A RCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO 2014 - 2020
AMAN KALRA
C URRICULUM VITAE
PROFILE I believe that architecture has the capacity to make a difference in the society. What interests me in this profession is using both creativity and practicality to think rationally in difficult situations. I am always curious to learn and question more, and eager to work in a team.
EDUCATION Chandigarh College of Architecture // Chandigarh, India Bachelor of Architecture Birla Bharati // Kolkata, W.B, India Central Board of Secondary Education
EXPERIENCE Blocher Partners India // 2019-20 // Ahmedabad, India Jr. Architect Design development, 3d modeling, Physical modeling, CAD drawing development, Research, architecture illustrations
AMAN KALRA Kolkata, W.B, India amankalra.design@gmail.com +91 7837978609
Lina Gothmeh Architecture // 2017 // Paris, France Architectural Intern Design development, 3d modeling, Physical modeling, CAD drawing development, Research CCA Consultancy // 2018 // Chandigarh, India Architect Design development, Research, CAD drawing development, Publication Dilmeet Singh Studio // 2016-17 // Chandigarh, India Freelance Architect Design development, 3d modeling, Physical modeling PLAN B // 2016 // Chandigarh, India Co-founder Oranising competitions, workshops Freelance // 2015-present Poster design, Logo design, Editorial design
APPTITUDES Rhino 3D
AutoCAD
Illustrator
InDesign
Grasshopper
V-ray
Photoshop
Lumion
ACHIVEMENTS G-SEN // Design Jurors choice
ANDC // Design First place
Re-Gen // Logo 2nd Runners-up
Archumen // Arch. Quiz Runners-up
Adaptive Reuse // Design First place
Vowels // Installation First place
T ABLE OF CONTENTS
01
THAR HABITAT FORUM
01-18
The thesis Thar Habitat Forum aims to find the intersection fo architecture, technology, culture and environment by selecting a region in a clutural landsape that is subjected to extreme climatic conditions. The selected urban environment is the city of Jaisalmer. Through a site specific approach, the intention was to respond to the past while looking at the present needs and future challenges that create an impact on both micro and macro levels.
02
BLUES LC18
19-24
Blues LC18 was the stage design for Le Corbusier day 18’. The brief demanded to respect the site which was the courtyard of Chandigarh College of Architecture. The deisgn had to be subtle enough to be a background for the speakers on stage and yet had to speak of the philosophies of Corbusier. It was desided to take inspiration from the robust GRID of the city of Chandigarh and in a very abstarct fashion, represent it was the backdrop for the stage.
03
BRUSSELS RESIDENCE
25-30
The idea was to have a spiral staircase which in itself looks like a sculpture. The staircase would terminate with a glass blob which would become a tree-house. Being partly visible from the outside, it would give a suggestion that the house belongs to someone who is interested in art.
04
RAJKOT MUNJKA APARTMENTS
31-34
These luxury apartments had to be as contemporary as they could be. Careful study was done in understanding the contemporary trends and materials. There were many interactions in the design, however, the underlying concept was to have panoramic views and projected balconies which had lots of trees making it look like a vertical garden.
05
PLASSER ATRIUM SCULPTURE
35-40
The Plasser Office needed a sculpture in its atrium. The clients wanted something that could make the atrium a rather active space.
06
MARGIN The briefs desired to transform a public space to a more gender-sensitive space and hence to create a center for youth. The idea was move beyond the superďŹ cial by engaging the audience psychologically. The two dimensional newspaper panel spoke about gender sensitive issues and stigmas hence rendering the mind to break free of the stereotypes that exists in our minds.
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AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
T HAR HABITAT FORUM
Jaisalmer has its own unique vocabulary. The city complex grain is resonates to the harsh climatic condition that its subjected to.
The thesis Thar Habitat Forum aims to find the intersection fo architecture, technology, culture and environment by selecting a region in a clutural landsape that is subjected to extreme climatic conditions. The selected urban environment is the city of Jaisalmer. Through a site specific approach, the intention was to respond to the past while looking at the present needs and future challenges that create an impact on both micro and macro levels. The thesis was also heavily influenced by the unrealised project - Fun Palace by architect Cedric Price, which was in short a university for the streets. So the idea was to create a Fun Palace for the city of Jaisalmer that would respond to the contemporary culture of the the city. After through research and site visit, the program of the complex was finalized to be a hybrid typology consisting of : Museum Urban Lab and Library RTI office Open air cinema Mandi Interpretation zone Canteen
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JAISALMER AND THE SITE
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It is the largest district of Rajasthan and 3rd largest district by territorial region in the country, hugged on the west & southwest by the Pakistani border. The medieval city of Jaisalmer lies in the heart of the Thar Desert. Due to its characteristic yellow sandstone architecture, it is nicknamed the “The Golden City”. The city is crowned by the Jaisalmer Fort. Some other attractions include, the Jain temples, Havelis, Gadsisar Lake, Bada Bagh, etc. The city is a World Heritage site and is a major tourist attraction. At present, the economy of the city is driven by the tourist industry. Various festivals have become a part of the contemporary culture of this city. The Desert Festival and Ragasthan Music Festival are two events that witness humongous crowd during their three day celebration. An interesting part of the city is its peri-urban area, which is dominated by wind farms. Looking at the current trends, it’s evident that the cultural landscape of the city is going through a radical change.
TOP LEFTThar desert occupies almost the entire Rajasthan state. Jaisalmer lies right in the heart of the Thar desert. BOTTOMThe site is marked in red. The nollis diagram of the city reveals the compact nature of the city.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
The site lies in one of the major nodes of the city: right in front of the Gadisar Pol - the historic gateway to the city and the gate that connects the Gadisar lake to the city. In other words the site is sandwitched between the Gadisar Pol and the Gadisar lake. The site consisted of two fragments, the left side consisting fo a tourist information centre, a dump yard, RTI office and a police station. The right hand side is an urban Park which is a road island. However, the funcitions of the site didn’t quite suit its location. For eg. even though the park was right next to the police station, it was home to drug peddlars and thiefs. Hence some of the functions were relocated into better suited locations in the city. The police station was relocated on a empty government plot very close to the site, facing the highway. Behind the site are motor repair shops, schools and hotels. In front of the site are cremation grounds, a school, shops and the lake which is a popular touirist attraction. Hawkers are present in great numbers around the site which disturbe the image of the city. Two fragments of the site.
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Model depicting the urban fabric of Jaisalmer. In white is the site.
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THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
MEGASTRUCTURE The theory of Megastructure highlighted the importance of bluring the lines of urban design and planning with architecture. Also, it helped figure out how to unify different programs using modular structures. But most importantly it helped understand the need of temporality of social spaces in urban envirnment. A number of case examples such as the Fun Palace, Pompidou Centre, German Pavilion for 67’ Expo, etc. were studied to understand the theory in detail.
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EVENT, SPACE AND MOVEMENT The theory by Bernard Tschumi helped decipher architecture from different vantage points. What was interesting about the theory was how it helped delineate architecture in three parts; event, space and movement. The disjunction helps in isolating the three fragments and then studing each one in detail. The theory helped in understand all the case studies in depth.
CRITICAL REGIONALISM The theory helped figure out the politics of architecture which is often not considered in architecture schools. It helped understand the ground realities of the architecture process which in turn added to the justification of the design. Gandhi Samarak Sanghralaya, Hall of Nations, Indian Habitat Centre, Jawahar Kala Kendra and Panna Meena ka Kund were the case studies that helped understand the theory better.
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SITE TREATMENT
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AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019 Once the road form the Gadisar Pol to the Gadisar Chowk in pedestrainised, the two fragments of the site are integrated. The traffic is segregated for the heavy motor vehicles that enter the site from the highway, whereas the regular vehicles enter through the side entry. The Kund becomes the central element of the site which also becomes the congregation space for the users as well as an outdoor extention for the canteen. Narrow pathways keep the entire site shaded due to mutual shading of the buildings, and the open spaces are covered with a tensile roof. Therefore, the entire complex is united through the tensile structure, making it a megastructure. Since all the blocks are subterranean, they keep the blocks cool. Mandi promises the incoming of local users, while the rest of the complex invites the tourists as well as the locals. The integration of both the user groups assures that the site is in use throughout the season, making the complex a true social space in the given contemporary scenario. Also, since the trees are preserved, they become the secondary gathering spaces in the site iteself.
RTI OFFICE
CANTEEN
LIBRARY AND URBAN LAB
KUND
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
GADISAR PROL
EXISTING BASTION
INTERPRETATION ZONE
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LOK KENDRA
MUSEUM
MANDI
GADISAR CHOWK
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The mandi has squinches on its entrance acting as a buffer space that could be occupied by hawkers. The mandi works on two levels. The level underground is the permanent market, whereas the upper floor is covered by the tensile structure behaves as the temporary market.
WINDCATCHERS These perpendicular towers have a particular function. They catch the wind, make it cooler, which in turn cool the buildings. This loweres the heat loads of the buildings and makes the complex sustainable.
As one enters the complex, he gets under the tensile structure. A narrow corridor, marked by two windcatches leads to the cultural spaces of the complex.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019 MUSEUM GROUND FLOOR PLAN.
ARCHES All the built blocks follow a similar vocabulary of arches. This design decision has two sides to it; First, it resonates the historic culture of the city, second, since its easy to construct, it dosen’t require highly skilled labour for the task, which also means the labour from the adjecent villages get job opportunities for the project. Now, since the localites are involved in the construction, they are likey to have a attachment with the project. This would add to the social dimention of the project.
RIGHT One can witness the presence of tensile structures throught the streets of Jaisalmer. LEFT Arches form the basis of all the architecture in the city.
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The yellow hatch depicts the pavilion area, accessible to all. The buffer space is formed by the arcade which also becomes the seating space. The museum can be explored as one moves through the staircase which sits it its courtyard.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
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Kund becomes the central attraction of the entire complex.
GARGOYLES These utilitarian elements which direct the surface runoff water to the kund also help balance the verticality of the windcathers.
There are several functions of the kund-Performance space. -Outdoor seating for canteen. -Extention for Museum and Urban Lab. -Open air cinema
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019 URBAN LAB AND LIBRARY GROUND FLOOR PLAN
PAVILION The ground floor of every block acts as a pavilion with a restricted access to the function that the block is supposed to serve. This makes the entire ground floor of the site a public space. A space where anyone of any age group or gender could spend quality time surrounded by the basic amenities. It also severs as a secondary social space right next to the Gadisar lake which often gets overcrowded in the tourist season.
RIGHT The Gadisar Lake was once the only source of water for the residents of Jaisalmer. It acts like an oasis in the desert. LEFT There are several hawkers around the site which disturbe the image of this beautiful city. These hawkers have been included in the design itself.
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The plan has similarity to the plan of the museum. One the first floor is teh library. On the underground floors are convertible spaces that form the Urban Lab.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
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TENSILE STRUCTURE Being a social space, the site required an ephemeral experience. Tensile structures are visible throughout the city in open markets providing shade to the users. Hence, in the open areas of the site, these structures work well and integrated the site together.
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SUBTERRANEAN In areas where the tempeature goes as high as 50 degrees, subterranean architecture works well due to the heat capacity of thea earth. The tempearture can be lowered upto 9 degrees just by building underground. This also adds to the experience of the user.
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ADOBE Since the blocks are subterranean, the earth that comes out can be used in making CSEB bricks. Using this construction tecnology would mean that the buildings are cooler and that they would last longer.
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WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS All the indiviual design elements when integrated together makes the complex a megastructure that responds to the contemporary culture of the city. Social spaces, often neglected by many, is a necessity. Thar Habitat Forum can be seen as a natural response to the hybrid cultures of contemporary times.
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B LUES
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LC 18
Blues LC18 was the stage design for Le Corbusier day 18’. The brief demanded to respect the site which was the courtyard of Chandigarh College of Architecture. The deisgn had to be subtle enough to be a background for the speakers on stage and yet had to reflect the philosophies of Corbusier. It was desided to take inspiration from the robust GRID of the city of Chandigarh and in a very abstarct fashion, represent it was the backdrop for the stage.
Axonometric view of one module
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
NED KAHN Kahn often re-creates dynamic wind currents – or turbulence, as he calls it – within controlled settings inside buildings. This gave the inspiration of a dynamic grid that would react to the the air movement at the time of the event. Also since Corbusier would always take care of ventilation in his buildings, it made more sense to have a installation that would react to the wind.
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COURTYARD The CCA coutyard has one element that marks its presence; the red brick walls that its surrounded with. Since the brief was to respect the site, it was cetain to respect the walls of the courtyard.
BLUE Pantone 3545 C is a colour that compliments the tone of brics in the courtyard. Hence the paper closest to the color was chosen for the installation.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
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Computer generated iterations of how the installation would work with different wind velocities and directions.
The blue colour dominates the burnt brick background.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
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1152 modules are fixed on 8 ply boards (4’ x 8’). The result is a dynamic pattern created with different shades of blue due to the unique orientation of each paper in effect to the way the paper panels react to the light and mimic the wind.
ABOVE The lighting design for the event. BELOW Aftermath of the installation.
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B RUSSELS RESIDENCE
The client’s residence was an art deco house which needed renovation particularly in the staircase and the basement. The client being an art collector wanted a sculptural staircase where she could display her art collection. Her inspirations included works of James Turrell, Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliason, and many more. The idea was to have a spiral staircase which in itself looks like a sculpture. The staircase would terminate with a glass blob which would become a tree-house. Being partly visible from the outside, it would give a suggestion that the house belongs to someone who is interested in art.
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THE PROJECT IS COPYRIGHT TO LGA. THEREFORE, THE CONTENT IS LIMITED.
The project was done while I was an intern in Lina Ghotmeh architecture.
Axonometric view of the residence with the glass blob and greenhouse.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
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AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019 The longitudional section showing the entire chemistry of the spiral staircase, the cone, and the blob.
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Back elevation.
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Front elevation.
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RAJKOT MUNJKA APARTMENTS
The project was done while I was an employee in Blocher Partners India. The site was located in the outskirts of Rajkot. These luxury apartments had to be as contemporary as they could be. Careful study was done in understanding the contemporary trends and materials. There were many interactions in the design, however, the underlying concept was to have panoramic views and projected balconies which had lots of trees making it look like a vertical garden. Each apartment had a double height living area which was the USP of the design.
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THE PROJECT IS COPYRIGHT TO BPI. THEREFORE, THE CONTENT IS LIMITED.
Urban map of the city of Rajkot.
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
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Typical floor plan of the apartment.
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The blue colour dominates the burnt brick background.
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Typical section revealing the double height spaces and the balconies.
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AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
PLASSER OFFICE SCULPTURE
The project was done while I was an employee in Blocher Partners India. The Plasser Office needed a sculpture in its atrium. The clients wanted something that could make the atrium a rather active space. Research was done to understand the history of the 70-year-old company which deals with locomotives. From here the first clue for the sculpture was taken, which was to have it in yellow and black, resonating with the theme of locomotives.
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THE PROJECT IS COPYRIGHT TO BPI. THEREFORE, THE CONTENT IS LIMITED.
Plan of the Plasser office
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019 The analysis of the atrium space revealed two important points: 1. there was a column that was inside the atrium space. 2. there was a blank wall which could be used for a mural. It was decided that the mural could be the urban map of Vienna, where Plasser had its roots.
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Also, the cients wanted the sculpture to be abstract in nature. Therefore, the idea of connecting the various columns in that space arised.
After studying the circulation of the entire space, it was established that the sculpture had to have certain openings that would enable free movement.
To make the sculpture more interesting, we decided to have the timeline of the company running throught the sculpture. That way anyone who would sit in that space could learn about the glorious history of Plasser.
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Various sitting, standing, walking arrangements fromed due to the form of the sculpture.
The sculpture gradually rising like a creeper.
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M ARGIN
The briefs desired to transform a public space to a more gendersensitive space and hence to create a center for youth. The idea was to move beyond the superďŹ cial by engaging the audience psychologically. The two dimensional newspaper panel spoke about gender sensitive issues and stigmas hence rendering the mind to break free of the stereotypes that exists in our minds.
Illustration depicting how in public spaces a newspaper panel catches the attention of people
AMAN KALRA PORTFOLIO 2019
PAGE NO 43
Margin is a newspaper on social issues and architecture. It deals with the stereotypes prevalent in the society. We curate conversations to tell a story about the role of architecture in today’s world. We make them available for you to do with as you please: to think on, to talk about, to design with. Feel free to take them and run, mis-read and butcher. After all, they are only ideas. Margin takes the form of normal A1 sized papers that can also function as posters. Each newspaper has a theme and content is derived from a series of discussions, debates, interviews, and research into the spatial implications of epochal shifts presently occurring in the information industry. The issue focuses on gender sensitivity and the urban poor. It tries to camouflage architecture with these discussions which were originally triggered by the posters.
LEFT The idea was not only to spread the world in the physical space but also the virtual space. The combination of the two helps spread the message to all user groups. BELOW Margin in the sector 17 piazza.
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A RCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO 2014 - 2020
AMAN KALRA