Portfolio 2023 by Pournami Sujeev

P OUR NAM I SUJEEV

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO | SELECTED WORKS | 2014-2023

Being an architect gives me the power to make an impact on people’s views, perspectives, emotions and lifestyles through the spaces I design. I want to experiment new techniques, in order think and produce architecture, streamlining collaboration efforts between designers and clients while unlocking the creative power of computer aided design.

S E L E C T E D P R OJ E C TS

+ Enat Bank Headquarters

+ Monaco Pavilion

+ Double Curvature Formwork

+ Vishv Umiya Temple

+ Dharoi Observatory Tower

+ Toolpath Planning

Enat Bank

Headquarters + Brief

ituated between Ras Abebe Aragay and the Sudan Street the project is part of the vibrant financial district, creating high quality workspaces where every floor looks different and can accommodate any kind of space requirements with unparalleled views. The spectacular terrace which is accessible to all visitors is the social heart of the building and is just the topping of the new ENAT headquarters building. + Site Plan

Design Team > Kling Consult, Dubai Location > Addis Ababa . Ethiopia Status > Competition Year > 2020

^ Outsourced Render

+ Concept

+ Evolution

Enat Bank was initiated by some of Ethiopia’s leading visionaries and businesswomen. Keeping in mind the founders vision of created a bank that empowers women, the tower tries to translate this idea into the building’s design language. A strong yet elegant form that portrays the dedication and determination of these women and at the same time keeping the warmth, softness and gentleness of a woman who is a symbolism of motherhood. Her kind and gentle nature is highlighted through the soft and elegant curves along with the twisting form that narrates the empathetic and broad perspective that her eyes alone capture.

Building Footprint

Area Fulfilment

Smooth Edges

Twisting Form

Context Inclusion

Facade Enhancement

The building has 2 primary entrance to the tower, one for the head office and the other for the business suites and other facilities. The bank branch entrance is separated from the tower entrance lobby. The plot is activated at the ground level with separate access to the branch bank and business suites. Careful planning ensures that the amenities can be spilled onto the public space in-front of the building. Its sculptured and transparent presence opens and connects to the surrounding urban fabric. Metaphorically and factually the concept reveals its inner life. The podium structures are in size responding to the human scale and the contextual surrounding. The project includes 7 zones carefully distributed to ease the access and improve efficiency. The head office is located at the top to provide the employees with a better view towards the city and have a positive work environment. Staff amenities and shared facilities are located towards the lower levels for easy access. The core has been designed efficiently and will carry all the necessary utilities throughout the building. Despite of having a very dynamic building form, the area of every floor remains nearly identical with an approximate variation of 1m2.

+ Approach

Chillout Area Ancillary Office Space Conference Room

Reception

Zone IV Staff Amenities +Technical

Lift Lobby Flexible Floor Plates

Zone I Head Office Rest-rooms Lounge

Zone II Business Suites Zone

Technical

Unique floor to floor interaction

Zone II Business Suites

Zone IV Staff Amenities Zone III

rag

beb

A Ras

t. ayS

Retail Zone V Shared Facilities Zone VI Technical Floor Zone VII

The building is oriented in such a way that takes advantage of the unique placement of the site, by increasing the building frontage.

The form allows the activation of all sides of the podium, increasing both pedestrian and vehicular connectivity with the neighborhood.

The twisting shape of the tower allows unparalleled views from every floors while orientating the building in line with the local context.

Parking Basement

^ Outsourced Render

SOCIAL ROOF GARDEN LANDSCAPED ROOF SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE TEMPERATURE IN WARMER MONTHS

LOW-E GLASS ADMITS 35% OF VISIBLE SUNLIGHT BUT REFLECTS 74% OF THE ASSOCIATED HEAT, REDUCING ENERGY USE FOR LIGHTING AND SPACE COOLING

ELLIPTICAL FORM COMPACT LAYOUT OF THE ELLIPTICAL FORM PROVIDES THE SAME AMOUNT OF FLOOR SPACE AS A RECTANGLE WITH 12% LESS FAÇADE, THEREFORE REDUCING ENERGY DEMANDS FOR COOLING.

OPERABLE WINDOWS ALLOW CONTROLLED NATURAL AIR AND MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE WORKPLACES, COOLING AND CONNECTION TO THE OUTDOOR

NATURAL LIGHTING FULLY GLAZED AND OPEN SPACE OFFICES TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND REDUCE ELECTRICITY COSTS.

WATER-EFFICENCY WATER-EFFICIENT PLUMBING FIXTURE HELP REDUCE WATER USE BY MORE THAN 44%

MICRO-CLIMATE IMPACT OF VEGETATION ON AIR TEMPERATURE PROPOSING TREES ALONG GROUND FLOOR TO COOLER AREAS IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

WELL CONNECTED CLOSE PROXIMITY - 600 METERS TO MEXICO METRO STATION- PROMOTES USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION REDUCES CO2 EMISSIONS CAUSED BY INDIVIDUAL TRAFFIC.

WATER STORAGE

IRRIGATION

^ Outsourced Render

Vishv Umiya Temple

+ Brief

he Vishv Umiya Foundation project is a temple complex that will house a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Umiya Ma and other facilities that will contribute to the well-being of the Kadva Patidar community. The project aims to form a campus for the Vishv Umiya Foundation, on a land of 64 Acres and is expected to be completed by 2024. The Umiya Maa Temple will be an abode dedicated to Maa Umiya the Kuldevi of Patidar Samaj. It is the focal point of whole project, envisioned to be an iconic modern representation of a traditional hindu temple. The temple will serve as place for various services, cultural activities along with Social and spiritual gathering. + Master Plan

Design Team > Kling Consult, Dubai Location > Ahmedabad . India Status > Under Construction Year > Ongoing

The temple according to Vastuvidya (Indian/vedic science of architecture) is the house of God as well as his representation. Since Hindu philosophy views the cosmos to be holonomic and self-similar in nature, temples are designed and constructed as models of the cosmos. A hindu temple is a symmetry-driven structure, with many variations, on a square grid of padas, depicting perfect geometric shapes. The basic plan form also followed the iteration and gradually became more complex from a simple quadrangle or square plan. It follows the repetition in recesses or in projections. The design of the temple complex varies according to the style of the temple from north India to south India. Keeping in mind the principles of vastu and following fractal and geometrical approach of traditional hindu temples, a base layout is derived. The silhouette of the temple structure is further attained with the aid of a grasshopper script which enables us to explore different possibilities and iterations for the main structure. In order to strictly follow every sacred rule of temple vastu, the concept of a temple inside a temple is followed, separating the main sanctum sanctorum from the other ancillary amenities. The structure and foundation of the sanctum is completely isolated from the remaining temple and is detached from the floor plate using expansion joints closely following the sanctum walls.

Fractal geometry of hindu temples

+ TempleFloor

28 de ee

Queuing Area / Storage

WATER D.

TOILET

WATER D.

TOILET

PL | 03

SL | 02

TEMPLE

PL | 04 30degree

28degree

30degree

MANDAPA

GARBHAGRIHA

DONATION R.

30degree

28degree

30degree

PL | 02 TOILET

WATER D.

SL | 01

PL | 01

TOILET

WATER D. TEMPLE

Queuing Area / Storage

The temple is oriented with an east facing entrance in line with Vastu. There are three proposed entrances designed for 3 occasions according to visitor rush; regular day (low), weekends/busy days (medium) and festivals (high). After offering prayers, visitors are guided to the ground floor through a feature stair.

+ Ground Floor NORTH ENTRY

ENTRY LOUNGE

SATSANG HALL

RETAIL

PL | 03

SL | 02

PL | 04 30degree 30degree

TCKETING

MUSEUM ENTRY

MUSEUM EXIT

TICKETING

D SHOE DROPOFF POINT

RETAIL

SHOE COLLECTION

RELIGIOUS LIBRARY

WEST ENTRY

SHOE STORAGE

SHOE DROPOFF POINT

RETAIL

TICKETING

TCKETING

30degree

PL | 02 H

SL | 01

VOID

PL | 01

VOID RETAIL

SATSANG HALL

SRORAGE

KICHNETTE

56 WS

ENTRY LOUNGE

VOID

SOUTH ENTRY

All ancillary facilities including the offices, Museum, Satsang halls, library, aquarium and access to the Viewing deck is distributed across the ground floor and basement, separating them from the sacred regions. At the end of the journey, the visitors can exit to the north leading to the bus stops or basement parking

+ Office The administrative office is a building of its own within the temple. The office structure is made of wood, and has its own architectural value.

+ Satsang Hall There are 2 satsang halls in the temple which will be used for speeches or special functions.

+ Office This approach enables to control the HVAC circulation within individual cabins.

+ Museum The museum is a challenging with boxes of exhibition spaces hung from above, with the help of trusses hidden behind the ceiling.

+ Section through Office and Museum

Monaco Pavilion

+ Brief

n line with Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, the architecture of the Monaco Pavilion surprises and fascinates. With its pavilion, Monaco uncovers the multi-facets of its country and reflects the countless opportunities that come out of it. It is inspired by a kaleidoscope that incorporates the “Rock” of Monaco and reflects the many facets of the Principality. The role in this project was to review the Concept and Detailed Design.

Design Team > Kling Consult, Dubai Location > Ahmedabad . India Status > Completed Year > 2021

^ Outsourced Render

+ Concept The overall visitor spaces are spread over 500 square meters. Out of which 318 square meters are dedicated to pure exhibition space and 85 square meters to entertaining queuing line. Visitors will enjoy two main exhibition worlds. The first, named “the Garden of Opportunities” showcases projects and high-quality pioneering work, made in Monaco and internationally. It will look like a kaleidoscopic fantasy garden that comes out of one’s imagination. All facilities of the Pavilion are interactive, with diverse Mirror

interfaces that offer multiple forms of engagement to interested and curious visitors. The second area is a show that reveals the “identity” of Monaco. A 360-degree immersion that takes the visitor into the history, culture and values of Monaco and its citizens. Right before entering the pavilion, the visitor will be immersed in the “History of Monaco” thanks to an iconographic frieze recounting the Grimaldi Dynasty.

Kaleidoscope Effect

Multimedia Wall

Multimedia Wall Mirror

Mirror

Glass

ROOTS

CONNECTIVITY

REFINEMENT

INTERNATIONALISM

DYNAMIC

WEALTH

The Pavilion is spread over different levels, just like the many streets of Monaco that are full of surprises. It is an invitation to discover, observe and interact with an environment of cultural resources, research and knowhow. To favor an easy access, the public areas are all gathered on the ground floor (exhibition area, souvenir shop, restaurant)

VIP Terrace VIP Salon

VIP

i Pat

VIP

nce

tra

Exhibition

Kitchen Crystal Cave

Main Entrance

Restaurant Queueing Area

NORTH

Climate and design concept work together to create a higher comfort level in the interior of the building. At the same time a low-carbon footprint is ensured though solar panels on the roof structure . The enclosed volumes of the back of house area and the exhibition area help in preventing direct sunlight.

The arrangement of these building parts is driven by solar studies to minimize the heat gains and maximize ventilation. Moreover, the cooled air extracted from the air-conditioned rooms is used to cool the exhibition spaces providing the visitors with a pleasant interior atmosphere.

Full-Height Glazing

Dharoi Dam

Lightweight Fins

Observatory Tower

Observatory

Glass walk experience

+ Master Plan

Vertical Wind Turbine

Panoramic Elevators

he plot is located next to the Dharoi Dam in Gujarat, India, and is a part of a master plan with the vision of converting the region into a tourist comprehensive destination with unique character. The proposed development will link the Dharoi region to the larger hinterland through planned unlocking of tourism assets. Upon completion, it will be the first modern Era Observation Tower in India. The tower is proposed to be 145m tall, featuring an open air deck at a height of 142m, overlooking on to panoramic view of the site. The tower enables multilevel utilization for recreational activities while providing views to the surreal beauty of Dharoi as well as creates a platform to view the upcoming laser shows projected onto the dam. Design Team > Kling Consult, Dubai Location > Rajasthan . India Status > Concept Year > 2021

Dhar oi Re

serv o

La se r

ore

Hil

F nd

aro

illa iV

i Ri

ver

NORTH

Upon arrival at the basement level, visitors are provided various amenities and activities including exhibitions, theater, souvenir shop, cafe and atrium. The central core gives access to a number of elevators providing panoramic views to the surroundings which takes you to the recreational facilities, vertical museums, viewing platforms and finally the observatory.

GLASS BRIDGE

VISITOR PARKING (98) EXHIBITION SOUVENIR SHOP

THEATRE ARENA TOWER ACCESS

TYPICAL FLOOR LAYOUT

VIP LOUNGE ATRIUM DROP OFF AREA QUEUEING LINE VISITOR PARKING (98)

BASEMENT LAYOUT

145 M

/ 475 F

RY RVATO OBSEW W IE V IE SKY NORAMIC V A N 360 P IBITIO AL EXH RE E FUTU VERTIC UM OF

MUSE

ALK CE GLASS W PERIEN KING EX TA BREATH

RBINE WIND TUNERATION

GE POWER

The tower tries to take advantage of its geographical location which experiences strong winds. Wind is converted to energy through the strategical placement of the vertical wind turbine. ESCAPE STAIR

2 m WIDE

PANORAMIC ELEVATOR 5 m/s

+ Brief

T Double Curvature Formwork

Institution > Bartlett School of Architecture Status > Msc. | Studio Project - Term 2 Design Team > Jiadi Wang, Jose Tashakori, Pournami Sujeev Mentors > Tommaso Casucci, Vishu Booshan Year > 2023

his project aims to revolutionize the production of doubly curved surfaces in architecture, a process often plagued by high costs and material waste. Our team developed a unique technique to generate formwork for doubly curved roofs by employing additive manufacturing techniques and BOPS plastic sheets as a base material. The process involves 3D printing patterns on BOPS sheets, which upon heating, forms curved surfaces through shrinkage. The project covers a procedural workflow which includes the generation of the the form, the formwork, and finally the assembly of the panels on site. This procedural approach allows customization and ease of production. The ultimate goal is to reduce support structures and scaffoldings during both fabrication and construction process, for an efficient construction with minimal wastage.

+ Geometry Processing SKELETAL GRAPH

OFFSET

SUB-DIVISION

FORM FOUND MESH

+ Stereotomy Methods

+ Iterations

QUAD PANELS

MESH DUALS

K-MEANS CLUSTERS

Traditional tessellation Follows topology

Better Interlocking Uniform shape

Variable Methods Follows force flow

+ Formwork Computation PATTERN

PATTERN

MOST REALISTIC SETUP MOST REALISTIC SETUP

Bending

Edge Length

Elastic coefficient 0. 95

TOP LAYER

TOP LAYER Edge Length

Edge Length

Elastic coefficient 0.45

CONNECTIONS BETWEENCONNECTIONS TWO LAYERS BETWEEN TWO LAYERS Angle fixation

Angle fixation

Rest angle 90

Length

Final length1.5mm

BOTTOM LAYER

Pattern Elastic coefficient 0.95 Elastic strength 500 Bending strength 100

Top layer Elastic coefficient 0.45 Elastic strength 1000

Connections Connections Elastic coefficient 1.5(thicknessElastic of BOPS) coefficient 1.5(thickness of BOPS) Elastic strength 3000 Elastic strength 3000 Angle fixation 1000 Angle fixation 1000

Final length1.5mm

BOTTOM LAYER Edge Length

Edge Length

Elastic coefficient 0.45

Through computational process, the patterns to be 3D printed onto the sheets are generated based on principal curvature directions of the desired panel. A simulation is conducted prior to prototyping, providing a predictive assessment of the outcome and enabling fine-tuning before actual printing.

Bottom layer Elastic coefficien t0.45 Elastic strength 1000

+ Panel Information For Print and Assembly

Bottom layer Elastic coefficien t0.45 Elastic strength 1000

+ Small Scale Prototype (1:100) The patterns generated through the computational process are 3D printed using PLA onto the BOPS plastic sheets. These are then heated uniformly using industrial ovens. Upon heating the sheets begins to shrink and harden. The region without patterns shrink uniformly while the regions with the pattern do not shrink as the melting point of PLA is higher than BOPS plastic. This causes uneven shrinkage, leading to a buckling process, causing the formation curvature. As The shrunken BOPS sheets are much harder and sturdier, they can be used as formwork to produce curved panels.

+ Factory in a Box

+ Assembly

Production using factory in a box can be facilitated by assembling the necessary equipments in a compact space, which allows for ease of transportation and remote production. Once the panels are Panel

printed, clusters of panels are joined using adhesive to produce larger units which can be assembled with ease. Once assembled, concrete or any finishing material can be sprayed on to the roof.

Conveyor oven Circulation

Robotic Arms

2.5 meters

BOPS sheet and roller PC

12 meters

2.5 meters

Toolpath Planning

+ Brief

n architectural 3D printing, toolpath planning stands as a critical component, defining the printing process’s precision, efficiency, and success. Current tools available fall short in addressing the complexities of path planning for architecture due to multiple challenges which include ensuring structural stability, optimizing infills for material conservation and speed, and navigating the complexities of printing interconnected architectural features, emphasizing the need for refined methodologies. This project unveils a robust computational framework focused primarily on the intricacies of adaptive toolpath planning, especially when scaling to larger, more complex structures. Two methodologies, Sequential Interpolation and Half-edge Mesh, are tested for their efficiency, material conservation, and adaptability to intricate designs. Employing advanced computational methods such as half-edge data structures and procedural logic, the superiority of Half-edge Mesh method is highlighted. The study culminates in a comprehensive toolkit that addresses the gaps in architectural toolpath planning, aiming to revolutionize the feasibility and efficiency of largescale architectural printing.

Institution > Bartlett School of Architecture Status > Msc. | Dissertation - Term 3 Supervisor > Tommaso Casucci Year > 2023

SEQUENTIAL INTERPOLATION METHOD

+ Printing Set Up

This method uses a seemingly straightforward and logical approach of toolpath generation resulting in a uncomplicated procedure that works well for simple structures.

Digital I/O

Material Tank Robot program

Mixer

Closed wall configuration Robot

Fabrication Area

Open wall configuration

+ Infill Generation The process begins by extracting contour lines of the geometry and converting them to a set of curves representing the wall outlines. The curves are then divided along their lengths, and the resulting points are selected in an alternating sequence to produce a woven undulated pattern when a curve is interpolated through them. When selected in the right sequence, a continuous toolpath is achieved for singular walls. Single Infill

Single Infill

Double Infill

+ Physical Prototype

Double Infill

HALF-EDGE MESH METHOD This approach presents a more streamlined procedural process, with its adaptability to any set of connected lines, enabling it to handle complex floor plans standing out as a significant advantage. The method uses a half-edge data structure, rooted in its ability to handle complex configurations with ease. Its intrinsic organization facilitates the storage of twin edges, previous and next edge loops, associated vertices and much more. This enables a seamless progression through mesh faces, ensuring an uninterrupted toolpath. In contrast to the Sequential interpolation method, this process can navigate through multiple wall junctions and complexities of an architectural floor plan.

+ Graph To Mesh Conversion

+ Mesh Transversal Through the use of Half-edge data structure, the pattern for the toolpath is formed by navigating through the mesh using adjacency information while following a systematic pattern, storing corresponding vertices which would create an undulated pattern when connected. Upon reaching one end of the mesh, the corners are detected, and the half-edge is navigated to the next ideal position that continues iterating till it circulates back to the starting position, enabling the inclusion of wall junctions. This way a continuous toolpath is generated without disruption.

+ Catalogue LINE GRAPH

MESH

TOOLPATH

+ Toolkit Set Up

+ Physical Prototype

pournamisujeev@gmail.com