Architecture + Design portfolio 2014-2022

POR TFO

About me..

I have a thing for vernacular architecture and strongly believe that indigenous materials are always the best for the building. They portray the character of the place while performing the best for the climate prevailing in that region.. My designs are greatly influenced by the vernacular with the touch of modernity to accomodate today’s lifestyles.

Nature has always been a great source of inspiration. It’s Ordered Chaos. Everything has a pattern to it. Everything has a purpose to it’s existence. Some are obvious, some not so much. But often, what may look too random or complex is nothing but a simple fractal repeated across dimensions.

call architecture FROZEN MUSIC”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Earth Metal Concrete

Earth

“Build your architecture from what is beneath your feet”

Hassan Fathy

Ayapakkam Residence

arKDes studio | 2016

A traditional South-Indian residence constructed using rammed earth and exposed brickwork. The rammed earth walls make the house much cooler than a conventional building, requiring no ACs even during the harshest summer. Terracotta jaali work coupled with long, low-sill win dows and large skylights ensure ample natural lighting and constant fresh air circulation thereby greatly reduc ing dependance on The Grid.

Pot Tile ceiling, Oxide Flooring and Reclaimed antique wood for doors and windows bring in the old-world charm. The ‘Rain Court’ in the Pooja room draws inspira tion from the courtyards[Muttams] characteristic to the South. The use of natural materials and reduction of con crete coupled with features like waste water recycling, biogas-plant, solar panels greatly reduce the carbon footprint of the building.

Earth

“The ‘Rain Court’ in the Pooja room draws inspiration from the courtyards[Muthams] characteristic to the South.”

House entry

Design development | Planning | Interior and Exterior Material board

Front Detail - The verandah has inbuilt seating[Thinnai] and sloping roofs, classical south indian elements. The First floor, to let out to tenants, is accessed via the recessed staircase.

Side detail - The Low-sill, lin ear windows ensure circulation of fresh, cool air while keeping out direct sunlight and maxi mising privacy. The brick trellis work near the ceiling ensures that hot air is constantly ex pelled.

Back detailing - Angular sky lights and brick trellis’ on the West and south bring in fresh air and light while ensuring protection from direct harsh sunlight.

Design Development Front view

North East side view

North west side view

South East side view

First floor plan

Ground floor plan Site plan

Thulasi maadam

Terrace parapet wall design Window detailing

Bedroom jaali design - Made to cut off the direct west light but to increase the air circulation

Goa

Residence

Located far and away from the commercial madness that Goa has become, in the picturesque Aldona vil lage, the site is along a narrow lane surrounded by greenery on all sides. The site was on a steep incline, with a difference of 4m between the highest and lowest points! Conceptualised as a traditioanal, vaasthu compliant Goan house, there are unmistakeable touch es of the Portugese style in the elements.

The unavailabilty of Rammed Earth was overcome by using locally available Laterite Rock Dust. The structure is RCC in regulation with local laws. The heavy mon soons witnessed by Goa anually required the use of sloped roofs to minimize the need for waterproofing.

Basement plan

Multiple levels coupled with open plan ning satiate the client’s need for expansive, unbroken spaces. Dust and insects are kept out by perforated metal screens. Solar Pan els, Rain-water pond and passive energy saving techniques keep the house green and eco-friendly.

floor plan

Back side view showing the shaded pool area

View showing the Outdoor dining area

Main entry

Design development view

Metal

Reception block

Shooting Floors require double walls for insulation and thus Ship ping Containers were chosen in place of civil construction due to their sound insulation properties, cost, ease of construction and modular nature for creation of multiple spaces as per requirement. Interesting spaces have been created for the creative minds of the movie industry.

Certain containers have been projected outwards to break the ‘giant block’ monotony of the facade. Landscaping has been used extensively to create a visual and tactile contrast between Metal and Greenery.

Metal

The shooting floors were designed keeping in mind the requirements of the different depart ments such as Pre-production, Production and Post-production and spaces to accomodate the CG, the make-up, the administrative areas, the R&R areas .

110 Shipping Containers have been used in the project. The project is divided into two stages of 10,000 sqft and 8,000 sqft respectively. Both stages rose to a height of 50 feet.

YM Studio , Ketenamalle

Clockwise

110 Shipping Containers have been used in the project. The project is divided into two stages of 10,000 sqft and 8,000 sqft respectively. Both stages rose to a height of 50 feet.

Metal

Q2Q

Solutions, an Information Technology Park is located in the IT Corridor of Chennai. The site had 2 existing structures that were remodelled into one single, massive unit that was ca pable of housing a technologically corporate office. A con temporary building with touches of futurism invoke a high-tech atmosphere.

Facade Design development | Exterior Material board

Suresh

KANATHUR

Residence | Facade design

A contemporary facade with a composition of stone cladding, wood and laser cut MS grills for an overall earthy tone. The huge glass openings overlook the vista of the scenic pond and gardens below.

Concrete

Facade Design development | Exterior Material board

House

TOMAZ Residence

The site is a corner property, located at the end of a street in an upmarket locality in Chennai. The client re quired two 3 Bedroom Units but did not want the split to be very evident.

The design was then conceptualised based on the dualism of the Yin-Yang symbol. Where each house has its own indi viduality yet they are linked together intrinsically. Both units have been linked horizontally and vertically in a pretzel shape making each unit a duplex.

This gives them the feel of an individual house rather than the conventional, boxy apartment. Green spaces have been generously sprinkled throughout both residences to keep in them touch with nature and resolve apartment syn drome. A swimming pool and Gym have been included in the ground floor.

Concrete

The main design element prevading throughout the design are the thin vertical slits. The entire facade carries these vertical lines in different styles and forms. A dash of color adds to the vibrancy of the facade and since the color is very strong, nuetral colors like white and brown were chosen to complement it.

Concrete

“Design is not just what it looks like, design is how it works.” Steive Jobs

EAT DRINK WORK PRAY LEARN SLEEP

Masaledaar

RESTAURANT INTERIOR DESIGN

Interior design developed for a famous restaurant chain. This restaurant chain has different outlet styles based on the cuisine served namely: - Desi rasoi - Firangi Tadka

Unique interiors were designed and developed keeping in mind the cuisine style and the location of the outlet.

EAT

Masaledaar,

Tadka,

Masaledaar, Firangi Tadka, Chetpet - RESTAURANT

Masaledaar,

“A laidback rural vibe between busy city life.”

Located mins away from the city’s IT hubs, Baker’s Pride is a ‘ranch’ style bakery featuring an outdoor dining area entwined with green spaces that allow interaction with animals such as rabbits and birds that call the place home.

The idea is to transport customers, to a place and time when things were slower paced and nature was a part of daily life, in-between their busy urban lifestyles.

The elements used are reminiscent of old-school farms and are recycled from another site due to budget constraints of the client.

Plan

Covered Dining area

Outdoor Dining area

Outdoor area

Baker’s Pride

eye view

and patterns

Reclaimed wood art

A fast growing restaurant chain whose target was to ex pand at an express rate of 1 Restaurant every month.

3 outlets were designed based on the restaurant location and the major customer base and covered a wide variety of themes ranging from Biker to Opulence.

13 outlets | 1 outlet per month

Each unique design

Aasife Koyembedu is located at one of the major entry points to the , Asia’s Largest Bus Terminus, CMBT. The theme of this outlet, the Tamil language, was chosen to portray the cultural identity of Tamil Nadu to new entrants while evoking feelings of pride and honor in its residents.

The words chosen reflect classics from Tamil literature and

Aasife - Velacherry Tamil theme mural

Aasife - Keelkattalai

Chowk is an Open Market. Khaja Chowk is a restaurant that serves street food. The elements used like de-con autorickshaws and a palette comprising native patterns and local materials bring in the feel of the average Indian street. The funky bolly wood graphics are in groove with the theme.

Each pattern used were developed and customised. To give a street feel the low cost outdoor materials such as asbestos

Design Development view

Design

Asbestos

EAT

“Common, local materials have been used with a design twist.”

Design Development plan

Khaaja Chowk - DELHI

DRINK

AWine & Dine restobar located in Bangalore, It is situat ed on the topmost floor with indoor and outdoor seating, overlooking the city skyline.

The place is designed based on the artdeco style with a little design twist.

A double height wine bottle display area is the highlight ing feature of the club. Storing a wine bottle is not very simple and requires certain precise conditions which were worked around using complex architectural techniques.

Photoshop

TOWER CLUB

CHENNAI

A lounge bar inspired by the bars of the classic Westerns, for the members of Tower’s Club. Raw custom made wood en furniture, exposed wrought iron and leather have been used to bring in the Cowboy vibe.

Recycled pint bottles used as interior screens and Wooden vegetable trays used as bottle displays further enhance the raw rusticism of the bar.

DRINK

INDEPENDENCE,

Photoshop

Photoshop

Design development view

Design development view

Church , villivakkam.

Conceptual design development

The brief for the Altar Wall in Villivakkam required a pleasant, minimal space without a crucifix. A combination of White Marble and Wood have been used to create an ambience of peace and spirituality. The two skewed lines on the wall divide the space into 3 equal areas, each repre senting one of the Holy Trinity, while also highlighting the podium thereby increasing focus on the sermon.

The facade is clad with marble with intricate inlay work. Profile lights have been added to enhance the entry arches.

The dome is treated in olive green with gold inlay patterns.

Masjid

kadappa.

The hall has been designed using a fusion of classical Islamic and futuristic materials and design elements. Few traditional islamic patterns were used while other patterns were derived from Islamic calligraphic scripts. The interior walls were treated with back lit laser cut panels. The exterior colors beautifully blends and flows into the interior too.

Masjid interior Mirab wall

Masjid interior -Side wall design

Facade Design development | Exterior Material board

SHIKSHAA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, School | Facade design

BlueCube designs | 2018

Schools are the place where our journey of knowledge begins. Its also a second home for most kids. It should be warm and welcoming, vibrant and fun, safe and comforting. The choice of materials right from the brick facade which gives a homely warmth and the bands of colors for vibrancy are all an expression of those ideas that form the backbone of an atmosphere conducive to academic success.

LEARN

SLEEP

RESIDENCE

Master Bedroom design

BlueCube designs | 2018

The flooring and false ceiling have been used to create a visual division be tween the active zone and sleep zone.

The active zone has mild color tones and ample natural light. The study and lounge area is located based on the lighting.

The sleep zone has dark wooden tile flooring with dark olive green back wall.

Brass and acrylic fixtures were used to give the jazzed out art deco vibe which the client expected.

TOWER

Cube Designs

Elite contemporary design done for the club members. Basic forms of triangles are used to create interesting patterns around. Bright solid colours are added to give energy to the space. Balance areas are made simple to give a feel of home away from home.

completed image

completed image

Design development view

Elevation - CAD

Plan - CAD

The Taj Gateway is a hotel, situated on a highly contoured site on a hill slope in the mountainous terrain of Shimla. The natural slope of the site has been undisturbed to the maximum. I was majorly in volved with the Contour study of the site, Design ing of the Twin Villas , Development and Detailing of the 3d Model and Co-ordination with other consultants.

SLEEP

- CAD

Design development view

Design development viewDesign development view

Design development view

Design development view Design development view

Hotel Design | interior

Lotus Design studio|2013

A 5 Star hotel located in Goa on a highly contoured site. A hotel caters to a variety of clientele, as a goto place for a break from their mundane daily routine where they look to relax and unwind.

“Openness” has been chosen as the concept as it reflects the hotel’s attitude and ambience. Spaces within the room are separated by lou vered, wooden sliding doors. These doors can be opened up to create an unbroken space allowing a continual flow of nature throughout the space. A private infinity pool in each suite further enchances the experience of openness..

SLEEP

COMPETITION

BIO CLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE

Montreal climate is towards the colder side. Heat is essential, hence it has to be trapped as much as possible. Below are the design stratergies we used to attain max comfort zone with minimal energy consumption.

STRATERGY 1 - TRIANGULATION

This helps us to get max sun hitting area. The chamfering is done based on the wind directions and heat gain studies.

STRATERGY 2 - CORE

Large solid earth core that acts as a thermal mass is placed in center of the building. Heat generating cavities have been placed on various levels in core. Heat is dissipated slowly, heating up the entire house.

STRATERGY 3 - MOUND

The

STRATERGY 4 - SOLARIUM

BIO CLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE

Art is a line around your thoughts.

Deco Visual Fine

Deco art

Everything has a beauty in it, even the items we call 'waste'. But not everyone can see it easily, it just needs some time and effort to make everyone see it..

Dream catcher reception backdrop

SPIRALS

We created this mural on our office wall to improve the accoustic performance of the space. The porous spiral roll and the varying levels ab sorbed the sound waves, re ducing the sound reflection and thereby noticeably reducing the echo in the space.

STACKED UP

This instalation is done in front of a full height, clear glass wall. It was done mainly with the in tention of reducing visibility from the outside while maintin ing the view from the inside.

A few of the rows havent been fastened in place allowing it to be altered as and when needed.

Cardboard core screen

Blued it!!

Cardboard core

We threw out 3 milk jars every two days while in the USA. I decided to put them to better use. Colors always make a place brighter. And when some natural ‘green’ is also added to it, it becomes one of the best things you can make at home. An owl planter made out of the waste milk jars.

These tiny flowers are made from used tin cans. I am currently working on a chandlier with a 100 pieces of these colorful metal flowers. Each piece acts as a small lamp shade holding a tiny LED buld in it.

PRANNU

An out of the box wedding card for my brother's life's biggest gamble.

Visual

Fine art