Pooja Nagaraj *Collective work
Compilation 2 0 1
of 3
Academic 2 0
works 1 6
Pooja Nagaraj Institute of Design Environment and Architecture, Indus University, Ahmedabad. poojas.13.barch@idea.indusuni.ac.in
A WALK THROUGH... the selected academic works
MATERIALS EXPLORED Stone & timber, Mud, Bamboo, Papermaking
STUDIO I
De stijl - Piet Mondrion
STUDIO IV
Housing project
STUDIO V
Material Studio
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DETAILS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM Himachal Pradesh & Ladakh
SKETCHES
Stone and Timber Faculty : Bhanupratap Sharma
Kath -khuni, a technique of construction in timber and stone is commonly practiced in the highlands of Himachal Pradesh. It involves the use of locally quarried stone and deodar wood, laid in courses the combination helping to withstand seismic load. It does not involve the use of any binding material. Thus, follows dry masonry. This is a scaled model of the corner detail of a kath-khuni house that has been made after intensively studying and understanding the construction process.
Joinery to hold the roof and wall beams
Balcony cantilever and flooring Balcony post and wall planks fixing detail detail
Plan
North elevation
Mud (collective work)
Faculty : Prof. Ajay Thumre, Mangesh Belsare, Parag Rawool
A winter program that provided hands on learning experience with the material and the technique of mud construction. After gaining a certain level of understanding on our visit to Wardha, where the technique originated, under experts’ supervision we built a real scale structure on our campus. The construction methodology, the structure and primary design remains the same. Some experimentations and explorations have been made in the openings to invite light differently.
1. Excavation
5. Mud bricks
9. Vault
Exploded axonometric view
13. Openings
2. Plinth
6. Door block casted on site
3. Mixing mud
7. Centering for the vault
4. Mud bricks casted and sun-dried
8. Guna tiles stacked and laid in rows
10. Finishing layer on the vault
11. China mosaic
12. Sun dried mud bricks
14. Mud brick on mud mortar
15. Face tiles on the external surface
16. Windows placed while the wall is erected
Details : Bamboo held in place by MS pipes welded to a metal plate. Pins are inserted to hold bamboo.
Bamboo (collective work) Faculty: Sankalpa, Parag Rawool
The workshop aimed towards providing hands on experience with the material to provide a good understanding of bamboo as a material in construction. We began with designing a shelter. Once the primary design was made we started resolving the structure and the joineries. The work on site began and we attained a better understanding about the properties of the material with experience. From choosing a considerably straight bamboo to cutting, drilling holes, and making pins and erecting the structure, we underwent trial and error method.
Wooden mould and deckle that Removing excess water serves as a formwork
Paper Making (collective work) Faculty : Maulik Oza
Despite the pace of growth and advancement in technology, the use of papers has still not been rationalized. As a step towards conserving the resources and being considerate to nature, recycling and reusing of papers should be practiced. It involves simple process of grinding and making pulp of used papers; pouring it into a container with water; using a mould to pull out a layer of paper pulp interweaved; taking it out of the mould and placing in layer. After stacking them, pressing with even force all over the surface area to drain off water and then drying them naturally.
spreading it on a cotton fabric
Drying after draininig off excess water Exploration
Artist’s studio (semester I)
Faculty: Kartik Vora, Bhanupratap Sharma
Following the principles of de stijl and cubism an artist’s studio was to be designed. The process we went through involved understanding cubism and creating volumes by interlocking planes. This was carried forward to making modules of a cube with a play of planes and voids that were stable on all the six sides. After a series of explorations through the modules, the understanding of cubism was put forward in designing a studio for an artist.
Artist’s studio
Process models of the modules
Final axonometric drawing
Final module
Axonometric drawings
Contour analysis, density of trees and accessibility mapping.
Housing Project (Semester IV) Site : TIPA, Himachal Pradesh Site analysis
The site model with the context (collectively made)
Faculty : Bhanupratap Sharma, Siddharth Srivastava
A design studio that took us through a different process of designing in a site that was quite challenging in itself due to the steep contours. The program was to design residential units to house artists. The process began with analyzing the contours and climatic conditions. The analysis was made through quick charcoal sketches which also included the activities to take place, the desired quality of light in the spaces and the relation between the inside to the outside. Sections of the site were made defining spaces and activities. Carrying the understanding forward, the journey through the site was designed through a narrative. It was further represented through charcoal sketches and accordingly the plinth of the entire site was designed in the model. The pines in the site governed the placement each unit. Individual residential units were derived from the plinth developed. The units were to house one individual, thus the spaces were optimally designed.
Light and shadows
Section of a part of the site defining spaces and the activities.
Sketches narrating the journey through the site and the activities taking place.
Model of the plinth developed
Model of the units placed amidst the trees
Model of the units placed
Exploring the material to understand the properties and structural behavior
Derivation of a structural unit spanning 6 metres
Resolved unit to span 6 metres
Material Studio - Bamboo (semester V) Site : Kutch, Gujarat
Faculty : Vicky Achnani, Parag Rawool
In this era of brick and concrete, so many materials go unnoticed and unexplored. This design studio was about identifying different materials suitable for use in construction and exploring one in detail to design an institution. I tried to analyze the structural behaviour of bamboo through scaled models. Taking up one of the case studies in a material different from bamboo, the task was to achieve the span of that building in bamboo. A unit was derived and further repeated to achieve a space. This module was to be repeated in designing the institute.
The module achieved on repeating the unit Site model of the institute
Axonometric drawing of the stuctural and enclosure details
Building Construction Details Faculty : Nitin Gurnani
It includes the study and explorations done in terms of details of building construction. The study involves staircase details, understanding the materials and the material interface through wall sections and axonometric drawings.
Naddi village
Bal village
Collaborative Program
Cluster plan of Naddi
Sectional cluster plan of Naddi
Naddi and Bal, Himachal Pradesh Faculty : Bhanupratap Sharma, Siddharth Srivastava
Sectional plan of Bal
The objective was to study and document the architecture in the highlands of Himachal Pradesh. The typology of the houses in this region is much different. Mud and stone construction is seen. While the ground floor is made up of stone walls where the cattle are kept, the floor above it is enclosed by surfaces with mud bricks. The choice of materials is governed by their properties respectively, the ease of availability and climatic conditions. We also focused upon understanding the factors that shape the settlement, which includes socio- cultural, political and climatic factors.
Ground level plan of the settlement
Hundarman broq, Kargil
First floor level plan of a part of the settlement
Caravan sarai, Kargil
Collaborative Prorgram
Narratives of Ladakh Faculty : Bhanupratap Sharma, Debashish Borah
It aimed towards documenting the tangible and intangible aspects that acted as a generator for the existing spatial configuration responsible for the Kargil town. The study focused on the influence of climate, material, and confluence of culture on architecture and the fabric of the old town Kargil. The objective was to re-engage with Kargil, understand forces that acted in ancient time in shaping of a trade town on the confluence of silk routes and to develop a multidisciplinary project and collaborative understanding. It was a collaborative workshop between both students and professionals.
Pit level plan of a part of the settlement
Door detail
Wooden lock and key detail
A vendor at the sunday market
Sarkhej Roza
Street view at Ambli village
Street view at Ambli village
Courtyard view of the school designed
Street view at Ambli village