PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND RAW-NYC ARCHITECTS VILLA IN DUBAI EQ TOWERS AMPHITHEATRE FOR RAK TOURISM
PNC ARCHITECTS MR1 TOWER APARTMENTS SOBHA SALES CENTER SOBHA HARTLAND MASTERPLAN SOBHA HARTLAND VILLAS
RECENT ACADEMIC WORKS IAAC, BARCELONA COLOURMORPH TORRE BARRO - ENERGY DISTRICT DIGITAL FABRICATION WORKSHOP WITH ARCHITECT MARK BURRY PHYSICAL COMPUTING
ARTWORK
Professional Background
RAW - NYC ARCHITECTS PNC ARCHITECTS Dubai
Villa in Dubai
Dubai Junior Designer, RAW-NYC Architects The villa is located in Dubai Hills neighbourhgood of Dubai. Although in a desert country, the client wanted the residence to feel like it was in a very green, forest like environment. Hence the design was evolved with the idea of provinding a lot of green spaces, and blurring the lines between the interior and these green spaces, providing maximum access to them. The massing consists of four rectangular blocks, with three wooden corridor like spaces in between. The interior spaces are so arranged that the function of the rooms change from public to private from the first to the fourth block. There are two separate entrances to the residence; one through the
men’s majlis in the first block, and another entrance through a glass box projecting into the central courtyard and opens into the lobby space in between second and third blocks. The first three blocks are punctured through the middle to open up to three central courtyards, which light up most of the ground floor. Additionally the fourth block is punctured in the first floor making space for a terrace garden, which also lets light into the prayer room below through skylights.
PLANS
SECTIONS
MASSING
SECTIONS
OPTION 1 Option 1 is a very daring and experimental concept and has been derived keeping ‘iconic’ in mind. The concept itself is primarily inspired by pixelation. The massing of block A is pixelated to create an interesting play of solids and voids, which in turns results in a play of light and shade on the facade of the building. The whole block itself vaguely forms a vertical EQ with the E resting on top of the Q. Three large voids are created in
EQ Tower
Marina, Dubai Junior Designer, RAW-NYC Architects The EQ Tower is a high rise residential tower proposed on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai Marina. It includes apartments, hotel rooms and retail spaces. The general design massing consists of two blocks : Block A with G+35 floors and Block B with G+2 floors. The total GFA aimed at is approximately of 30186 sq.m with a footprint of850 sq.m. Retail spaces would take up 5% of the total area. Every apartment will have dedicated parking spaces. One parking space will be provided for every five hotel rooms, one for every 50 sq.m of retail space and two for any space exceeding 150 sq.m.
One of the specifications in the requirements was that the building design should incorporate the initials of the client (EQ) in some way in either the plan or the elevation. Three strikingly different options for conceptual design were submitted. Parametric computational softwares Rhinoceros 3d and Grasshopper were used to evolve key elements of design when required.
the structure to form the letters. These voids in turn provide large areas of open space which can be used for a variety of functions like outdoor restaurants, sky gardens, courtyards and other public spaces. The tower is given an outer shell of light weight metal 3 dimensional grid to provide shade and privacy for the open spaces and buffer the noise from Sheikh Zayed Road.
OPTION 3
OPTION 2 In the second option the shape of the floor plates are altered without affecting the targeted floor area. Four ‘blocks’ consisting of four L-shaped floor plates each are combined with four blocks of four regular rectangular floor plates. The L blocks are rotated 90 degrees on axis like a pinwheel. This produces open spaces on all four sides of the tower which
can be used as common space, terrace gardens or other green spaces. The resulting tower structure is then sheathed in an outer screen of intricate lace - like metal mesh which ensures shading and privacy to the large open spaces. The pattern on the facade forms the letter E and patterns on the top above the roof forms Q.
The massing of option 3 has been kept austere with three seemingly disjointed blocks. In contrast the facade treatment is intricate and ornamental. Each of the three blocks are encased within screens which are inspired by the Arabic Mashrabiya. The patterns on each of the blocks are different and these patterns are taken from traditional Arabic weaving patterns. Hence the third option is deeply
rooted to the Arabic culture as it draws a lot of inspiration from vernacular cultural elements. To break the monotony in the massing the a void has been cut out from the middle block which creates an open courtyard garden. Several floors look into the courtyard and it can be used as a public space.
The patterns on the facades of the three blocks which have been inspired by the Arabic weaving patterns were recreated through parametric computation by using Grasshopper software.
Amphitheater for RAK Tourism Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Junior Designer, RAW-NYC Architects RAW-NYC submitted conceptual design proposals for a 10,000 seat Amphithetre for the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Department.
OPTION 1 The first concept sketch (right) was inspired by Jebel Jais, an important landmark of Ras Al Khaimah. Jebel Jais is the highest peak in the UAE and forms part of the Hajar Mountains that begin in the Musandam Peninsula and stretch to Sur in Oman. The design conceptualizes the roof as the the profile of the Jebel Jais mountain, with stark peaks and valleys so that it mimics the iconic skyline.
OPTION 1
OPTION 2 The design concept has been inspired by the Falcon, which symbolized force, courage and protection in Arab tradition and culture. Falconry is a traditional and highly valued custom in the UAE, reflecting the Bedouin love of the sport. The Falcon itself, known as the “Saqr� is a bird that is much admired by Arabs beacause of its fascinating beauty, posture, sharp eyesight and granduer. The falcon also represents survival, training, honor, sportsmanship and it is the prized possession of the Bedouin tribe. It is similar to the pride of the Arabian horse or camel. For the people of UAE the falcon is part of our culture and is still used for hunting in the desert, as well as developing into a noble sport.
Individual components derived from feathers on the falcon wings. The feather components will be arranged all over the roof structure making the wings look more original. OPTION 2
MR1 TOWER APARTMENTS Dubai Junior architect, PNC Architects MR1 Tower Apartments is a proposed residential development comprising two 23 storey towers and one 7 storey mid-rise building sitting on a 2 storey podium with 2 basement levels. 3 No. plots, namely: MR1, MR2 and MR3 will be combined within Sobha Hartland. The development consists of approximately 260 residential units as a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and duplexes. It includes amenities for
residents comprising a gymnasium, outdoor swimming pool, changing rooms, 2 squash courts, sports hall, games room, lounge and multi-use function room. The podium deck at G+2 level will be landscaped. A retail element will is incorporated at ground level with street frontage. The total retail area of approximately 2157.42 sq.m is divided into approximately 5 units.
BUILDING MASSING
FUNCTIONAL STACKING
SOBHA SALES CENTER Dubai Junior architect, PNC Architects Sobha Sales Center is located within the Sobha Hartland and acts as an exhibition space for displaying scale models of all finished and on going projects of Sobha Developers L.L.C. The design of the building is based on combining design principles of an exhibition space with those of office workspace. Since the building functions both as a display area and sales center, interior spaces should also accommodate areas for client meetings, discussions and waiting areas along with the space for displaying the building models.
A spine wall running transversely across the building divides the entire space into two based on function and customer accessibility - a double height exhibition space and service area which includes a cafeteria for the customers. The design also includes a VIP lounge in the first floor, office spaces including meeting and conference rooms as well as a small detached mock up apartment space located in the west of the sales gallery.
View from South East
Spine Wall
Exhibition
Lightweight Steel Roof
Public - Ground Floor
Glass Membrane
VIP Area
First Floor
Ground Floor Double Volume
Landscape - External Events Garden
Mohammed Bin Rashid City District One Dubai Junior architect, PNC Architects
Mohammed Bin Rashid City District One is a new freehold development of 1500 villas across more than 1030 acres making it one of the world’s lowest density residential developments. District One offers an exceptionally planned community with parks, lagoons and villas with over 18 floor plans to choose from. I was involved in the later design stages of the different types of Villas and various projects in Sobha Hartland, which is a freehold development located in MBR City.
MODERN 6 BEDROOM VILLA
Ground Floor
First Floor
Sobha Hartland Dubai Junior architect, PNC Architects
Sobha Hartland is a mixed-use freehold development, located in Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, 3 kms away from Burj Khalifa.
The development is eight million sq. ft of which forty per cent is dedicated to green living, featuring cycling and walking tracks.
The development is designed as a community and features amenities such as freehold villas, mid & high rise apartments, hotels, offices, two international-curriculum schools, a clubhouse, mosques and retail centres.
I worked on the various scheme stages of the masterplan, different types of villas, schools, concept and design development of Sobha Sales Gallery and MR1 Tower Apartments.
Villas
MR1 Tower Apartments
Sobha Sales Center
Residential & Commercial
Hotels
Public Facilities
Central Parks
Open Spaces
Roads
Sobha Hartland Villas Dubai Junior architect, PNC Architects The villas have a contemporary design that transforms concept of the backyard into a courtyard. The C shaped plans ensure maximum possible views to the courtyard from the living hall, dining area and most of the bedrooms. In addition the Dining and Living areas open out to the deck which leads to the back pool and courtyard. The
double volume living hall provides a well ventilated and naturally lit ambiance inside. The villas have facilities like home theatre and gymnasium in the basement. They also have service for staff/employees like driver’s room, maids rooms and maids kitchen.
VILLA TYPE 3B
Basement Floor
Ground Floor
First Floor
Separating layer
90mm polystyrene insulation S/S drip flashing fixed to concrete parapet
One layer of membrane on primer layer Screed laid to fall on structural concrete roof slab to engineers detail & specifications
200mm R.C parapet to structural engineers detail
R.C.C parapet as per structural engineers detail
Render finish over expanded metal lath on 50mm polystyrene insulation on 200mm concrete down stand beam
Render finish over expanded metal lath on 50mm polystyrene insulation Render finish over expanded metal lath on 250mm insulated block work
250mm insulated block with 15mm render finish to outer face & plaster finish to internal face Selected floor finish on screed on concrete slab
Render finish over expanded metal lath on 250mm insulated block work Render finish over expanded metal lath on 50mm polystyrene insulation
250mm insulated block with 15mm render finish to outer face & plaster finish to internal face
Render finish over expanded metal lath on 50mm polystyrene insulation on 200mm concrete down stand beam
Selected floor finish on screed concrete slab on 50mm x 1200mm polystyrene insulation on 1000 gauge D.P.M on 25mm sand blinding on min. 250mm consolidated hard-core to engineers specification Render finish over expanded metal lath on 250mm insulated block work
GROUND FLOOR FFL +450
Selected floor finish on screed concrete slab on 50mm x 1200mm polystyrene insulation on 1000 gauge D.P.M on 25mm sand blinding on min. 250mm consolidated hard-core to engineers specification
Recent Academic Works
MASTER IN ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE Barcelona
COLOURMORPH Colour Changing Pixels
TUTORS: Areti Markopoulou, Alexandre Dubor, Carlos Bausa TEAM: Ninada Kashyap, Fathimath Sujna Shakir, Devika Chandrababu Colourmorph is a research project that revolves around the use of colour changing pigments in an architectural application. With the technology at hand today a lot of interactive building facades have come into existence. Although some maybe powered by passive means, replacing the material of the visual field itself has rarely been attempted. The objective of this project was to develop a pixel that changes colour in response to environmental changes and by exercising control over this colour change, achieve any palette of colours on the pixel face.
Colourmorph opens up the possibilities of a new paradigm in use of passive or mechanically powered systems to control visual representation on building facades. YouTube video link - https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=PGWuN9i58Fc
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS The pixels change colour on exposure to sunlight and temperature throughout the day. The shade and intensity of colour varies with the variation in sunlight and heat. Both the faces of the pixels are coated with pigments. To expose both the faces flipping mechanism is engaged through servo motors. The flipping also helps to regulate the amount of natural light entering inside a building. In addition, flipping can be used to change the angle the pixels to control the incident ray angle to achieve a desired colour gradient.
PROTOTYPE The prototype demonstrates how the pixels can be customized through different combinations of pigments on a surface which can then be multiplied to form complex geometries. It is a small portion of a larger facade system consisting of many number of pixels.
Side A
Temperature
Side B
Temperature
Side A
Temperature
USER INTERFACE
Real Time Data Input
Remote Control
A customized user interface was created using Touch OSC to control the flipping of the pixels through a remote device such as an iPad. Any required pixel or group of pixels can be flipped through this interface. Thus the user/ client can control the visual graphic that appears on a building facade by selectively flipping pixels.
POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
Colourmorph opens up the possibilities of a new paradigm in use of passive or mechanically powered systems to control visual representation on building facades. The project can potentially contribute more to the concept of smart cities in terms of information sharing and display. Retail outlets could have passive facades that change seasonally which communicate a required message to customers. Skyscrapers could have skins that project any form of visual data to interact with people outside or even with other buildings. Building skins can be passive systems for real time data visualization. In a smart city, information sharing is one of the key factors that drive development and efficient functioning. Imagine if the buildings could communicate this information to the public. With Colourmorph any kind of information can be visually represented on building facades so that the entire urban fabric of a city could turn into an information pool. It is possible to project information not just about what is happening outside the buildings, but also inside. The series of images above show the amount of heat generated in different floors of the building. This could help promote awareness about energy consumption and heat radiation.
<< Buildings could show the relative difference in intensity of UV radiation that falls on different parts of the facade through different colour gradients. The darker shades of colour indicate higher exposure to UV radiation than the other areas.
Text or any form of messages which change with change in temperature and sunlight.
Retail store advertisements which keep changing gradually through the day.
TORRE BARRO - ENERGY DISTRICT Barcelona Tutor Team
: Claudia Pasquero, Carmello Zappulla : Anusha Arunkumar, Nohelia Gonzalez, Taiesha Edwards, Ninada Kasyap, Devika Chandrababu
Architecture goes beyond buildings. A building is a concentration of activities in a particular location which should be responsive to concrete cultural, social, economic and technological conditions. In the 21st century, buildings are more than machines for dwelling in. They should be living organisms, capable of interacting with their environment, following the principles of ecology or biology rather than those of mere construction. In effect, a building should be more like a tree, which is able to root itself in a particular place, generating its own energy, interacting with the natural networks around it
and creating complex ecosystems and landscapes together with other trees. The project is objective is directed towards experimenting with the idea of the self sufficient habitat. It explores the possibility of transforming a real site into a self sufficient land. The site is located in Torre Barro (Barcelona). Torre Barro is one of the low income neighborhoods in Barcelona but is it one of the richest in terms of natural resources.
The design process revolved around a series of questions. How can we transform a landscape into a productive one? how does water, solar energy, wind or biological processes affect sustainable design cycles for structures and landscape? Which strategies and which technologies are appropriate for such social and environmental context? Focus was given to the topics of designing an implementing a self sufficient green house and productive land, where â&#x20AC;&#x153;productionâ&#x20AC;? is understood as the production of food, energy, materials and knowledge. The site was carefully studied and mapped using digital tools (Grasshopper) to help evolve the a design that works in harmony with the existing topography, vegetation, drainage pattern and sun path. The proposal was an energy production unit which can also function as a public space. Individual energy production units cluster together to form canopies which create spaces for interaction of relaxation. Energy produced using principle of photovoltaics is used to power routers which provide Wifi to the entire space.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
DIGITAL FABRICATION Wax+ Cotton Canvas Lamp Tutor Materials Digital Tool Fabrication
: Alexandre Dubor, Sofoklis Giannakopoulos : Cotton Canvas, Microcrystalline Wax : Rhinoceros 3d : Epilog laser cutter, Makerbot 3d Printer
The objective was to design and fabricate a suspended lamp for 2m height by understanding and exploring the different composite material properties through various digital fabrication processes. The project is an outcome of the experiments made over several weeks to study the properties of canvas and wax. Since both the materials are
structurally unstable we decided to reinforce the canvax with wax. By this method the canvas could be molded while the wax was still slightly warm and hold the desired shape. Reinforcing the wax with cotton fibers gave an interesting effect when light was passed through. Experiments were also made by varying the proportion of paraffin and microcrystalline wax. But we concluded that pure microcrystalline worked best.
Unfolding Surface
Tessellation
Smaller Triangles Near the source of light the triangles and their holes are smaller
3D Printed joint
DESIGN
The concept was to create a lamp that showcased the materials in their true element. The canvas being a fabric is made to drape around the structure. Tessellating the fabric created an added dimension. The density varies along the length of the lamp with the top most part being highly dense with smaller triangles and openings and the bottom being less dense with larger triangles and openings. The canvas to canvas joints were 3d printed in resin as it was tested as flexible and complimented the canvas.
Bigger Triangles Away from the source of light the triangles and their holes are bigger and let more light through
WORKSHOP WITH MARK BURRY Bifurcation: Structure conceived as branching columns Tutor Team
: Mark Burry : Zachary Trattner, Shruti Ramachandran, Taiesha Edwards, Fathimath Sujna Shakir, Devika Chandrababu
Objective : Representation of columns of Sagrada Familia through Antoni Gaudiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s techniques and the creation of a potentially underlying geometrical guide, and to understand how the columns were branched and joined to the trunk. The workshop was held in two modes:
2. Physically in terms of thinking about how to produce branching columns with our hands by replicating the technique Gaudi used in his time. We designed three columns using Grasshopper. Half profiles of each of the three columns were chosen and developed into models out of Plaster of Paris.
1. Design computation through parametric design software (Grasshopper)
Sagrada Familia
COLUMN PROFILES
1
DEVELOPMENT OF PROFILE 1
2
3
We from
drew our initial inspiration nature as Gaudi did.
Through our first column we studied the bifurcation of a tree. By developing a complex structure which emerged from two different rail inclinations and boolean intersections of circles with varying diameters. Our second column replaced the circle inscriptions with a triangular geometry in an effort to reduce the amount of material causing imbalanced weight. The resulting geometry was more efficient in terms of material usage and stability.
For the third column, we drew inspiration from the canyon and we figured that by combining characteristics of the first two profiles, we could achieve a similar effect. We believe that the first profile had the most potential for bifurcation at varying heights of the column because of the strategic intersection of circles.
Apparatus used for making the models
FABRICATION
PHYSICAL COMPUTING Interactive Facade using Arduino Tutor
: Guillem Camprodon
Team
: Shruti Ramachandran, Jayant Khanuja, Taiesha Edwards, Shruti Ramachandran, Devika Chandrababu
Materials: Adafruit Flora UV index sensor, Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED strip, Red Photochromic Pigment, Polyurethane Sheet (1.2mm thick) Digital Tool: Arduino, Fritzing, Grasshopper Objective : To design and fabricate prototype of an interactive facade using Arduino Uno. We designed a facade that responds to the UV radiation in sunlight and projects it graphically at night through LED lights. During the day red photochromic pigments coated on individual panels react to sunlight and change colour from
white to red. Darker shade of red indicates higher UV radiation. The colour darkening also creates a shading effect in the interior. The UV sensor records and stores the UV readings throughtout the day. At night this numerical data is fed to the LED lights. The lights change colour in gradient from light blue to dark blue to violet as the value increases.
FACADE DESIGN
The facade panel is composed of many prisms. Each prism has photochromic pigments coated on patterns engraved on one face. LED COLOUR GRADIENT
Colour change in photochromic pigments when they are exposed to sunlight.
PHOTOCHROMIC COLOUR GRADIENT
ARTWORK