cover
Acknowledgement I would like to sincerely thank my course facilitators Shivani Sheshadri, Amitabh Kumar, Arzu Mistry, Abhiyan and Astha for guiding me throughout the process and being patient with answering my silliest questions. Thank you Aditya and Siddhart for documenting our process well and helping us in the whole process. Guidence of Shivani, Jackson and Mr. Siddhart Joshi have helped me evolve my idea. Thank you to my friends Anvi, Urvika and Taarini for constantly helping me out when I almost gave up.I would also like to thank all the gaurds in college for
Project Facilitators:
being kind and generous to all fourth year students. Finally I would thank my roomate Ruchir for having
Shivani, Amitabh, Arzu, Abhiyan, Astha,
tolerated me during my late night working hours and
Aditya, and Siddhant
helping me out for my 3D modelling. W And coffee !!!! My all time support !
Project Overview Understanding the context
1 3
Immersion process
10
Research topic Site Visit
Content
Concept
16 17 30
Project Overview There is an experience of what Bangalore was/ is today that predicates a multi layered imagination, desire, hope and aspiration of what Bangalore can be. Bangalore is an example of “the city”, the nature of which is being brought into question world wide. The Art in Transit project looks at the nature of this “city” through the Metro Rail Transit System and inquires how experience, memory and fantasy invent this city, that like many others is in a state of transition. The metro within this metropolis , is a semi- public space that offers opportunities for congregation and social networks. Where a diversity of people come together with a common purpose of getting from one point to another. The Art in Transit Collective s interested in a trans disciplinary framework that engages through art and design practices with the ‘metro’ as a symbol of a changing city.
Process Map
For me understanding the context was very useful in terms of studuting the location and the users of the two metro station. The exercises helped me to familiarize with the site in terms of knowing the interior as well as exterior of the metro station, architecture, and the food culture of the area.
The secondary and Primary research helped me in to know the past and the present of Bangalore. It helped me to create a base for the project. Interviewing people also helped in knowing about few personal stories of Bangalore which as an outsider fascinated me. The maps and pictures
of Old Bangalore helped me understand the different layers of changes that the city had gone under. It was interesting to know why Bangalore has been planned in a certain manner and how few of its areas are different from others.
The ideation process helped me collate and compare my research and my observations from the site visit. The quick exercises on site helped me to think of the various possibilities of what could be created in and out of the metro station. The ideation process helped in adding context and concept to my ideas
Form exploration was the most tiring process. For me, translating the concept to the form was not an easy task as it had its own complex layers of why? what? how? Rapid sketching helped my add different layers to my form like its shape colour and function.
Prototyping phase was ver helpful as I tried and tested different probabilities for the structure and made my design stronger. Material exploration helped in understanding the various possibilities of using the material and my form has evolved after my form exploration and prototyping phases.
Understanding the context Art in Transit is spread over the underground metro stations of Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha.
Location of Vidhana Soudha metro station
What is Public space to me? A public space is a social space accessible to all kinds of people. It allows people to meet in congregation and gives them the liberty to interact and enjoy the space
My Position In the past four years my projects in Srishti haven been interior design and furniture design oriented. My past projects have been restaurant design, residential design, set design and little bit of furniture design. I have always felt that aesthetics play an important role in creating a spatial experience and my projects have strongly reflected this ideology. As a Public space design student I felt that the Art in Transit project gave me the opportunity to create a common platform between the transit system and the people. The transit space being an interesting area for a design intervention that triggers social interaction is what interested me. I saw an immense scope for a spatial designer to enhance the users experience aesthetically and functionally during their transit period.
Entry- Exit gates Source: Google maps
Location of Cubbon Park metro station
Cubbon park metro station
Vidhana Soudha metro station
Source: Google maps
Source: Google maps
H.A.L. office General Post office
Vidhana Soudha
Chinnaswamy Stadium
Source: Google maps
Karnataka High Court
Source: Google maps
Users and Important buildings
Understanding the neighbourhood
Nrupatanaga road is around 600m away from the Vidhana Soudha metro station taking approximately 10mins to walk. The road mainly has all the government offices, governemnt schools, colleges and hospital. Most of the people were government officials and students. The road is congested with traffic as it connects to other main areas of Majestic and on the other hand Kasturba road and Lavelle road. Government offices: - Revenue Survey office - Public works Department - Reserve Bank of India - YMCA - Police headquater office Route covered. Source: Google maps
Certain activities were carried out to uderstand and observe the areas and streets surrounding both the metro stations. We were divided into different groups to document and study the different streets . My group researched meticulously on the Nrupatanaga road near K.R. circle. This involved walking up and down the street and documenting the buidings located, the style of architecture and the users.
Schools and colleges: - Government Science college - Intermidiate college - Government Arts college - Vishveshvaraya college Hospital: - St. Martha’s Hospital
Undertsanding the food culture
This activity involved documenting the different restaurants, vendors, stalls, shops to understand the food culture around the metro station. Threarea around Vidhana Soudha has all the important governemnt offices and collges hence there are mostly canteens in every building. There are many fruit vendors along the road which are easily accessible to every person walking along the foothpath.
Few shops sell coffee, tea, snacks and ciggerettes. People were seen coming to these shops in between the breaks. We mapped out these canteens and vendors creating a curatorial map for the food places in the area, There was another map which marked these food joints as per the time zones
Research lenses 1.Past perfect future The garden city, the silicon city, the garbage city, the fastest growing city. What does the city aspire to be? This lens aims to collect, explore and investigate if the metro has the potential to become the connective tissue between the past, present and the future of the city.
Immersion Process
2.Transit as an experience This lens provides a platform to explore human journey in all its facets- exploring and explicating memories and narratives, politics of migration, replacement and displacement, public space as an artefact and technology as a form of mediation and connection across time and space.
3.Transit as a social network The act and experience of transit is now a networked phenomenon. This lens provides a space to reimagine design and its impacts- a space for communicators to rethink persuasion, campaign and audience- a platform for artists and activist to use networks as triggers as a medium to visualise and unravel relationships.
Research Topic Roundabouts and circles of Bangalore To study the past-present and future of Bangalore I chose the roundabouts/ circles present in the city as my lens. It included studying the urban planning of Bangalore by looking at the maps over decades. The maps show the drastic change in the terrain and how within no time Bangalore has grown from just its cantonment and pette areas to one of the most important metropolitan city in India. My aim was to know what goes into the planning aspect of the city and how these roundabouts came into being. The difference between the older and newer circles and the purpose of their being. I also looked into the shift that has taken place in terms of its use and the people who use it and also its aesthetics.
Secondary research Secondary research involved referring to maps from books ‘Deccan Traverses: The making of the Bangalore’s terrain’ by Anuradha Mathur and Dilip Da Cunha, ‘Bengaluru/Bangalore’ by Mahesh Bhat, ‘Bangalore- The story of a city’ by Maya Jayapal and ‘Bangalore multiplicity’ by A. Ravindra. These books gave me extract and pictures showing the growth in Bangalore city and how people were attracted to the city for its perfect climate and open terrain.
Plan of fortress of Bangalore, 1791` Image: Deccan Traverses:The making of the Bangalore’s terrain by Anuradha Mathur and Dilip Da Cunha
Bangalore cantonment , 1844 Image: Deccan Traverses:The making of the Bangalore’s terrain by Anuradha Mathur and Dilip Da Cunha
Certain text from the books that helped me understandthe growth of Bangalore city and how these different areas were developed and designed. Like ‘extensions’ in the city area, ‘towns’ came to be built in the cantonment area bearing English names. Thus were formed Richmond town and Cleveland town followed by Fraser town, Cox town and so on. The buildings in this part conformed more to the European style of architecture and catered to the requirements of the British establishments. By the end of 19th Century, Bangalore was a well establshed city. The cantonment was still separate from the old city and there were toll gates between the two areas with the busiest gate on what is now Kasturba Road. Jayamahal was developed in 1949, simultaneously with the planning of new extensions such as Jayanagar, Indiranagar and Rajajinagar. All of them have broad roads brodered by spreading trees and well planned shopping centres.
“
“
Before
After
Roundabouts / circles then
Due to the plague outbreak in 1898- 1899, new extensions such as Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi came up. These were well planned areas with clean and broad streets and well managed drainage system. Basavanagudi (1898) was another well- organised extensions of the city, with four main roads, each 100 feet wide, leading in from the City, and streets running parallel to these
Malleshwaram, planned in the same year , is another harmoniously planned area with avenues intersected on grid pattern. Several new extensions were added at the turn of the century, among them Seshadripuram and Chamarajpet, Sankarapuram in 1908, Richmond own in 1923, Tasker town, Cox town and Austin town in 1922.
Bangalore slowly was constructed and built according to the Britisher’s requirement and style of town planning. wide spread out streets opening to a central space was a peculiar design.
Primary research Primary research involved interviews and embodied exercise of physically going to different roundabouts and documenting the current scenario and comparing it to the secondary research.
Interview Interview with Mr.Swastik of Indian Institute for Human Settlements spoke about the chnages taking place in Bangalore in context to the people, food, migration and the changing standard of living. As Mr. Swastik said there has been a change from a homogeneous mix to a heterogeneous mix. There has been a constant change in the image of the city created by the migrated people. This is due to the easy accessibility that is available today. There will be hybrids in future- culturally, economically and different social backgrounds. Bangalore as a city has constantly seen changes due to the different kinds of people that have settles down.
Embodiment exercise
Mind Map Roundabouts and circles of Bangalore
As a part of my exercise I went around few circles in Bangalore to physically document and analyse their structure/ form and the location. I went to Richmond circle, Mekhri circle, MG road- Brigade road junction, Lavelle road circle and KR circle to document my experience. Maps over the years
Text from books Growth of Bangalore as a city
British Influence in town planning.
New extensions designed according to the Britishers preference
Dharmaprakash Devarao Shivaram Ubhyankar Circle
Mahatma Gandhi Circle, Reliance Jewels junction
Long and broad streets and in between bylanes opened up to central spaces.
Broad streets with perfectly laid out trees
Circles and the Roundabouts
Lavelle road and Vittal Mallya road Circle
Before
After
-Beautification -Recreational space (People came here for walking or cycling)
-Traffic signal stops -Mangana the traffic -No physical structure to mark it
The city has gone under layers of change and each layer creating differedifferent identity.
Richmond Circle
-They have become Landmarks for the city -Meeting points -Have created an identity for the city.
Site Visit Cubbon park Metro station
Concourse
Gate 2
Chinnaswamy stadium side Landing
Gate 3
Level 1 plan (Concourse level)
Exterior plan of the site
Vidhan Soudha Metro station
Concourse
Observations
Entry 1
Concept building
Research
Site Analysis
Certain objects or spaces become landmarks or an identity of the city.
Metro stations are similar in their aesthetics. There is no difference in the material, color or shape.
Concept Intent Creating a common ground or landmarks within the metro station for social gathering and interaction by giving identity to the space and creating an experience.
Intial sketches on site
Looking at the landings of the entry spaces to create certain Identity.
Looking at the exterior spaces to create identity for the metro station
The concourse area ceiling which is easily visible from far off spaces and from the platform. The structure could be a landmark for peolple to meet.
Certain object or structure that can define the space. These structures could have a function or be a sculputure to enhance the a esthetics of the space.
Literature review Stockholm metro station
Munich metro station
All stations in Stockholm have been designed in a manner that creates a different spatial experience for the people. There is still a similarity in the ceiling form but have different art murals giving each station a unique feel and look. Various artists created an experience that was interesting for the viewer which also gave a feeling of a long museum continuously been curated underground. name of the station and year name of the station and year
name of the station and year
Every station in Munich has been desinged differently giving the viewer a different spatial experience everytime they come out at each station - With this they have tried to break the monotony and have variety. Also each station has its own identity making it a landmark in itself.
name of the station and year
name of the station and year
name of the station and year
Case Study
Mind Map
As my case study I visited the already existing metro stations in Bangalore. I recorded my observations in form of a photo collage.
Literature review
Case study
- Every space could have its own identity
- There were many void spaces.
- Every station created a different spatial experience that keeps the users curious.
- The space was empty and no presence of visual elements
- Adds a suprise element and helps in building interaction.
- The space looked monotonous with the use of same colors and material.
M.G. road metro station.
- The space was not engaging the crowd hence people were mainly on their electric gadgets.
Indiranagar Metro station
Peenya metro station
- Peenya was one station where people were seen interacting with the art peices.
Possible sites
Interior spaces
I then looked at the possible sites in the exterior and interior of the metro stations for creating these landmarks that would give a visual identity to the space.
Cubbon Park Level 1 Ticket counter Control Room
Jet entry Landing
Jet entry Foyer
Hidden room
Jet entry Token
Stairway 1
Exterior spaces Canara Bank entrance Jet entry 1
2
3
Tunnel to Canara Bank
Stairway 2
Stairway 3
Chinnaswamy Token
Chinnaswamy Foyer
Ticket counter
Tunnel to HAL
Chinnaswamy Landing
try en
Cubbon Park metro station
Cubbon Park metro station
HAL entrance
y am sw na in Ch
Curatorial Themes
Participatory networks Further to curate the projects we were divided into four curatorial themes. The sites were accordingly chosen as per the themes. This slowly created overlaps and connections to our projects inrespect to the other projects.
Aesthetics and Aspirations
As a group we placed our projects in the exterior space as we were catering to a larger target audience.
This theme catered to the city’s nostalgia, history, future aspirations, perception, ecology and the city.
Participatory Networks This theme looked at accessing the city through its various systems. Also aims at community participation – network systems, identities, communities, nature etc
Otherland This theme engages with the idea of transience and the figure of the traveller. How does the city change when we look at it as a constantly moving city?- traveller, transient city, migration.
The Traveller This theme set forth to reimagine the site through a series of whimsies,fantasy and other stories. – inside outside, experience, fantasies of place, the underground.
It relies on, requires and facilitates participation and interaction with it’s users. The users are not limited to commuters but include pedestrians, joggers, hawkers, vendor, workers and people passing through site.
I chose Participatory networks as I tend to create an indirect network between the people and the city. The theme anchored around ideas of community and participation
Final space
General Post office
H.A.L. office
Chinnaswamy Stadium
Source: Google maps
Chinnaswamy Stadium entry exit space. Gate 3
1
2
3 3 1 2
Form To create the landmark and identy for the space I looked at three possible lenses.
Sculpture Color
Form
Installation
Functionality
Scale
seating
Fos: Rayen Restaurant installation
The Red ball project Kurt Perschke
Colorado convention center
Color woud attract people’s attention. This would also break the motony which is existing in the space. There is no different color throughput the space and added color would enhance the space.
The form would define the space. An organic form in the space would break the already exisitng linear and geometric architecture.
The scale would help the structure to be visible from far places. It would add certain aeshetics to the space.
Shelter
Sinage
sinage
shelter
Shelter / Canopy I finally decided to work with Shelter as my final form as it gives more space for floor movement . It is sasily visible from far off spots and acts as protection from raina and sun. It can act as a community area for people to meet.
Organic form I started looking at organic forms for the structure to break the monotony of the already existing linear and geometric shapes in the space.I looked at Cubbon Park as my inspiration to evolve my form.The organic form gives an identity to the structure as it will stand out in the space.
Inspiration board
Form evolution- 1
- Airlight for shadows -- No verticle supports Airlight for shadows provides move -hence No verticle supports space for movement. - more flowy form - More flowy form
- Getting the vein pattern of the leaves and playing - Getting the vein pattern with shadows casted. of the leaves and playing -with Singular support also shadows casted provides more space for circulation.
- Creating enlarged size leaves to get the feel of a tree shed. - Very solid and strong form. - No feel of the organic or flowy feel
- Abstracting the form of lined up trees on a street. - Creating a seating under the tree to give the feel of sitting under a tree. - Less space under shed. - Occupies more floor space, distrupting the circulation
Model making
Materials
Ferrocement
I was looking at different materials that could give me the flexibiity to give the organic form.
It is reinforced concrete with metal rods. The mortar provides mass whereas the metal rods and wire mesh allows the free flowing form.
Possible materials -Tensile strucutre -Metal -Wood -Bamboo -Ferrocement - Fabric.
- It has high tensile strenght. - Fire and water resistance. - Low metainence cost. - Light in weight compared to full concrete structures. - Ferrocement would allow me to give any organic shape I was looking at for the sturucture.
Tensile strucutre
Wood
Metal
Bamboo
Ferrocement
Tensile Structures Itis a structure that can carry tension and is mostly used in exterior spaces as a roof material. It spreads over large spaces with possibilities of organic shapes. - Can carry tension - Mostly used as a roof material - Possiblity of covering a large distance due to its tensile nature. -Flexible characteristics results in unique structures. - Very durable. - Light in weight - Low maintenence.
Material explorations
-Trying to get the organic form with the wire mesh -Adding textures to get the organic feel through touch.
- Adding color to the ferrocement - Trying to create airlight for the sunlight to pass and cast shadows
More form explorations- 2
- Very solid forms - Giving a bulky feel - Very literal translation of a leaf and flower
Mind Map
Ferro cement
Materials
Tensile
- Needs skilled labours
- It is not 100% fire proof
- Looks bulky as a structure
- Looks as a one whole strucutre. There are no divisions and makes it look gigantic
- The strucutre on site are not load bearing strucutres and hence will not be able to take the weight
- The structure will eventually seem a part of the exisitng structure with the use of these materials as there will be large solid structures.
Looking at metal as material - Metal is a hard material and is available in different forms lke sheets, rods, pipes. - It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. - Highly ductile and malleable structure. - The sheets gives a lighter feel to the structure. - It is easy to maintain but needs to be taken care from bending and scratches. - Organic forms are possible with metal.
Installation by Zaha Hadid in the Venice Architecture Biennale, 2012
Inspiration board
Mood board
Form Evolution- 3
Playing with the form of a tree
Abstracting the form
Form sketches
Final form
Prototyping
- Abstracting the tree form - Possibility of spreading over a larger space for shelter - Public space insert ( could be constructed offsite and then inserted in the space) - Easily available labour - Possibility of layering different materials - The form fits in the space as it has geometric shape but had the organic flow of the tree leaves.
8'
2
4
1'-5"
Metal sheets cut into triangles for the top structure.
7'
5'
9'
3'
4' Verticles.
Top View
8"
2' 4'
2'-10"
2' 2'
3
1'-5"
1
1'-5"
Process
Bending of the rods for the verticles
Bending at an angel of 120 degrees
Verticles
Making the other supports
Making the base for the verticles.
Welding the supports to the main verticle
Verticles with the base
Making the triangles with paper to try out different forms before the metal sheets.
Measuring the metal sheet and marking
Cutting into the square pieces of 2 ft by 2 ft
Further cutting into the triangles
Welding the triangles together to make the upper shelter
Problems faced and learning outcomes - The structure was getting too bulky to stand on its own - The triangles were big in size making it bulky. - Making the triangles smaller would help stabilize the structure. - Proper supports are needed for the verticles to stand - Support is needed at the bottom, middle and top - Smaller the triangles, more organic shapes can be created - The metal got hot in the sun easily, hence painting it would cool it down.
Re- Prototyping - In my re-prototype I reduced the size of the triangles and gave extra support for it to stand by itself.