Urban Design Portfolio

Urban Design Portfolio

Ojas Kulkarni

M.Arch (Urban Design)

ojas.k89@gmail.com

Ojas Kulkarni M.Arch. (Urban Design) Mackintosh School of Architecture, The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK B.Arch.

University of Pune, India

Contact Email ID: ojas.k89@gmail.com Mob. No: +44 7448807594 uk.linkedin.com/pub/ojas-kulkarni/76/652/b39 issuu.com/ojaskulkarni

Content

Plot Based Urbanism: High Street, South Queensferry The course started with an introductory project for the extension of existing High Street in South Queensferry near Edinburgh in UK. Motive of this project was to get a smooth hand on a larger scale of a ‘Street’ as a change of scale from a building to the city. Several new concepts and terminologies in Urban Design were introduced. We began with a thorough survey of the street layout, plot subdivisions and building typologies placing great care on the graphic illustration of key components of urban form of the High Street.

Uniformity + Variety in the St. Enoch Quarter The next shift of scale happened with the study of blocks in the St. Enoch Quarter in Glasgow. In this assignment, Glasgow’s complex block structure was studied along with its morphological development. The same site was chosen for Individual Design Project. In this, a masterplan is proposed for the most problematic area around St. Enoch Shopping Centre. This project follows a research paper on ‘Degrees of Prescriptions over Urban Form: Approaches to Massing and Elevation Control’ submitted during second semester.

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design At the end of course, we got an opportunity to participate in a Summer School Design in Urbanism conducted at Amsterdam Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam, NL. Eight Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design schools from all over the Europe and UK participated in this summer school. It was a 10 days workshop in which seven groups had to submit a proposal each for an ideal neighbourhood located in the area of Eastern Harbour in Amsterdam.

Plot Based Urbanism: High Street, South Queensferry An investigation of how pre-modern town morphology and building typologies can inform a contemporary extension to an existing street

Introductory Project

M.Arch. Urban Design

Street Character: - High Street follows linear pattern and reflects the curve of the bay.

- Almost completely regular building line on south, broken only by the town hall and the black castle.

- Distinctive raised terraces - Sense of enclosure created by modest building heights and the narrow proportions of the street - A strong medieval core.

- A continuous sea frontage on a sea wall with harbour and pier.

M.Arch. Urban Design Introductory Project

Extension of High Steet

High Street

Introductory Project

M.Arch. Urban Design

M.Arch. Urban Design Introductory Project

Uniformity + Variety in the St. Enoch Quarter The use of Design Codes in creating cohesive urban form

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

“Barnett considers Urban Design an iterative process that shapes patterns and codes for building-massing without designing individual buildings” (Shane D., 2005, p.121).

Initially, this research project tries to understand the role of an ‘Urban Designer’ while shaping the built environment of an urban area and importance of design codes in order to portray the ‘image of the city’. In the research part of the project four examples are investigated on the basis of degree of prescriptions over Urban Form1. Battery Park City, Lower Manhattan, NY, 2.Post-Wall Berlin & Berlin Townhouses 3. Haveneiland, Block 11, IJburg, Amsterdam, NL 4. Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam, NL. All the above examples show different degree of freedom for architects of individual buildings. After careful analysis of case studies, we arrive at the Hypothesis for the project as- Depending on extent of coding, Design Codes can be used to determine the nature of Urban Form whether Cohesive or Diverse.

are proposed along new East-West Street resulting into completely different outcomes in all three cases with the help of design codes.

This project clearly describes the ability of design codes to achieve different natures of urban form whether cohesive or diverse. It also states necessity for Urban Designer’s involvement into some aspects of designs of buildings which is similar to Jonathan Barnett’s concept of ‘Designing cities without designing actual buildings’.

In the second part of the project, the St. Enoch Quarter, located on the southern side of Glasgow’s City Centre and Merchant City is chosen as a site for design intervention. Though St. Enoch Quarter holds an important location while approaching towards city centre through various modes of public and private transport, it doesn’t portray the image of the city through its built form. The two car parks located on both sides of Stockwell Street and St. Enoch Shopping Centre are mainly responsible for resultant Urban Form of the quarter which is clearly distinct from Merchant City and City Centre. A new master plan is proposed for the area which lays various routes to connect Merchant City to the River Clyde through St. Enoch Quarter.

Demolition of St. Enoch Shopping Centre and proposal of a new East-West Street connecting St. Enoch Square to Stockwell Street have been the key aspects of master plan.

In the last part of the project, the area along new East-West Street is divided into three major projects as –St. Enoch Square, Central mixed-use residential neighbourhood and Cultural Square. In this proposal, a variety of strategies

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Battery Park City, Design Codes

Battery Park City’s design codes are the rules related to overall masterplan. These codes are highly precriptive having restrictions over almost every part of urban form. These codes have managed to achieve formal character of Battery Park City which reflects its business dominance. By means of these codes, Urban Designer’s group has successfully managed to bring best aspects of Manhattan’s urban fabric together.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Post-Wall Berlin & Berlin Townhouses

Over the model of ‘American City’ with its dull office towers and huge shopping malls, Urban Designers opt for the ‘European City’ model of streets and blocks in order to bring Berlin’s urban life back on its Streets and Squares. Berlin opted for division of block into number of plots which led to diversity and variety in overall urban form.

Haveneiland, IJburg, Amsterdam Block 11 is one component of the plans for Haveneiland in Amsterdam’s new residential district of IJburg.

It is a block with an urban look on the outside and a peaceful and private living environment within. Four architects have designed all the buildings in this block. Building materials of three colours are chosen to achieve variety in street experience but to maintain general uniformity in the whole block. Here, design codes define varying heights of buildings which adds variations in street enclosure.

Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdam

These are the codes related to individual plots. A part of island is divided into number of small plots owned by different plot owners. There are restrictions over height and width of buildings. Design codes suggest various building massing options which have no restrictions on architectural style. A result of this, is a completely diverse street and canal front with extreme variety.

Hypothesis: Depending on extent of coding, Design Codes can be used to determine the nature of Urban Form whether Cohesive or Diverse.

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Site Location The site of design intervention is located in St. Enoch Quarter of Glasgow in the United Kingdom. The site is bound by ‘River Clyde’ on south, High street and Glasgow Green on East, Merchant city on North and Glasgow Central Station on West.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Analysis of Street Network and Block Pattern

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

CONJECTURAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF GLASGOW, 1560, by the office of Public Works Source: RENWICK, R. (1919) History of Glasgow.

Plan of St. Enoch Quarter, 1807, by John McArthur Source: REED, P. (1993) GLASGOW: The forming of the City.

Morphological development of St. Enoch Quarter

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Plan of St. Enoch Quarter, 1842, by Kyle Thomas Source: http://maps.nls.uk/towns/detail.cfm?id=440

Plan of St. Enoch Quarter, 1831-1893, by Bartholomew John Source: http://maps.nls.uk/towns/detail.cfm?id=440

Morphological development of St. Enoch Quarter

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

1. Establishing a strong network of East-West and NorthSouth Streets in the St. Enoch Quarter similar to the Merchant City. Providing alternate routes to connect Merchant City to the Clyde Riverfont.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

2. A new East-West Route connecting St. Enoch Square and St. Andrew’s Square becomes an important desire line along with a few North-South desire lines.

3. On the basis of desire lines, a traditional cohessive structure of street and blocks is achieved.

4. A series of public squares is carved out along the new East-West Street starting from St. Enoch Square till St. Andrew’s Square.

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Key Features: - New East -West Street - Increased connectivity between Merchant City and River Clyde through St. Enoch Quarter.

- Newly proposed blocks in place of St. Enoch Shopping Centre and Car Parks.

- Reshaping of St. Enoch Square.

- A series of squares along new East-West Street.

Aerial view of proposed masterplan

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Project 3 Diverse cultural square - Multiple ownership: Low Degree of control - Diversity in plot ownerships and variety of architects - Cultural destination in the close vicinity of Briggait - Multiuse public square Project 1 St. Enoch Square: - An elegant formal Public Square - Important Civic Landmark - Termination of Buchanan Street at the square - Gateway to the River Clyde - Commencement of new East-West Street

Project 2 Central mixed-use residential neighbourhood - Large block single ownership - High degree of control - 3 Architects design the whole neighbourhood - Merchant City’s model of retail on ground floor and residential on upper floors - Safe and live neighbourhood

Series of projects and Variety of architects along new East-West Street The proposed masterplan is divided mainly into 3 projects which are developed as per three different themes. Design codes are introduced specific to these projects. Variety of design code strategies can be observed along new East-West Street.

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Precedents

Place Reial, Barcelona, Spain -Multiple ownership -Single unirform facade

Ambition: Elegant formal public square St. Enoch Square plays extremely important role in St. Enoch Quarter as it has easy accessibilty through Train, Bus and Subway. It is one of the important historic public squares in Glasgow. It is located at the junction of Buchanan and Argyle Street which are important streets in the city. Its proximity to River Clyde attracts more people. Currently it has identity just as a shopping destination because of St. Enoch Shopping mall.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy -Single plot ownership -unirformly designed facade -Defined gateway to the waterfront

The proposal desires to regain St. Enoch Square’s identity as an important civic landmark by demolishing the mall and proposing new buildings in place. Here ambition is to achieve elegant formal appearance for the square through uniform facades mainly through highly prescriptive facade of Proposed Hotel building.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Gateway to the Riverfront

Elegant formal public square

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Section AA

Section BB

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Prominent Public Building

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Precedents

Schots 1 & 2, CiBoga Terrain, Groningen, NL -Each building equals to one city block.

-Both the blocks are designed by S333 Architects.

-Both buildings are designed in different material having different house typologies and facade material.

Ambition: Safe and Live Mixed-Use Residential Neighbourhood Central mixed-use residential neighbourhood is proposed in place of existing St. Enoch Shopping mall. The proposal is to demolish the mall and suggest new building typology to replace retail dominant building typology. The shopping mall has a negative impact on surrounding area and streets keeping the area deserted as people are foced to spend most of their time inside the mall.

The proposal seeks to suggest new building typology with retail, shops and restaurants on ground floor and residential flats on upper floors. It will keep this area alive throughout the day. Similar type of model can also be observed in Merchant City of Glasgow.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

View from the Square: Showing live neighbourhood,mixed-use building typology, Use of square by restaurants and bars as a sitout taking advantage of south sun, Variety in street enclosure, Colours indicate number of architects

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Here design codes allocates the buildings on both sides of new East-West Street to a single architect. To avoid extreme uniformity and ground-scraper effect, buildings facing the street are designed by three different architects and the same architects design rest of the buildings in the neighbourhood. Single ownership of all the blocks by St. Enoch Shopping Mall owner allows to introduce this special case in Glasgow.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Heights of the buildings are decided on the basis of light penetration inside the block, height of surrounding existing buildings and enclosure of Street or a Square. Buildings facing the square are kept higher than those facing the Street. Also, buildings facing Stockwell Street are kept high to achieve necessary street enclosure. Balconies are only permitted after second floor in order to keep private and public realm separate. Ground floor of buildings facing new East-West street are occupied with retail shops, facing parallel streets are occupied with public amenities and facing the square are occupied with Bars and Restaurants.

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

Meeting House Square, Dublin, Ireland -This cultural square in Dublin, is situated inside the block having few narrow access lanes from main streets.

-All buildings facing the square have two fronts- one facing the square and another facing main street.

-This sqaure is famous for its multiuse- a vegetable market, open exhibition space, open air sitting space for Children’s Performance Centre and sometimes as a open air Cinema where movies are projected on a facade of the Photographic Gallery.

Ambition: Diverse and Vibrant Cultural Square The Cultural Square and blocks around it are proposed in place of car park site on Eastern side of Stockwell Street. Historically this area had been the most densely built area in the quarter. It also retained cultural importance being in the close vicinity of Briggait and Artist’s Studios. In due course of time, this cultural importarnce got lost due to existing car park site formed after removal of railtracks approaching St. Enoch Station.

The proposal desires to regain its cultural importance by proposing a square at the junction of Osborne Street and Old Wynd.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

View from the junction of Stockwell and Osborne Street -Diversity in plot ownership and street wall facing Stockwell Street -Possible second entrance for the Leisure Centre from Stockwell Street Square -A prominent corner having diversity in street scape and designs governed by architectural competitions.

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

The proposal suggests to use square as a multipurpose open space formed by four public buildings facing the square. The square can be used for various purposes such as weekly market, exhibition space for art institute, open air performace space, open air cinema screening on the facade of public building.

The Cultural Square will be a unique destination which will bring people back into St. Enoch Quarter.

Due to continuously changing use of the square, its appearance and the feel of space will change simultaneously.

Individual Design Project M.Arch, Urban Design

Conclusion ‘Design codes’ is certainly an effective tool to control an urban form of a an area. It helps to achieve high quality of built environment. Depending on extent of coding ‘Uniformity’ as well as ‘Variety’ can be achieved in the built form.

In this proposal, a variety of strategies is proposed along new East-West street resulting into completely different outcomes in all three cases. It certainly proves ability of design codes to achieve diverse effects or natures of built environment.

There are various elements of urban form which are not considered in this project can also be coded.

Design codes certainly help to decide the role of an Urban Designer while designing cities without designing building. Urban design certainly is a profession which lies between the professions of Architects and Urban planners. And hence it is necessary for an Urban Designer to look into

M.Arch, Urban Design Individual Design Project

The Big Reset On Neighbourhood Design Amsterdam Summer School Design in Urbanism

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

Key Questions: - How should the ‘Neighbourhood’ of the future in your opinion be envisioned?

- What ‘values’ are relevant, important or even fundamental?

- What are its physical, programmatical and organisational dimensions?

What are its leading organising spatial principles?

What are its essential physical design principles?

- Demonstrate your statement with a concrete case study design…for an – according to your opinion ‘Ideal New Neighbourhood’, having place for at least 10.000 people…somewhere in the area ‘Haven Stad and/or Sloterdijk’…show by concrete design on all scale levels its most important characteristics.

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

Key Theme: This proposal is based on Carlo Pisano’s ‘Patchwork Metropolis’. This area of Eastern Harbour is mainly famous for numerous warehouses of industries where goods are imported and exported through the harbour.

As these goods are just stored or transported through this area, this trade is of no benefit for this area to get developed into a neighbourhood. Still these businesses have a huge contribution into city’s finance.

Our proposal seeks to provide an infrastructure for further processing and assembling of these goods.

This change in strategy will engage lots of people into these newly created businesses and increase the job opportunities. Increased job opportunity will encourage people to stay in this area which will be a turning point for the development of this area into a residential neighbourhood. Once people start staying, the existing facilities like Wester Park, Community Areas, Allotment Gardens, Swimming pools and playgrounds will come in use. At the same time, existing Sloterdijk Station, proposed Metro station and existing bus links will also be used. The improved transport network, will increase connectivity with Amsterdam City Centre.

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

The Big Reset on Neighbourhood Design

Transformation of a deserted place into a meeting place

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Bodenschatz H. (2010) Berlin Urban Design A Brief History. DOM publishers, Berlin.

Carmona & Dunn (2006) Preparing Design Codes: A Practice Manual. Department for Communities and Local Government, London.

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Carmona et al (2006) Design Codes: their use and potential. The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, London.

Carmona et al (2006) Design Coding in Practice: An Evaluation. Department for Communities and Local Government, London.

Cooper, Eckstut Associates (1985) Battery Place Residential Area: Design Guidelines. [online] Available from: http://www.batteryparkcity.org/ Firley, E. & Gron, K (2013) The Urban Masterplanning Handbook. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, United Kingdom.

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