2017-2024 Collection of Academic and Professional Work
Name: Ashna Modi
Education: Bachelor’s of Design (Landscape) Master’s of Urban Design
Personal Mail IDs: modiashna@gmail.com ashnamodi99@gmail.com
Contact: +1 437 970 0480
LinkedIn: Ashna Modi link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashna-modi-aaba59202
Issue: https://issuu.com/ashnamodi
Downsview Airport is now being converted into a mixed use development projects with all the ammenities and facilities along with public parks, which will create a town in itself. This project is going to completely change the quality north york region.
The site, 3711 Keele St is located exactly between the two min subway stations- finch avenue west and downsview. It falls under 20 mins proximity of the site, therefore, there is a potential of introducing new developments for transit oriented communities.
The east side of keele street is highly a place of employment which is not allowing any other activity to take place. The west side of keele street is highly residential. A strong division of the street quality is noticed on the Keele Street.
Keele St already has a diverse quality of uses which includes retail, medical services, religious spaces, storages, car services, restaurants. The missing quality on the keele st is enough common public places and residency which can add more life to the street.
The main idea of this project is to preserve the employment land while providing opportunities for other functions to thrive on.
Existing
Location & Year Sheppard Ave E, Toronto, ON (2022)
Project Proposing a strategic vision for converting the heat generating surface parking lots to solving housing crises in shheppard avenue east/ consumer road
Type Group initiatives that eventually divided into independent projects.
A future mixed-use area is Sheppard Avenue East. There are numerouscommercialandinstitutionalbuildingsontheproperty, but no residences.
Based on in-depth analysis and research, we identified the site’s primary problem as the largest urban heat island in this area.
As a group, we looked around the area and concluded that the area’s urban heat island is primarily caused by vacant parking lots.
Therefore, a number of concepts and strategies were put out
as a group to address the urban heat island in this particular site area. These initiatives aim to lessen the heat effect and promote additional visitors besides locals. Additionally, this location will be in high demand for residences due to the rise in housing demand and the proximity of the forthcoming TTC station. Consequently, the design strategy supports developing the number of tall buildings based on regulations and also aids in reducing the impact of the urban heat island.
The first phase involves converting the surface parking lots into parking structural buildings. The second step entails the addition of a residential building, the third stage involves the addition of retail stores, and the last stage consists of turning open areas into green, public interacting spaces and converting the parking structure into a building, depending on the neighbourhood’s requirements. Site Intervention as a Group
Phase Diagrams
Existing Condition
This diagram represents the current state of the site with multiple parking lots and very limited green space.
This diagram classifies the new infrastructure on the basis of different functions.
Phase 01 includes the existing built area with new parking structure.
The FAR is surrounded by consumer road on it’s major two sides so it is imperative to propose new internal roads for better circulation and easy vehicular as well as public movements.
Phase 02 includes new infrastructure replacing some of the existing buildings and proposed internal one way roads for more vehicular and easy public access.
Green spaces play a vital role in reducing urban heat island and provide bountiful opportunities for public interaction.
Phase 03 includes the high density infrastructure with defined green spaces accessible to public. It also focuses on providing internal roads and curb side greens.
Phase 04 diagram represents the proposed green spaces as well as maximum new developments whilst preserving the existing buildings across the DAZ.
Location & Year Toronto,Ontario, Canada
Project : The Atlas
Type : Group Work Catalogue
As a reference for the final studio project, each group’s task in this exercise was to create a catalogue. Our group’s responsibility was to identify and categorize multiple types of housing policies in the GTA and Toronto. We selected four research areas in this catalogue where these policies are currently implemented. With the aid of these four study areas, the other students in the class were able to better comprehend how these policies are applied in those particular regions by witnessing the policies in action.
First, we looked at the GTA map and determined the current environmental and economic circumstances over the whole geographical area. Finally, we examined the Maps using the following policies -
Existing Condition
Policies supporting high density development
The Study area sits along the upcoming LRT line at Finch west. The area is characterized by the presence of mid-rise guidelines in an MTSA zone, having many single family neighborhoods. Many upcoming site are for condos and tower development with the backdrop of low density development highlighting the political tension between developers and the government. This displays a typical characteristic
Policies for medium density development
Ravines are a major part of Toronto’s green infrastructure. Along with parks and the entire urban forest, ravines provide many environmental, health and recreational benefits, containing grey infrastructure, such as utilities and sewer lines that ultimatelyaffectsresidentialgrowth.
Natural Elements
Asthecitymovestowards‘walkability’ as major criteria for development it is important to analyze the existing, proposed and ongoing transit in the city as a basis for policy research. In relation to the ‘built’, the property values also rely on the ‘open’.
Infrastructure
Policies for low density development (citizen level)
Demographics
The housing crisis in Toronto has increased demand for affordable housing and rent, leading to policies and guidelines being implemented on public lands. Income levels also influence the quality and type of residential development, with the wealthiestareasbeingpredominantly single-family neighbourhoods with minimal density.
in Neighbourhoods (EHON)
Mental Health and Stress among South Asian Immigrants in Toronto, Canada
Urban interventions in North St James Town helping mental health problems faced by South Asian immigrants in the city of Toronto
Over 17% of the foreign-born population were recent immigrants from 2016 till the present. Since the 1990s Canada has been accepting over 200,000 immigrants from around the world. In the past few decades, these immigrants have typically migrated from countries in Asia and Africa.
A majority of immigrants to Canada are “economic immigrants” from South Asia, and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the mental health care system and have been known to underutilize mental health services.
World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”
Research Question - What contribution does increased community engagement and collaborative design have on developing public spaces for the mental well-being of South Asian immigrants
living in North St James ?
Concept Diagrams and Functions: - The idea for North of St. James Town includes several installations, including art made by the community, clothing donations, drinking water, pet waste supplies, access to all libraries and tools, and a few charitable installations, in addition to offering urban spaces for the community.
Typical Day
There is less activity on a typical day in the St. James Town neighbourhood close to Wellesley Street. With community shopping for household necessities, it seems to be just another day in the town.
In contrast, it seems like there is more activity on weekends in the St. James Town neighbourhood. People may use the open communal area most actively for the weekend small business market. Though it appears to be simply another day in the town, this area might be used flexibly for outdoor eating businesses along with tasks like grocery shopping. As word of mouth is crucial in this situation, it promotes the community to profit from small businesses.
Winter Days
The area might be used for parking for the nearby restaurants and retail stores since winter is the most difficult time for several people and they dislike being outside.
Typical Day
An educational space can double as an outdoor workshop on a typical day for those who wish to learn how to use tools, sew clothes, and perform small-scale house repair tasks on their own. When the community wants to know fundamental daily information, the stakeholders may approach them during a regular day.
On weekends, adults, kids, and senior citizens could all get educational programming in the same location. The community could potentially use this area as a creative activity space. The area behind these stair-step seating could be utilized for festivals or events. The entire area has the potential to provide a flexible program depending on the situation.
This area near Parliament Street and Wellesley Street may be completely covered in ice, which makes it the ideal place for ice skating lovers. In addition, the outdoor workshop area may be relocated to the multipurpose building next to it, allowing people to continue using it for everyday purposes.
Location & Year Athens, Greece (2024)
Type Masters Thesis Project
Abstract -
This thesis is a atlas-like documentationof the historicalevolution of the Ilissos River (named after a god), once considered to be a person in the city of Athens, Greece. However, as urban power changed, so did the river. The river, outside the city, became a part of it, and as the city grew, it was integrated into the urban infrastructure, becoming an avenue. The river is prone to catastrophic flooding. By using the image of a palimpsest through the lens of the river, it seeks to reveal these stories in a sequence of detailed illustrations and drawings. It emphasizes two main urban landmarks and historical monuments along the river, covering a total of seven significant landmarks, terminating at the point where the river meets the bay.
Athens’ social and urban structure was formerly shaped by the Ilissos River, which ran alongside the Kifissos and Iridanos. The river was the focal point of the city of Athens and was regarded by every monarch as the city’s sacred river. Throughout its history, it served as waterfalls at a few points, fountains, and streams. However, problems with floods and urbanization forced the Ilissos River to be rerouted and eventually covered, leaving it little to serve as a channel flowing into the Faliro Bay. Although the river is covered, the Athenians are completely aware of its presence. The river is not forgotten. Through a comprehensive atlas-like approach to reestablish a connection with the river’s natural and cultural value and promote a more resilient and sustainable urban environment, it also makes suggestions for potential daylighting the river.
https://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/athens-white-1793
RiverIlissosasanentityflowingoutsidethecityRiverIlissosasacultural landscape
River Ilissos Timeline and its relationship with the City with changing periods
RiverIlissosasancientspringsandFountainsEmergenceofseriesofinstitutions andciviccentres Ilissosasasacredriver RiverIlissosasimportant partofthecity Expansionofthecity Divergenceoftheriverdueto floodingduringmonssonseasonCoveringoftheriver RiverIlissosaspresentdayavenue
By using the image of the river, this thesis works as an Atlas documentation which seeks to reveal stories in a sequence of detailed illustrations and drawings, providing a comprehensive analysis of two primary landmarks and historical sites along the river with an overview of a total of seven historical monuments and urban landmarks along its bank, lastly flowing into the bay. The two historical monuments and landmarks include the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) and Panathenaic Stadium.
The primary purpose of choosing the seven sites which are all along the banks of the Ilissos River, was to look into the layers of the river and how they have relationship to the landmarks that are situated on its bank, both above and below ground. This facilitates comprehension of the river’s previously unexplored categories.
The main focal point is River Ilissos here because it has been considered the most important entity since ancient times. Although it flows as a drain into the bay and is covered with modern avenues, the river has not been forgotten by Athenians. They are very well aware of its existence even if it flows underground. The river is one entity but now 10 different municipalities handle 10 different stretches of the river, and it is not doing good to anybody in the context, but if we look at its past, it was considered as a person.
Furthermore, to bring back its value by documenting the river, daylighting the river at few stretches is possible, my analysis can support that suggestion as well.
