U r b a n D e s i g n & A r c h i t e c t u r e
P O R T F O L I O
S e l e c t e d W o r k s
2 0 1 7 - 2 0 2 5
J e e l P a t e l
C o n t e n t s
Where Mobility meets community
Academic | Semester 1 | Urban Design
Starting Small, Growing Big
ULI Hines Competition | Urban Design
Turning Palava in one of the most aspirational and livable cities
Academic | Professional Practice | Urban Design
The Street Design
Re imagining the Public Right of Way
Academic | Semester 7 | Urban Design
Bridge to Adulthood
A Micro Community for Orphaned Children and Youth
Academic | Semester 10 | Architecture Thesis
Read(in)g Circles
Learning
as Pause Points
Unwind
What if Murphy Crossing transformed into a vibrant, walkable hub where you could meet friends, shop, work, and access public transit— all within a few minutes’ stroll?
Atlanta Beltline Westside Trail
A WALKABLE VISION
Where Mobility meets community
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
The project envisions Murphy Crossing as a walkable, transit-oriented hub that strengthens connections between historic neighborhoods. Prioritizing pedestrian-friendly streets, public plazas, and mixed-use spaces, it promotes inclusivity and enhances economic and social ties. Smooth transitions between new developments and existing homes create a balanced, diverse urban environment for residents and businesses.
Through a phased, small-scale approach, the design improves accessibility, cultural identity, and sustainability. A pedestrian spine from the Beltline to its Spur forms a network of community-driven spaces. Integrating the Beltline and MARTA intersection enhances mobility, making Murphy Crossing a model for equitable, connected, and resilient urban growth.
1 | URBAN DESIGN
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SEMESTER
MARTA RAIL
1. Marta Station
2. Mobility Hub
3. Grocery Mart (with podium parking)
4. Offices
5. Rowhouses
6. Retail at Beltline level
7. Performance and Art Studios
8. Food and Beverage
9. Mixed use Residential
10. Triplex & Duplex
11. Educational Institute
12. Cottage Courts
13. Live + Work
14. Maker space workshops
15 Fourplex
MARTA bus stops and railways are the only means of public transportation with minimal connection across the site
Mapping walkability distance from the amenities, which results in an increase in the car dependency of the residents
Locating the parks and recreational spaces and their relation to the amenities and public transport C o n n e c t i v i t y
16. Community Center & Library
17. Senior Home
18. Mixed Use Commercial
19. Trees Atlanta
20. Beltline Autonomous Bus Stop
Adair Park
WestsideAtlantaBeltline Trail
BeltlineSpur
Sylvan Rd SW
Integrating the Pedestrian Paths 04
Extending the Street Grids into the Site
The design proposal brings together the old and new residents friendly neighborhood. The open spaces weave into the built, becoming
residents of the neighborhood into this multi functional communal space with the intent of creating an easily accessible pedestrian becoming the identity of the community and growing along with it.
Beltline Spur
Beltline Trail
The main street connecting the Marta Station to the Beltline Stop is a lively retail corridor with food and beverage options. While allowing vehicles, it prioritizes pedestrians with ample bike lanes and sidewalks.
Outdoor School play and co working area along the Pedestrian Spine offering opportunities for engagement
Central Cultural Space bounded by a celebratory space inviting residents
The pedestrian spine serves as an exclusive outdoor room, linking the Beltline to the Spur while integrating surrounding activities. It is exclusively for pedestrian and bicycle movement.
Food Joints and Retail Activities as residents and visitors from the Beltline
Community Gardens near the Senior housing, transforming the nature of the spine into a more private neighborhood zone as it meets the Spur
Design Vision
What if a small-scale, community-driven development could transform a fragmented Cleveland neighborhood into a thriving, self-sustaining hub, where local businesses and culture drive the economy?
The
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE COMPETITION
THE LOCAL SHIFT
Starting Small; Growing Big
CLEVELAND, OHIO
TEAM : Ojaswi Chauthaiwale, Byron Matysek, Megha Pramod, Zhaoxin Ma
Cleveland’s east side, once a thriving cultural and industrial hub, has faced economic instability, housing decay, and social fragmentation since the decline of its industrial base after WWII. This has led to systemic inequities, high vacancies, poverty, and a growing divide between the east and west sides of the city.
Our project aims to revitalize the east side by focusing on the principles of Redefine, Reconnect, and Rejuvenate. Unlike largescale developments, we prioritize smallscale, neighborhood-focused growth that responds to the community’s current needs. Through phased development, we aim to foster organic growth, ensuring long-term sustainability and a unique, evolving identity that supports community-driven urban renewal.
COMPETITION | URBAN DESIGN
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Economic inequality among neighborhoods caused by focused development in certain regions.
Absence of connectivity and community spaces in low-income areas highlights the need for cultural and social investment.
Limited access to good civic spaces affects rejuvenation and daily needs, impacting quality of life.
Two primary streets—E-W link to the city and an N-S connection to the lake—intersect to form the project’s vibrant heart.
I just pulled in the car for some food, but look at these beautiful products in that shop.
- Bryce, Traveler at I-90
Last week woodwork, this week coding! I am so excited by the diverse courses that I can take here. There is so much learning.
-Sam, Student at the youth training program
Workspaces and brewery at the Lake, definitely a good investment.
- Dylan, Real estate developer in Downtown
This is such a great opportunity to expand my business network and increase my outreach. I’ll finally be able to buy that vacant plot near my house and expand business further.
- Kelly, Small business owner
Neighborhood Hub Transit Node
Community & Retail hub
Designing a street network with key nodes and junctions to link recreation, community, and transit hubs.
weekly farmer’s market is such great time to catch up with people all these neighborhoods , Resident at Glenville
With this new bus stop, I have not actually pulled my car out to go around in the neighborhood.
- Tracy, Local resident
community meeting this week revolve around our suggestions for Cheers project Extension.
David, President of St. Clair
Getting back in touch with my art is so great, especially with this whole opportunity to showcase it to people to sell.
- Gina, Artist
Collaboration with School Green Spine
Future bike connection to Gordan Park
NorthMarginalTrailProject
To Downtown
Future direct connection to Lake Erie
Connection to Cheer’s Project
Green spaces serve as connectors, with a branching pedestrian/ bike trail fostering a biking culture linked to the city network.
One hour class of Yoga outdoors and I realized how much I had been neglecting my physical and mental health till now.
- Riya, Student at CWRU
Wow, this offbeat stop offers Ecotours as well! Also, look at this stunning view, what a beautiful city.
- Ty, Traveler at the Interstate 90
I am so glad that everything that I need for hosting this impromptu dinner for my friends, is literally at 5 minutes walking distance from home.
-Misha, Resident at St. Clair
Wait, I can actually bike all the way to downtown starting here? That too with the Lake view?
- Shanon, Sports enthusiast
To Euclid Ave
Interstate90
Horizon Science Academy
Dick Goddard Way
1. Neighborhood park
Grocery Store 3. Everyday Retail
Youth development center
Vocational training
Incubators
Learning Labs
Workstations
Daycare + Residential
Co working Spaces
Collaborative Flex Spaces
Library & Cafe
Art & Creativity studios, Performance Center
Cultural & Recreational hub
Outdoor event space
Open Gym & Yoga spaces
17. Pedestrian and Bike Trail
Flex Industrial
Townhouse
Food and Beverage
Innovative Retail
Craft Brewery
Maker Spaces
Innovation hub & Concept Stores
Future Development - Cheer’s Project
Gordan Park E72ndSt
Eatery and Culinary Collective
Pop up retail Plaza
Viewing deck
Fresh Market Pavilion (weekly)
Mixed use Residential
Micro Transit Hub
Ecotourism and Dog Park
Residential
Healthcare
Resource Depot
Structure Parking
Surface Parking
Sports and Play area
Bridge to Lake Erie
Retention Pond
This view highlights the bustling public plaza near the waterfront, embodying the reconnect goal of linking the neighborhood to the outside. Maker spaces, food halls, and scenic bridge views attract external visitors, fostering economic prosperity and cultural exchange while inviting deeper connections to the community.
This view showcases the green spine at the heart of the neighborhood, supporting the reconnect goal of strengthening internal community ties. Featuring retail, a library, cafes, and the art and performance spaces, this pedestrian-focused area promotes walkability and shared interactions, stitching a divided neighborhood from within.
Introducing a Neo-Classical language into
What if Palava City set a new standard for an aspirational pedestrian-centric urban space, where streets, footpaths, junctions, and public areas became distinctive markers of its vibrant identity?
Palava’s urban landscape.
CITY LEVEL INITIATIVES AT PALAVA
Turning Palava in one of the most aspirational and livable cities
MUMBAI, INDIA
TEAM : Maitreyi Phansalkar, Sanket Kamdar
The city of Palava in Dombivali, Mumbai is a private township that has been designed and partially constructed in Phase 1. The current phase to is dedicated towards redesigning the streets and open spaces of the city as a part of premiumisation. The infrastructure being underused, the aim is to reactivate public spaces and create an identity of Palava as an aspirational and monumental city.
By understanding the prevailing site conditions and the context, we identified the larger visionary brief into 4 major project goals and various actionable steps to achieve them. The objective is to contribute to a more sustainable way of living by focusing on pedestrians as the main user group along with identity creation towards premiumisation.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
KUND ARCHITECTS
2024
The project approach began with a thorough analysis of the existing main junctions in the master plan, focusing on understanding Through close collaboration with traffic consultants, a new junction design was proposed, aiming to improve traffic efficiency not only optimized vehicular flow but also allocated more space for pedestrians and introduced green islands, enhancing both
The testing on site was an initiative to observe the residents response to the proposed zoning. With geometric corrections of the site led to observation on how these actions synchronized the vehicular movement across the main junction. Testing on site is them to a better and safer vehicular movement system. In the process, we were able to cut out green spaces from the roads
Existing junction circulation
Proposed junction circulation
Conducting on-site testing of the proposed circulation evaluate its effectiveness and people’s response to
understanding both vehicular and pedestrian movement patterns. efficiency while prioritizing pedestrian-friendly spaces. This redesign both mobility and urban greenery within the project.
the green islands and lane segregation, the temporary testing on also a way of initiating behavior change in pedestrians to orient roads which can contribute as the extensions of the existing island.
circulation to it.
Analyzing key conflict points and cross-movement patterns to optimize flow and connectivity.
Revising the junction design based on-site traffic analysis to conduct a rapid reassessment before execution.
Key Plan
Temple Jn Park Jn
The second design stage analyzed public interaction with streets and retail, reactivating footpaths and shopfronts. A typological cover, and parklets. This reduced parking space, reallocating it for public retail and community use, creating a more vibrant,
I d e a t i o n
Existing footpath adjacent to the park
Existing footpath at the retail zone
Integrating bike lane and tree zone as a part of the pedestrian right of way
Trellis shading the street furniture and a dedicated retail frontage
typological approach reshaped the urbanscape by rezoning footpaths with street furniture, redesigned shopfronts, shading, green vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment.
O n S i t e I m p l e m e n t a t i o n
Leveraging wide footpaths at corner F&B retail to strategically plan street furniture and landscaping, enhancing public engagement at junctions.
Designing trellises based on shade analysis to complement specific retail typologies while planning public seating as inviting pause points.
What if one of the most dense streets of suburban Mumbai were free of chaos, with organized spaces that blend
Location & Street Character
Density & Disorganization
Structure & Engagement
Encroachment and Safety
The reorganized planning involves zoning and the segmentation of current functions, complemented by a layer of community engagement and integration with the natural environment.
THE STREET DESIGN
Re imagining the Public Right of Way
MUMBAI, INDIA
The Borivali station area in Mumbai sees a high influx of commuters and residents, creating a chaotic scene with vendors occupying footpaths and roads. The constant traffic and lack of organization contribute to the disorder.
A redesign is proposed for the 1 km stretch of S.V Road to better organize and separate user groups by function. The plan includes dedicated spaces for vendors and parking, with public plazas designed for higher pedestrian and vendor activity to encourage community engagement.
Street furniture is designed with flexibility to create pause points for various activities.
The redesign seeks to preserve the street’s character while enhancing its public nature, offering a more organized and welcoming space for the area’s diverse users.
SEMESTER 7 | URBAN DESIGN
ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE 2020
Public plaza for Shop fronts
Planning and street furniture organic vendor
Raised crossing level (150mm)
Footpath at junctions pause points
Planters designed seating spaces Dedicated public Bus stop
Dedicated clear forefront area
Central seating rest stops for and shoppers
Optimum shading footpath
Dedicated zones furniture set up food vendors
designing furniture to support vendor activities.
crossing at footpath (150mm)
junctions as designed as flexible spaces public zone for
clear shop
shading across for major
Analyzing footpath usage and rezoning to better structure and accommodate pedestrian and vendor density.
seating designed as pedestrians
zones and fixed up for street
Introducing raised pedestrian crossings at junctions to reduce vehicular speed and create safer spaces for pedestrians.
What if an orphaned children and youth care community is placed at an active junction to seamlessly blend with the surrounding community integrating with the urban environment?
BRIDGE TO ADULTHOOD
A micro community for orphaned children and youth
MUMBAI, INDIA
The project is an attempt to overcome the limitations of the current module of child care institutions and the stereotype that it comes with. It focuses on creating a home; a self sustainable micro community for orphaned children and youth within an urban neighborhood.
With an attempt to blur the boundaries of the inward nature of an institution, the project conceptualizes the programmatic, spatial and social forces that form the basis of the typology of a child care institution. It is an architectural exploration to create a hybrid residential, educational, cultural and an urban model to guide the children and youth to find their identity and reintegrate with the society.
SEMESTER 10 | ARCHITECTURE THESIS
ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
2022
1. Drop off
Administration
Indoor play area
Activity Room
Classrooms
7. Building Services 8. Cafeteria
Auditorium
10. Courtyard
11.Community play area 12. Parking Functions
Site Entry
Pedestrian Entry
View of the scaffoldings forming the facade and porous edge of the site
from the site edge meeting the footpath at upper level
View
Activity Room and Street Edge
Scaffolding frames allow various activities for children and youth. It also extends to be an urban insert for the neighborhood serving as a medium for two communities to bond
Multiple Sites for Intervention
Nodes identified as potential learning hubs throughout the village, serving as community activators.
A. School Library as a Recreation and Learning Space
Intervention designed as a space for play and learning at the school,
Integrating library in the form of leisure for farm workers
Library as a part of the gathering spaces at the temple
B. Farmland Library as a Leisure & a Learning Space
C. Temple Library as a Community & a Learning Space
TOP 50 SHORTLISTED ENTRYVOLUME ZERO
READ(IN)G CIRCLES
Learning Portals at Pause Points
TAMIL NADU, INDIA
utilizing the terrain to create dynamic levels for exploration.
Despite having a comparatively decent literacy rate, the Kollimalai tribe of Tamil Nadu remains cut off from the social and intellectual aspects of development because of the lack of educational resources. In a place like Kollimalai where people are equipped with educational tools of writing, reading and a local mastery of pottery, an educational incubator is importantly apt for their collective growth.
Division of the given library into fragments such that each fragment is strategically located to integrate it with the daily activities of the tribe, i.e., 1. Travel Route (bus stop) 2. Work Area (farmlands) 3. Community Area (temple) 4 .Institutional Area (school) as opposed to a library at a single place where people need to make special time to visit it.
VOLUME ZERO COMPETITION
ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Library acting as a pause waiting point at the transit stop
D. Junction Library as a Waiting & a Learning Space
TEAM : Shalom Pereira, Hiloni Sheth
Central axis of the site is maintained, keeping the tree as a focal point.
Depression created in the center allowing larger group gatherings.
Smaller zones created for activities enhancing public participation and interaction.
Pockets created by modulating a continuous element forming flexible spaces for people.
from the scaffoldings with flexible seating spaces
View
DESIGN ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION (DAC)
UNWIND
Academy’s Recess: Rethinking the Amphitheater
The design creates spaces that cater to individuals and larger groups. The space as a whole is free for creative interpretations and supports various activities. The free flowing curvilinear frame segregates these spaces but at the same time ties these corners together to provide porosity. The central arena encourages social interaction and public gathering activities.
So, be it the cultural event, random fun games with peers or some alone time the amphitheater would be an integral part of an academite’s life.
DESIGN COMPETITION
ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
TEAM : Ojaswi Chauthaiwale
MUMBAI, INDIA
View of the central space as the main gathering area
