Arshaya Sood Graduate Portfolio

ARSHAYA SOOD DESIGN WORKS

I am a dynamic design strategist that uses human centered approach and strong communication and visual skills to provide strong leadership within cross-functional teams. I am passionate about solving complex problems systematically and driving solutions collaboratively, while producing high quality, mutually beneficial results for stakeholders.

ASThe design works shown in this portfolio explore the intersection of research, architecture, urban design supplemented with some of my personal interests. These design projects encourage solving issues of multi faceted-problems using interdisciplinary efforts.

Agency of design within a larger network of specializations can be a way we create socially equitable design and foster change within the ecology and context.

MACY’S

FALL

FALL

MDes Thesis | Re-Imagining the Urban-Rural Divide: Opportunities for More Equitable Development

This thesis aims to surface the urgent need to engage with rural to urban linkages by analyzing the complex interactions that link food and livelihood systems to consumption patterns and processes of land-use and environmental change. The aim of the thesis is to make policy and planning recommendations on how to include small scale farmers in economic growth through analyzing the systems at play within India.

Existing Development Cycle

Focus on Urban Development

Food Production suffers

- Risk of Food insecurity nationally occurs

Skewed amount of resources go to cities

Rural development suffers due to lack of investment

Improving the Rural-Urban Synergy is imperative for long-term sustainable growth of India’s economy. This thesis will propose the urgent need to engage with a deeper understanding of rural to urban migrations by analyzing the complex interactions that link food and livelihood systems to consumption patterns and processes of land-use and environmental change. The aim of the thesis is to make policy and planning recommendations on how to include small scale farmers in economic growth.

Proposed Development with Rural Industralization

Focus on Rural and Urban Development

More money directly to farmers, urban consumer pays less

Farming productivity

Increases and more equitable development for rural is created

Short ended transportation time, more economic and social opportunities between urban and rural

access to machinery, seeds, and fertilizers to rural farmers

Rural areas receive inputs for storing, processing, and transporting raw materials to urban areas

Road networks improve between urban and rural sites of production

more targeted production due to transparency from the consumers, less waste, more population reached

01

Understanding Development through

Inflation of plum price from Palumpur, Himachal Pradesh to Delhi

1

2

8:30 AM | Day 1

500 plums, 1 rupees/plum

12:30 PM | Day 1

plums + trader fees: 5 rupees/plum

6 5

10:30 PM | Night 1

plums + trader fees + lot rent fee + 2nd intermediary transportation +

Mandi lot rent fee: 30 rupees/plum

11:30 PM | Night 1

plums + trader fees + lot rent fee + 2nd intermediary transportation + Mandi lot rent fee: 30 rupees/plum

Agriculture in India

4

2:30 PM | Day 1

plums + trader fees + lot rent fee: 10 rupees/plum

4:00 PM | Day 1

plums + trader fees + lot rent fee + 2nd intermediary transportation:

7:30 AM | Day 2

plums + trader fees + lot rent fee + 2nd intermediary transportation + Mandi lot rent fee, store rent price: 60 rupees/plum

8:30 AM | Day 2

plums + trader fees + lot rent fee + 2nd intermediary transportation + Mandi lot rent fee, store rent price: 60 rupees/plum

Existing Challenges for Equitable Development

For plum industry in Rampur

1. Limited harvesting season, no storage facilitiesCreates urgency to sell produce.

Plum Harvest in Himachal Pradesh

Development

2. Long chain of intermediaries

3. Accessing critical inputs

4. No market targeting

Proposed Recommendations for Rural Industrialization

Using case study of plum industry as entry into inequitable development

Industrialization

Currently, this process is beneficial to the traders who supply for the urban areas but there is little incentive for the small farmer.

This 3 part recommendation includes:

1) Cutting out the intermediary

2) Giving the farmers agency to make informed decisions on their produce through financial trainings

3) Finding investments for infrastructure to give independence to farmers for year-round food storage, rather than just relaying on seasonal harvest.

IDENTIFY + EDUCATE

INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE

FINANCIAL TRAINING

Scaling-Up the Cooperative Model State

Leveraging transportation developement

Nirmand

Duttnagar

Nogli

Shangrila

Rampur Bishar

Plum Farms

Sutleg RIver

MACY’S THREE GOTHAM PLACE Workplace Interiors

OVERVIEW

The client, Macy’s , is moving their offices from the iconic Herald Square to Long Island City. They expanding over 26 floors of Three Gotham Place Towers, owned by Tishman Speyer Properties. Their deign goals are to (1)Bring the business to life by integrating pieces of the history, the brands, and the stores. (2) Incorporate spaces that bring people together and create reasons for people to travel from NYC to LIC. (3) New workspace should focus more on cross-functional teams and less on entitlements.

PROGRAM: WORKPLACE INTERIORS

SITE: LONG ISLAND CITY, NY USA

THE WORKPLACE Alleviating Stress of Workstations

89% of millennials believe that having flexible work options, like mobility is important.

HOME BASE

AMajority of work happens at the desk, with some space provided for meetings and collaboration

NEIGHBORHOOD BASED

BIndividual desks are complimented collaborative spaces in close proximity.

BASED

complimented with a variety of additional focus and proximity.

AGILE

CWork happens anywhere and everywhere, staff move throughout the building during the day depending on the task at hand

THE WORKPLACE “NARRATIVE”

TYPICAL FLOOR | SHARED PANTRY

TYPICAL FLOOR | BREAKOUT ROOMS

THE COLLABORATION HUB “NARRATIVE”

1

5TH FLOOR |RAISED DINING PLATFORM

5TH FLOOR | BAR CAFE SERVERY

5TH FLOOR | EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM

5TH FLOOR | ELEVATOR LOBBY

ARE THE DEAD KILLING THE LIVING?

Understanding the impact of cremation grounds in an ubran metropolis

In India where 80% of the population is Hindu, 95% of dead bodies are cremated using open pyre practices, resulting in over 7 million cremations/year. The practice of wood-fueled, open-air pyre ceremonies is a multifaceted problem that impacts the environment and public health. How can design be used to lessen the impacts to the health of residents working around these crematorium grounds?

Diagram 1-3: Statistics on air pollution in India

In India, over seven million cremations take place each year. During an open pyre ceremony, a body is constantly burning for six to eight hours and using up to 1,300 pounds of wood, contributing to 7% of overall carbon emissions in India. Currently, there are 4 methods that exist: Traditional open pyre, Electric, CNG, and Mokshda. Only 5% of cremations that take place per year use an alternate to an open pyre due to thousands years of culture and ingrained traditional practices.

Diagram 01: Steps to cremate in Hindu tradition

56 MILLIONDEATHS /YR

1in8 DEATHS/YR DUE TO AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is one of the leading mortality causes in India and falls amongst the worst air pollution in the world due to the poor maintenance and governance of road vehicles, industrial activities, construction, domestic fuel, and open incinerations. 30,000 deaths every year in Delhi are due to air pollution, making it the fifth leading cause of death in India.

GRAPH 02: PM 2.5 + PM 10 TOXINS IN SUMMER/WINTER

GRAPH 03: PM 2.5 FACTORS GRAPH 04: PM 10 FACTORS

GRAPH 01: PM 2.5 + PM 10 TOXINS IN SAMPLED SITES

CONDITIONS

SOURCE OF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

CULTURE

PRINCIPLES

WHAT DOES THE ARCHITECTURE NEED TO DO?

HEALTH

ENVIRONMENT

1 5 4 3 2

RESPOND TO NEED FOR IMMEDIATE POOR AIR CONDITIONS.

RESPOND TO LACK OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION

CRITIQUE OF EXISTING CULTURAL PRACTICES

REACT TO ENVIRONMENT [DEFORESTATION]

REPRESENT HINDU CULTURAL IDENTITY

MAP 06: CITY OF NIRANKARI

OPEN PYRE CREMATIONS

Systems Map for Open Pyre Cremations Inputs + Outcomes

DECREASE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY

SHORT TERM

1

2 3 4

PREMATURE DEATHS

LONG TERM

IRRITATION OF EYES, THROAT, NOSE AGGRAVATE RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS

WORSEN CHRONIC DISEASE

BRONCHITIS

HEART ATTACKS

STRATEGIES

HOW TO DESIGN WITHIN REGULATING PRINCIPLES?

SENSITIVITY TO PAST TRADITION

SPACES FOR DUAL PROGRAMS

USE OF LOCAL MATERIALS

DESIGN IS FOR SUSTAINABLE CREMATIONS

CREMATION CENTER REQUIREMENTS

OPEN PYRE

WOOD STORAGE

TEMPLE/PRAYER ROOM

SUSTAINABLE ELECTRIC BASED SYSTEM

PROXIMITY TO RIVER

TRASH MANAGEMENT

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

BATHROOM/SHOWER FACILITIES

HOUSING FOR WORKERS OF CREMATORIUM

6 MAINTENANCE BY LOCALS

5 INTEGRATE EDUCATIONAL MECHANISMS 7

SPACES & FORM RESPOND TO GRID OF EXISTING TOWN

WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

BRIDGES CONNECTIONS TO OPEN AREA

LEGEND

1. Entry Road

2. Entry Arena

3. Temples for body preparation

4. Body cleansing area (for desecrated body)

5. Processional path to furnaces

6.Funeral Pyre Area (Electric Pyre)

7. Water body for Immersion of Ashes

8. Prayer Room

9. Public Baths

10. Entrance to individual units for Orphanage and Dormitories

11. Water filter

12. Bridge to Hospital

13. Public water front

14.Private baths for Apartments

15.Pubic Space/Steps for Residents

16. Studio Apartments

17. Water filtration

18. Sports Fields

19. Najafgarh drain

CREMATORIUM ENTRY ATRIUM

CREMATORIUM GHAT + SACRED BATHS

CREMATORIUM GHAT + SACRED BATHS

SHISHMAREF SHELTER-ON-SITE [SOS]

creating culturally and climatically adaptable shelters in unique environments

OVERVIEW

Erosion and sea level rise have caused controversial topics of debate surrounding the Native Alaskan village of Shishmaref. As conditions are worsening, the threat of an intense storm is imminent. This design is multi-functional as it serves as an elementary school year round and acts as immediate` evacuation center during times of storm surge.

PROGRAM: EVACUATION CENTER

SITE: SHISHMAREF, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

DESIGN EXECUTION

Current practices in Shishmaref require experts to come in, which not only increase the cost of building but also disable the natives to participate in the building of their community.

We propose to simplify the post-andpile foundation system and empower residents to involve in the project.

CONSTRUCTION PHASING

PHASE I

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

Gym, the most efficient space to provide shelters to large number of people will be constructed in phrase I.

Two other family rooms will be constructed in phrase III, when the evacuation shelter will have the complete capacity for a whole town evacuation.

Administrative office and two private classrooms/family longterm staying rooms will be added on in phrase II.

CITY YEAR

COMMUNITY IMPACT

OVERVIEW

City Year + Gensler is a firmwide partnership in which we work with City Year and a local school to transform an unused or underutilized space. This has been an ongoing partnership in the NY office since 2014. Our team visions with the City Year AmeriCorps members, the students, and the school to develop a program and design based on their needs and what represents the school’s culture and community. The projects aim at creating a sense of unity and having an impact from within City Year and the students, to the classroom, and beyond to the community. Practice areas involved in the project include: consulting, programming, brand + graphics, design, and implementation.

PROGRA M: PRO-BONO

SITE: LONG ISLAND CITY, NY USA

CO-AUTHORS: ELISABETH MEJIA, ALYSON CANAL, CRISTINA BATTISTON

PHASE 1: VISIONING CRAFTING WITH STUDENTS 01.22.2020

This year, our team partnered with Dutch Kills Public School 112 in Long Island City, New York to renovate and improve an existing classroom. The Students were asked to make their dream space. Genlser provided old shoe boxes, recycled materials, and cutting + gluing tools. The aim of the activity was to understand the spaces the students desired and felt comfortable in. The kids loved this activity and channeled their creativity into making rooms ranging from the airplane landing in Hollywood to a cozy space with endless rugs. At the end of the activity, we interviewed the students and asked them to explain their design decisions. By involving the students in the design process from the visioning stage, we noticed a stronger desire from the students to stay involved throughout the construction process, till reveal day.

“FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS”

“BARBIE DOLLHOUSE”

“HARRY POTTER WIZZARD PALACE”

Image: Post -activity filming.

Film Crew: Matt B (Gensler, cameraman) and Sarah Z (Gensler, moderator)

TO HOLLYWOOD”

“Welcome to Hollywood”

Esa and Amanda want to be movie stars when they get older. Their dream space is the LAX airport!

“Football Championships”

Jackson, Daniel, and Charlie all added to the “Football Champions” dream space. Jackson explains his

“WELCOME

“FUZZY RUGS WORLD”

“POLKA DOT PARADISE”

“SWIMMING IN SEA WORLD”

Image 1: “Swimming in Seaworld” by Elison In progrss

PHASE 3: PROGRAM VISIONING

BRAINSTORMING WITH CITY YEAR CORP MEMBERS + TEACHERS

01.26.2020

After the visioning session with students, the Gensler City members and Dutch Kills Public School 112 faculty. During the visioning sessions, City Year expressed the need themselves and the students - a place where they could space should be aspirational for the students and set the

City Year Corps Member

collaborative planning with corps members

Mid-morning

City Year corps work in a group to plan lessons and afterschool sessions

individual lesson prep

Quiet Space

Communal Space

Collaborative Space

Space Outside the Room

Afternoon

City Year corps members individually research and gather materials to inform the afterschool activities

City Year team met with the City Year Corps

need for a space that was a retreat for both step away and refocus. They voiced that the the tone for the school’s identity.

Morning Arrive at school

Morning Greeting

Morning City Year corps members greet students at the school entrance

Lunch

Afternoon

Students eat lunch in the cafeteria while corps members provide support

art club

Afterschool Students create collages in art club the

Evening Depart school

Dutch Kills PS 112 5th Grader

science class

Morning Student attends science class

Math class

Afternoon Student attends math class

Reading +Doing homework quietly

Afterschool Student finds a quiet corner to read and work individually

DRAWING IN DESIGN

TRAVEL SKETCHES

Travel sketches are a hobby of mine. I find learning through drawings details, materials, and relationships of figures translates to architectural practices.

This series of drawings was completed during the Fontainebleau program hosted in the Château de Fontainebleau in central France. This program allowed students with backgrounds from architecture, music, and composition. within 4 intensive weeks of studio group work, exploring new ways of combine the craft of hand drawing with contemporary design methodology.

Richmond, Virginia Historical Sites

This is a series of watercolor paintings completed for a private client in Richmond, Virginia Summer 2020. These painting were turned into postcards and are sold in museums and shops across Richmond.

James Railway Bridge

Main Street Train Station Carpenter Center Downtown The Jefferson Hotel

Capitol Building

The Altria Theatre [renamed “The Landmark”