Architectural Portfolio

POR TFO LIO

SELECTED WORKS 2021-2023

LAWRENCE BERKMANS

2020 - present

2018-2020

Hi, I’m Lawrence Berkmans. a third year architecture student in Ahmedabad. I love sketching, writing and dwelling in the deeper side of Architecture which highlights and solves issues.

2007-2018

Anant National University

Ahmedabad

St. Xavier’s High School, Ahmedabad

Shree Narayana Guru Vidyalaya

Ahmedabad

2021 - 2022 INTERNSHIP

Content and Website Management,

Communication department, Anant National University

Bhavnagar Heritage Museum, Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Community Housing, Bardhaman, West Bengal

Panchganga Ghat Documentation, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Jodhpur Documentation, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Competition works

Miscellaneous Email: lawrenceberkmans@anu.edu.in

Phone no: 9638295752

Instagram: lawrenceberkmans

BHAVNAGAR HERITAGE MUSEUM

The aim of this museum is to be a learning centre for people of Bhavanagar and tourists, it aims to raise awareness of the present condition of the rich architectural heritage Bhavnagar possesses by being a Museum and a craft upliftment centre. The site is historically rich, thus the building had to reflect and become a gateway for tourists. There’s a definite movement created in this museum, a journey where experiences have been made at “connections”, where visual connection to site and nature is experienced. Use of the remaining site for external events, arranging book fairs, and use of cafes to spread architectural heritage awareness.

ISOMETRIC SECTION OF ARCHITECTURAL BLOCK

ISOMETRIC SECTION OF LIBRARY

ELEVATION

ELEVATION

COMMUNITY HOUSING

The above sheet is the first study we did among various other studies to understand the relation between families and how they inhabit spaces, how the family has grown and how the psaces have responded to the development, this studio was aimed at looking towards the more deeper aspects of housing.

The objective in this studio was to understand the community needs and design abodes rooted to the rural context but also have adaptability to future and help in their overall development as individuals in the structures. There are in total 6 homes all of them having a unique typology, and out of which 3 has been presented here. All the sheets are completely hand drawn and rendered and no softwares has been used except some Photoshop for basic edits.

CASE STUDY OF LOCAL HOUSES

BAY OF BENGAL

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF WEST BENGAL

GRANDPARENTS

PARENTS AND THEIR SIBLINGS

CHILDREN

We hypothetically designed 8 families with stories, occupations and how they are connected to each other through business partnerships or blood relationships, I took reference from Satyajit Rai’s movies for the same and some videos showing the rural life of Bardhaman district. Agriculture is the main source of income for these familes.

The concentric circles represent the families and their bonds with each other, the occupations were given accordiing to the services available around the village, like schools, banks and stores which are existing on the main road. Thus, a thorough site and rural contextual study was made to create this diagram.

SECTION OF UNIT 3

SECTION OF UNIT 6

PANCHGANGA GHAT DOCUMENTATION

The name ‘Panchganga’ is derived from the fact that the ghat was built at the confluence of five holy rivers, of which four are believed to have disappeared into the ground, while the Ganga remains. The ghat, like a majority of the others along the stretch, connects the elevated city of Banaras to the river Ganga. The mosque, built by Aurangzeb, is a beautiful blend of Hindu and Persian ornamentation, is a reflection of the intricacy of pre-colonial era Indian architecture.

MASTER PLAN

In the stark landscape of Thar Desert, Jodhpur is known for its rich water architecture. Home to a vast network of inter-connected water structures that dot villages to ornate lakes, the city once transformed the scanty rainfall it received to a viable source of water collectors, thus replenishing the water tables, around which settlements flourished. The architecture of water is anchored in its territory as an expression of cultural and environmental contexts. Studies in the history of architecture, particularly those originating in the desert, have brought consciousness to the value of water with a strong expression related to harvesting and storing. The water structures of Jodhpur are treasures of the cumulative history and knowledge systems of the society.

The water architecture of Rajasthan is evidence of the brilliance of human endeavour to not just survive but to thrive and sustain in extreme environments. Different types of water architecture in Rajasthan are identified by local terms that include ‘kua’ - wells, ‘bavdi/vav’ - step wells, ‘jhalaras’step ponds. These structures are anchored in their territory as an expression of cultural and environmental contexts. Five types are identified, namely lakes, reservoirs, tanks, wells, stepwells and canals as relevant to Jodhpur. Lakes constitute large reservoirs that collect rainwater in natural depressions through surface drainage across catchment areas. Natural banks were constructed to stabilize and modify the profile of the earth, provide access to the water and increase the capacity of the natural depression in order to provide water for domestic and irrigation purposes.

The built form defined the envelope, channelised the flow, gave access and created spaces for social and cultural practices. Today much is lost in the context of piped water. Jodhpur in total has more than 400 water structures that have supported the bustling trading centre for centuries despite the absence of perennial rivers. ‘Kuas’ and ‘Bavdis’ were constructed for the use of locals whereas ‘Jhalaras’ were constructed for use of queens and concubines. Some of the most popular water bodies of Jodhpur are Ranisar and Padamsar which have been serving the city for ages.

Ranisar and Padamsar are interconnected and Ranisar is at a higher altitude from where water was sent to Padamsar through a Persian wheel. The Padamsar harvests water from the hills around and provides direct access to water for the locals; its water is now used for irrigation and performing rituals. Persian wheels were used to carry water from the lake which was connected to aqueducts that filled the water tanks inside the fort. The aqueducts watered the Elegant gardens like Mehrab, Chokhila, and Char Bagh. The water system is planned so well that the locals could use them throughout the whole year.

WRITEUP PRESENTED AT THE EXHIBITION OF MEHRANGARH MUSEUM

JODHPUR DOCUMENTATION

As part of our Resident Study Program, we presented our documentatiom works at the Mehrangarh Museum in collaboration with the Living Waters Museum. I handled the major writeup part among which a portion is presented above and a A1 sketch of a aerial view of Toorji Ka Jhalra (stepwell) done by me in 6 days also presented at the same exhibition. We also did a live where I was a co-host, to watch the live scan this QR code:

COMPETITION WORKS

1. ANDC 2022

2. MICROHOME COMPETITION 2022

3. LOUIS KAHN TROPHY 2023

MISCELLANEOUS

In my first year in architecture, I tried creating art which would force converstaions with my final submission on crucial topics. One of them being this poster which depicted the contemporary crisis and raised awareness for Black Lives Matter movement. I also love exploring different mediums and recreating iconic scenes like the one on the left from The Wizard of Oz in three mediums. Apart from sketching I have a huge interest in writing also, and worked as an intern for a year in the content and website management.

The poster represents a contrast of despair and hope, with the black and white children hugging each other, meanwhile at the same time in the background we have headlines of various headlines prevailing during the global crisis.

STREETS OF JODHPUR 2

STREETS OF JODHPUR 1