ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
PORTFOLIO
PRATIK LOHANI MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE CANDIDATE ‘20 VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
CONTENTS
1.
METAMORPHOSIS - SWAET: SAETU
2.
MY HOUSE IN THE WOODS
3.
THE FUTURE OF THE PAST
4.
BIOMIMETIC OFFICE BUILDING
5.
BIOMORPHED LIVING
1. METAMORPHOSIS
- SWAET:
SAETU
The project titled “Swaet: Saetu”, is a vision for a memorial tower in memory of the devastating earthquake of 2015 in Nepal. The design process included manifestation of actual facts and figures into an expressive structural form. The fundamental idea behind the project was to inspire people into action in the face of adversity.
Conceptualized for a design competition organized by Architects Regional Council Asia, on the theme of “Metamorphosis”, 2015.
Award Winner, Student Design Competition organized by Architects Regional Council Asia ( ARCASIA ), 2015, Thailand.
THE WAVE
Earthquakes measuring 7.8, 7.4, 6.9 in magnitude represented by steel posts measuring 78m, 74m and 69m depicting profile of the seismic waves.
THE DESTRUCTION
14 triangles that tie the posts represent 14 severely affected regions and their respective geographical area.
THE CONSEQUENCE
8844 pieces of steel denote the death toll. The overall form, hence, is an amalgamation of the seismic waves, the affected regions and the number of deaths.
2.
MY HOUSE IN THE WOODS
“My House in the Woods”, is a vision for an arboreal housing community to address the issue of deforestation in the name of rising accommodation needs. The design process was inspired by the biological process of in-osculation/grafting. Timber beams inserted in the existing trees form a solid foundation upon which lightweight bamboo houses are raised.
Conceptualized for a design competition organized by Architects Regional Council Asia, on the theme of “Green Lifestyle”, 2016.
Award Winner, Student Design Competition organized by Architects Regional Council Asia ( ARCASIA ), 2016, Hong Kong.
GUIDED BY NATURE
SITE PLAN
ROOF PLAN
FLOOR PLAN
The site is omnipresent. The carbon footprint is almost zero as we plan on using timber from sustainably maintained forests. Power Plastic Solar Cells will power every house. The plans are flexible, depending on the size of the family. PTFE curtains shed the house from extreme sunlight and rain.
PEOPLE AND PLACE
SECTION
ELEVATION
The fundamental idea is addressing the ever growing housing demand and integrating those demands within an existing ecosystem. The design looks at how trees can not only be habitat for plants and animals but also humans, leading to design of a community housing where houses are suspended from the ground and built with supports emerging from the trees.
3.
THE FUTURE OF THE PAST
“The Future of the Past”, is a vision for rammed earth houses. The design process insisted upon the preservation of vernacular architectural forms of the houses of the rural regions of Nepal. Technological advances combined with historic wisdom would help maintain a much needed balance demanded by the local demographic.
Conceptualized for a design competition organized by the Government of Nepal, Nepal Engineering Association titled “Design Competition on Rural Housing”.
First Prize, Student Category, Design Competition on Rural Housing, organized by the Government of Nepal and Nepal Engineers' Association ( NEA ).
VERNACULAR SPACE
COW SHED
A comprehensive study of local buildings helped understand the architecture of the local residences.
The floors plans included spaces as guided by the locals and included typical areas often endemic to the rural houses of Nepal.
TOILET
LIVING
BEDROOM
KITCHEN/DINING
BALCONY PORCH
SANCTUM
FLOOR PLAN - I
BEDROOM
FLOOR PLAN - II
BEDROOM
SECTION
RAMMED EARTH
DETAILS
SKYLIGHT
TIMBER
RING BEAM
STONE
CLAY TILES
600 MM THK RAMMED EARTH
BAMBOO POSTS - 50 CM C/C
BAMBOO POSTS - 50 CM C/C
600 MM THK RAMMED EARTH STONE PLINTH
STONE PLINTH
FLOOR FINISH POLYTHENE SHEET COMPACTED CLAY STONE SLAB FOR DPC
CYCLOPEAN CONCRETE
STYLE AND SEISMIC REINFORCEMENT DETAILS
ELEVATION - FRONT The design aims at a continuation of traditional building styles with the integration of innovative technology to make it functionally and structurally sound as well.
GEOMETRY
STIFFENING
FIXING DETAILS
ROOF
RING BEAMS
ELEVATION - SIDE
4.
BIOMIMETIC OFFICE BUILDING
Final year undergraduate academic thesis project titled “ Country Headquarters for WWF Nepal - Biomimetic Office Building ”, is a vision for the country office of World Wildlife Fund in Nepal.
Biomimicry is innovation inspired by nature. It is the process of attaining sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time tested patterns and strategies. Biomimetics in Architecture is an emerging field that is currently being defined and explored. The application of observations made in nature to architecture has always been a challenge for architects and designers. The strategic search for role models in nature is what discerns biomimetics from the ever-existing inspiration from nature
SITE ANALYSIS
CONCEPTUAL ROOF PLAN
CONCEPTUAL SECTION
The micro and macro analysis of the site was essential in the zoning of the functional areas of the office building. These were vital in the location of building blocks to be placed at the given site as per local climatic conditions, services, access and existing conditions at the site.
The design process focused on preserving the ecosystem that flourishes in the ground. Harmony with site, views and human vision taken into perspective for levitation. Tree as an universal symbol for spirituality, harmony, and efficiency was identified as the inspiration for behavioral level of biomimetic design
OF THE GROUND, NOT ON THE GROUND
The design idea for this project aimed at looking at nature’s way of building with least materials and maximum efficiency. Nature builds in way that her buildings grow of the ground rather that how we build by putting something in the ground. The anatomy and physiology of trees inspired a compound umbel structural system, light weight ETFE envelope system that banked on sunlight to generate energy for the building. The idea of breaking a single regular building into three separate blocks was inspired by how leaves are individual units of a tree but are also a part of the tree. The leaves are placed such way so they receive maximum light and air for energy generation. The separation of blocks meant it was easier to divide functions of the office into each individual blocks.
SITE PLAN
SECTION
DENDRIFORM FRACTALS
Trees with their branches are one of the finest examples of nature's approximate fractals. Fractal geometry, studies abstract configurations characterized by self-similarity patterns and recursive growth.
Different explanations about the tree's fractal-like branching appearance from different angles of disciplines such as biological, structural and mechanical.
FRACTAL COLUMN
PLAN - FOUNDATION PAD
5. BIOMORPHED LIVING
Conceptualized for the first semester of graduate design studio, “Biomorphed Living”, is a net zero student housing facility for a campus facility to be located in Alexandria, VA.
The 3D printed building would look at nature’s algorithm to build a structural plane that maximizes material efficiency. Part of the facade and the roof with inflated ETFE panels integrated with flexible solar panels provided thermal insulation whilst simultaneously generating energy.
FLOOR PLAN - III STUDY
LOBBY
STUDY
SITE PLAN
X
RECREATION
LOBBY
DINING
X
DETAILS
CONTROLLED RADIANT HEATING AND LIGHT FOR PASSIVE HEATING AND COOLING
12'
OPERABLE ETFE FOR SHADING
12'
12'
ELEVATION - SIDE
18'
ETFE PILLOW
SECTION