portfolio abhilasha bisht
c o n t e n t
puppets, snakes, & courtyards eastex jensen | community design installation | mfah uu l ri hb i na e ns c oc map ent oi t ipo yn
G-ROW
HOUSING
Biome cube | wetland house u r b a n
c a n o p y
masters project | social housing
Puppets Snakes and Courtyards comes together to create a mixed-income community that
thrives on performing arts culture and a long standing tradition of puppetry and street performance. While the artists reside in the low-rise courtyard houses and townhouses, this proposed neighborhood attempts to anchor the civic life of the community by introducing theater district including workshops that serves as public gathering places. It further sparks additional private investment, aiding to incubate the neighborhood and aligns to the government’s strategy of bringing higher-income population to subsidize social housing.
a view into courtyard - space for communal activities and social interaction
kathputli (puppet) colony is a 5.2 hectare site located in west delhi shadipur region at the intersection of a freeway, a railway track, a bus transit center and an elevated metro corridor with two metro station within quater mile radius. due to it’s proximity to kirti nagar - light industrial area and asia’s largest furniture market- the area experiences heavy footfall of approx. 7000 everyday commuters.
site area
- 5.2 ha (12.84 ac) 5,59,723 sf
proposed area for
- 64,000 sf (11.4%)
high-rise development theaters and public space - 70,300 sf (12.5%) courtyard units townhouse units total residential units retail stores unit density
-
372 222 594 74 60 du/a
kathputli colony could potentially become the new theater district defining character to west delhi’s industrial face
existing trees on site regulates public-private spaces
the proposed zoning derived from site information
analysis to synthesis : the design development is informed by physical and social fabric of the community
the urban fabric and internal accesses
courtyard houses 30’ x 30’
This type is an “L” form with one courtyard that can be rotated four times inside the square lot to give four different orientations. In the two-story house, the second story is an independent unit with separate entrance through external staircase which provides opportunities for future expansion. traditional technique of brick jali along terrace and staircase wall serves as double skin, passively shading the house and allowing natural ventilation. the courtyard houses are inward looking, arranged along linear promenade and clusters encouraging social interaction.
town houses 40’ x 16’
This type is a sophisticated and rigorous solution to dimensionally constrained problems of housing. The linear progression of these row houses establishes a frame for conscious development of public space. The ground level commercial activity reinforces the vitality of the street while the private functions are clearly zoned to upper floors. Its repetitive and systematic approach is sober and emphasizes the sense of continuity and urban decorum.
EXISTING UNIT
SECTION THROUGH THE SITE SHOWING COURTYARD HOUSES, TOWN HOUSES (SNAKES), THEATERS AND HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY DESIGN | EASTEX-JENSEN
E a s t e x / J e n s e n area is a part of north-east Houston outside the North Loop on both sides of the
important Eastex Freeway and Jensen Drive corridors. Facing dramatic inequality, unequal environmental burdens and risks and uneven access to opportunity, this projects focuses on the values and strategies for creating a more just city, by working to address the challenges and build on the assets of the Super Neighborhood.
knowing
ethnic population
median household income
grocery stores
health facilities
(not an individual work)
(not an individual work)
INSTALLATION | MFAH
H e a r H e r e translates rhythmic linework into three-dimensional space to create a continuous flow of
communication. It serves as gestural abstraction of sound evoking emotional and subjective responses from the users. Each of the sound tubes is designed to create opportunities for the users to interact through a: tete-a-tete, conference, broadcast or interviewer-interviewee. The tubes are arranged in an interlocking geometry to create varied spatial experiences. The interview takes place beneath a peanut roof shell structure providing isolation and privacy.
30x40 inch fabricated wall panel
Cold Mountain Series, Zen Study 5 Brice Marden
I THINK ABSTRACTION IS A VERY RICH AREA. AND IT IS UPSETTING THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE SOME FEAR OF IT. I'AM CONSTANTLY MAKING THESE STATEMENTS HOW YOU SHOULD JUST LOOK AT IT AND REACT TO IT ON YOUR OWN; JUST RELAX AND LET GO.
interviewer- interviewee
Interv
BRICE MARDEN
conference
tete-tete
broadcast
Design Credit : Martha Salinas, Franco Fabrication credit: Martha salinas, franco, abhilasha bisht
urban canopy | downtown
u r b a n c a n o p y seeks to develop a critical approach to integrate alternative adaptive solution to
Houston’s urban ecology. The three staged project- UPLOAD, UPDATE and UPGRADE investigates various form of adaptation found both in natural and manmade environment and proposes solution that instills versatility in the urban ecology of Downtown Houston.
PHYSICAL BARRIER
DISJUNCTION Houston’s potential assets as compared to other cities are inconsistant with its tourism status. downtown identifies three types of barriers that impedes tourism.
dead facade facing assets transit line through pedestrian oriented zone
VISUAL BARRIER open spaces islolates assets after operation hours
INFORMATION BARRIER absence of focal centre to navigate
PINNING
identifies the points of attractions throughout the district. The pins act as point of reference that helps visitors gain a sense of direction throughout the space.
threading
groups pins together, forming various possible courses to connect the attraction points. At the same time, it breaks the existing grid-iron pattern and offers new routes to access the district.
surfacing provides a cover to the thread connections which forms a conceptual framework for structure allowing multiple combinations of social activities to take place.
THEATRE DISTRICT
u r b a n c ata l o g URBAN BEDROOM B01
B03
View from Sesquicentennial park
URBAN CORRIDOR
PINNING
THREADING
C01
C02
View below Freeway besides Aquarium URBAN PLAYGROUND P01
SURFACIMG
P03
VOLUMIZING
Overlapping existing iron-grid with a new layer of URBAN CANOPY following systematic program
View looking Jones Plaza
prototype of g-row housing at kathputli slum, new delhi
G-ROW HOUSING
WC 8’8”X7’6”
AN INCREMENTAL AND PORTABLE SOCIAL HOUSING
RAIN WATER TANK
BATH
WC
SERVICE COURTYARD
8’8”X7’6”
BATH 8’8”X7’6”
8’8”X7’6”
g-row housing is a modern and pragmatic interpretation of informal living across india - a sophisticated and rigorous solution to dimensionally constrained problems of housing.
a
a
COOKING/EATING 8’8”X8’2”
SLEEPING
COOKING/EATING
5’4”X9’8”
8’8”X8’2”
PATIO 5’4”X9’8”
LVL 9’-0”
UNIT 3
LVL 9’-0”
GROUND COVERAGE- 117 SF
0
3
9
LVL 1’-0”
ground cover - 117 sf
now demolished informal settlement unit in kathputli colony, new delhi
LIVING/SLEEPING 8’8”X7’6”
LIVING 8’8”X7’6”
UP
LVL 1’-0”
adopted from shotgun row house typology, it is designed long and skinny in order to fit into any typical neighborhood. the house Features a generously flexible porch, aligned openings for greater cross-ventilation, and modern construction methods and materials such as demountable structural insulated panels (sips). The cluster design of this type borrows design concepts from courtyards, a traditional housing typology highly desirable in india, given its climatic conditions. a cluster of four units forms a service courtyard which provides natural ventilation, keeping the interior cool without the need for air conditioning. Finally, native plants growing on the exterior wall contributes to the passive cooling and provide soothing surroundings on the porch. the linear progression of these row houses further reinforces the vitality of the street while clearly zoning private and communal functions. its repetative and systematic approach is sober and emphasizes the sense of continuity and urban decorum. this 250 sf house is a small, affordable, and sustainable unit that could be built in place or delivered to a site.
cluster design provides framework for incremental growth
UP
FLOOR PLAN - LEVEL i
FLOOR PLAN - LEVEL i FUTURE EXPANSION
g-row houses
WATER TANK
RESTING 4’0”X8’2”
FLOOR PLAN - LOFT LEVEL
10’ x 25’ this type is a Simple row house with the courtyard facing one of the long sides, and openings ideally to the south. the porch not only serves as a transitional space between public and collective area but also facilitates the framework for incremental growth. therefore, depending on the need for expansion, this housing type can accommodate an additional room thus increasing the value of the house over time without any negative effects of self-construction on the urban environment.
0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
RESTING LIVING COOKING
SECTION A DAY -TIME ACTIVITY | NATURAL VENTILATION DIAGRAM
SECTION B
SLEEPING
SLEEPING COOKING
BATH
SECTION A NIGHT -TIME ACTIVITY
FRONT ELEVATION
SIDE ELEVATION
REAR ELEVATION SHOWING FUTURE EXPANSION
G- ROW HOUSING PROVIDES A CLEAN MINIMAL STRUCTURAL SYSTEM OF ANODIZED ALUMINIUM FRAMING AND PAINTED SIPS (STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS). THE HOUSE COULD BE QUICKLY ASSEMBLED and demounted BY TRAINED TECHNICIANS, AND COULD BE ALSO BE BUILT USING UNSKILLED VOLUNTEER LABOR DUE TO ITS SIMPLE COMPONENTS.
0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
Aluminium rain water gutter
8’-1/4” TH. SIP roof
anodized aluminium framing
loft ventilation window 8’-1/4” TH. SIP slab
resting /study loft
outside skin
detail a
window
foam core dry wall
8’-1/4” TH. SIP wall
structural insulated panel - joinery
Aluminium framing for future expansion
8’-1/4” TH. SIP deck 8’-1/4” TH. SIP floor
INTERIOR ELEVATION LOOKING KITCHEN AND restING/STUDY LOFT
2’ high concrete pier foundation
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC VIEW
SITE PLAN 50 ROW HOUSING UNITS 0’
8’
16’
32’
64’
BACK ALLEY ELEVATION SHOWING communal activities in service courtyards
INSPIRED BY THE TRADITIONAL COURTYARD PLANNING, THE G-ROW HOUSING LAYOUT FORMS COLLECTIVE SERVICE SPACE WHICH PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SEMI-PRIVATE FUNCTIONS LIKE LAUNDRY.