ARCHITECTURE
P O R T F O L I O
CHANDNI THACKER M.ARCH, B.ARCH 2009-2018
CONTENTS
01
ACADEMICS PTSD HEALING CENTER, DTLA MULTI-FAMILY HOSING, CALIFORNIA CAMPUS PLANNING, EXTENSION OF CALPOLY, POMONA
02
COMPETITION THE MARKETPLACE, BARODA
03
PROFESSIONAL (CALIFORNIA) SAMPLE OF WORK FROM LEO A DALY
04
PROFESSIONAL (INDIA) OFFICE AND RETAIL SPACE, AHMEDABAD OFFICE AND RETAIL SPACE, MEHSANA MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, AHMEDABAD
ABOUT ME
Chandni is a young designer who has been in the field of architecture for 9 years and she has been pursuing architectural education internationally for over two years, with the love for travelling and professional experience. She is currently based in Los Angeles. She graduated from Calpoly, Pomona with Masters of Architecture with healthcare concentration and is working towards her licensure, while improving and refining her design skills, critical thinking, theoretical knowledge and portfolio. Her experience in team work is vast, whilst her recent education in healthcare architecture and internship with Leo A Daly for over a year and half allowed the development of a broad knowledge of softwares and general/ emergent traits related to the contemporary design and production of architecture. She believes architecture is not merely a sculpture, but it represents the living forms inside it and all of her designs are dictated by spatial and human experience. This portfolio comprises the process of her enlightenment and challenge that she keeps promoting to create a new type of architecture based on the empiricism.
CURRICULAM VITAE
Chandni Thacker 720 W 27th Street, Apt 233 Los Angeles, 90007 (909) 485-3873 chandnipthacker@gmail.com
EDUCATION California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, USA Masters Of Architecture, Healthcare Concentration
Sep 2015 – April 2017
Arvindbhai Patel Institute Of Environmental Design, India Bachelor Of Architecture
June 2009 – Aug 2014
ACHIEVEMENTS Was included in Dean’s list
March 2017
Won first prize for an architectural competition hosted by Indian Institute Of Architects.
Apr 2015
Received scholarship by clearing Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (entrance exam for Masters of Architecture at national level) with 97 percentile and was among 2% of the students in the whole country (India).
Mar 2014
Received an academic excellence award
Nov 2013
WORK EXPERIENCE - ARCHITECTURE Leo A Daly, Los Angeles Architectural Intern Worked under the supervision of project architect to produce construction drawings for a variety of projects. Assisted in organizing agreements to consultants and clients. Participated in meetings with consultants, OTC meetings with OSHPD, user group meetings and pre-bid walk.
June 2016 – present
Associated Architects Private Limited Junior Architect I collaborated with project team on various phases of DD, CD and CA. I also made presentation drawings and accompanied project head to clients / contractor / consultant meetings.
Feb 2015 – July 2015
Julie Khanna Architects Architectural Intern I worked under Architect Julie Khanna to design 3 residential projects. I contributed towards the detailed preparation of design and construction documents as well as construction administration.
Nov 2013 – Jan 2015
Hiren Patel Architects Architectural Intern I actively laid out presentation boards and built physical models for explanation of concept to client.
July 2012 – Dec 2012
WORK EXPERIENCE-OTHER California Polytechnic State University, Architecture Department Teaching Assistant for Building Construction
Apr 2016 – June 2016
California Polytechnic State University, Architecture Department Teaching Assistant for Structures
Jan 2016 – Mar 2016
California Polytechnic State University, Architecture Department Graduate Student Assistant at Environmental Model Shop / Wood Workshop
Jan 2016 – June 2016
SKILLS Autodesk : Revit, Autocad 2D and 3D Sketchup, Vray Rhinoceros Ecotect, HEED Adobe Suite
PTSD HEALING CENTER Year: June 2017 Thesis Advisor: Dr. Hofu Wu University: California Polytechnic University, Pomona
State
This thesis proposes that just as wellness resort and natural healing retreat provide better access to natural light and air, contemporary hospital building forms can be derived that can lead the way for healthier hospital design. Research undertaken as part of this graduate thesis indicates that one of the best way to heal patients suffering from post traumatic stress disorder faster is to have a facility in an urban neighborhood and bringing nature inside the facility so that the location is convenient for people, since they can still be involved in their everyday life while getting a perfect environment to heal. However, if such an architecture has to succeed in its goals, it must be based on an approach that reflects the sensitivity of the landscape courtyards and punctures in the building and be thoughtfully targeted towards healing patients faster. Design proposal includes landscape integration not only to provide better views to the patients but also as an integral part in their healing process. The courtyards and punctures in the healing center would grow ayurvedic herbs and medicinal plants which would be used in preparing Ayurveda medicines. These freshly prepared Ayurveda medicines would then be used in healing patients suffering from PTSD.
ABSTRACT
Scattered Planning
Vertical block
Proposed Design
Historical development of healthcare architecture was influenced by social and cultural forces that eventually led to the contemporary thick building form, which is common today. These settings can have a negative impact upon patient and staff health, compromising the optimal medical response needed for patient healing. My thesis proposes and employs Green and healthy design strategies focused on maximizing day lighting, natural ventilation, and access to nature within the design of a post-traumatic stress disorder healing center in order to improve therapeutic outcomes, patient and staff satisfaction, and operational effectiveness. The architectural strategy of the project is represented by carving out masses from a cube by allowing more daylight and landscape integration in the building. These carved out masses create ribbons which sweep in the building interior connecting indoors to the outdoors and creating playful volumes physically wrapped and shaped
articulating the function of building program. These ribbons create cascading terraces that serve as Ayurveda herb gardens. These herbs help in making medicines that help patients suffering from PTSD heal faster. The identity of Ayurveda is deeply rooted in its origin from nature so I envisioned designing a space that captures its essence, character and personality in built form.
SITE LOCATION
The project is located in downtown Los Angeles at Venice boulevard and S.Olive street allowing the facility to serve a large number of people and population with the greatest need. The site is located next to the many medical facilities including Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center which allows for accessibility to the emergency department of trauma care if needed.
PTSD Healing Center
PATIENT ROOM MODULE The project is designed such that the nurse station is buffered between the patient rooms. The entire building is divided in a 30’ grid based on the module for patient rooms. These units are then plugged out at various places to create carved out punctures for light and landscape integration. A ribbon is then created by connecting these terraces. This ribbon connects outdoor spaces to the indoor and creates playful double height volumes in the interior.
Nurse Charting
Patient Room Module
Interlocking units
Toilets buffered between patient rooms
View windows
LANDSCAPE INTEGRATED DESIGN APPROACH
1. Sandwiching nurse station between nurse stations
2. Dividing the structure in 30’ modules
3. Carving our modules for more light and landscape integration
4. Connecting the masses by creating recreational ribbons
PTSD Healing Center
SCHEMATIC SECTION
RECREATION RIBBONS IN SCHEMATIC DESIGN/ PRIVACY GRADIENT
Inpatients
Partial Residential Treatment patients Outpatients
PTSD Healing Center
FLOOR PLANS RECREATIONAL RIBBON FOR OUTPATIENTS Outpatient clinic is on the ground floor and first floor. Since this area is accessed more by general public and outpatients, it has activities that educate people about what Ayurveda is and also attracts more people to the facility by having areas like Ayurveda spa, and Ayurveda pharmacy. This ribbon culminates in a restaurant which serves organic food made of herbs grown in Ayurveda herb gardens.
Cafe Information Area
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN PTSD Healing Center
FLOOR PLANS RECREATIONAL RIBBON FOR PARTIAL RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PATIENTS This ribbon is specially designed for people who either don't require to have a residential treatment or whose schedule won’t permit them to have one. It has an exterior path which sweeps inside the building and connects the spaces inside. There are Ayurveda herb gardens in the exterior path and the interior areas have spaces for medicine preparation. This ribbon allows patients to pluck herbs from the terraces and prepare medicine in the indoor area thereby helping them to connect more with nature and other people.
Herb Preparation Area
Ayurveda Herb Garden
Group Discussion Area
Medicine Preparation Area Cafe
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
FOURTH FLOOR PLAN PTSD Healing Center
FLOOR PLANS RECREATIONAL RIBBON FOR INPATIENTS This ribbon is on the fifth, sixth and seventh levels and it is designed specially for inpatients. The ribbon is connecting the exterior area with the indoor on fifth and sixth level and on the seventh level it has spaces which are overlooking the terraces. There is no external path on seventh floor since the patients are extremely suicidal at this point. There are group discussion areas, yoga studios and counselling rooms in this ribbon.
Group Discussion Area Counselling Area
Yoga Studio
FIFTH FLOOR PLAN
SIXTH FLOOR PLAN PTSD Healing Center
1
SECTION-AA’
2
3
4
5
Inpatients
8
Partial Residential Treatment Patients
7
Outpatients
6 9
PTSD Healing Center
PROPOSED DESIGN MODEL
Components in a traditional hospital
Staff Area Recreation (landscape integrated) Ribbons Patient Rooms
Components in proposed design
PRIVACY GRADIENT IN THE BUILDING
WEST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
PTSD Healing Center
MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING IN HIGHLAND PARK, CALIFORNIA
Year : February 2016 Instructor : Professor Irma Ramirez University : California Polytechnic State University, Pomona. The design for the multifamily housing began with the idea of creating public spaces in such a way that they are as desirable by people as private spaces. Alongwith the public open spaces, private courtyards are designed for each of the clusters. Courtyard planning is done with an intent to create better lighting, ventilation and thermal comfort. In addition to that, the courtyard acts as a visual extension of all the rooms. Each space coherently blends with other space thereby connecting the interior and exterior, solid and voids. Privacy of all the interior spaces is maintained by screening it through landscape. An interesting play of massing gives rise to open and semiopen private spaces at different levels and also creates a vivid facade. This project consists of 4 three bedroom units and 6 two bedroom units.
MAIN STREET
20’ WIDE ALLEY
SECTION – AA’
A’
A
15’ WIDE ALLEY
SITE PLAN
AXONOMETRIC VIEW
ELEVATION FROM THE CENTER PATHWAY Multi-family housing
From water main
To city sewer
Cold Water Line Hot Water Line Sewer Line Water heater
3D VIEW ILLUSTRATING PLUMBING DESIGN
Condenser Supply Duct Air Return Diffuser Air Supply Diffuser Air Handling Unit
Return Duct
3D VIEW ILLUSTRATING HVAC DESIGN
Single top plate
2” x 10” rim joist
2” x 6” stud
Double top plate
Cripple Studs Header Blocking
3D VIEW ILLUSTRATING STRUCTURAL DESIGN
SHEAR WALLS ON SOUTHWEST FAÇADE (INDICATED BY RED COLOR)
SHEAR WALLS ON SOUTHEAST FAÇADE (INDICATED BY RED COLOR) Multi-family housing
CAMPUS PLANNING, EXTENSION OF CALPOLY POMONA
Year : March 2017 In collaboration with: Brie Jones University: California Polytechnic University, Pomona
State
Lanternman Development Center was acquired by CalPoly Pomona in 2015 from the State of California. The property, which formerly served as a residential healthcare facility for mentally disabled, has been deemed eligible for a number of historic designations. Our proposal for the Lanternman Development site is the extension of Calpoly main campus. More academic programs are proposed at Lanternman and some programs from Calpoly are moved to Lanternman Campus. One of our main goal for designing the Lanternman campus was to expand on the mission of Calpoly Pomona “Learn by doing”. The main drivers of deign are : ➢ Connection to the CalPoly main campus ➢ Increase on-campus housing/ Decreasing commuter population ➢ Respect existing historic buildings ➢ Strong landscape design ➢ Growth of research driven academic programs
DRIVERS OF DESIGN
Connection to Cal Poly Main Campus
On-Campus Housing increase
Including more Academic driven programs
Strong Landscape Design
Campus Extension
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Streets
Green Spine Water body
Retail
Housing
University Facilities
Academic Buildings Parking
MASTER PLAN
30
31
28 27
29
32
29
26
1
23 22 24
30
2
25
33 20 21 18
34 35
19
6 9
3
7 4
17
5
10 13
16
15
14
12
11
8
36 39
40 43
41
37
42 38
44
46 45
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
Natural Sciences Aeronautics Restaurant Culinary School Food Science and Viticulture Geology and Earth Sciences Housing Parking College Of Engineering School of Energy School of Energy School of Energy Student union Transit Station College of innovation and research Entrepreneurial Center College of innovation and research Library Administration Housing Auditorium International Center CafĂŠ Social Clubs College of engineering College of engineering College of engineering Housing School of urban design School of architecture School of architecture Art School Art School Film School School of Dance Gym Retail Housing Theatre Studio Dance School Manufacturing warehouse Transportation Warehouse Aeronautical Warehouse Building System Energy Systems
Campus Extension
BUILDING TYPOLOGIES HOUSING CLUSTER Housing is proposed around a series of linked courtyards. The size, function and type of landscape in the courtyard is different based on the privacy requirement of the housing units. Linked courtyards allow for easier circulation through the site and double loaded corridors allow each unit to have a view of courtyard space. There are intersecting bridges that allow residents easier access in and out of the building clusters. Residents can circulate on one level almost throughout the entire site.
RETAIL CENTER WITH ELEVATED PATH Retail center is located along the elevated pathway connecting the existing Calpoly campus with the proposed. This area would act as a local hotspot for shopping and dining. Path splits off on either side of the shopping center to allow for better daylighting for stores below.
Paths are wide enough to allow constant flow of traffic to and from both the campuses. And this path penetrates through building to housing on either side.
ACADEMIC TYPOLOGY (SCIENCE CENTER) New Construction (Proposed Building)
Both building masses hover within a respectful distance of one another. The point is to showcase the historic building as completely untouched and the center of the green space. Stacked massing in the new construction allows for rooftop green spaces for students to gather. Providing ample outdoor green space was essential given the rigor of the programs housed within the building.
Historic Building (Existing Building)
LIBRARY This library is focused on engineering and science related disciplines unlike CalPoly Pomona, North’s library. Building encapsulates 2 courtyards that are treated as outdoor reading rooms. Glass bridge links two library buildings over “elevated path” that runs between both campuses. Library reading rooms located along glass facades face out towards courtyards to maximize on natural daylighting.
Campus Extension
THE MARKETPLACE IN BARODA, INDIA
COMPETITION PROJECT Year: November 2011 In collaboration with: Preet Bhuva, Malini Roy University: Arvindbhai Patel Institute Of Environmental Design A site for designing a marketplace was given in traditional part of India by NASA (National Association of Students Of Architecture) for a competition project. The streets around the site are encroached by hawkers and parking, leaving negligible space for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Hence, our proposal included releasing the land of the built and stacking the functions vertically. The focus of the project was to design a building in continuity with the past, responding to the existing traditional architecture that surrounds it, while meeting functional needs of today and anticipating requirements of tomorrow. This project reimagines the incorporation of traditional values by giving it a different form that stands out in the surrounding and well as blends in the urban fabric. The solar panels, with the help of sensors over the observatory, slide through to provide a view and a glimpse of the rich historical context, thus providing a sense of sky walk at a considerable height. The interwoven root like lattice structure raises to a Banyan foliage symbolizing the tree of wisdom facing the historical building and also strongly beholding the cultural and sentimental values of the pole culture. The outer skin enveloping the base plates has perforations that are abstracted from the basic shape and are graded according to the light and ventilation required.
Primary activities Secondary activities Tertiary activities
LANDUSE DISTRIBUTION
HEIGHT MATRIX
TRAFFIC DENSITY
INTENSITY OF ACTIVITIES
UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT
Heavy traffic Light traffic
G+1 G+2
G+3 G+4
Residential Institutional Religious
Commercial Mixed use
BUILDING IN THE URBAN FABIC
The location and height of the proposed marketplace was designed based on the context. Emphasis has been made to ensure that the building has a unique identity but still is not an alien in the urban fabric
CONCEPT AND DERIVATION OF PLANES The floor plates have a strong Vedic influence representing geometric forms, where by the space is laid out in a variety of patterns responding to its functions. These floor plates evolve and stack upon each other, thus giving the structure its physical identity. The plates imbibe the vital essence of the context and are modulated in accordance with the function.
Marketplace
THE ATTIC
THE SHAFT
Buffer space between the floor plates and the skin allows the hot air to rise up and escape through the perforations provided. This helps in maintaining the temperature of building and keeping it cool.
THE BASE
Building has 3 components as shown in figure: the attic, the shaft and the base, It is a steel frame structure with glass cladding
The Built Form
The open plaza
AREA WITH SMALL SHOPS AND GATHERING AREA The proposal incorporates individual spillover areas for a cluster of shops. The area is sparse with small kiosks and modules of sitting area surrounded by landscape patches.
Hawkers zone
Parking level 1
Parking level 2
ROOF COVER OF THE GATHERING AREA ON THE GROUND FLOOR
The skin of the building is converted into roof creating a covered gathering area on the ground floor with an undulating roof.
Complete view
Marketplace
INTERNSHIP WITH LEO A DALY Duration : June 2016-Current My role : Putting together set of construction drawings and feasibility reports, preparing the sub-consultant agreements, participating in user group meetings, actively participating in meetings with consultants and OSHPD, participating in bidding and job walk for contractors. I worked under the supervision of project manager for a variety of healthcare projects and wore many hats. Most important part of my internship was working on construction drawing package and co-ordination with consultants. I participated in meetings with OSHPD and then coordinated the changes with structural and mechanical engineer. I coordinated all the architectural and consultant drawings and structural report to make sure the entire set ties up. I’ve also worked on predesign process for some projects. My responsibility was to understand the function of the space by understanding how the specific treatment is done, what is the patient and staff flow, how the equipment works and its clearances and then propose several options for the design. I was willing to get some experience in the interior design of the hospitals as well since I figured that materials were chosen very wisely in hospitals to take care of patient safety and hygiene. In order to gain more exposure to the same, I helped interior designer in creating interior finish floor plan and schedule and also helped with material selection and preparing the material boards. I also participated in discussions with various vendors. This internship experience gave me a good understanding of how a project gets executed and how different systems come together in a hospital. Some of the projects I worked on include, • Cedar Sinai Medical Center 6N, Core Lab and 7SW renovation, • USC Linear Accelerator, • UCLA Hybrid OR, and • CSMC Core Lab
USC LINEAR ACCELERATOR (RENOVATION) Duration : June 2017-Current My role : Putting together set of construction drawings and feasibility reports, preparing the sub-consultant agreements, participating in user group meetings, actively participating in meetings with consultants, submitting drawings to OSHPD The project was renovation of Linear Accelerator room at USC. My initial task was doing a research about how the linear accelerator cell works, reading DDR and proposing different options and creating a feasibility report.
Once the project design was confirmed, I helped project manager in putting together a set of construction documents. This was a very fact paced project since we had to submit construction drawings to OSHPD in less than a month. I also helped creating sub-consultant agreements.
EXISTING FLOOR PLAN
EXISTING REFLECTED CEILING PLAN USC Linear Accelerator
PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN
PROPOSED REFLECTED CEILING PLAN USC Linear Accelerator
INTERIOR ELEVATIONS
SECTIONS USC Linear Accelerator
DETAILS
CASEWORK SECTIONS USC Linear Accelerator
THE COMMERCIAL IN AHMEDABAD, INDIA
Year : March 2015 Under the guidance of : Architect Mayank Ghedia Architectural firm : Associated Architects Private Limited My role : Making construction drawings, 3d visualization, designing elevation, coordinating subconsultant drawings
This was a commercial complex designed in Ahmedabad when I was working under Associated Architects Private Limited. The design of the building is bipartite. Two storeys on the bottom have shops and the top two have offices. The facade of the shops is more permeable giving more transparency that help in increasing visibility of the shops whereas the facade of the office floors is screened thereby maintaining privacy of the offices. The client wanted to fit in maximum number of shops and also wanted most of the shops to get frontage. Hence, two courtyards are created in the design which would act as a light shaft and also give frontage to more number of shops.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECTION – AA’
FRONT ELEVATION Commercial
THE COMMERCIAL IN MEHSANA, INDIA
Year : April 2015 Under the guidance of : Architect Mayank Ghedia Architectural firm : Associated Architects Private Limited My role : Making Construction details of prefabricated roof, designing elevation This was a commercial complex designed in Mehsana when I was working under Associated Architects Private Limited. The design of the building is bipartite. Ground floor storey has shops and the top three has offices. The facade of the shops is more permeable giving more transparency that help in increasing visibility of the shops whereas the facade of the office floors is screened thereby maintaining privacy of the offices. The solidity of perfect cubes in the building is broken by curved lines that connects different facades of the building and gives an idea of fluidity. These are also functionally integrated with the building design and act as a shade for the windows.
25 x 50 mm M.S. pipes at 600 x 600 mm c/c both ways (min. 18 guage)
1800 x 1200 mm ACP sheet
PLAN SHOWING JOINERY OF ACP SHEETS (AT BOTTOM LVL)
ISMB 300 below (as per Structural details)
PLAN SHOWING M.S. FRAMEWORK FOR ACP SHEETS
ISMB 300 welded to M.S. plate in R.C.C. column (as per structural details)
Rise 150 mm 20 x 50mm pipe
DETAIL-B
ISMB 300 Polycarbonate Sheet
B 25 x 50 x 3mm M.S. pipe welded to the ISMB 300 as support legs
SECTION-AA’ Proper silicon joint to avoid water seepage
ISMB below 4 mm dark grey polycarbonate sheet on top
6 mm transparent polycarbonate sheet on top
C
Polycarbonate sheet ACP sheet 25 x 50 section
SECTION-BB’
Polycarbonate sheet 25 x 50 M.S. pipe 25 x 50 M.S. pipe ISMB 300 25 x 50 M.S. pipe ACP sheet
DETAIL B
PLAN SHOWING M.S. FRAMEWORK FOR POLYCARBONATE SHEETS
1775 X 1775
Clear 6mm polycarbonate sheet (multiwall)
D
4 mm polycarbonate sheet
1175 X 1175
25 x 50 mm M.S. pipe
575 X 575
QUANTITY
Polycarbonate Sheet 25 x 50 M.S. pipe 25 x 50 M.S. pipe Polycarbonate Sheet
25 x 50 M.S. pipe
DETAIL-D
DETAIL-C
Commercial
MULTI- FAMILY HOUSING IN AHMEDABAD, INDIA Year : August 2012 Project head : Architect Samir Parmar Firm : Hiren Patel Architects, Ahmedabad, India My role : Working on landscape plan and 3d views. Housing was envisioned to have a feel of the holiday resort. Significant emphasis has been placed on landscaping. The very entrance is welcoming with cooling water bodies and a boulevard of rain trees. The clubhouse overlooks a centrally located natural pond with circular paving that is lined with Banyan trees. While the bottle palm adds aesthetics to the driveway, the frangipani, bamboo and Pangaro plantations are planted to maintain privacy. And the elevation is completed by topping it all with flowering creepers.
The housing offers a fully integrated community life that has a perfect balance between urban living and tranquillity. It has a dynamic living environment that offers the kind of versatility that people desire. A calming layout of walkways, water features and landscape parks, provide the perfect lifestyle environment
CENTRAL COURTYARD
ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSING
SITE PLAN
Multi-family housing
CHANDNI THACKER (909) 485-3873