Architecture - Selected Works by DHARA MEHTA

dhara mehta Selected

Wo r k s

A RC H I T EC T U R E 2017

CONTENTS 1. Learning Oasis..........................................................................................................01-06 Regenerative Early Educational Facility for Underrepresented Children in Pratiksha Nagar Mumbai, India 20,800 sqft

2. Light Cave.................................................................................................................07-12 Visual Arts Center for Seattle University Seattle, USA 60,000 sqft

3. Moved to Care.........................................................................................................13-18

Movable Healthcare Clinic by Building Trust International Cambodia Varying area as per site

4. Living Weave.............................................................................................................19-24 Horizontal Farms by Architectural Workshop of Rome Delhi, India 323,000 sqft

5. Nivasa.......................................................................................................................25-30 Multi-family Residential Complex and Township by Universal Dwellings India Bangalore, India 56,200 sqft

LEARNING OASIS Regenerative Early Educational Facility for Underrepresented Children in Pratiksha Nagar | Mumbai, India Children of all age, class, sex and region deserve an equal opportunity to good quality education. Research shows that investing in early education reaps long term socio-economic benefits for a country. This makes early education all the more important for sub-developed countries. Studies show that the primary reason for high drop-out rate in India is due to the lack of good quality educational facilities for the lower income groups. This thesis studies an existing not-for-profit educational facility, working towards providing equal opportunities for lowincome group families of the nearby informal settlements. While the social impact is large, due to shortage on space, the outreach has plateaued. This calls for a need to grow in size and quality, to match the ever-growing demand for services and psychological needs of its users. The physical environment of a learning space has an impact on students’ achievements. This thesis questions ‘what makes good quality educational facilities in sub-developed countries’ and through travel research in India and South-East Asia, charts out factors that contribute to making successful spaces for children. Using these factors as core requirement, the design approach involves a back and forth process between psychological, cultural, social, economic and environmental considerations. It strives to be regenerative not just in terms of green building technologies but also in terms of regenerating the social standing of its occupants. BUILDING TYPOLOGY Educational | Cultural | Healthcare ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Passive cooling | Natural lighting | Water Conservation | Nature Conservation| Locally sourced materials FEASIBILITY Self built | Modular | Community engagement RESPONSIBILITIES Design conceptualization | Planning | Design development | Presentation

Learning Oasis | page 01

Regenerative Early Educational Facility for Underrepresented Children in Pratiksha Nagar, Mumbai | page 02

Pu Pr i

01 Existing Site Elements 01Preserving 01 Existing Site boundary Elements - wall -Preserving trees, temples and Preserving Existing Site Elements TreesTrees and Temples and Temples

Pu Pr i

Mass Distribution stribution

bli

Pr i

bli

Distribution + Mass OasisOasis Green Distribution + Mass Green

Pr i

bli

c Te m

T ple emp

03 03

Community Access - Public vs. Private Community Access - Public vs. Private

04 04

Staggered + Separated Classroom Blocks Staggered + Separated Classroom Blocks

Te m

ple

Te m

ple

03 03Community 03 Access Community Access - Public vs. Private -Community Public vs.Access Private- Public vs. Private

Learning Oasis | page 03

02 02 Green Oasis + Mass Distribution

bli

N Lower Level Plan

N Upper Level Plan

04Separated + Staggered Blocks 04 04 Staggered + Separated Classroom Blocks Staggered + Separated Classroom Blocks

Regenerative Early Educational Facility for Underrepresented Children in Pratiksha Nagar, Mumbai | page 04

Climate Responsive Design

lux 2000

01. Building plate raised to protect interiors during floods 02. Permeable groundscape allows rainwater to percolate 03. Vaulted roof with gutters and downspout channelize rain water to underground rainwater collection tank 04. 50,000 gallon capacity rainwater collection tank 05. Irrigating vegetation and roof farms 06. Roof farm to grow food 07. Trees for shade, fresh air and connection with nature 08. Cross ventilation 09. High ceiling allows hot air to rise and escape 10. Stack effect 11. maximizing north light through large transparent openings 12. Overhangs to shade against direct light and rain 13. Small openings on the south to minimize heat gain cd/m2 2500

100 <100 >2000

10 Daylighting studies to determine light levels and light contrast in classroom spaces

3 6

1 2

13 12

Incremental Growth + Kit-of-Parts

11 Exposed Corrugated Exposed Concrete metal Brick Framework sheet Wall

Learning Oasis | page 05

Kadappa Timber Adjustable frame stone timber fins Flooring with clear glass

Regenerative Early Educational Facility for Underrepresented Children in Pratiksha Nagar, Mumbai | page 06

LIGHT CAVE Visual Arts Center for Seattle University Seattle, USA The Seattle University Integrated Visual Arts Center strives to transform an old existing Laundry/bakery building into a high performance university campus. As the architect, it’s our responsibility to reduce the negative impact of new construction on the environment when old structures can be retrofitted to meet today’s needs. Keeping the original envelope and structure of the old building, the architecture of the new building carves its way through old structure and form providing punctures to bring in daylight and creating triple height spaces for atrium to provide cross ventilation. The design of the structure follows its performance and occupant comfort and in the process, creates delightful experiential spaces. Integrated systems and passive techniques are a key element in the center’s design. BUILDING TYPOLOGY Educational | Cultural | Adaptive Reuse ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Passive cooling & heating | Natural lighting | Harvesting solar energy | Energy efficient building systems RESPONSIBILITIES Design conceptualization | Planning | Design development | Presentation

Light Cave | page 07

Visual Arts Center for Seatte University | page 08

PV Array Energy produced per year = 282,050 kWh Average annual savings = $25,291 Savings over 25 years = $632,275 Electricity generated over the systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifespan (25 years) = 7,051,250kWh Kit-of-Parts 1 light shlf at 8ft heigth 2 operable horizontal louvres 3 1ft deep vertical fins 4 planter bed 5 triple glazing 6 living green screen

01 Existing Structure

02 Addition of increased program area below south building

03 South-west corner opened to sky for sculpture court

04 Extracted south-west area replaced on to third level

05 Skylights of varying volumes added to central bays

06 Skylights splayed for even distribution of daylight

Energy generated supplied to mechanical room Warm water tube

Cool water tube

Groundsource heat pump

Translucent glazing

PV panels

West Facade

Floor radiant system

South Facade

Open-to-sky court

East Facade

Section showing Integrated Building Systems Light Cave | page 09

Visual Arts Center for Seatte University | page 10

Daylight access to east and west bays Central two bays in darkness

N Lower Level Plan

Light Cave | page 11

Skylights introduced over central bays for daylighting

Upper Level Plan

Skylights at an angle to maximize daylighting

Roof Level Plan

Visual Arts Center for Seatte University | page 12

UNDER WINGS OF CARE Movable Healthcare Clinic by Building Trust International | Cambodia For a region that needs to rapidly expand the delivery of quality healthcare to a large under-served population - most of which is largely rural - focus for the traveling Healthcare Centre must be as much about its “approachability” as about its “relocatability”. The building platform of the Centre is based on a robust, lightweight, easily transportable system with local bamboo as its primary component. For a Centre that must travel off shipping container size was discarded in favor of a smaller module that can sit at the back of a 20-feet flatbed truck. The primary structural component is a Fabriccovered Bamboo Parabolic Arch. The arch has pivoted arms that open up to form weather-protection canopies over the building openings. Seven arches open to form a135° sector that makes up a single module. The circular form allows for shorter circulation paths while enclosing courtyards that then form the heart of the Centre. BUILDING TYPOLOGY Healthcare ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Passive cooling | Local materials | Reusable building material FEASIBILITY Self Built | Deployable | Modular | Community engagement RESPONSIBILITIES Design conceptualization | Planning | Design development | Presentation

Under Wings of Care | page 13

Movable Healthcare Clinic by Building Trust International | page 14

Hard box to soft envelope Nine steps to unfold a health centre!

Step 01|Transport to site

Step 02|Unload on site

Step 03|Stretch out

Step 04|Open side flaps

Step 05|Fix horizontal members

Step 06|Space demarcation

Step 07|Add weather protection

Step 08|One finished module

Step 09|Connect modules Under Wings of Care | page 15

Detail Section Movable Healthcare Clinic by Building Trust International | page 16

Transverse Section BB 1. Low shaded vents provide cool air to enter 2. Higher openings allow hot air to escape through the courtyard 3. Tree provides shade in courtyard 4. Angular cut-bamboo panels block out rain and harsh sunrays while allowing cross ventilation

Under Wings of Care | page 17

5. Cantilevered â&#x20AC;&#x153;wingsâ&#x20AC;? block our direct sunrays while fabric roof allows soft natural light to filter in 6. Aluminium fine insect mesh keeps out mosquitoes and allows ventilation 7. Raised floor provides separation from surrounding earth and protection against floods

Movable Healthcare Clinic by Building Trust International | page 18

LIVING WEAVE Horizontal Farms by Architectural Workshop of Rome | Delhi, India Drawing from the traditional Indian courtyard typology, the project enables community living and farming through a modular, scalable model that offers residents the benefits of low purchase cost, flexibility to expand as per means, and the potential of skill development and employment through selfbuild. The project aims to integrate the culture and traditions of Indian society with improved living conditions for inhabitants of urban slums. The built environment has a closer connection with the lifestyles of the people it shelters. Spread over a 3 Hectare area in the heart of New Delhi, The building block of the built community is a single cluster that is a combination of 4 housing units integrated with individual farms. Modules combine together to form a continuous tapestry of farmlands over the roofs of dwellings that may be worked on together by the community as farming is traditionally practiced in India and much of Asia. This â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weaveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gently undulates over the length of the site, cascading down to form flatter expanses for play areas and market zones. The sense of porosity and fine grain of informal settlements is maintained, with courtyards that house the vertical circulation cores linking up at ground level, while the sense of a continuous landscape is retained at the roof level. BUILDING TYPOLOGY Mixed use | Residential | Commercial | Urban Design ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Passive cooling | Local materials | Water harvesting | Farming | Reusable building materials FEASIBILITY Self Built | Modular | Community engagement | Incremental growth RESPONSIBILITIES Design conceptualization | Planning | Design development | Presentation

Living Weave | page 19

Horizontal Farms by Architectural Workshop of Rome | page 20

Existing green land

Traditional courtyard

Green roof addition

Connecting green roofs

Infrastructure

Shifting volumes Alternative 01

Shifting volumes Alternative 02

Shifting volumes Aternative 03

Shifting volumes Alternative 04

Infill

Incremental Growth Infill as Kit-of-parts 1. brick wall 2. bamboo reinforced concrete 3. bamboo screens 4. recycled perforated metal screens Living Weave | page 21

Horizontal Farms by Architectural Workshop of Rome | page 22

Working of Farms

1.self-shading overlapping volumes 2. roof farms bring down interior temperature in hot Delhi climate 3. maximizing natural light and ventilation through courtyards, building materials and porous volumes 4. grey water recycling 5. use of low tech recyclable materials

1 4

Living Weave | page 23

Horizontal Farms by Architectural Workshop of Rome | page 24

NIVASA - PHASE 1 Multifamily Residential Complex by Universal Dwellings India | Bangalore, India This project is the development of an Entry Level Housing community on a land parcel of 1.29 acres with a total of 112 apartments in 2- Bedroom and 3-Bedroom configuration, designed as an integrated, socially and environmentally sustainable built community. The built form is derived from a response to climatic conditions to ensure that dwellings are naturally ventilated and lit, with minimal reliance on artificial means for creating comfort conditions. Integrated measures involving orientation, self- shading, vegetative growth and careful design of external fenestration that captures prevalent breezes and keeps out harsh solar radiation will ensure that the buildings will stay cool during hot summer months and warm during winters. Green space at ground level is maximized with the ground level being kept completely free of vehicular traffic and safe for children and the elderly. Dwelling Units look over garden spaces, with all parking and vehicles hidden from view. Open spaces are designed to stay in shade after morning hours, so as to increase their utility to the community. A continuous Connecting Terrace space at the Fifth Storey links across the South end of the building to the North. This ensures that any dwelling is at a maximum of three storey difference from an open community space. The Fifth Storey Connecting Terrace also connects to Community facilities at the same level.

Nivasa | page 25

Multi-family Residential Complex and Township by Universal Dwellings India| page 26

Intial sketch defining built mass versus green spaces

Built mass addition + Fragmentation

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Staggering building heights

Introducing circulation spine Fifth Floor Plan

Seventh Floor Plan

Addition of sky patio

*View produced by Architype Nivasa Phase 1 | page 27

Adding second skin

*View produced by Architype Multi-family Residential Complex by Universal Dwellings India| page 28

NIVASA - PHASE 2 Residential Township by Universal Dwellings India | Bangalore, India This master planning and Architectural Design Residential Project is conceived as a socially and environmentally sustainable township on a 12 acres site, just off the outer ring road of Bangalore. This project is close to the city, yet away from the hustle and bustle of it. Nivasa Phase 2 is designed as a modern village with educational, recreational and retail facilities. The township consists of a mix of high-rise buildings, single-family bungalows and high-density row houses. Amenities like a separate cycling lane, clubhouse, pool and fitness centre, wooded areas and meandering pathways, parks and open green spaces that also include a public square have been provided to encourage community bonding. Shaded, vegetated sidewalks with benches have been designed to benefit the young and old alike. Also nestled within Nivasa is a fully equipped school, along with its own green spaces and sports & recreational facilities. The project was developed to make Entry-Level Affordable Homes available to all while still enjoying cutting edge facilities.

*View produced by Architype

*View produced by Architype Nivasa Phase 2 | page 29

*View produced by Architype Residential Township by Universal Dwellings India| page 30

Dhara Mehta 530 Broadway E, Seattle WA 98102 T (206) 979-6898 dharam@uw.edu dharamehta26@gmail.com