Portfolio | Avtar Sahgal by avtar.sahgal

PORTFOLIO AVTAR SAHGAL

Soft Skills

Education B.Arch. (On-going) ‘14 - now Sushant School of Art and Architecture Ansal University, Gurgaon

AVTAR SAHGAL

B.Tech. (Partial) ‘12 - ‘14 The Northcap University, Gurgaon (Formerly ITM University)

avtar.sahgal@gmail.com (+91) 9818201270

High School (CBSE) Delhi Public School, Gurgaon

D1 V3 Parsvnath Exotica Sector - 53 Gurgaon - 122011

‘10 - ‘12

Creativity Dutch Graphic Design Teamwork Initiative Logic Sketching Photography Model-Making

16 May ‘94

Experience

@avtariar @avtarsahgal

Office Interior Design (Design Development + Execution) Nirvana Courtyard, Gurgaon (Axind Software Pvt. Ltd.)

Aug-Oct ‘16

J.K. Choudhary Exhibition Mar ‘17 (Execution of Gallery Layout) SSAA, Ansal University, Gurgaon

To create spaces that foster a sense of well-being and beauty in the flow of daily life

Software Skills Photoshop Illustrator InDesign SketchUp V-Ray AutoCAD Rhino3D Grasshopper

References available upon request

Empathy is the cornerstone of design. Ilse Crawford

CONTENTS

ENTRY PATH PLACE

WEEKEND MINDFULNESS

VERTICAL LIVING

SCANDINAVIAN WORKING

PIET HEIN EEK CUPBOARD

HOTEL PLAZA

WORKING DRAWINGS

ENTRY PATH PLACE Semester 3 Public space Time: 2 weeks A hypothetical, context-less site; an experiment in the creation of 3 key features of architecture: ENTRY, PATH and PLACE. The spaces are designed to give varied views of the featured tree. NOTE: All physical models were made at a scale of 1:200, and 1:100 after iterating.

ENTRY PATH PLACE

▲ PHYSICAL MODEL OF TREE VIEW

▲ PHYSICAL MODEL OF ENTRY

▲ X-RAY AXONOMETRIC

▲ PHYSICAL MODEL (OVERVIEW)

An elevated vantage point of the tree ▲

The plan provided in the brief ▲

A view of the tree, with overhead platform ▲

The concept of levels, views and shadow-play ▲

▲ The plan provided in the brief

My Process

PLACE

A viewing stage for a looking back over the tree and a view of the entry and people entering the site

PLACE

Direct overhead viewing of the tree, shaded with seats

PLACE

A closer vantage point to the tree and space for sitting

Faced with a blank canvas, I turned to Steven Holl’s Chapel of St. Ignatius for inspiration. He had his concept of 7 lamps, and so I thought of transforming that idea to 7 levels of Entry, Path and Place. The overarching idea was a play of ground plane heights, combined with a view-and-shadow game. There were no materials involved in this exercise; it was purely experience-based (a white-card model). The challenge was to create spaces that did not have a defined function, but to maintain the experiential quality of the sequence.

PATH

Winding steps to lead the user upward and closer to the tree

What I would change...

PATH

A viewing platform for a distant view of the tree

PATH

Steps to take the user to the next level of the 7 levels of Entry, Path and Place

If I had the opportunity, I would simplify the embellishments of the light-play. Most of the upper decks are accessible, but serve no other function. I would also investigate the use of materials, going in the direction of raw, exposed materials, like burnt red brick, bamboo-formed concrete — for an added depth of texture.

ENTRY

An overarching viewing platform for shading and a varied-width overhang for a gradient shadow

Skills learned: - Model making - Experiential narrative - Light play - Form exploration ▲ Exploded axonometric showing Entry, Path and Place

ENTRY PATH PLACE

WEEKEND MINDFULNESS Semester 5 Private space Time: 2 weeks The site lies at the feet of the Aravallis, and demanded calm respect and respite from the proximal metropolitan Gurgaon. Envisioned as a Weekend Home, this small house was meant to make the client pause and reflect, not just to take in nature, but also to be mindful of their loved ones. NOTE: This project was assigned as a time problem, but resonated deeply within me.

Following contours

A view of the entry sequence ▲ Ascend into tree

Blur inside and outside

A bird’s eye view of the house ▲

Corner views of tree

WEEKEND MINDFULNESS

Trees govern built

Ground Floor Plan ▲

First Floor Plan ▲

My Process

The site in this project had 3 existing and mature trees, which I intended to preserve and use to create experiences, such as situating the staircase under the canopy of the tree (so you ascend into the leaves). Opportunities like these are capitalized upon. Iteration: Weekend House 1.0 ▲

Iteration: Weekend House 2.0 ▲

Iteration: Weekend House 3.0 ▲

What I would change... Because this was a short time-based problem, I didn’t get the opportunity to explore the meaning of materials and their repercussions on life in a building. I would have also liked to do a detailed landscape design, to augment the experience of nature and mindfulness.

Skills learned: Longitudinal Section ▲

- Small-scale architectural design - Narrative as a driving factor - Exploiting existing site-conditions - Building on contours

WEEKEND MINDFULNESS

Generally, when dealing with a small-scale residential project, I first profile the (hypothetical) clients, and create stories for each of them. After a detailed list of their preferences is made, I set on to do a site analysis (even in a relatively weak context like this).

VERTICAL LIVING Semester 7 Private + Public space Time: 5 months Surrounded by similar vertical residences, this project aimed to reinterpret what it means to live in a high-rise tower. From the masterplanning to the final unit design, all stages were designed to acknowledge the existing lifestyle and its impact on living. NOTE: Practical aspects of buildersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; demands were kept in mind while allocating units and layouts.

1 Commercial Centre (makes use of prime location on main Jalvayu Road)

2 2 BHK Apartments (for small families and singles; proximity to main road for easy access to Golf Course Road)

4 2 + 3 BHK Apartments (for small families; high-rise structures with semi-private open spaces; proximity to plaza)

3 7

6 5 Clubhouse (for entire high- and mid-rise complex; spill out spaces on plaza and easy access by foot)

6 6 2, 3 + 4 BHK apartments (for mix of family sizes; next to plaza, clubhouse, school and open green spaces)

7 One-way Traffic Loop (done to tackle existing throughtraffic and added traffic from housing development)

Masterplan for Sector-56 Housing Development

VERTICAL LIVING

3 Aligment of Built Forms (done to maximise crossventilation from NW dominant win; follows orientation of context buildings)

Basketball Court

Mid-Rise Block #1

Mid-Rise Block #2

Affordable Housing

Primary School

Walk-Up 2 Bhk Units

High-Rise Block

Visitors’ Parking

Club-House With Pool

Site Plan for Sector-56 Housing Development ▲

ALIGN WITH WIND

SOLID-VOID RELATIONSHIP

PLAY ON FACADE PERMEABILITY

MIX UNITS PER CLUSTER

VERTICAL LIVING

ACCESS TOWER THROUGH PODIUM

Lift

Service Lift

FHC

Lift

FHC

Lift

FHC

Lift

FHC

Lift

Service Lift

FHC

Lift

FHC

Lift

FHC

Lift

FHC

Lift

My Process The overarching idea was one of a solid-void relationship in the facade, with the language of the high-rise and mid-rise being similar (despite having different unit types). An attempt was made at the masterplan level to integrate the affordable housing segments into the mass of the luxury apartments; a physical blurring of boundaries. The public realm would hence be accessible to all.

What I would change... If I had the opportunity, I would relook at what it means to live in vertical housing. I feel like I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push the envelope enough, having been given a chance to really reinvent the living experience. I would also like to integrate the principles of New Urbanism, and create spaces suitable to the evolving lifestyles of urban families today. I would also like to have designed more in a section-based approach; really understand the dynamics of inter-floor relationships.

Skills learned: - Area and unit requirement matching - Arrival sequencing - Vertical service arrangement - Masterplan creation (Clockwise; from top left) View of the high-rise tower from the ground; A typical evening vignette; View from the public courtyard

VERTICAL LIVING

A simple, sophisticated material palette was chosen of rough white stucco, with accents of rich stained wood and black fenestration.

SCANDINAVIAN WORKING Aug - Sep â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 Area: 41 sq m Budget: â&#x201A;š 2 lakh Client: Axind Software Pvt. Ltd. An up-and-coming fashion software company needed a revamp of their outdated office space, to match their new identity. The client chose a Scandinavian-inspired material palette, and wanted clean lines, with an added disadvantage that the space had to be usable during the day at each stage.

▲ View of the working area; glass desk-partitions were chosen to allow for maximum light to flow through the space, and to allow easy communication between employees

VERTICAL LIVING SCANDINAVIAN WORKING

▲ View of the entry space of the office; a glass-and-steel partition was made to segregate the storage, lunch and conference area from the working area

PIET HEIN EEK CUPBOARD OCT â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;15 Dimensions: 1380 x 675 x 2400 mm Budget: â&#x201A;š 30,000 Client: Me Having shifted to the Golf Course Road, Gurgaon, and having a bedroom with an oddly situated niche in between two columns (1480 x 680 x 2400 mm), the challenge was to fit my previous 3 wardrobes into a much smaller area. This involved ruthless donation of unwanted items, and the design of a brand-new cupboard to fit the blue-and-wood theme of my room.

▲ The cupboard with its doors shut, from the bed ▼ The cupboard in use; winter clothes are on the top

Winter clothes Shoe storage Half hanging space T-shirt storage Underwear and sock drawers Trouser hanging space

VERTICAL PIET HEIN EEK LIVING CUPBOARD

An exploded view to show the interior of the cupboard ▲ A SketchUp model of the cupboard, in its niche▼

HOTEL PLAZA Semester 6 Public space Time: (part of) 5 months In the vicinity of Steinabad, on Lodhi Road, this brief for this project was to create a mixed-use building (hotel, shops and offices), to rival the India Habitat Centre. Included herein is the preliminary design for the public plaza. It takes material inspiration from the IHC, and is meant to evoke its spirit. There are ample opportunities for sitting in the shade, and watching fish swim past in the myriad ponds.

HOTEL PLAZA

▲ View from arrival

▲ Plan of the plaza elements

▲ View from an elevated standpoint Exploded axonometric of the plaza elements▲

WORKING DRAWINGS Semester 6 Construction documents Time: 5 months I got the opportunity to revisit an old project of mine, the School of Spatial Design (from the fifth semester), and detail it out (ideally) to the initial visions I had for the project. The process was fascinating, and I particularly enjoy working out details, although there is still a lot of learning to be done.

WORKING DRAWINGS

WORKING DRAWINGS TOP OF PARAPET LVL +15000 TERRACE LVL +14100

MUMPTY LVL +10950

SECOND FLOOR LVL +7800

FIRST FLOOR LVL +4650

GROUND FLOOR LVL +1500 NATURAL GROUND LVL Â±00 FFL OF BASEMENT LVL -1650 T.O.S. BASEMENT LVL -2100

AVTAR SAHGAL | 2018 avtar.sahgal@gmail.com (+91) 9818201270