ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO by Ilam Shrestha

[NAME] Architecture Portfolio - [ Date ]

Hello, I am Ilam Shrestha, a fourth year architecture student at Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel. Personally, I conceive architecture as designing and creating spaces that communicates with the users and the surroundings, that is serene, enduring, and powerful, and that not only fit into the context but also brings new innovations. I’m looking forward to new learning experiences and the opportunity to develop myself as an architect with experience and knowledge from the professional world. Ilam Shrestha Bachelors of Architecture 26.10.1998 ilam.stha@gmail.com 9860675050 Bhaktapur, Nepal

CONTENTS

Coalesce Park

Academic/ Landscape Design_Sem VII

The Chamber Under

BRAUIC Design Competition (2nd Runner Up)

Nangkhel Community Centre Academic/ Design Studio _Sem VI

Affinity Dwellings

Academic/ Housing Design_Sem VII

Eclectic Synergy

Competition/ Supertecture (Winner)

Miscellaneous

1 . T H E C H AM B ER U ND ER Project Details: Library Design in a Historical Setting BRAUIC University Student Architectural and Structural Design Competition, 2020, China Location: Taudaha, Kritipur Awards: Second Runner Up

“Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past” -James Joyce. Designing a FUTURE library in a HISTORICAL urban area instigated the notion of “The Chamber Under” as a future space to connect with the past. The site chosen is in Kathmandu- the land of the Gods, with a culture that considers water bodies to be holy and spiritual, yet ironically treating them as dumping sites. A small lake, Taudaha, in the ancient town of Kirtipur, the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal is a comparatively clean water body remaining in the valley. Believed to be the abode of serpent kings, the mythology that backs it up has saved it from ruins. The fact that people have left a place untouched to allow snakes- real and mythological their space, gives hope that migratory birds and aquatic life will still have a space to rest for many years still. Team: Ilam Shrestha, Nandita Shrestha, Sudipti Giri, Sansu Shrestha, and Bidhya Gupta

Thus, futuristic technology- is used in the library to convey legends of the past, like the underground tunnel with hologram projections, virtual reality, transparent glass screens to show visitors the lifestyle of serpent kings underwater. This portion is barely seen from the outside, yet is the most important part of the library, much like history is the most important part of the town. The concept of this project revolves around COEXISTENCE of• The Past and the Future • Architecture and Nature • Users of different nature Thus, making “The Chamber-Under” space for everyone, irrespective of their differencesthe need of the future. It is cultivated as a place where visitors get to visually learn, among other things, about the history and ecosphere of the place.

The Chamber Under with thematic exhibition spaces, with interactive curvilinear transparent screens, as seen from archive collection, which holds historical records and documentation.

A community room for interaction between visitors and locals has a central discussion table with holographic projection and informal inside-out seating.

Coexistence of different nature of people sunken seating space is placed next to transparent screens with digital illustrations for unobstructed view of the lake with exterior of bird friendly UV reflective glass.

Visitors go through a tunnel, where hologram projections show visitors the lifestyle of serpent kings underwater. And hologram tables are integrated in discussion spaces to visualize the stories and diagrams creating virtual reality images.

2 . COAL E S C E PA R K Project Details: Landscape Design Location: Lagankhel, Patan

3 . N AN G K H EL CO M M U NI T Y C ENT R E Project Details: Vernacular Design Design Studio VI Location: Nangkhel Village, Bhaktapur

Nangkhel Community and Vocational Training Center is designed to fulfill the needs of the local people of the settlement and stand as a place for social interaction. It is designed to serve the people living in the settlement as a social place for interaction, civic engagement and co-operation in the community where people can meet, talk and discuss their ideas.

SETTLEMENT STUDY

SURVEY Total families surveyed – 65

Ethnicity- 100% Newars SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS Total 30 houses among 65 houses in the settlement were surveyed and informations of communal group, occupation, family, cultures were collected.

COMMUNAL GROUPS Mainly 3 caste; Byanju(54%), Suwals(34%) and Sukubhattu(12%

FAMILY STRUCTURE Most families live in joint household, Some families have separated recently due to lack of space in the old houses.

OCCUPATION Mostly agriculture. Other 8 families are dependent on carpentry and rest 5 on services

ARCHITECTURAL ASPECTS The settlement is shifting downhill in search of better transportation and infrastructure. Upper Nangkhel has traditional Newari houses with sloped roofs while new houses are of RCC.

HOUSE TYPES The houses are made up of loadbearing brick walls with small openings. Few houses are made up of RCC.

AGE OF BUILDING Most of the buildings in this settlement are over 50 years old and very less of them are newer RCC structure that are constructed after earthquake 2015 AD.

FINISHING MATERIALS Most of the older houses in this settlement are constructed with sun dried brick and plastered with mud and small pebbles.

View of the selected site for design.

Program Formulation

Programs

Spaces

Standard Area/ Person (sq.m.)

Number of Users

No. of Units

Lobby Area

Reception, waiting desk Washroom area

1.4

Admin and offices (cellular)

Admin and offices (open)

Multipurpose Hall

Seating spaces, stores, stage space, green room , technical room

1.2

108+40(stage)+ 60(circulation+ open function)

Vocational Lectures Classrooms

Seating space, Lecture spaces

0.6

Wood Workshop

Spaces for equipment of carpentry works, sitting space, working table, store

Library

Collection, staff work , user sitting, meeting, special use and circulation spaces.

2.8

112

Meeting and Conference Rooms

Table space, Presentation space and seats around the table

1.6

12+25

Cafe

Kitchen, washing, counter and dining

1.4

21+14

Open Ground Space Area

Total Area (sq.m.) 45

Parking, Front park and interaction zones, plantation field

300

Total Building Area

858

With circulation +25%

1072sq.m. 800 sq.m.

Nangkhel Village

Measured house Byanju Residence

View of site looking north

Photo of settlement houses

Image Title

MASTER PLAN

The design of Nangkhel Community Centre is conceived as a amalgamation of the vernacular architecture with the landscape as well as the innovative modern design influences.

The project is done with the aim of uplifting the standard of life and creating an interaction space for the people in the settlement. In the design the spaces are planned with2 main lines of circulation leading to the different blocks and areas of the community centre. The site is steep so the buildings are designed with the slopes and they are standing at different heights. The landscape is designed with interplay of parks, gardens, trees and buildings.The design as a whole in upper vernacular settlement preserves the traditional architecture of the place. The section cutting primarily through the cafe library and multipurpose hall gives the sense of volume of two buildings and space they occupy. The section shows the all the buildings and spaces which are designed in considering the slope of the with the terrain. The first profile elevation shows the views of north elevation of reception-admin building, common washrooms and vocational training center on one side and the second shows the south elevation of wood workshop and multipurpose hall.

Admin Block

Multipurpose Hall

Vocational Workshop and Stay

orkshop

DRAWINGS

4 . T H E A F F I NI T Y D E W L L I NG S Project Details: Housing Design Design Studio VII Location: Tikathali, Lalitpur

Affinity housing is designed to create and common spaces on various levels and an environment for collective growth of the residents sharing their feelings, intentions, attitudes, experiences and social part of life. Housing is designed with an axis along river with landscapes, major roads and riverfront and distribution of housing spaces and landscape with respect to it and perpendicular axis. Housing with different units share common backyards, common gardens in row and detached as well common terraces on each levels of apartment and a large landscaped garden for each housing type.The approach is to design a housing which shares a common space on residence level, surrounding and community level.

Team: Ilam Shrestha, Ujjwal Sapkota, Rojina Kafle, Sansu Shrestha, Prajina Taksari and Prabeshika Kharel

One of the important features of the design is landscape and green spaces. Garden and landscapes enhances the setting of housing and its presence in housing improves the place feature and affects human mood. The approach is to build with the landscape, idea of outdoor space creation along with the planning of housing units. The riverbank is designed with a three strip vegetation, walking and seating area in the entire housing giving that experience of living in the part of nature. The design aims in coexistence of river, plants and buildings creating pleasant urban landscape.

MASTER PLAN

DESCRIPTION

CONTOUR ANALYSIS Cutting and filling taking in account of original contour heights and developing in considerations with road networks and housing placements.

AXIS DEVELOPMENT The main axis is green axis in N-S direction along the river, offers overall view of the site along the line, walkability, andas main street and riverfront spaces

RIVERSIDE AND GARDENS Riverside with walkways and trees. Interracting communal gardens for different housing types. Cleanling and river waste management achieving clean river. COMMUNITY AREA Community area as central focal point of activities. Has recreational area, community building, landscape, plaza and play area. It also has cultural zone, farmers market and stepped riverside amphitheatre and access to public with controlled entry point.

ROAD NETWORKS The main collector road is N-S along river and it distributes E-W into the housing of width 6m and has interconnecting bridges. The slopes with the contour levels is shown above. Provision of public road is done at west of housing along the site booundary. HOUSING DENSITY The housing has varying density profiles encouraging alternate user experiences and addressig different population groups. The high rise apartment placed at north to avoid light blockage and allowing entire view of site along river axis. Villas at eastern side and have landscape riverside perks.

ZONING

LANDSCAPE

Public gathering and landscaped area is an integral part of any space. The landscaped parks are designed to serve as a gathering space for people to relax and enjoy the green and natural parts of the housing. The gardens are distributed overall the site for different housing types and are located at central space of the housing units providing interactive, relaxing, vibrant spaces. The river front is designed with three strips, green tree plantation belt separating road with walkway and river, stone paved walkway and wooden surface walking and seating spaces with railings and embankment along the riverside. Also stepped stone seating are provided near community space allowing to descend to the clean river. The design aims in coexistence of river, plants and buildings creating pleasant urban landscape. Garden and landscapes enhances the setting of public buildings and housing in the entire area and its presence in housing improves the place feature, affects human mood as well as improves the quality of air.

ROW HOUSING

The design is done with front and back terraces and projections and gardens creating good indoor and outdoor spaces. The aim is to create a house with private and shared spaces. Row houses are designed focusing on the low income groups also middle class groups. It is the smallest individual plot size, hence the challenge as to create a communally live space without overstepping the byelaws or other constraints.

Row housing is designed for economical and individual plot ownership housing. This is on plot of 2.5-3 aana and is a single family housing typology. It is the smallest individual plot size, so the aim of this housing is to provide required spaces sufficient for family members in the minimum area. The housing also have back garden which acts as the social space for cohesion among the members of the housing, and a communal garden for interactions and gathering. The location of the housing is at south west side of the planning and has two types of housing 3BHK and 2BHK for families with different requirements.

COMMUNITY AREA

The human behaviour is affected by their feelings, intentions, attitudes and expectations, social context but also space they occupy. Community area is designed for multiuser interaction experience and is a space for gathering, events, outdoor-indoor activities, recreational and functional activities to create strong associations between the neighborhood context, human behaviour and social interactions.

Crossing the bridge leads to sports area which is an elliptical ground for games and sports like basketball, badminton and tennis and has stepped seatings for watching the play. The entry to the community space has been given to public as well to increase the local people’s interaction in the area also as a method of giving back to public and increasing public stewardship. APARTMENTS

The different surfaces of the landscape creates an ambient environment along with with the natural landscapes as shurbs, trees and grasses. The building itself is minimal and linearly designed and has inside-out spaces, indoor spaces for administration activities, health care and workouts, studying, day-care, and different events. The landscape has hard and soft surfaces with circular play area for children, plazas and greens and the intersections of the circle’s arc and openings creates the pathway for movement. There is an descending amphitheater near the riverside which creates relation with the river and acts as an space for resting aswell as outdoor rejoice.

The concept is mainly guided by the idea of receding terraces to maximize the amount of sunlight. The common terrace can act as an interaction space. Each terrace is connected by alternate staircase which creates the idea of hill climbing experience in the urban context. The apartment units are accessed through three service cores via common corridor. The central courtyard act as a common space through landscape elements.

5 . E C L EC T I C S YNER G Y Project Details: Future Classroom Design Supertecture National Design Competition Location: Dhoksa, Shankharapur Awards: Winner- All Star Team

The Future Classroom has been designed in a holistic approach advancing towards future learning methods yet reaching out to an essential tinge of the local touch. The building has been designed considering the terrain as such, overcoming water stagnancy while also maintaining the roofline of the pre-existing buildings. The building has been divided into two levels; digital classroom above and outdoor playful learning space below.

Team: Ilam Shrestha, Aabhushan Man Singh Tuladhar, Bikalpa Poudel and Dhiraj Bhandari

EXPLODED MATERIAL IDEA

MATERIALITY Sustainably, we have gone eco-friendly using materials like treated bamboos, straw bale, timber, metal, and stones. The open floor plan of the ground floor creates a team learning and playful zone with saplings and stackable seats which opens outward to a playfield embarking towards a physical development of the children. PEDAGOGY The learning modality has mainly focused on liberal method of education creating analytical, interactive and collaborative approaches. The flexible seating layout allows the digital classroom to adjust to different study modes- independent study, small group for comprehensive learning, an entire class for the collaborative environment and an open layout for playful space. Using augmented reality and smartboard technologies, students can have a better understanding of the topics. The main intention of the pedagogical approach is to create a comprehensive and investigative learning aura to let the children dive into the vast ocean of opportunities and arenas as they liberally explore different topics and also acquire equally important life skills. Each day would be an adventure of its own thus stimulating that adrenaline in the kids for school each morning.

CONCEPT

6 . MI S C EL L A NEO U S This is the collection of works from my architecture education, hobbies and other projects.

MODELING AND VIZUALIZATION

DOCUMENTATION

INTERIOR DESIGNING

THANK YOU Ilam Shrestha ilam.stha@gmail.com

Bhaktapur, Nepal