RAKSHA SINGH | Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio | 2019 -2023

Portfolio

2019 - 2023

Raksha Singh

- Jack Kerouac

After joining Architecture, when people asked me, ‘Why Architecture?’, I didn’t had an apt answer to it.

Perhaps it naturally occurred to me, while I was still in school, I realised that scope of art is beyond the frames of canvas. I was always fascinated towards buildings and unique structures. The sparkle of interest in designing unique, aesthetically pleasing structures came up naturally during growing up. I always wanted to creative in what I do, and pursuing architecture has opened all doors of being creative and combined my dream of designing the buildings I have always fascinated about.

After completing nearly four years in this degree, I can say that architecture not only deals with designing structures but also combines art along with science, technology, environment and mankind. I just love what I do.

- Raksha Singh

HOME COMING

Samsmrtya

The Architecture School

The Studio School, 2023

• Competition Design

• Group Work

“If you want an easy life, don’t be an Architect”

Vadodara G U J A R A T Concept

‘Samsmrtya’ means intensely and repeatedly remembering, that's what architecture is all about, to build structural masterpieces and intensely keep reminding the world about its grandeur. Considering this, we have name our school as Samsmrtya School of Architecture. The concept is separated yet connected. We have divided the list of requirements for the school into separate blocks and then connected them with a series of walkways and a watch tower, creating a strong visual link to allow the students to engage in this spaces.

The building form resembles a triangle with chamfered edges. The reason of choosing triangle as the shapes of our blocks is, it is the strongest shape, having a strong base, and provide immense support. Due to triangles ability to withstand tremendous pressure, this shape is often found in architecture to provide stability. The arrangement pattern of the different building blocks resembles that of a lotus leaves floating on water. Just like the lotus leaves are of various sizes yet they come together and support the flower.

Interactive zones, where students can spill out, unwind, celebrate or just be inspired are a very essential part of this campus design. The main interactive zone has been designed as a Open air theater. The lush green lawns with shrubs and trees, the beauty and freshness of nature inside the campus provides calmness & mental peace to the students and visitors. The different activities & function of these different spaces come together to provide a nurturing and informative ambience and environment for the growth of budding architects studying in the school.

Site Area: 36314 SQ.MT

Topography: Flat Even Land

Climate: Warm And Humid

Sun path: East To West Via South

Wind Direction: South-west

Access Road Width: 18 M

Ground Coverage: 60% of Total

Site Area

1 ENTRY/EXIT TO THE SITE

2. ADMIN BUILDING

3. UNDERGRADUATE BUILDING

4. POST GRADUATE BUILDING

5. ACTIVITY BUILDING

6. CONSTRUCTION YARD

7. OPEN AIR THEATER

8. SCULPTURE GARDEN

9. MULTI MURPOSE COURT

10. OUTDOOR WORKSHOP AREA

11. WATCHTOWER

Design Strategy

Gujarat experiences a sub-tropical climate, that has been considered while designing the building. The building has a double skin façade with glass for the internal layer and terracotta jalli on the outer façade. It helps to reduce energy consumption, enhances natural ventilation, occupant comfort and acoustic insulation.

The site has an elaborate landscaping done to enhance the micro climate of the site. The Softscape allows the absorption of heat and contributes in thermal comfort. It helps in improvising the air quality of the area, along with absorption of noise which is needed is schools providing a sense of nearness to the nature.

To keep the corridors of UG & PG block alive, we have created cut out interactive areas where students and teachers can engage in various activities, that provides character to these breakout spaces or they can interact with each other in these semi open spaces. The corridors have display panels installed, inclined with the wall to increase the visibility and outreach of the student works with storage behind for sheets.

ENTRANCE TO THE SITE ENTRANCE TO THE ADMIN

INTERACTIVE AREA OF UG & PG BLOCK:

Forsetti Centre

Juvenile Detention Centre

The Callow, 2022

• Competition Design

• Group Work

• Honourable Mention

A Juvenile Detention Center in the outskirt of Norway

The juvenile justice system was developed with a goal of rehabilitating kids. Every day, ten of thousands of youngsters are detained in juvenile detention facilities, thousands more are incarcerated in adult detention facilities and jails. Imagine keeping a young child sequestered for days, weeks, or even for months in a tiny empty room, especially the harsh conditions that are all too common in the juvenile justice system. Children deserves better thus this juvenile centre aims at designing a semi open facility that gives students supervision & structure for 50 detailed children. The concept adress the lives of inmates & society overall.

According to Norse mythology, Forseti is the God of justice and reconciliation and the site selected for the juvenile detention center is located in the outskirt of Gelio, Norway, thus justifying the name Forseti Center. The design proposal represents three triangular blocks, separated yet connected both structurally and visually remarking the cycles of growth that lead to higher state of being.

Located in Buskerud, Southern Norway, Geilo is home to an impressive selection of attractions and experiences, with around 2,500 inhabitants. This small town is Best known for ski resorts and mountain trails. Geilo features a Subarctic climate with cold, extremely snowy winters and cool summers. The mean temperature in January is 8.2 °C and for July is 11.2 °C with 83% Humidity. The Wind direction is from North at a speed of 3 km/h. This town is adjacent to three lakes, Slåttahølen, Vestlefjorden, and Ustedalsfjorden

Our site is located near the lake with Latitude & Longitude of 60.5337° N, 8.2088° E, having a total area of 14.05 Acers with thick vegetation on the south eastern side and on the Northern end. The main entrance to the site is from the south eastern side via the 25 m wide highway. On entering the site we have a watchtower & parking on the south western side and then a water body on the south eastern side. The main building along with the staff’s quarter, located just behind the main building block is north south oriented and has windows on the western side to trap the solar heat to keep the inside warm. Multi functional courts are present on the northern side.

The central green open space of Block A

The semi open workshop area of Block B

The colourful staircase with motivational quotes to inspire and motivate the human behaviour, mood & performance of the juveniles.

The central water feature of block C

100 Bedded Hospital

SEMESTER 6, 2022

• Semester Design

• Individual Work

A 100 Bed Hospital In The Urban Setting Of Batanagar

A hospital is where the medical and psychological needs of people are attended until their recovery. They are an important part of the society or culture globally. Even at that, hospital designs and construction differ greatly from one to another country. Although their designs are different, they all follow a specific laid down standards which unifies all of them.

The planning and design of a healthcare facility is a very specialised field that has begun getting its due only in the last few years in India. This is because we have now come to realise the important role of the design and planning of the hospital plays in the healing process of a patient. The Medzone Hospital establishes itself as a leading advanced healthcare facility supported by the most advanced technologies available today, to ensure that the design satisfies the people living and functioning in the space. It is a 100 bedded multi-storied hospital located in an urban setting of Batanagar neighbourhood, in Maheshtala of the South 24 Parganas District, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The site is a part of Apollo Research and Training Centre, 14 acres of the land is provided by the West Bengal Government free of cost for the purpose.

Site Plan

SCALE 1:500

LEGENDS:

Total Site Plan: 10725 Sq.M

Permissible Ground Coverage: 40% Of Site Area= 4290 Sq.M

Used Ground Coverage: 35% Of Site Area= 3753 Sq.M Far: 2.75

Built Up Area: 29493 Sq.M

SetbacksFront & Side Open Space:

Rear Open Space: Max. Permissible Building Height: 1.5 X (26+4)=45 M

OPD

1. SECURITY POINT

2. AMBULANCE PARKING

3. 4 WHEELER PARKING

4. SERVICE PARKING

5. HOSPITAL BLOCK

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

AMBULANCE ENTRY/EXIT

ENTRY/EXIT

Healing architecture principles has been used in designing the hospital to create a effective healing environment that can improve the metal health of patients along with their physical health. A natural environment is created by optimizing natural daylight, natural ventilation. Elaborate landscaping is done to enhance the micro climate of the site. Sustainable and locally available materials like bricks, woods, concrete and terracotta, jallis, low VOC paints and green vertical gardening accompanied with solar panels are used in the building exterior and interior keeping in mind the climatic condition, to improve the indoor air quality and public health. The softscape lowers the absorption of heat and contributes in thermal comfort. It helps in improvising the air quality of the area, along with the absorption of noise which is needed in a Healthcare facility providing a sense of nearness to the nature. The patients are allowed to enjoy the connection with nature from their own rooms and other common areas, from relaxing open space. This will give them homely feeling, so this environment can improve can improve recovering process and will convert the hospital is home.

“The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm”

FLOOR PLANS

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SCALE- 1:500

Façade Details

The hospital faces the north west and south west side, receiving major amount of sunlight which can lead up to various problems like heating up , glare etc. So prevent any such problem which may cause discomfort, a double wall system with jalli and panels and green wall system has been used.

The green wall also breaks the monotony of the hard surface and it has got positive impact on the mental well being of the people. It helps in reducing the overall thermal temperature of the building and also helps in purifying air.

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SCALE- 1:500

Façade Details

The vertical panels are used allow sunlight to enter the building but not directly and doesn’t allow it to cause glare.

Talking about sustainability, roof gardening and solar panels have been suggested in the design

THIRD FLOOR PLAN SCALE- 1:500

SECTION AT YY’

SECTION AT XX’

OPD ENTRANCE

PHARMACY

TACTILE GRID

RAMP

SOLAR PANELS

PARKING

EMERGENCY ENTRY

F.T.T Coffee House

Café Interior

The Café Interiors, 2021

• Competition Design

• Group Work

A Tale of Old and New, stepping into the avenues of history

Traversing through history, appreciating the beauty and aesthetics of three different cultures that confluence in the region of Bengal – manifested in 3 different architectural styles in a café that takes the visitors in a unique experience that feels nostalgic as well as encourages the visitor to explore through the spaces.

Three distinct interior design styles – British Colonial, Islamic, and Bengali are expressed in the spaces of the café. The design story is to find a synergy between these three distinct cultures that have co-existed in the region of Bengal, when looked at from a broad perspective.

On entering, the colonial style is seen in the design elements, that changes to the Islamic style and finally to the Bengali style. As the visitors make their way through the spaces, that express the design ideas of different cultures, the sensory experience will be such that as if they are ‘flowing through time’ (hence, F.T.T) .

The design ideas of these different cultures are interpreted in a modern context, so that the Colonial, Islamic and Bengali design elements blend seamlessly in a contemporary environment. To this end, the furniture and some of the decor elements kept modern and the same kind of furniture is used all through the spaces, with slight changes in their colour. The furniture thus acts as the elements of continuity through the spaces.

Viceroys & Governors

Colonial style is seen in the open seating area of the café. The design elements include Classical columns, ornamental wrought iron arches along the entrance, stone fountain, and landscaping with flower bushes along the pathways. An outdoor beverage serving counter and a small p performance area creates a welcoming vibe.

Babus&Zamindars

The seating space in the first floor has Bengali design style. Nostalgic louvered windows, traditional Jaalis, ‘alpona’ on the floor, ‘ghot’, birdcages and a jumble of vintage elements like gramophone, old storage trunks and lanterns are used. A skylight provides natural light. The seating area leads to a balcony.

Stepping into the Avenues of History

Sultans&Nawabs

The open seating area with colonial style leads to the closed seating spaces having Islamic style. There is an arched entrance and an arcaded corridor with seating areas overlooking the open space

The sunlight entering through the Jaalis in the corridor create an interplay of light and shadow. The interior space has an entrance lobby that has a coffee and tea bar with cluster of hanging light fixtures to create the vibe of a grand entrance A semicircular staircase leads to the seating on first floor. Closed seating and a semi-open seating space has Jaalis, Islamic inscriptions, ornamental columns with geometric patterns, with hanging lanterns as lighting fixtures A pergola is used as shading for the semi-open space.

“flowing through times”

Entrance to indoor seating from the colonial space

Reception & Waiting area

Main Entrance with ornamental arches

View of Entrance Lobby

Rear view of Entrance Lobby

Selfie zone with Ornamental seating in the first floor (Bengal)

“The Memory of a Cup of Coffee lasts for Forty Years”

Home Coming

Co-housing Design

LBT, NASA 2022

• Competition Design

• Group Work

• Special Mention

Guwahati A S S A M

Why this Site?

North-East India is an important part of the country but is still lacking behind in every aspect when compared to the other Indian State. the reason for choosing the site in Azara, Guwahati was that Azara is a still developing when we compared it to its neighbours like Kahilipara etc., It is a perfect place to setup a co-housing plan and help people who are solely focused in the city centre and have become very self centred and anti social, to move a bit away from the chaos and hustle bustle of the city and

The Neighbourhood : Azara

Situated in the North Western parts of Guwahati, Azara is a residential locality that lies in proximity to Brahmaputra river. Azara enjoys connectivity to the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi international airport, due to which the real estate demand is increasing rapidly. Also, Azara is well connected to a few localities like Kahikuchi, Goral, Mirzapur, Jobay etc. Besides, Azara has a mix of residential developments like independent houses, low-rise to mid-rise apartments and builder floor apartments.

Local Construction Materials

Eastern side via the Chhaygaon-Guwahati road.

The North East and South West has existing water bodies. The site is located in a dense residential area of Dharapur, Azara in Guwahati.

The materials used are of light weight and give flexible connections. hence, their performance is high during earthquake. the use of IKRA and Mud in the walls, lead to maintaining a cool temperature during summer and a moderate warm temperature during winter. The British had started a special type of construction, which finally become the typical building type and called “assam type house”. Front facade contains large number of openings, sheds are provided, restrict rainfall, is arranged in different level, plinth is of about 60-70 cm , two entrances, 10m of open space Infront of the house. ceiling made of wooden beams and flooring of cement

Concept

“ SEPARATED YET CONNECTED”

These words sum up to exactly how we have lived through out the pandemic. In our co-housing project, home coming, we have planned of using this concept of “separated yet connected” at all levels of the design from site plan to individual unit plan, to landscaping. Each unit is separated from the other by walls but connected through the open corridors, community spaces and landscaping

Legend

Site Area – 13746 Sq.M

Built Up – 20619 Sq.M

Ground Coverage – 6185.7 Sq.M

Actual Built Up Area – 9172 Sq.M

Vehicular Circulation

1. Building

2. Landscaped Garden

3. Green Open Areas

4. Parking

5. Water Body

6. Arcade

7. Seating Area

8. Pedestrian Circulation

FLOOR PLANS

Composition Of Community

People from any caste, creed, religion and sex are welcome to reside in this co-housing complex. This would ensure there is a holistic community formation.

Shared Spaces : Open Green Spaces, Landscaped Gardens, Gymnasium, Corridors, Walkways, Community Hal, Community Kitchen, Library and Club House.

Non Shared Spaces : Residential Unts and Private Balconies.

Legend:

1. COMMUNITY HALL 180 SQ.M

2. GYMNASIUM 180 SQ.M

3. CLUB HOUSE 180 SQ.M

4. COMMUNITY KITCHEN 180 SQ.M

5. OPEN INTERACTIVE SPACES 200 SQ.M

Techniques Focusing on Sustainability

Cad- tecture

Construction Drawing of a Duplex Building Construction, 2022

• 6th Semester Work

• Individual Work

FRONT ELEVATION

SCALE- 1:150’

SCALE- 1:150’

STAIRCASE DETAILS

SCALE 1:50

ELECTRICAL LAYOUT

SCALE- 1:300’

1. Sketch

Designed an event poster for 64th ZONAL NASA

INDIA event hosted by Amity University, Kolkata. Also helped in designing of other posters of departmental events

3. Illustrations Art

2. Poster Design

Illustration Art done using Abode Illustrator and Photoshop

LOVE GIANT LOBSTER

4. Logo Design

Logo design for a seafood Joint which specializes in Giant Lobsters

6. Article

7. Photographs

Thank you