. Community is made up of a group of people who share ideas and live together in a mutual relationship. The people of a community shared the image and interpretations of life, perception of space, social attitudes, ritual practices and behavioral patterns. Built form and environment talks about the spirit of a place and is a reflection of the society,culture and community that constitutes it. One of the strongest visible expressions of community’s culture, values and needs is in its Architecture. Community and architecture are related in two ways, one the architecture that shapes and creates community and other is the architecture done for betterment of a particular community. Human habitats are direct reflection of way of life of people and it is where people spend most of their lives. It is where the people socialize and interact with others. It is where the people associate themselves the most.
Community can be defined as, “a unified plurality of people,
having a shared value system (religion, race, common interest, morals, geographical context) to interact, live and co-operatively achieve a common purpose”. Community dwells in the deep layers of society, their way of living, needs and thoughts.
Types of community
Geographic community
Builtform and community
-Builtform that shapes and creates the communities, ( Neighborhoods, habitats for people) -Builtform for betterment and upliftment of specific community, ( Community centers, community schools). Community of identity
Community of interest
Plan of cluster of Bhungas in Kutch, India Bhungas of Meghpar,Kutch, India.
Plan of community school in Burkina Faso, Africa
Community school
Aspects of community living The aspects of community living has two subsets, the social aspects and the physical aspects which both act together to create a positive community life. The social aspect of community living came with the emergence of settlement that bought social order in life of people through the common beliefs,rites and rituals, religious practices, caste and kinship, occupation and livelihood, family structure, language and lead to the formation of community. The physical aspects of community living is about the way the physical built provides backdrop for people to relate to each other and outside world. It is about defining community by space components, by the physical indicators and manifestations that generates sense of community.
Builtform inducing community living The various physical manifestations in the built environment creates the space for healthy community life to flourish.
Circulation network Movement pattern Access pattern Street width and heirarchy
Open Space network Activity streets and chowks Shared group spaces Private open spaces
Spatial condition and builtform Settlement level Settlement pattern Territorial boundaries Cluster formation Community level Spatial organization Components of built Harmony of builtform Dwelling level Form of built Spatial organization Allocation of activities Interface
Context and Cases Ahmedabad is the smallest yet fastest growing city of India’s seven mega cities. Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat, with a population of approximately 55 lakhs. Ahmedabad has seen most rapid urbanization and its impact is seen in the settlements of the city . Settlements in Ahmedabad also show a typical sampling of the various communities found living together with strong sense of community. Three types of self-initiated settlements are selected for study, 1. Historic settlements- Pol houses, 2. Informal settlements- Slums, 3. Engulfed Villages- Gamtals.
Informal Settlement Vadaj Engulfed Village Vastrapur
Historic Settlement Khadia II
Historic Settlement Khadia II
Khadia-II forms one of the ward of the old city of Ahmedabad and has around 6000 dwellings in more than 30 different pols. The settlement started growing in 1400 when people started migrating to city with the formation of the ‘Puras’, and has grown since then allowing more and more number of people to settle. The whole settlement have 30 different poles which are based on the caste and Religion. Each pol earlier belonged to group of people of specific community.
View of Shamla ni Pol
A typical pol is a small residential unit, consisting of a single street with a group of houses. It is a kind of micro neighborhood, based on religion, caste and profession, usually protected by a gate at the entrance. The pol is a response to the need of security and expression to a communal identity. Compact housing clusters with dead-end streets form distinctive residential patterns. The pols were even self-sustained for a period of time since each house had its own storage for water and food grain, a tradition that continues today.
Settlement level Khadia- II
Community level Shamla ni Pol
Cluster level Soni Khado
Informal Settlement Ramapir no Tekro
Ramapir no Tekro is one of the largest slums in Ahmedabad with population of around 50,000 residents. The settlement started evolving 50-60 years back when migrants from Banaskatha started coming to Ahmedabad in search of work during early 60’s-70’s. Since than the settlement has grown over time and has around 7,269 households in present day.
View of Kumbhar Vas Ramapir no Tekro is one of the largest slums in Ahmedabad with population of around 50,000 residents. The settlement started evolving 50-60 years back when migrants from Banaskatha started coming to Ahmedabad in search of work during early 60’s-70’s. Since than the settlement has grown over time and has around 7,269 households in present day.
Engulfed Village Vastrapur
Vastrapur was a small village, situated in the western part of the city at the edge of Vastrapur lake and was finally engulfed in 1990. In present day it is home to around 20,000 people of various communities coming in and living together. The village have five communities residing here and each community has its own cluster namely kumbhar vas, Rabari vas, Bharwad vas, Paggi vas, Thakore vas.
View of Kumbhar Vas The cluster is organized around a central courtyard with all the dwellings of one extended family around it. It is the smallest cluster in the village with 17 families. There is a neem tree present on the entrance of the courtyard. There is also a shared kiln present in the courtyard as the major occupation of the people here was pottery making. Today the occupation of people has changed but still there are few families which depend on pottery for livelihood.
Settlement level Vastrapur Gam
Community level Kumbhar Vas
Cluster level Prajapati family
7. Drawing Inferences Related Study Programme I, II,III A documentation based learning from different types of buildings Related study programmes are intensive documentation based learning programmes through participation in environment and society and to experience architecture in the whole scheme of things. The process of this study involves documenting buildings through measure drawings, sketches, photographs and drawing conclusions through observations and analysis. The documentation done in this program are 1. Primary settlement of Meghpar Village, Kutch, 2. Community housing in Porbandar, 3. Institutional buildings in Rajkot
View of the cluster
Primary Settlement Meghpar,Kutch
Elevation AA’
Section BB’
Settlement plan of Meghpar village
0m
4m
Plan of Kanabhai’s cluster
Section CC’
Located 2 km away from Khadva, Meghpar Village is home to 400 people of Koli and Harijan community.The settlement comprises of various small clusters consisting of 3-4 blocks which belong to extended families. The organization in the settlement is governed by the primary relations of people.
Community Housing Porbandar
Wall Section
Part Elevation
The process involved documentation of traditional built environment of the Porbandar city and study responses of its inhabitants at scale of dwelling, cluster of dwellings, settlements and institutions so as to understand relation of traditional practices and architectural manifestation of the same in a place. The main focus of the study was to understand the begninning of formalized spatial organization for collective living. Front Elevation
Section AA’
0m
5m
Ground floor plan
8. Professional Internship Cadence Architects, Bangalore Six months of practical learnings In the duration of internship as part of academics, at Cadence Architects I got exposure to the various practical process involved in the making of a building right from designing, to preparing working drawings, from detailing to co-ordinating with consultants, from office management to site visits. KCC Complex falls in commercial typology building in which the facade plays an active role in increasing the visual impact of its context. The facade has been concieved by splitting the slab into two components, which function independently by tracing their own path and creating a unique play of dynamism when repeated across the floors. Sachin Residence is a five storeyed apartment for a joint family with each floor occupied by family of one brother and have shared amenities on upper levels.
The evolution of facade of KCC Complex
Front view of the KCC Complex KCC Complex Project Category- Commercial Location- Bangalore Site Area- 4000 sqft Built-up Area-15000 sqft Worked on Shuttering drawings, physical model, working drawings for entry staircase, detail drawings of staircase, co-ordinated with structural consultant.
Slab casted on Site
Physical model to study the facade
Section AA’
Sachin Residence Project Category- Residence Location- Bangalore Site Area- 5800 sqft Built-up Area-16600 sqft Worked on Base drawings, centreline drawings, 3D modelling, co-ordination with structural consultant. Typical Floor Plan
Front view of the Sachin Residence
Structural model of Sachin Residence
Resolving the structure through modelling
9. Design Competition iHUB at IISc campus, Bangalore A co-working office space The Indian Institute of Science floated a invited design competition for the upcoming iHUB building in the campus which will provide research collaboration and workspaces for various msmes, start-ups and established companies. The site sits within the IISc campus with around 1.8 acre land full of lush green trees all over and IISc junction on the main edge. The design proposal aims at respecting nature by placing the building around the existing green and stepping back accounting for the tree foliage. The edge along the IISc junction has been developed as a public edge and junction is developed as the anchor of the building, representing the IISc and IHUB campus and creating awareness within the society about the advancement happening in the field of science, and also guiding the traffic movement. The massing is done as three blocks along the courtyards and green corridors namely, ‘Courtyard of ceremonies, Garden of gathering and Garden of introspection’ which are connected together by the Serendipity trail. The bridges across the green corridors connects the masses and creates spaces of social interaction on every level.
Proposed site- Existing Condition
Trails from Context
Aerial view showing the Public edge of the building
Embracing Nature
Stepping back and Connections
4
1 3
5
2
0m
20m
Proposed Master Plan 1. IISC Junction 2. Bhel industries property 3. iHub Proposed Site 4. IISc Campus
5. JN Tata Auditorium 6. SID Building 7. Entrepreneurship building 8. Maramma temple circle
Major Road Networks and junctions
7
6
Connection to science by overlooking the existing oldest IISc tower and connection to society by developing the public edge.
8
The master plan level, the site interfaces of the proposed site for iHUB builiding became the major guiding factors. The edge along the IISc junction is developed as public edge, the southern edge of the site has beautiful lawn shared with the JN Tata Auditorium, thus providing opportunity for the building to open towards the green, the northern edge of the site has a very busy road and hence traffic and noise, so the high compound wall and the eastern edge provides the pathway to connect the iHUB with the existing SID and Entrepreneurship building.
Longitutinal Section showing the spaces and connections with in the building
0m
10m
Ground Floor Plan
Diagram highlighting the courtyard of ceremony, garden of gathering and garden of introspection.
The three courtyards are connected by the Serendipity Trail and opens up into the forest of possiblities.
Diagram highlighting the various entry points to the building.
Transverse section showing the building stepping up.
4
2 5 1 2
1 6
3 0m
15m
First Floor Plan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Atrium Workspace Auditorium Administration Interaction Zone Services
The above three floors have offices, meeting rooms and cafeteria. The first floor has relationship to the courtyard, with the bridges around the trees. The second floor has innovation lounge and terrace which talks about the connection with the science and society. The third floor has connection with the sky through the skylights in the atrium area. The offices have layering of spaces, with workstations on periphery opened out towards the green, the informal collaborative areas acting as interaction zone and the central atrium which provides visual and physical connect across all the floors.
View showing the fluid facade of the building embracing nature
View showing the building opening up towards the lawn
10. Practical Exposure Anika Redwood Homes, CnT Architects A mixed-use residential and commercial building
Anika Redwood Homes is a mixed use building with hypermarket on two floors and residential apartments above. The site has road access on all sides and has considerable slope along the east west direction. The slope of the site has been used to give multiple access points to the building providing efficient approach to various programs in the building. The commercial floor will be leased out to hypermarket company. In the residential floors overall sense of community is created at the podium level through shared spaces and amenities and sub-scales of community through verandah lobbies at the top levels of the building.These spaces would also provide a spectacular view of the surrounding site. The building is under construction now and has given me exposure to practical issues and processes related to construction on site.
Sketch done during site visit of the on-going construction
Front view of the building showing the commercial entry and residences above podium level.
Aerial view showing the amenities on terrace area
Existing site condition and slope as per survey drawings
Building strategy as per the site condition and program requirement
Diagram showing the various access points to the building on various levels.
Image showing the on going construction on site. First floor slab is casted and reinforced for the above columns has been laid out. The process of getting the design on paper being executed on site, with all the co-ordination between various consultants and the labours on site plays a major role in architectural practice and on-going projects are the best medium to learn from. Working on this project has given me exposure to lot of practicalities of construction, learning about materials and details.
0m
3.5m
Podium Level Plan
Aayushi Rathi +91 9724683798 aayushi.ssac25@gmail.com B2, Walfort Enclave-1 Pachpedi Naka, Raipur 492006 Chhattisgarh.