Ashokan Pillai Architecture + Urban Design Portfolio 2018-2019
CONTENTS STATEMENT OF INTENT
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K STREET WAREHOUSE
2
Residential Adaptive Reuse
SMALL SPACES, BIG LIVING
8
UC Davis Student Housing
THE GREEN IN-BETWEEN
12
Tim Spencer Alley Renewal
RÉSUMÉ
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STATEMENT OF INTENT My name is Ashokan Pillai, and I am a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Arts in Design and a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Environmental Design. As an aspiring architect, I hope to work with my audience to develop spaces that serve as assets for the community. This document presents three selections from my academic career that reflect upon the call to action posed by public interest design, and I hope to join a team that prioritizes design excellence through civic engagement and environmental stewardship.
The Design curriculum honed the holistic mindset required to address architectural challenges and solidified my literacy of architectural conventions, while the Sustainable Environmental Design major afforded me the opportunity to refine these strengths through social and environmental sustainability-driven projects. Alongside my core coursework, I worked collaboratively to develop a client-designer partnership through my involvement with the UC Davis Medical Center Interior Architecture Group Study and Mercy Housing Youth Space Programming Project. During my time at UC Davis Design and Construction Management, I applied my existing skills in a professional setting, while bolstering my working knowledge of architectural and construction practices. Given my capacity to effectively present architectural ideas across a range of project scales and successful contribution of academic experience to team-based architecture and space planning projects, I feel I would be an asset to any team.
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K STREET WAREHOUSE: Residential Adaptive Reuse The K Street Warehouse project
and west facades are populated
designed for a family of 4,
access to one of the large
converts an existing 5-story
by a grid of warehouse
while 1 of the 6 units (Unit
windows. Therefore, public and
commercial building, flanked
windows. Rather than new luxury
B), designed with respect to
sleeping areas are granted the
by two buildings, into housing
condominiums, each floor of
the existing stair and elevator
greatest access to sunlight,
units through adaptive reuse.
the warehouse is divided into
shaft, is intended for 2
while private spaces are
Two retail spaces occupy the
6 compact apartment units. 5
residents. Given the existing
recessed within the unit, away
ground floor, while the east
of the 6 units (Unit A) are
programming, each unit has
from outside visual access.
Windows
Unit Walls
Unit A
Unit A
Unit A
Unit A
Windows
Isometric
West Facade
Unit B
Unit A
Existing Programming
N 0
2
4
6
10ft
Elevator Shaft
Corridor Limit
New Programming
Floor Plan, Floors 2-5 Stair Set
2
East Facade
UNIT DESIGN
Unit A Floor Plan 5
A
6
7
A
4
1 B
B
2 3
9
8
10
0
D
2
4
6
1.
Dining
2.
Living
3.
Pegboard Storage
4.
Bedroom
5.
Sink + Storage
6.
Bathroom
7.
Stacked Washer/Dryer
8.
Bunk Bed
9.
Walk-In Closet
10.
Half Bathroom
10ft
E
Unit B Floor Plan C
C
1
5
4
6
1.
Dining
2.
Living
3.
Pegboard Storage
4.
Bedroom
5.
Bathroom
6.
Stacked Washer/Dryer
E
2 3
0
2
4
6
10ft
D
3
Unit A Design Fixtures
Floor to Ceiling: 11ft.
Storage Appliances
Floor to Ceiling: 10ft.
Pegboard Storage
Floor to Ceiling: 8ft.
Existing Programming New Programming
4
Section A.A
Section B.B
5
Unit B Design Fixtures Storage
Floor to Ceiling: 11ft.
Appliances Bedroom Pegboard Storage
Floor to Ceiling: 8ft.
Existing Programming New Programming
6
Section C.C
Section D.D
Section E.E
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SMALL SPACES, BIG LIVING: UC Davis Student Housing Small Spaces, Big Living
their ready access to campus
Leveraging the remote parking
addresses growing student
assets, retail, and transit
structure proposed in the 2018
housing demand through campus
options. Incorporating the
Long-Range Development Plan,
infill development. In lieu
existing one-story Student
the site eliminates dedicated
of traditional development on
Disability Center (SDC), the
parking spaces, encouraging
campus periphery, Parking Lots
project replaces Lots 14 & 15
less environmentally impactful
14 & 15, and the neighboring
with a multi-story housing
means of travel, while reducing
Cowell Building were chosen for
development and green space.
overall construction costs.
Student Disability Center
Lots 14 & 15
Existing Community Connection: Proximity to campus resources and the MU Bus Terminal, as well as local dining and retail
Act. & Rec. Center: 0.7 mi.
University Mall: 1 mi.
Downtown Davis: 0.5 mi.
destinations, encourage car-free living.
Green Space: In accordance with plans for a remote parking structure, parking has been eliminated in favor of green space. Greenery improves livability, while creating resident privacy without isolation.
Student Housing SDC Dining Common Academic Facilties
MU Bus Terminal: 0.1 mi. Housing Density: Memorial Union: 0.1 mi. Cruess Hall
Veihmeyer Hall
Plant & Env. Sci.
Hunt Hall
The project places the SDC across the ground floors of three 4-story structures. The development is capped at 4 stories to avoid eclipsing the surrounding academic facilities.
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UNIT DESIGN: Drawing inspiration from micro
costs as a result of kitchen
A modular unit, intended for
units, housing was designed
and bathroom installation.
the anticipated unit footprint,
to occupy less space than
However, with shared dining
was designed for the project.
conventional dormitory units
and restroom amenities within
The module accommodates single,
in order to maximize unit
student housing, a micro unit
double, and triple occupancy,
development. Typical micro
footprint can effectively house
within less space than a
units suffer from increased
more students per unit area
conventional dormitory unit.
per-sq.-ft. construction
than other campus developments.
Single Micro-Unit Conventional Dormitory Unit
Bed
Unit accommodates single, double, Storage
and triple occupancy within less space than conventional unit Double
Desk
Inset ladders allow for access even in reduced unit footprint. Triple
SMALL SPACES, BIG LIVING: Storage Assembly
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THE GREEN IN-BETWEEN: Tim Spencer Alley Renewal The Green In-Between builds
serving as private parking at
Downtown framework, helping
upon the 2040 Vision for
best and as poorly-lit hazards
to improve the pedestrian and
Downtown Davis to address the
at worst. Tim Spencer serves
cyclist experience, provide an
challenges of a densifying
as the project focal point due
opportunity to restore native
community. Visually unsightly,
to its access to key Downtown
ecology, and re-energize the
alleyways make up a significant
assets. The alleyway can be
public sphere.
portion of Downtown Davis,
readily integrated within the
Surplus Bank Parking
Tim Spencer Alley
Central Commerce
Tim Spencer Alley
Bank parking lots remain below capacity during
Though unlit at night, daytime visitors experience
business hours and suggest consolidation into a single lot.
an unobstructed line of sight through entirety of F St.
Tim Spencer, reminiscent of an allĂŠe.
E St.
Peripheral Commerce
D St.
3rd St. Surplus Bank Parking
2nd St. Peripheral Commerce
Readily accessible retail encourages patronage at local establishments.
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Central Commerce
Adjacent
dining
presents
opportunity
to
incorporate outdoor seating.
Pocket Parks
CONCEPT: The project involves converting
Tim Spencer is converted to
lot, and business owners
surplus parking and recesses to
a dedicated pedestrian and
are provided reserved spaces
pocket parks. Parks serve as
cyclist path with green walls
outside their storefronts,
a teaching space for visitors
and is integrated within a
with deliveries coordinated
to learn about wildlife, while
larger alleyway network.
at designated hours to ensure
promoting public cohesion
Visitor and bank parking is
equitable use of the space.
through community maintenance.
also consolidated to a single
Pocket Parks
Surplus parking and alleyway recesses are converted to pocket parks.
Alleyway Network
Alleyway Network
Tim Spencer is converted to a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist path, intregrating the main corridor within a larger alleyway network.
Green Walls
Parking Consolidation
Parking Consolidation
Bank parking is converged to a single lot, with alleyway tenants provided dedicated spaces outside their storefronts.
Green Walls
Green walls maintain flora in an urbanizing Downtown, while reducing the urban heat island effect.
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THE GREEN IN-BETWEEN: Alleyway Elevations
Central Commerce Alleyway Elevation 1
Central Commerce Alleyway Elevation 2
Alleyway Network
Green Walls
Tim Spencer is converted to a dedicated pedestrian
Green walls maintain flora in an urbanizing Downtown,
and cyclist path, intregrating the main corridor
while reducing the urban heat island effect.
within a larger alleyway network.
Central Commerce
Parking Consolidation
Pocket Parks
Bank parking is converged to a single lot, with alleyway
Surplus parking and alleyway recesses
tenants provided dedicated spaces outside their storefronts.
are converted to pocket parks.
Surplus Bank Parking
Surplus Bank Parking
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ASHOKAN PILLAI EDUCATION University of California, Davis Bachelor of Arts in Design (Architecture Emphasis) Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Environmental Design SKILLS • Revit • AutoCAD • SketchUp • Adobe Ai/Ps/Id • Vectorworks • Rhino 3D
• • • • • •
Artlantis Studio Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets Sketching/Conceptual Design Literacy in Arch. Conventions Research & Analysis Woodshop
Final Cumulative GPA: 3.971 September 2018 September 2018 COURSEWORK • CAD for Designers • CAD Presentations • Intro. to AutoCAD • Drafting & Perspective • Intro. to Interior Design • Green Bldg. Design Materials
• • • • • •
Materials/Methods of Int. Arch. Urban Planning & Design Community Participation Site Ecology Letterforms & Type Furniture Design & Detailing
EXPERIENCE Design Support Assistant, UC Davis Design and Construction Management • Modeled campus development with SketchUp, using information obtained from construction documents • Developed infographics based on spreadsheet data • Conducted market research and analyzed information through Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets formulas Team Member, UC Davis Medical Center Interior Architecture Group Study • Collaborated with Professor and 2 colleagues to improve patient flow and staff experience at Endocrinology Clinic • Convened biweekly with Practice Manager to receive design feedback and to conduct site surveys • Drafted architectural drawings and presentations using 2D and 3D design softwares • Shared team progress and received desk critiques from Professor at weekly meetings Team Member, Mercy Housing Youth Space Programming Project • Partnered with 4 colleagues to reprogram community space as part of Community Participation course • Interviewed staff and held design activities for students to gauge community needs • Modeled envisioned space using SketchUp, incorporating community feedback Graphic Design Intern, WaterBit Inc. • Worked alongside co-founder to create infographics, conduct market research, and curate company blog • Designed infographics for use in presentations and handouts using Illustrator and InDesign • Wrote of agricultural technology news and research through blog entries AWARDS AND HONORS • Citation for Outstanding Performance, Sustainable Environmental Design • Sustainable Environmental Design Major Award of Aesthetic and Innovative Design • Citation for Outstanding Performance, Design • Recipient, UC Regent Scholarship, for Academic Achievement • Dean’s Honors List
Oct.17 - Sept.18
Sept.17 - Jun.18
Jan.18 - Mar.18
Jun.16 - Sept.16
Fa.14 -
2018 2018 2018 2016 Sum.18
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