portfolio alankrit g rajagopalan
table of contents + academic work visaya samvaha
multi-use space - the mall
+ professional work
sandeep residence plot 74 at coorg darwin public school -
+ competitions: collage
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studio mumbai evolve studio evolve stuido at evolve
visaya
a multi-purpose institute/exhibition space
academic work
With the advent of urbanization, the rapidly growing concrete fabric is diluting congregational spaces. Social interaction, which has long been part of our culture and tradition, is being increasingly curtailed. The design intends to create a multi-purpose space. During weekdays, it is utilized to engage people through hands-on workshops on design, visual art, painting etc.; on weekends, it is purposed to host expos, conduct exhibitions, and other events.
Understanding context The site is located in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. Salem is rich in mineral resources and therefore subject to numerous mining operations. What was once a lush green city has regressed into a desert. The site is an abandoned wasteland where mining operations ceased 10 years ago.
Establishing the primary axes that flow into the landscape
A secondary axis that incorporates three volumes and a tower of ‘vision’ as a counterbalance
The density of built-up is focused inward creating a stark contrast with the surrounding developed context and the built-up area
The cafe The space is defined organically, creating a journey through the seating area and establishing a seamless interconnect between different blocks. The informal space opens up to on the south and west facade to create a visual connection to the woods.
workshop
Congugation space The design allows for the flexibility of spaces. It can be transformed from a workshop space into an exhibition space and vice-versa. exhibition
Library The library is sunk into the ground to create a sense of focus within the space but opened to a view of the foliage above creating a serene and calming space.
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Floor plan
Legends: 1. Entry 2. Security Room 3. Administration 4. Auditorium 5. Classrooms / Exhibition space 6. Cafe
7. Workshop/ Exhibition space 8. Library 9. Practical training area / Exhibition space 10. Vision Tower 11. Toilets 12. OAT
samvaha a market place
academic work
This design intends to revive the and cultural aspects of shopping been lost in today’s world. The revive traditional principles based the ancient marketplaces in India
lost social which has idea is to on which functioned.
“samvaha” (which in Sanskrit means marketplace) aims to create traditional street market interaction between people in a modern context.
Primary axes anchored by four volumes
Secondary axes introducing parallel volumes
Adding volumes to the existing massing
A shell creating an introverted streetscape
The masses are stacked to create a visual interaction with the spaces at different levels. This is supported by the double-height roof that guides through the spaces.
The roofing creates a “stack effect”, which allow hot air to rise and escape thereby eliminating the need for air conditioning.
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Floor plan Legends: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Multiplex Food court Hypermarket Office Retail stores Outdoor stalls Service cores Admin office Vanilla shops Kiosks
sandeep residence residence - studio mumbai
professional work
sketch credit- Bijoy
On the banks of the Cooum River, located in Chennai, India, a house is buoyed above the ground encompassing a large shaded courtyard anchored by a large tree and a well. The periphery of the site is densely packed with landscape proportionate to the built mass to create a hierarchy of open and closed spaces. I began my internship with Ar. Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai when the construction was commencing and the project was being detailed.
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idea was inspired by the local culture architecture of South Indian temples. form was influenced by a cross-section chimney in a demolished mill.
The section shows the tree and well anchoring the house and the connection between the exterior and the courtyard through which the house can be accessed.
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Legends 1. Entrance 2. Staff quarters 3. South quarters 4. Living room 5. Dining room
6. Preparation room 7. Kitchen 8. Bedroom 9. Toilet 10. Lounge area
plot 74 at coorg
residence - evolve studio professional work
sketch credit- evolve
At Evolve, I worked on multiple projects in Coorg, India. One project was the plot 74 villa where I had the opportunity to work from design till execution. The vision was a house floating within the terrain that has been framed to embrace the mounds, trees, and the sky. The site is located on a sloped terrain that allows us to experience the larger landscape that Coorg offers. To the North of the site lies beautiful mounds and native coffee estates, and the east looks into the dense forest.
Floor plan
The section depicts a thin layer of fenestrations through the shell creates a private conversation between the bedroom.
The ground level predominantly capitalizes on the existing terrain to enhance the spatial character of the larger context within the built form. An informal journey is created in the living with a large opening to the garden, thus becoming an extension of the courtyard itself.
darwin public school school - evolve studio
professional work
sketch credit- evolve
Another notable project that I was involved in was the Darwin public school where my responsibilities involved preparing drawings and was part of the team overseeing the completion. The vision was to create a memorable experience for the kids by offering spaces to celebrate, to feel solitude, to explore, to collaborate and to engage in playful learning. The built footprint follows a curve that suggests a path through the site that connects to the park adjacent to the site. The response is an organic contour spine, which allows the kids to experience the joy akin to trekking through a mountain within the built environment.
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Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Assembly
Toilet Classroom
Entry - 2 Classroom
Steps Lobby
Floor plan
Admin
sketch credit- evolve
The spine inspires the students to experience the vertical landscape.
The vision insists on a collaborative space that is seen through the materiality of the project.
An adventurous exploration of levels, a fun-filled experience to explore and inspire students to explore and experience the vertical landscape. Every material used in the building has a unique character and texture which allows the kids to experience the space through all senses.
collage competition work
“Collage”, an open-ended design brief to design a homestay. Idea is to bring out the artist within and treat the site as a canvas. The site is located in Coorg, Madikeri, India. It is a contoured site, with a dense forest leading to a river. The “Kudavas”, the native people of Coorg are a warrior tribe who once practised guerrilla warfare.
The vision was inspired by the history of the people of Coorg. The idea was to create an exhilarating experience by recreating the lifestyle that was once led by the tribals of Coorg.
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The goal was to create a series of activities by interlinking different levels between spaces that are below, on, and above the ground level. The homestay intends to create a living experience in a dense forest area where people can engage in adventure activities and camping.
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1. Entry 2. Congrugating space 3. Bridge 4. Carved out pit 5. Floating deck 6. Wall
Primary axis deck that leads to the river bed
Introducing a cylindrical mass
Creating walled, trenched, & floating spaces
alankrit g rajagopalan
alankritr@gmail.com l i n k e d i n. c o m / i n / a l a n k r i t r