Portfolio utsoa by Ranjani Srinivasan

RANJANI SRINIVASAN MArch 1 Applicant

[2016-17]

CONTENTS R ESUME

R E T H INKING H ISTORIC SPACES

SK E TCH D IA RY: S IKKIM

D ECODING ME A NING

SK E TCH D IA RY: S RI LA NKA

BA Z BA H A DUR

SK E TCH DIA RY: A H ME DABAD

C H E N NA I CE NT RA L

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

RANJA NI S R I N IVASA N

2013

CEPT UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF DESIGN BACH ELO R O F I NTER I O R D ES I G N

In d i an , b o rn 17 Fe b ru a ry 1 988 ra n j a n i s ri n i va s an . 3 0 0 6 @ g m ai l . com + 91 900 3 6 1 2 575

CO NTACT Sachin Soni, Research Guide Jay Thakkar, Associate Professor HONORS ‘LIVING WITH CRAFTS’ PROGRAM Smt. Kamlaben Gambh irch an d Sh ah Award 07-08,

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHY ( A MATE U R)

Special Mention

FULBRIGHT MASTER’S FELLOWSHIP 2016-17 ART AND CULTURE MANAGEMENT: HISTO R I C PRESERVATION

PUBLISHED WORK AND EXHIBITIONS FOUNDATION EXHIBITION {2006} Semester 1 work, Fall 2006 Exh ibited at Stud io 1 , Faculty of Design, CEPT Un iversity

LIVING WITH CRAFTS 1 EXHIBITION {2007} Summer work, Fall 2007 Exh ibited at Stud io 1 , Faculty of Design, CEPT Un iversity

FOUNDATION EXHIBITION {2007} Semester 3 work, Fall 2007 Exh ibited at Th e Double Volume, Faculty of Design , CEPT Un iversity

LIVING WITH CRAFTS 2 EXHIBITION {2008} Semester 3 work, Fall 2007 Exh ibited at Th e Double Volume, Faculty of Design , CEPT Un iversity

BEST WORK COMPILATION, {25 YEARS} OF FACULTY OF DESIGN Publish ed , Semester 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 work, Fa ll 20 1 5 Faculty of Design ,

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 3 MONTHS

DIAGRAMMAR

2015 PROJECT DESIGNER Conceptualisation, Retrofitting, Furniture and services design. Involved in all stages of projects from concept to execution. N OTABL E P ROJ ECTS

6 MONTHS

GEOFFREY BAWA TRUST

2015 DESIGN INTERN Furniture and services design. Involved in all stages of projects from concept to execution. N OTA BL E PROJECTS

DI AGRA M M A R W EB S IT E

E N A D â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S I LVA HO U S E RE LO CAT ION L I N D E N HA L L

N ARAYA N A D HA M A RES ID EN C E

K Y N S E Y TE RRAC E D U TC H BAY RES O RT

8 MONTHS 2014-2015

U R B A N I S AT I O N - M I G R AT I O N NEXUS, LSE, DFiD SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT Involved in conceptualisation, structuring of research, coordination of site visits. Compilation and writing of reports.

TEACHING MEASI ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE Visiting Faculty: Interior Architecture Studio 4, [Aug - Nov 2014] Visiting Faculty: Drawing and Painting, Mandatory Workshop, [Aug - Nov 2014] CEPT UNIVERSITY

1 YEAR 2015

AAKRUTI ARCHITECTS PROJECT DESIGNER Conceptualisation Retrofitting, Furniture and services design. Involved in all stages of projects from concept to execution

Teaching Assistant : Interior Design Studio 2, Core Studio, [Jan - April 2014] Teaching Assistant :History 2: Vernacular and Temple Architecture, [Jan - April 2014] Teaching Assistant: Colour Sketching 2: [Jan - April 2014]

N OTABL E P ROJ ECTS C E P T U N IV ERS ITY L IB RA RY AAKR U TI A R C HIT ECT S W EB S ITE C E P T U N IV ERS ITY STU D IO

4 MONTHS 2013

CEPT UNIVERSITY OUTREACH LEAD WEBSITE DESIGNER Graphic design and development of interface of website. Cataloguing and management of all images. Active participation in client presentations. N OTABL E P ROJ ECTS C E P T U N IV ERS ITY W EB S ITE

RESEARCH PAPERS Decoding Meaning: The relationship established between ritual performance and space, presented at DRS OPENSiG symposium at the Nottingham contemporary, in association with the Design Research Society, Central St Martins and Nottinghanm Trent University.

SKILLS AutoCad, Google Sketchup, 3-Ds Max, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Suite, Dreamweaver. Microsoft Office, Photography, Sketching, Woodwork, Metalwork, Canework, Organic Papermaking, Weaving, Lithography

01 RETHINKING HISTORIC SPACES Adaptive Reuse and Architectural Inserts

Design studio II Space PlanningPlanning 2 II Adaptive IIReuse II Semester 4 Design Studio II Space Sem 4 The objective of this studio was to explore spatial strategies and architectural alternatives which not only fullfil the purpose of adequate infrastructure but also sensitively integrates with the building, its context and transforms it. The site is a Pol house, located in the Old City of Ahmedabad. A Pol can be termed as a self contained sociological unit. The nature of the activities in this settlement tend to mark a change in the overall character of the space. This project intends to preserve the fast fading heritage of the pol through interventions and the insertion of an alien program: a Law Firm.

Khadia ni Pol, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

conceptual model Pols are narrow row houses with a hierarchy of narrow dark spaces which open into a central court. Each space has a specific function as the spatial progression moves from semi public to private.

The premise of the project begins in taking forward the notion of the pol house being a selfcontained unit by opening it up inwards. Further selective removal of the slab , exposing the purlins creates a hierarchy of volumes not otherwise experienced in this typology.. As observed in the section the opening up of the slab selectively at the entrance and the library increase the light withing the space as well as create a volumetric differentiation which is lacking in the house.

02 SKETCH DIARY Pelling, Rabdentse and thereabouts Travelogue II Sikkim II Semester 3 I visited Pelling, specifically the Pemayangtse monastery in Sikkim in 2008. This settlement is one of the last of its kind, situated idylically on either side on the main building. They used to, I am told, house the monks although now even they prefer newer, more modern concrete structures. The houses showcased are an excellent example of two fast disappearing space making crafts of the region- wood carving and stone masonary. The stone masonary is in particular spectacular, where stones are placed one above the other without cement or mortar of any kind,

Panoramic view of a vernacular settlement, Pelling, Sikkim

03 DECODING MEANING The relationship between ritual performance and space Research studio II Dissertation II Semester 10 Rituals make one understand the image of natural order created by symbolization and differentiation within a culture. From the earliest architecture, these fundamental relationships, such as an intermediate physical and metaphorical place have been articulated through various methods of ritual performance. This dissertation illustrates how space is conceived and experienced by the performer through ritual within a Brahmin settlement, built around the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum, Kerala. The study chooses 14 of the 16 samskaras (rites of passage) which a person goes through from birth unto death. One discovers that not only during these rituals, Vedic cosmogony manifests itself and can be experienced in by the performers but also that ritual performance has been a guiding factor for spatial articulation, right through from a singular housing unit to city planning.

Aerial view of East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

SACRED GEOMETRIES This dissertation illustrates how space is conceived and experienced by the performer through ritual within a Brahmin settlement, built around the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum, Kerala. The study chooses 14 of the 16 samskaras (rites of passage) which a person goes through from birth unto death. One discovers that not only during these rituals, Vedic cosmogony manifests itself and can be experienced in by the performers but also that ritual performance has been a guiding factor for spatial articulation, right through from a singular housing unit to city planning.

1. Achamana m

2. Pranayamam

3. Sankalpam

4.Marjanam

5.Praasana m

6. Achamanam

METHODOLOGY OF RITUAL INTERPRETATION SANDHYAVANDANAM I have explores five rituals : Sandhyavandanam, Birth, Marraige, Death and Araat (procession). The rituals sequence progressively with Sandhyavandanam (greeting of dawn) occupying the central court of the house right till Araat which consumes the entire settlement. Birth, marriage and death rituals slowly expand their ritual centres to include the house, the street and then public structures such as the ghats..

16 Samskaras Prenatal Garbhādhāna

Pumsavana

Sīmantonnayana Childhood

Jātakarman Nāmakarana Niskramana Annaprāśana Cūdākarana Karnavedha Education

Vidyarambha Upanayana Vedarambha Keshant Samavartan Marriage

Vivaha Death

Antyeshti Illustrated here are the 5 rites of passage according to Vedic philosophy.

ARAAT The analyses of Araat or procession which occurs yearly explores the sacred geometries underlying the orientation of temple and surrounding settlement. the ceremonial axis which intersects the sanctum sanctorium of the temple and ends in sea versus the lesser north south axis which aligns with the minor gates to the Agraharam thereby illustrating a complexity of ritual movement which governed the design of the settlement.

SKETCH DIARY Glimpses of Srilanka on a shoestring budget Travelogue II Sri lanka II Training My internship in SriLanka began two weeks after the end of the war. in an office situated on the outskirts of Colombo. Although there was still a threat of danger, my classmate and I decided that we could not forgo the opportunity to explore this beautiful country. This was a time when food and other supplies where scarce and quite expensive. .Nevertheless we found ingenious ways to travel on our meagre stipends. This is a page from the sketch diary which I kept and meticulously recorded all our adventures..

Heritage buildings of a Monastery, Kandy, Srilanka

BAZ BAHADUR Sufi School of Music

Conservation II Design studio II Semester 10

Maandu is a small village about an hour from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. It also is surrounded by the ruins of the state buildings from the reign of Baz Bahadur Shah in the 1500s. Surrounded by a pristine landscape the ruins indicate a highly advanced architectural heritage with sophisticated drainage networks, heirarchy of spaces and meticulour architectural detailing. This particular site is the palace of the Emperor which overlooks the Queens palace.

Baz Bahadur palace, Maandu, Madhya Pradesh

The building is situated on top of a hill and is distinguished by two courts, surrounded by domed cells. Above you can see the segregation of knowlege space versus below the practice/performance rooms.

The main intervention was a polycarbonate roof structure introcduced in the library block as well as around the court to provide shading from the harsh sun. The structure has been purposely kept sparse to accomodate the nomadic lifestyle of sufis.

SKETCH DIARY The settlement of Vastrapur Travelogue II Ahmedabad II Interactive studio These sketches are part of the Interactive workshop study on urbanism in Vastrapur. Vastrapur is a settlement around the artificially created Vastrapur lake in Ahmedabad. Initially home to southern immigrant workers it has now become a commercial hub for hardware and retail.

CHENNAI CENTRAL Railway Station estd. 1873 Design studio 4 II Final Year II Semester 9 Chennai Central, erstwhile Madras Central, is the main railway terminus in the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras. It lies adjacent to the current headquarters of the Southern Railway, as well as the Ripon Building, and is one of the most important railway hubs in South India. About 350,000 passengers use the terminus every day. Built in the Gothic Revival style, the original station was designed by George Harding and consisted of four platforms and a capacity to accommodate 12-coach trains. It took another five years for the work to be completed, when the station was modified further by Robert Fellowes Chisholm with the addition of the central clock tower,

Chennai Central, Madras, Tamil Nadu

With a frquency od 350,000 passengers per day the main issue in the terminus is ease of mobility. This does not include other amenities provided by the station such as lodging, food, laundry etc.

My main intervention into the building was that of a large mezzanine which spans across the two blocks. The mezzanine accomodates all extraneous activities except those directly corresponding to the transiting passengers such as small kiosks like newspapers and packed food. The other main intervention was the consolidation of restaurants and offices into seperate blocks to contain those activities.