portfolio
audrey sabu vadukkut user design resesarcher | architect | product designer
+44 7751831023 audreysabu.v@gmail.com graduate project link: linkedin.com/in/audreymablesabu
https://gsapostgradshowcase.net/audrey-vadukkut/
Hi! I’m Audrey a design researcher, user environment designer and architect. I’m passionate about architecture and the in-between spaces connecting our homes and the community. My focus is on merging architecture with user research using a human-centred approach. To create products, services and spaces that add value and positively impact the user’s environment.
selected projects
Rent-a-Boar
The Naked Truth
speculative community growth
censorship in women
Entrance Lobby
Family Home
redefining spatial circulation
interior decor and product design
speculative digital future
RENT-A-BOAR Design Researcher User Environment Designer
A speculative service design project hosted by The Glasgow School of Art aimed at exploring new approaches to designing for humanity and the natural world for our near future. The project brief was to explore different perspectives to address climate change in the context of 2 future world scenarios derived from the research conducted by the design consultancy firm - Arup. Additional guidance was provided by Nord Projects, Near and Google AI along with the students from multiple design schools around the world who participated in this 2-week design workshop in the remote location of Altyre Estate near Forres in the highlands of Scotland.
CLIMATE CRISIS Following the research conducted by Arup’s research, innovation and development team, the main focus was to explore the topics of Greentocracy and Humans inc. These future world scenarios directed the narrative for the project. Looking towards the future in a 30-year time frame to sketch out ideas and prototype concepts that challenge the effects of the climate crisis on humanity.
boar farm site
The goal of the project was to arrive at solutions that mitigate the risks of climate catastrophes and enhance the overall well-being. “Greentocracy” focused on the progress in planetary health at the expense of societal freedoms i.e putting nature before society. “Humans Inc” focused more on the current trajectory of progress in society at the expense of deteriorating planet health i.e prioritizing humans over nature
prototype testing
HUMANS INC The approach to looking at putting people first and formulate a sustainable solution without causing unnecessary harm to the surrounding environment. The boar farm was one of the aspects of the Altyre estate and th e site that was assigned to my group to explore all growth opportunities. Using the research as a starting point, we assembled a collection of ideas to understand the possibilities for profit that can be brought out with the boar farm. The main goal for this project was to look deeper by asking “How might we maximize the boar farm conditions to benefit the farming community and enhance the humankind´s wellbeing?”
cluster similar ideas to find themes
FARMING CONDITIONS By conducting desk research and analysis the fieldwork done on-site, a few themes emerged which created a pathway to realize the potential for the final design. By building on the positive aspects of a boar farm, concepts were formulated to create a sustainable community which can be mutually beneficial for the boar farmers and the food farmers on the estate. Understanding the need to achieve a sustainable community and attain the long term wellbeing and balance in the neighbourhood by designing useable services and products to achieve those goals. To have a profitable and sustainable community, the various challenges needed to be addressed first. The challenges that needed to be understood were the automatization and effectiveness of the process
idea 1: community engagement
idea 3: sustainable systems
idea 2: machine learning technology
IDENTIFYING THEMES Brainstorming ideas out of the research and data analysis led to recurring themes of community engagement, sustainable systems and technology. The boars’ innate ability to dig through the soil would be put to use to pull out weeds and unwanted roots making the land fit for farming. This would ensure community engagement amongst the farmers and boar owners. Using machine-learning technology would provide the information on when the land is suitable for farming or the need to be prepared for farming.
PROTOTYPING Using design research methods we examined the different directions to push the scope for this service. Using a 3-D printer and laser cutting miniature boars and placing it in a rough model of the farm to better understand the environment being envisioned. The card-sorting exercise provided by the Google AI team helped us to filter our combined ideas and concepts into actionable steps.
3D printed prototypes
card-sorting exercise
transportation prototype testing 1
SKETCHES AND MODEL Collaborating within a team of 5, I utilized my data analysis and research methodologies to sketch out ideas for transporting the boars from farm to farm. I converted my sketches into a rough prototype using legos and iterated on it by working with the 3d printed models and site model. It was essential to understand the environment of the boar and the farms where this service was to be put to use.
transportation prototype testing 2
transportation prototype using legos
“Rent-a-boar� is a service designed to provide a natural and effective way to clear unwanted plants and roots by connecting boar owners to the neighbouring farms to till the land for use. The preference for natural methods was a concern since boar transportation from farm to farm was critical for the design to function smoothly.
DESIGN SPRINT The entire process for this design starting from research to prototyping and arriving at solutions spanned over 3 days. Working together with a group of designers from multidisciplinary fields was stimulating and inspiring to push our shared passion for user research design. Getting feedback assisted in opening up new opportunities and areas for building up my experience in user research.
THE USERS The primary stakeholders were the farmers and boar owners. Collectively moving towards mutually benefitting each other and their surroundings. The boar owners would provide a service for the farmers to clear the land for farming. This provides a healthier alternate method for the land instead of using harmful chemicals which have a negative long-term effect on the quality of the soil. Meanwhile, the farmers give purpose to the boars that graze aimlessly all over the farm doing the same activity but with no benefit for the land or the farmers. This service would increase a sense of community and maximize the potential for growth and prosperity in the future by opening up cleaner and greener solutions to food sourcing.
USEABILITY To make the idea a reality of connecting the boar owners to the farmers, the useability of the service provided for the users was essential to work out first. AI technology would provide necessary details to decide when and where the boars needed to be transported, thus saving time in any confusion on the conditions of the land. The technology being cameras and chips installed on the boars’ which will detect and notify when the land is ready.
customer journey storyboard
TRANSPORTATION To relay the overall process and explain the long term productivity, customer journeys and storyboards were mapped out for a better understanding of the design. The “lego” prototypes portrayed the actual mode of transportation to remove any problems with the movement of the boars to and from each farm and back to the owners land. The storyboard explains the step by step process of how the technology and the mobile structure together make this service work efficiently.
ETHNOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS During the fieldwork studying the site, we noticed the vast area of land had loose soil and a scarce supply of vegetation of any kind. After interviewing the locals we gathered insights on the condition of the land unrelated to the weather conditions. The reason being the boars are left loose in an undefined plot of land where they aimlessly eat all the vegetations and uproot the soil with their feet and snout along the way. After following up with an expert in permaculture and farming at the estate we grouped the concept of incentivizing on the boars to design a greener system to fertilize the soil than the existing approach.
customer journey
LIFELONG VALUE
In 30 years, the users won’t have to physically go to the land to check the soil fertility. The machine-learning and AI technology will develop further to give accurate soil conditions and making the process much more beneficial to the user. The service will create a circular economy making negative practices redundant and reducing wastage.
CORE BENEFITS By addressing the needs of the boar owners and farmers a sustainable farming approach has been created. Especially taking into account the soil conditions in the future, designing a sustainable method which will ensure a surplus of vegetation. The yield will not assist in the shortage of food but also produce healthier outcomes devoid of chemicals. The interconnectivity withing the community ensures the minimal use of machinery as well to prolonging the soil conditions.
GLOBAL EFFECTS The research and the service designed needs to be refined and adapted as per the user and their environment’s changing needs. This system is meant to create a ripple effect to combine natural approaches to connecting nature with human interaction, to solve problems in food sourcing, land shortage and world hunger.
co-design positive social
THE NAKED TRUTH
Design Researcher Social Design
The subject of “censorship� was to be examined and imagine possibilities to benefit and positively change the user and the environment that surrounds them. Applying multiple methods of user design research to first examine the scope for the topic and directing the insights gathered to assign suitable stakeholders as per the necessity and long-term goal. This 2-week master’s program group project aimed at exploring all aspects and facets of censorship to assemble future scenarios and possibilities.
IDENTIFYING SCOPE Censorship is a broad term and has different associations and assumptions depending on its context. This project was instrumental in understanding the layers and the implications of the design before barging in without direction. Through desk research and discussions broadly analysing the scope of censorship, we analysed the data collected to identify areas for research. Upon agreeing on the emerging themes, we decided to focus on the context of censorship in women and the on-going effect on women’s rights. testing out engagement tools
interview with participants to collect insights
PURPOSE As a designer, it was important to understand the problem first and why it is the way it is. Analysing who decides what is good or bad content that needs to be censored and the ones who get affected by those decisions shed a light on women’s rights. The more we researched and discussed censorship in a focused area, the highlight was a women’s right issue that needed to be interpreted deeper. This was a starting point before verifying if others feel the same. Conducting interviews with stakeholders, assembling feedback and refining insights through the process were a few of the data collection methods used in this design innovation project. By focusing on what can be instead of what is, we concluded to research the “free the nipple” campaign on social media.
CO-DESIGN ACTIVITIES Social media has been instrumental in bringing attention to the subject of women’s nipple. Ethnographic research helped discover the partial censorship only concerning women. Prototyping and testing engagement tools on real people to understand their perspective of nudity and the reasoning for needing censorship at all. Feedback and insights from participants and tweaking the tool aided in arriving at abstract long term goals for the project by removing negative stereotypes. We spoke to experts to gain their insights on our potential users who were not only women but also men who also play a part in this issue.
testing engagement tool 1
interview with experts
INSIGHTS Designing a mobile pop-up experience called “The Naked Truth�, the aim was to design an effective method in the form of a participatory action-based service was the outcome for this research project. This educational product was meant to provoke thought, gain insight and influence opinion and eventually to act as the origin of many positive outcomes. Testing out the engagement tools, the insights collected suggested the emphasis on context. Most of the subjects felt censorship should be controlled by the individual and not imposed on them based on gender.
ENGAGEMENT TOOL To get accurate assumptions of the users, we conducted a simple exercise with no indication of our motivations to not direct the thought process of the participants. The engagement tool was a sketch of a set of torsos with seemingly male and female body type. Then we placed cut-outs of sunflowers beside the sketch and asked them what they preferred to cover up or not. Based on the answers we tweaked the tool by adding a picture of a face, also did not represent any particular gender. This exercise helped us get closer to our goal. Most of the participants preferred to cover up the eyes rather than any other body indicating further towards the context of censorship.
EVOLVING INSIGHTS We decided to explore situational concepts by iterating our engagement tool and testing it out to set a long-term goal. The main goal is to identify opportunities to positively impact woman’s rights while maintaining “free the nipple” campaign as the narrative to do so. We resolved to reach 2 long-term goals which were to be able to positively impact women’s rights by establishing parity in regards to the human nipple and normalizing the stigma through education and awareness. Spreading the narrative through everyday conversation between individuals in a different context was our approach to have more immediate results.
CONTEXT
prototype render 1
prototype render 2
Identifying areas for research and who the target user was explored working collectively in a team of 4 to co-create design opportunities. Using design innovation based data collecting methods and roughly sketching out ideas confirmed the approach the different ways we could start the narrative and trigger positive change in society. The user for this design was derived by using user-centred design techniques like asking “how might we� questions, creating user personas and empathy maps to get different perspectives to the data collected. We established that the user would be any given individual who considered the human nipple to be censored only when it comes to women.
participant experience storyboard
TABOO Testing out the variations of engagement tools also highlighted another key aspect which was instrumental in designing the final tool. All the users who participated were our peers and were able to give their honest opinions. However, most of them suggested that once it was revealed we were exploring the subject of censorship and specifically women’s body that we might not get accurate assumptions from someone who just wants to be seen agreeing with the majority. This motivated us to brainstorm a series of exercises which would be a fun activity on the surface but actually would be instilling a deeper understanding of censorship of women’s bodies and the inequality in society which it represents.
final prototype for the “the naked truth�
participatory activity 1
participatory activity 2
participatory activity 3
PARTICIPATORY ACTION The “Naked Truth” would be designed to educate any individual who might be discriminatory towards the subject of censorship of a woman’s nipple. The box would be a mobile, portable structure that can be easily dismantled and placed in an everyday public setting and be big enough for anyone to enter the space inside the box. Once the ambiguity of the exterior allows people to explore it, the interiors would be a self-guided tour of activities to provoke thought and awareness. A series of engagement tools will be placed throughout the journey that will spark curiosity and involvement of the participant. We brainstormed a set of games ranging from tic-tac-toe to spot the difference among others.
REFLECTIONS Building the prototype led to the realization that developing the idea constantly with keeping the user and the outcome of this project was essential to reach the longterm goal. The importance of using storyboards and models to put the message across the users was crucial too, that came out from all interactions with potentials stakeholders. The topic seemed challenging at first which inspired me to work twice as hard to look for opportunities for positive change when it comes to women’s rights. The final round of prototype testing was trigged intrigue and curiosity among the participants which was exactly the response we were hoping for.
sketches detailing out the participatory activities
prototype testing to gather insights
LONG-TERM IMPACT This project expressed the need to encourage further discussion as a starting point to create a ripple effect of change and a small step towards solving issues with censorship in women. As a group we realized at the end of the 2 weeks, we were able to normalize any hidden stigmas we might have had by including “nipple” in our daily conversations. We got a closer look at the negative stereotypes associated with just the word and agreed that by building your own education on this subject is the best approach to remove stigmas at the moment. There is still a long way to go but this can be the starting point to address this vast and layered subject of women’s rights and censorship.
accessiblity spatial open
ENTRANCE LOBBY
Architect User Environment Designer
The brief for this project was to reshape the accessibility of an entrance lobby and the surrounding circulation of vehicles to better highlight the characteristics of the building features and functionality. Conceptualizing a well-defined and demarcated space using tasteful elements of decor and landscape design was also factored in to blend in with the context of the area surrounding the building premises. The main entrance gate and the watchman cabin would have to be restructured to change the way the users would access the premises. It would create a better pathway that utilized the limited space and showcased all the features of the building expressively.
RETAINING THE DESIGN The entrance lobby space for a prominent residential apartment building in the heart of Mumbai, India was to be revisualized and to be given a new perspective. The new design for the lobby captures the prevailing style of the building design using light and dÊcor that creates a more open and brighter entrance area for the residents. The residents were both proud of the building’s history and embarrassed by the present state of the lobby. Aside from being poorly maintained it also had no significant characteristic that said it was the entrance to get inside the building.
INITIAL ANALYSIS The first site visit was carried out by thoroughly examining every corner of the building and how the connection and circulation between each space were done. The existing state of the lobby was in shambles and looked abandoned with water damage and the paint peeling off. The ceiling height was too low and there was barely any natural light reaching this space. The two sides of the lobby were open and lacked natural light, and being exposed to the stilt parking made it near impossible to keep the lobby well-ventilated. Despite the building’s location on hilly terrain, with towering buildings on either side made it very difficult for natural light to enter in.
site plan (lobby + exterior area)
LIVELY AND BREATHABLE CONCEPT After gathering insights from a few of the residents we got an understanding of how they perceived the space they used regularly. The low ceiling and poorly lit ambience made them avoid using the space and rapidly proceed while ignoring the sights and smell along the way. This was not how they wanted to feel before entering or leaving their apartments. The lack of natural light also ensured that the planters never being able to sustain any greenery that could act as a buffer from any unpleasantness. The plants and trees that surrounded the boundary walls as well as the garden area behind the building heightened the rest of the building’s aesthetics but lacked in the lobby.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
lobby entrance render
The exterior area of the site consisted of an arbitrary selection of planters and potted plants that defined the pathway for the users and the vehicles. This caused chaos and confusion among the users and also made it unsafe as per the fire safety regulations. The existing position of the watchman’s cabin was such that these planters and other landscape elements obstructed the view between the main entrance and the lobby entrance. The boundary walls and the planter side of the lobby both had the potential but poor execution caused it to fail as a lively green barrier.
PARKING LAYOUT The support staff we interacted with gave their perspective on their role in managing the building. This supported our initial observations of the flaws in the zoning and massing of the exterior planters and watchman’s cabin. The staff included the watchmen or security guards who work at the main entrance and in the lobby to ensure a safe passage of visitors. Also, the parking space was limited to a handful of the stilt parking lot of an open undefined space of the surrounding area around the building. This created a confusing array of cars aligned in a seemingly random pattern which blocked any points of entry. The personal drivers were assigned with the task of being present in the vicinity to move the vehicles at a moment’s notice. This gave an unnecessary task between the drivers and the security guards to clear a pathway every time a person enters the building.
parking layout plan (vehicle circulation)
rendered lobby view 1
rendered lobby view 2
IMPLEMENTATION OF DESIGN The colour concept for the interior had to be a neutral shade of white to compliment the woody texture of the vertical slats which together gave the illusion of a much bigger space. This was to overcome the low ceiling height which was the main reason for creating a claustrophobic environment. I assisted the principal architect with working out the concepts and mood boards for the project. The design team comprised of the 2 of us so all of the duties from drawing up the floor plans to executing them on-site were my responsibilities to make the process go smoothly.
lobby layout option 1
lobby layout option 2
SYNTHESIS OF WORK I also was in charge of delegating the drawings and budget constraints for the project to the construction team of contractors, electricians, and painters. These tasks helped me master action planning and time management skills since certain tasks could not be started unless all the groundwork for it was not previously done. Collectively multitasking and actively making sure each task was complete to perfection. With weekly updates and clear communication between our extended design team and the clients ensured a smooth transition to the environment of the users.
lobby recpetion render
TRANSFORMATION
lobby layout option 3
The new design for the lobby captures the prevailing style of the building design using light and dÊcor that creates a more open and brighter entrance area for the residents. After working out multiple concepts on how might we make the lobby more exclusive with all of its shortcomings. By creating variations of a rendered environment of the lobby’s existing specification, we arrived at a design that would bring out its best features. This was done using vertical slats along the edges and replacing the planters with vines. This would create a partial closure from the stilt parking and ensure natural ventilation. The vertical slats defined the boundary edges of the lobby and giving it a unique personality of an entrance lobby.
ENTRANCE GATE The boundary along the building entrance and the watchman’s cabin was redesigned with plants and shrubs which blended within the context of the surroundings and highlighted a clear pathway towards the entrance lobby. The main entrance gate was restructured so that the movement of vehicles was redefined to effectively utilize the given limited space within the premises. We designed a sliding gate to accommodate the passageway for a set of vehicles to access the building premises as well as the local fire regulations. We shifted the position of the watchman’s cabin giving it a central location and a bird’s eye view of the main road and the building lobby.
entrance gate front elevation
entrance gate rendered view
THE GREEN EFFECT The lobby had an existing planter on one of the edges but with poor maintenance and lack of natural sunlight, it was in a deteriorating condition. We retained the planters and made changes in its design which provided better drainage and supported the plants to grow stronger than before. I collaborated with landscape designers to get expert advice on the conditions necessary in the given context of the location. As per their guidance, we selected vines which required minimal maintenance and could thrive despite regular natural sunlight.
VISUAL SYMMETRY The main columns in the centre not only provided the structural support but we also made changes to it to ensure a visual symmetry leading up to the elevator and stairwell. The challenges with the low ceiling did not give us many options to make the space bigger. But by creating a central pathway which divided the lobby equally into two halves and using a light colour for the walls and ceiling we landed on a way to expand the space visually. Through careful selection of natural stone samples from multiple vendors, we arrived with a grey natural stone which complimented the interior dĂŠcor as well as with the white shades of paint and the woody finish of the vertical slats.
FOCAL POINT The central pathway between the main columns of the lobby led to the reception table. An elongated stone reception table with a backdrop of a light installation which would be the focal point of the entrance lobby. The stone for the table was the same one used for the flooring making it blend seamlessly with the floor. This was to ensure that any user of this space, a resident or a delivery person will know exactly which way to go to ask for any information. This reception table would be utilized by the security guard who is in charge of deciding who enters the building ensuring a safe environment for the residents. Additionally, a circular metal light installation was handcrafted while working collaboratively with metal fabricators to further emphasize this reception area.
lobby reception table render
visual symmetry from lobby entrance
main entrance nameplate (front elevation)
typography details
prototyping main signage at site
WAYFINDING The main entrance gate needed a change in its useability and function as well as aesthetically. This would be the first point of contact for anyone to access the premises and it did not have clear signage anywhere. The clients wanted us to give the residents directory a new look which was located in the elevator and staircase area. We produced a new design for the residents which matched and complimented the new lobby interiors. The main gate now had a focal point where we placed the selected typography and layout for the building’s name. Through careful deliberation and discussions, we arrived at the exact material, colour and font. With the electrical team, I ensured the letters were highlighted to bring the attention of the user to the name and thus making their experience to navigate the new circulation layout.
name directory layout
typography selection (font and finish)
CONCLUSION The main goal is making this haphazard space into more than just a transition space to enter the building but more of a communal gathering space. The new lobby provides a lively and breathable space for the residents to pause and interact with each other while going about their day. The blank walls of the lobby without the slats or the vines were covered with frames pictures of the city provided by a local artist. This would give the feeling of a make-shift art gallery atmosphere for the residents which could spark conversations and bring them closer as a community.
lobby entrance rendered view
lobby entrance final outcome
OBSTACLES
planter side corridor
The project took approximately 6 months to complete overcoming problems at site, tight budget and other delays. The weather conditions in Mumbai during the monsoon months caused difficulties in construction in the outdoor areas of the project. But this taught me the skills to navigate through an unpredictable problem and adapt around it to achieve the desired results. Negotiating and discussing with the local city authorities to avail permissions for any construction on site helped me understand how to tackle through the bureaucratic process of designing a structure that will be a part of the city. Here I got a deeper understanding of my role as a designer. By creating any structure one has to consider the user and their changing surroundings and cannot be executed without taking into consideration all of its contextual specifications.
ADAPTING TO CHANGE Every decision of the design was discussed and implemented by involving the input of the stakeholders for this project. The residents living in the building were one of the main users followed by the service staff comprising of the drivers, domestic help and the security personnel. It was crucial to explain our design in a timely order to transition smoothly to the changes to their environment. The users needed to trust our design process and we made sure to put their mind at ease with every breakage and addition to their communal space. Through clear communication between the design team and the users ensured enthusiastic and welcome support from the residents to these changes we incorporated in their daily environment.
memories warmth bright
FAMILY HOME Architect and Interior Designer Product Designer
Designing the private residence of a family of four in the city of Pune, India which reflects the personality and essence of the residents. This project of Rubel Dhuna Architects, Mumbai aimed to create a unique environment of elegance and contemporary design. From redesigning the floor layout to interior design, furniture layout and light installations to create an openplan layout and a home with a unique personality were followed throughout from concept creation to execution.
Architecture Digest (Dec2018 issue)
rchitecturaldigest.in/content/pune-apartment-interior-design-rda-architects/?utm_source=Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ADINDIA-Weekly&utm_content=2018-1006&eid=%2A%7CEID64%7C%2A#s-cust0
Better Interiors (Oct2018 issue)
http://www.betterinteriors.in/projects/the-memory-keeper/33350/
OPEN PLAN LAYOUT The design layout of the house has followed an open floor plan, dividing up rooms with folding doors which reduce limitations to move from each corner of the house and welcoming in more natural light and ventilation. By designing customized foldable screens between each room creates boundaries and giving options for multi-functional use as the user intends. Unique and creative installations and light fixtures were designed to follow the concept of elegance and warmth to pair with the natural light brought to the home.
guest bedroom
kitchen dining room
kids bathroom
guest bathroom
balcony
kids bedroom
lobby master bedroom
bar master bathroom living room
family room
family bathroom
apartment floor plan
LIMITATIONS The existing conditions made the apartment closed up and did not have a specific personality that resonated with the clients. The kitchen was closed off and the ceilings were low making the space visually smaller. The aim was to conceptualize the best design using symmetry in the layout and flow, creatively detailing out each room to access ample natural light. Other spaces were well-lit with light installations that were delivered by working with an interdisciplinary team. Following a concept of simple design with striking details which was highlighted with the furniture design and material selection. Metal, wood and natural stones being the primary materials bring a presence that sets the tone for the apartment.
open circulation through the dining area to the kitchen and living room creating a clear visual connection
SPECIFICATIONS The family of 4 residing here being the main stakeholder for this project, attention to detail is given to each room as per their needs. The master bedroom is catered to the parents while the kids’ bedroom has more playful and brighter features and aesthetics. Carefully planning out the multifunctionality of the library was essential because the users for this space was not just the family. The screens here provided privacy when used as a guest room, keeping in mind that the design while being multi-functional also needed to effortlessly flow with the rest of the design.
foldable screen to convert the open kitchen into an eclosed space giving the living room a multiple function as per need
CIRCULATION The family room which consisted of library space was designed to be enjoyed by the family while also giving it an alternate function. The foldable screen was strategically placed between the living room and the family room to convert it into an extra guest room. The attached bathroom for this room was concealed neatly behind the library wall.
master bedroom
kids’ bedroom
As per the user’s needs, we kept this secret identity of the bathroom to maintain the multifunctionality of the room and only meant to reveal its positioning as per the functionality and privacy of the room’s user. This bathroom was designed following a concept of black and gold. Using brass strips to highlight the walls and wooden flooring to tie the aesthetic of the space together.
library and family room with concealed bathroom
CONTRIBUTIONS As the junior architect on this project, I was in responsible for sharing design ideas through sketches, discussions and creating prototypes for the final product. From executing working drawings and sketches, rendered visualizations to site supervision on making those drawings a reality were also part of my duties. Design discussions and communication between clients and procuring materials from vendors was also necessary to ensure a smooth workflow. Delegating work to temporary interns showed me my potential to guide and assist other designers. I also improved my skills in collaborating with various experts to make the final products and installations like the fabricator, furniture designer, electrician and painters.
GOTHIC MIRROR
mirror detail dimensions
The mirror was an inspiration from a classic gothic style window detail. I incorporated this aspect into the dimensions of the frame. The proportions of each curve were calculated to make it a functional mirror while also retaining the originality of the gothic style of design. After the final development of the drawing, I presented to the carpentry team to create a rough porotype to examine the product in context.
FAMILY BATHROOM The family room which consisted of library space was designed to be enjoyed by the family while also giving it an alternate function. The foldable screen was strategically placed between the living room and the family room to convert it into an extra guest room. The attached bathroom for this room was concealed neatly behind the library wall.
family bathroom elevation (mirror side)
rough prototype testing at site
As per the user’s needs, we kept this secret identity of the bathroom to maintain the multifunctionality of the room and only meant to reveal its positioning as per the functionality and privacy of the room’s user. This bathroom was designed following a concept of black and gold. Using brass strips to highlight the walls and wooden flooring to tie the aesthetic of the space together.
Liah Pillars This installation comprised of 8 pillar structures that were inspired by the Tibetan prayer wheels. These pillars are meant to spread positive energy throughout the home. Traditionally you will find these cylindrical prayer wheels in a monastery and are spun for religious purposes. Each spin is meant to radiate positive energy and that is the essence we wanted to bring in the design. We wanted to retain what it represents but designing it be a partition point that defined boundaries in the home as well.
variations of prototypes for liah pillars
dining room view of pillars from the living room
typography details for script etched on
TYPOGRAPHY
liah pillars front elevation
From concept design to etching out the traditional scriptures took rigorous collaboration and attention to detail. The text we used was transferred from a series of authentic prayer wheels which said “Om Mani Padme Hum�. This mantra was in the Newari language of Nepal, a script that was not available on any editing software and had to be manually drafted. I overcame the limitations and worked out a design that would be used in the final product. After prototyping multiple rough variations we arrived at a product that paid a homage to the original concept of the prayer wheel while maintaining its intended purpose of being an installation and a partition between rooms.
HUVA LIGHT The dining table light was inspired by the petals of the magnolia flower. The word “Huva” was following the clients’ roots with the Kannada language which means flower. Using hand-beaten gold discs to form a chandelier to brighten up the dining room. The natural light reflecting on the culmination of the disks also create a unique effect.
prototyping usingdifferent materials ranging from paper to metal sheets
HANDCRAFTED We orchestrated this experimental light with collaboration with a metal fabrication team. First by creating it using paper and sellotape and also rendering the lights on SketchUp to ensure our concept could be a real product. This design for the light was something I had never attempted before but with multiple trial and errors and mutual participation with the extended team, we were able to make, build and transport the light to final installation.
DALAH LIGHTS This customized light installation comprised of around 250 “ghungroos� or bells which is originally used by classical Indian dancers. We used these bells to come together to form the Dalh Light Chandelier for the entrance lobby for the home. Dalah means petal in Kannada and it fits perfectly with the ghungroo which mimics the shape of a flower bud. We placed this light at the entrance to be the welcoming element for anyone who enters the apartment.
prototype variations done along with the electrical team
VISUALIZE CONCEPT The Dalah chandelier light was handcrafted in our office space working together with the electrical and carpentry team. This installation reflects lights of its surfaces and was designed specifically for the entrance to create a welcoming aura. When the main door is opened the visitor is not only welcomed with the reflecting lights but also the light ringing of the bells chiming together. The lobby space is completed with a vintage wooden bench and a full-length mirror wall to enhance the reflective quality of this installation.
thank you! +44 7751831023 audreysabu.v@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/audreymablesabu Glasgow, United Kingdom
graduate project link: https://gsapostgradshowcase.net/audrey-vadukkut/