ABHIJEET MANJUNATH Selected Works 2011 - 2017
00
Logic is the art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding. - Ambrose Bierce
CONCEPTUALIZE Prototype Bus Stop, Bangalore, India | Studio Project III Semester
IDEA Blurring of Boundaries Experiential Music Centre, Bangalore, India | Thesis VIII Semester
DESIGN Swaram Musical Workshop, Auroville, India | PITSTUDIO Workshop
REALITY PLUG Office Extension, Bangalore, India | Internship Living Form
01
02
03
04
BASICS By Hand Exploded Axonommetry, Mangalore, India | Internship GDK Designs
THOUGHT Modular Wall Mounted Ledge | Product autonomous design
NECESSITY Slot Stationary Holder | Product autonomous design
UTILITY Splice Table | Furniture autonomous design
05
06
07
08
Left: Physical model images; Materials : Mount board, mill board, black sheet and sewing thread. Right: Conceptual sketch of the design.
CONCEPTUALIZE Prototype Bus Stop, Bangalore, India | Studio Project III Semester
Objective To gain exposure on the grammar of creating space and architectural form by studying variables like light, transformation, scale, structure and skin. Idea A prototype design for a bus stop is developed while exploring architectural form through structural complexity. The bus stop is a simple sheltering structure that spans in length while maintaining minimal footprint on the ground. A single tapered column, supporting an inverted pitched roof and a lean-to roof with tensioned cables achieves this complex, while creating a lighter and flexible framework.
01
ROOF PLAN C
D
E
F
B
B
A
A
C
D
E
F
5
1
PLAN AT 3600 mm 0
2
C
D
E
F
B
B
A
A
C
D
E
F
C
D
E
F
PLAN AT 2400mm
B
B
A
A
C
D
E
F
5
1
PLAN AT 1200mm 0
2
SECTION AT A-A
5
1
SECTION AT B-B
0
2
SECTION AT C-C
SECTION AT D-D
5
1
SECTION AT E-E
SECTION AT F-F
0
2
LEAN - TO ROOF
INVERTED PITCHED ROOF
STRUCTURE GUTTER
SEATING
GROUND
EXPLODED AXONOMMETRY
Left: Exploded Axonommetric view. Right: Rendered views.
Architecture of Music Music can be defined as an art form or cultural activity that is expressed through meaningful sound over time. This meaningfulness, of the sound heard, is very subjective and varies between individuals. The sound, sometimes when heard repeatedly over time may turn meaningful or it may just ‘click’ the first time you hear it. When this happens, the sound is perceived as music and mentally a virtual ‘space’ is created. Every time this music is heard, the listener goes back to this virtual ‘space’ which he has created, subconsciously. The music designs this space, dictating the architecture through its composition. It creates an encompassing sense, similar to the wholesome experience that the architecture of a place gives. Music, along with literature and architecture, forms a trinity that defines a complete virtual experience, moulding it through composition, style and form. Music of Architecture Music of architecture can be the sounds that come from the building or even its different components such as columns, stairs, roofs, floors, etc. that defines a different feeling in humans. Similar to how one, when listening to a piece of music, attempts to unravel its secrets through deeper understanding, a man looking at building’s plan tries to gain a deeper understanding of it, attempting to feel the secretive expression of its architect. This sense of conjuring, created by both music and architecture, illustrates their converging point. In the classification of arts, architecture is a kind-of art where beauty and function meet; to the point where Gothe said “Architecture is frozen music”.
IDEA Blurring of Boundaries Experiential Music Centre, Bangalore, India | Thesis VIII Semester
Thresholds....? A threshold marks a passage from one space to another. The term may also refer to the smallest difference between two stimuli. “All the structures in town get their identity most clearly from the fact that you pass through a definite gateway to enter in - it is this gateway, acting as a threshold, which creates the unit.” - Christopher Alexander 'A Pattern Language'. Music....? Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts of tempo, meter and articulation), dynamics and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The creation, performance, significance and even the definition of music vary according to culture and social context. “Architecture is frozen music. Really there is something in this; the tone of mind produced by architecture approaches the effect of music.” - Johann Wolfgang Von Gothe. Music can be divided into genres and subgenres, although the dividing lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle, sometimes open to individual interpretation and occasionally controversial. Aleatoric music leaves elements of a composition to chance, allowing the performer to determine the tone and zing of his music while Improvisational music opportunes to add a completely personalized tangent to a musical piece, often leading to beautiful collaborative renditions. Within the arts, music may be classifies a performing art, fine art and auditory art. It may also be divided among art, music and folk music. There is also a strong connection between music and mathematics. Music may be played or heard live, may be part of a dramatic work or film, or may be recorded.
02
Road Network
Site Area 16,184 sqm Total Built-Up 20,566 sqm F.A.R 2.25 Coverage 45%
Urban Grain
Figure Ground
Site and Contours
Site and Lake
Site
Koramangala is a suburb of Bangalore City, which has developed in recent ages. A large portion of this area is populated by the educated urban class, establishing a relatively high standard of living. Over the years, it has exponentially developed to grow into a modern suburb with a younger crowd. Moreover, with several hangout spots like Forum Mall, Ice and Spice, etc and institutions such as Christ University, St. John’s medical college, etc, it has invigorated itself as a major social hub of Bangalore, with food joints, colleges, and malls. All these factors have lead to the establishment of a modern culture in the area, and hence, establishment of an Experiential Music Centre, will greatly facilitate the growth of  the area, as well as cater to an apt crowd. Music as an art is gaining importance and recognition all over the world. The project has been selected due to the pressing need for an institution that caters to talented musicians in India while setting a stage for global knowledge exchange. It is to create an environment to experience music in the form of workshops, exhibits, interactive technology and to experience music as a field of entertainment for all. This unique centre aims to encourage a rediscovery of various genres of music, from traditional to contemporary, from western to Indian, to create a deeper bond with music, and enrich the world community by collecting, preserving and making accessible high-quality musical instruments, images and music from every country in the world. It is an attempt to explore the dynamics of space and to experience the subtlety of transitional spaces​ through an experiential music centre. Thresholds have been employed as design pr inciples to enhance this experience.
Vision
Noise
Sectional activity zoning
Sectional activity zoning
Sectional activity zoning
Zoning in plan
Left: Zoning analysis; Conceptal ideas w.r.t. transitions and thresholds. Right: Program diagram; circulation.
Building
orientation
and
Public Semi - Public Private
Thresholds
Water
Transitions
Primary Axis Secondary Axis Built Activities
Idea The major axis, highlighted in red, creates a direct connection of the public spaces, from the main road to the lake. The secondary axis, highlighted in yellow, holds all the secondary activities of the centre while connecting the main residential lane to the service lane on the east, facilitating easier thoroughfare for the park users. Hence both the axes help in forming connections to the context i.e. main road, lake and the park, thereby giving a sense of porosity. The documentation and research area is zoned in the more silent areas while the semi-public and public activities are zoned to face the lake. Analysis over various stages of development explains the reason for the geometry of the axis, location of access and zoning of blocks and their activities.
01 Circulation
02 Circulation
03 Circulation
04 Circulation
05 Circulation
06 Circulation
Frequency and Intensity of Circulation The volume of a path is articulated such that it caters to the frequency and intensity of activity along it. The frequency of the main and the secondary spine have a distinct character to it. The main spine is an informal, barrier free path, that is lined by public spaces, such as the, auditorium and other performance spaces. Thereby, the main axis acts as public access, connecting the lake and the main road through the centre. The building itself acts as a thoroughfare between the main road and the lake on an urban scale, while behaving as transitional thresholds at a smaller scale. The secondary spine is dotted with essential ancillary functions such as the administration, educational and other private blocks of the centre.
Ordering Principle The entire design is based on the multiples of numbers like the notes in music. Each space is worked out in a grid of these multiples, corresponding to their volume and function. These grids thereby act as a uniform guiding principle throughout the project. The buildings house a variety of spaces ranging from public, to semi-public, to private character, creating zones of varying intensity and frequency of circulation. This organized diversity defines a sense of hierarchy throughout the centre. The main axis acts as the primary access, dictating the ordering of public and core functions along this. The secondary axis is ordered with semi-public spaces, and branches from this flow deeper towards more private functions. The depth of these branches corresponds to the privacy of the activities along it.
Left: Circulation diagrams. Right: Ordering principles of design.
01 Design Development | Built
02 Design Development | Unbuilt
03 Design Development | Built
04 Design Development | Unbuilt
05 Design Development | Built
06 Design Development | Unbuilt
Design Development These diagrams show the conceptualization and development of the design process, defining the typologies of various spaces. An elaborate analysis on the volumes of the built and unbuilt spaces, results in designing intricate courtyards of varying sizes, that take into consideration the activity, frequency and intensity of usage, and their overall  context in the site. This  develops into a harmonious distribution of buildings and open spaces, that reflects in the overall design. On an urban scale, massing analysis led to understanding the character of solidity and openness of the buildings, and its reflection on the entire context. By aligning the buildings along the angled main axis, a porous visual connect is created between the main road and the lake. This, enhances the character of the lake while insinuating curiosity about the varying and wayward massing of the buildings along the facade, facing the main road.
Severity of Courtyards (intensity of interaction) The yellow represents the public usage or the most interactive courtyards. The green represents the courtyards that act as a spillover from the adjacent or abutting activities. The red represents the courtyards that act as breathing spaces or buffers between activities; these can be a water body or just a green buffer.
Left: Design development diagrams; Built | Unbuilt. Right: Severity of courtyards; Characters of the courtyards at the ground level, first level and the superimposition of both.
01 Evolution of Plan | Ground
02 Evolution of Plan | Ground
03 Evolution of Plan | Ground
04 Evolution of Plan | Ground
05 Evolution of Plan | First
06 Evolution of Plan | Second
03 Second Floor Plan
02 First Floor Plan
Left: Evolution of design; Floor plans. Right: Floor plans.
01 Ground Floor Plan
Roof Plan 01
Roof Plate 02
Second Floor Plan 03
Second Floor Plate 04
First Floor Plan 05
First Floor Plate 06
Ground Floor Plan 07
Ground Floor Plate 08
Left: Model images of floor plates; Materials: Balsa. Right: Model images; Materials: Balsa.
Top: South Elevation. Bottom: North Elevation.
DESIGN Swaram Musical Workshop, Auroville, India | PITSTUDIO Workshop
Brief An integrated complex for manufacturing musical instruments was to be designed which would be located in a larger musical campus. The core program of the complex was to create a workshop for making various musical instruments, while also creating a space for researching new ones. Multi functional, barrier free spaces was an essential requirement in the program, that could be used for various musical awareness activities. Design Within the extents of a 4000 sq.m area provided, 1800 sq.m was demarcated as the site, in accordance with the brief. The entire design is conceptualized as a semi basement structure, keeping in mind the noise the workshop will generate. This is also addressed by making grass mounds that abut one edge of the site. The design develops along a solid buttressed wall of rammed earth (datum) that defines the site edge along its length. The services, such as toilets, water treatment plant, security cabin and service yard are walled off at one end of the site, which helps maintain a large barrier free space. The access road starts from the services end, so that this walled edge defines the entrance, while also keeping it easy to locate the essential services as soon as one enters.The ground floor plan is primarily designed such that the entire northern half of the site, along the water channel, constitutes the manufacturing area of the various instruments, while the southern half, abutting the access road, deals with the transport, loading, unloading, finishing and tuning of instruments and storage of materials. Two viewing platforms from the ground level, slice into the workshop through the datum wall at an angled orientation. These platforms, cantilevering over the water channel, give visitors a clear view of Instruments’ manufacture, happening at the lower level. The mezzanine floor is split into two units. In one unit a space designed for research and development of new instruments is bridged with a space assigned to deal with electronic modulation of instruments. The second mezzanine space is independent with a space designed to impart vocational training to budding musicians. The entire workshop is designed with lightweight steel columns and an extended steel framework makes the roof. This creates a free plan space for the workshop and keeps it well ventilated. The dynamic roof profile, ensures soft lighting in the workshop, while the sun rays rhythmically play over the water channel through the day.
03
AD RO E W ID m 7.4 G TIN IS EX
KOTTAKARAI
KOFPU
GANESH BAKERY
Left: Site plan with context. Right: Analytical Diagrams.
Extent 01
Site 02
Datum 03
07 Structure
08 Mezzanine - Position
09 Mezzanine - Form
Services 04
10 Roof Profile A
Access and Barrier 05
11 Roof Profile B
Movement and Spaces 06
12 Culmination
A
B
C
09 E 08
19
07
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04
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11
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F
01
21
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SVARAM MUSICAL WORKSHOP, AUROVILLE A
GROUND FLOOR PLAN 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
ENTRANCE STRINGS FLUTES PLATE BELLS NEW WAVES WIND CHIMES BARS
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
TUNING STATIONS WATER CHANNEL METAL STOCK RAW MATERIALS WOOD STOCK CARPENTRY PERCUSSION
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
PAINTING POLISHING INSTRUMENT STOCK PACKAGING AND SHIPPING TOILETS WATER TREATMENT SERVICE YARD SERVICE ROAD / CIRCULATION
B 22 GRASS MOUNDS
C
D
E
03
02
12
14
13 F
D
5
1 0
2
20 10
A
B
C
B
C
E
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24
F
SVARAM MUSICAL WORKSHOP, AUROVILLE MEZZANINE FLOOR PLAN 23 ELECTRONICS 24 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 25 VOCATIONAL TRAINING
A
D
E
25
F
D
5
1 0
2
20 10
SVARAM MUSICAL WORKSHOP, AUROVILLE ROOF PLAN
5
1 0
2
20 10
Left Top: Analysis conceptual cross sections. Right Top: Analysis conceptual cross sections.
CORROGATED METAL ROOF
ROOF STRUCTURE
MEZZANINE STRUCTURE STORAGE STRUCTURE
SERVICE CORES COLUMNS
SITE
EXPLODED AXONOMETRY
Left: Exploded axonommetric view. Right: Rendered views of the workshop space.
Left: Physical model images; Materials : Balsa, aluminium sheet, mill board, cork sheet and plastic mesh.
REALITY PLUG Office Extension, Bangalore, India | Internship Living Form
Studio Living Form Studio experiments with light space, materials and their bounding in multiple ways. Their design approach proves emphasis of the space created by defining them through light frames and lean structures. The studio follows an industrial approach towards the structure, interweaving it with landscape to create an interactive human environment. Context Located in North Bangalore, the Plug is a stand-alone extension of the living form design studio. The Studio occupies the First floor of a residential dwelling, that is split into 2 units within the same compound. The plug rests as a smaller, temporary, plug and play unit on the roof of the second unit. It is designed as a complete steel framework, that is held by 4 steel columns, bolted to the roof slab of the second unit. The floor itself is designed as panels on a steel lattice lifted off the slab. The entire structure is designed with bolted members, effectively allowing it to be dismantled and plugged elsewhere.
04
Left: Physical model images; Materials : Balsa, aluminium sheet, mill board, cork sheet and plastic mesh. Right: Working Drawings.
vvvVVV
Left: Original hand-drafted exploded axonommetric view. Right: Edited variations of the same drawing.
TERRACE
GRILLS
FIRST
GROUND
BASEMENT
BASICS By Hand Exploded Axonommetry, Mangalore, India | Internship GDK Designs
05
Left: Rendered views.
THOUGHT Modular Wall Mounted Ledge | Product autonomous design
Modular is a wall mounted ledge that is conceptualized as a series of slender wooden strips of 20mm by 20mm. By defining the ledge with these 'Modules', a granular control is given towards its length keeping it flexible for any wall size. The entire construct is held by an aluminum L-Angle, which, though a common structural element, is seen in a fresh perspective. Instead of aligning the L-Angle to the underside of the series that directly takes the load, the entire construct is conceived as a cantilever, and the L-Angle behaves as a support that provides back-anchorage, while bolted on the vertical plane to the wall, and the horizontal plane screwed to each wooden member. The spacing between each wooden strip, at 5 mm, is designed to be less than the diameter of a standard pencil, preventing even small items from falling through. This minimal spacing, apart from allowing modularity to the design, also creates a deconstructed visual, that looks cohesive yet light and slender. The wooden strips are made of teak for its durability, strength and visual warmth. The aluminum L-Angles are lightweight, require no maintenance, and look subtle. The screws are stainless steel adding strength and support to the construct.
06
SS SCREWS
ALUMINIUM L-ANGLE
TEAK WOOD
EXPLODED AXONOMMETRY
Left: Exploded Axonommetric view.
100
100
125
100
100
Right: Working drawings.
25
B
A 125
150
A
20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20
B
620
25 DIVISIONS OF 20mm AND A GAP OF 5mm EACH
PLAN AT 1200mm 25 DIVISIONS OF 20mm AND A GAP OF 5mm EACH 620
20 3.5
25
1.5
20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20
SECTION AA 25 DIVISIONS OF 20mm AND A GAP OF 5mm EACH 620
20 3.5
25
1.5
20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 5 20
FRONT ELEVATION
25
125
1.5
25
20 3.5
20 3.5
25
1.5
125
150
SECTION BB
SIDE ELEVATION
25
150
Left: Rendered views.
NECESSITY Slot Stationary Holder | Product autonomous design
Slot, is a stationary holder designed using readily available aluminium box sections. Varying lengths of the box section is cut, according to the stationary it is meant to hold, creating a design that streamlines object oriented organization. Each section is closed at the bottom end by a block of teak wood, that is held by a screw. These sections are glued side by side, to create a continuous single product which is easier to handle. Not more than 2 sections of the same height are placed adjacent to each other, to allow easier segregation. The teak wood block adds weight to each section keeping it stable while acting as a strong base that can bear the stationary load. The stainless steel screws reinforce the wooden base while the aluminium section provides a light yet strong framework. The product is made with readily available materials and designed as a DIY project to keep it simple and address a small necessity on every desk.
07
HOLLOW ALUMINIUM BOX SECTION
TEAK WOOD
SS SCREWS
EXPLODED AXONOMMETRY
Left: Exploded Axonommetric view. Right: Product images; Material : Aluminium.
OUTER STRUCTURE - WOOD
INNER STRUCTURE - WOOD
TENSILE STRUCTURE - WOOD
ALUMINIUM L-ANGLE BASE
EXPLODED AXONOMMETRY
Left: Exploded Axonommetric view.
UTILITY Splice Table | Furniture autonomous design
Splice, is a study table designed by exploring the structural component of construction. It’s designed with the fundamental idea of creating a screwless table. The table is a complex of 4 units - the outer structure, inner structure, tensile structure and aluminium L-angle bases, all held together by a grain and glue system. The outer structure is composed of multiple long wooden strips of 25mm by 25mm, all continuous in a c-shape, forming the legs and top face of the table. The inner membrane is also made of the same wooden strips, but with an alternating grain direction. Each member has an angled leg and a strip that fans out at an angle from the centre to the edges, while looping back to form the top face of the table.  Members of the inner and outer membrane are placed alternatively to form the complete top face of the table. These members are glued side by side, making sure the glued faces are of alternate grains. This creates a table, with its structural bearing dependent on resistive frictional forces created by the alternate grains rubbing along each other. The glue acts as reinforcement, adding a cohesive force to hold it all together while allowing the load to be distributed among the members. The tensile member, made of the same wooden strip, sits in-between the legs of every 4th member of the outer membrane. These help stabilize the legs and prevents the table from warping. 2 aluminium L-angles are glued to each other to form a T-angle. This is fixed at the base of the table such that the legs of the outer membrane are glued to the outer L-angle while the angled legs of the inner membrane are glued to the inner L-angle. The provides a stable base, while combining the legs of both the membranes to behave as cohesive vertical supports for the table. The entire construct is designed by maximizing the properties of the materials used. The wooden strips also provide a natural finish to the table while the aluminium L-angles at the base reinforce the sense of a stable structure.
08
580
100
25
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
775
30 DIVISIONS OF 25mm EACH
Right: working drawings.
50
755
Left: Rendered views. 35 100 60
100
25
PLAN AT 800mm
25
FRONT ELEVATION 710
A
2435 2180
25
2250
30 DIVISIONS OF 25mm EACH
100 60
775
35
50
755
705
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
A
SIDE ELEVATION
A
30 DIVISIONS OF 25mm EACH 2435
775 710
25
100
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
50
755
705
765
A
SECTION AA
June 2017