BLEH by Riddhi Shah

Catalysts in the City

Introduction The act of storytelling has, historically, been a powerful tool to communicate and disseminate meanings and values. Art forms like theatre, cinema and now installations have used storytelling as a central device in their process. Architecture has always claimed to communicate meaning and yet, the idea of narratives in architecture remain limited to a few theoretical expressions. Can the architect assume the role of a storyteller and offer spatial experiences that can create an experience of a narrative for the users? The aim of this studio is to engage with the idea of narrative and seek interpretations of that within the expressions of the built form for a design process. The studio is in three parts, wherein the first part was to create background knowledge for the student through reading, analysis of given cases and interpretation of the concept of narrative. The second part involved creating the story to be told. Tools like storyboards, postit notes, were used along with drawings and collages to construct the story. At that stage, the students were expected to integrate an issue that is of deep concern to them within the story. Finally, the students were expected to be able to translate the ideas into an architectural design demonstrating their previous learning through known devices like structure, spatial organisation etc.

Studio IX Narratives in Architecture Faculty : Meghal Arya Project : The Catalysts in the City Student : Riddhi Shah Ua4315

The Catalysts in the City The city of Ahmedabad at present consists of multiple spaces that have been ignored or left unnoticed. These are the spaces that fail to connect the individual to the people in a coherent way. On the other hand, they provide tremendous opportunity for developing a creative infill with them. These spaces that we find in cities like ahmedabad possess an importance as they can be an integral part of the urban development in the future. It has been very evident that Ahmedabad needs such places to be identified as a public comfort. Along with this, the urban experience, due to the overwhelming presence of the upcoming massive structure (the metro rail) in the city, there will be displacement and estrangement among many individuals and communities in the society. Such conditions unsettle older notions and experiences of the city, particularly in public spaces. When we look at how the structure is going to change the scenario of the city, it is quite evident that it will have an immense amount of impact on the surrounding communities. With the increase in the FSI and road widths along the metroline, redevelopment projects will be proposed. Thus, the spaces being ignored or underused will tend to disappear. And the importance of their recognition comes in place. It has also been reported that ahmedabad will be amongst the 30 megacities of the world by the UN's Department of Economics and Social Affairs which will lead to a high growth of population which in turn will affect the public amenities of the city. This opens us up to a salient dilemma about the current urban condition of the city where the public space is being questioned. Into the public space aspect, a bunch of Architects from Ahmedabad like Bimal Patel, Kamal Mangaldas, Rajeev Kathpalia, Parul Zaveri, Nimish Patel, Aniket Bhagwat and Apurva Amin; have envisioned the idea of public spaces in Ahmedabad at different possible nature and spaces and was exhibited as a possible future. The mayor of Ahmedabad; Asit Vora; also comments on it addressing how difficult is it to change the urban fabric of the city and the attempt is well appreciated. The aim of the exhibition was to initiate a conversation about the future of our cities. Awareness and engagement of citizens can mean the difference between a city that withers under the pressure of growing traffic and pollution and one that approaches these challenges with a proactive, determined response. This can be the beginning of a conversation about improving the quality of our lives and realizing a new vision of our cities, ourselves.

response. This can be the beginning of a conversation about improving the quality of our lives and realizing a new vision of our cities, ourselves. The importance of having a public realm that allows one to make legible transitions between the private and public places or from one traffic to another; become familiar with the space and adopt the space as a part of their daily lifestyle and allow spatial configurations for the users to have individual participation and experience with the space has to be identified. The siting of such public spaces is one lens into these types of questions. But providing spaces that allow people to connect with the rapid transforming city and allow these places to possesses a form of hierarchy amongst the context is necessary. The sites have been identified according to five different conditions; the conditions being, 1. Abandoned thresholds 2. Pathways with adjacent walls affecting the usage of the wall 3. Public junctions in between roads 4. Commercially mis-owned thresholds 5. Maidans ( primary use defined already ) Common Condition 1. A clear connectivity to the metro line through metro station or the metro. Each of the sites above attain a certain quality that they offer which could serve as a guiding factor for designing. The methodology used to design is based on the properties that these sites offer to the public. The properties of the site that are used; 1.Size of the site 2. Number of people visiting the site 3. Existing structure on site 4. Retaining structure on site 5. Axis of the site 6. mmediate context of the site The above categories are used as parameters to design a structure on the site that allows one to recognise the space to have a monumental importance. The parameters are used as a part of an algorithm that determines the space and form of the structure on the site. Thus, when looked at it as architecture; it can also merely function as critical artistic practice that allows to capture the elusive nature of the surrounding into this particular space. The algorithm also helps in developing other sites like these

public spaces which can be of help in the future. Architecture expressed with here would be linear pathways, blue spaces, urban furniture, play areas, resting areas, shops and cafes which is open to the public and encourages play, activities, exercise, art and music, community connection, conversation, community connection, family activities, personal reflection and getting fresh air and sun. Conclusion : Architecture is an important part of how one can look at a qualitative aspect of the city. Architecture has the capability to change the experience of a city in a broader context. Using architecture as a tool to enhance the quality of the spaces around us is the aim

Ahmedabad Metro Rail Analysis

Alignment No of Stations Length of Metro PHPDT Rolling Stock

Metro Systems Gauge Maintanence Facilities Construction Methodology

Time Period Land Requirement Ecology Environmental Cost

Loss of historical Structures/ Monuments Project Cost

North – South corridor (Thaltej to Vastral Gam) East- West corridor (APMC to Motera Stadium) North – South corridor-17 East- West corridor-15 North-South corridor- 19.102 Km East-West Corridor - 18.632 Km N-S Corridor-17778 (2031) E-W Corridor-19251 (2031) 2.88 m wide modern rolling stock with stainless steel body. a) Axle load -16 t b) Seating arrangement- Longitudinal Capacity of 3 coach unit- 764 Passengers Light Capacity Metro Rail System Standard (1435 mm) Depot cum Workshop - Apperal Park (E-W) & Giyaspur (N-S) Elevated viaduct consisting prestressed concrete “Box’ shaped Girders on single pier with pile/Open foundations, and underground section with Tunnel Boaring and station in underground station cut and cover. 60 weeks Land requirement on the project is estimated at about 89.81 hectares out of which about 84.65 ha. belongs to Government and public sector / municipal organisations while about 5.16 ha. is private land. DPR: Total 5600 trees aﬀected: 1600 likely to be cut & 4000 trees to be transplanted. EIA: (Total 1638 trees aﬀected: 396 likely to be cut & 1142 trees to be transplanted) Rs. 1221 lakh excluding cost of muck disposal , Vibration monitoring and noise monitoring and noise barriers (Rs. 2050 Lakh excluding cost of muck disposal , Vibration monitoring and noise monitoring and noise No impact anticipated Rs. 9102 Crores (at March 2014 prices)

Corridors

Lengths Underground Elevated

No of Stations Underground Elevated

East-West

6.335 kms

12.767 kms

Nil

18.632 kms

Nil

North-South

Corridors

Grid Sub Station

Location of RSS of Metro

East-West

Pirana Grid SubStation (132kV) Sabarmati Grid Substation (132kV)

Gyaspur Depot

Thaltej Grid Substation (132kV) Grid Substation at Apparel Park

Thaltej

North-South

Sabarmati

Apparel Park

Historical Monuments

Shahpur Kazi Md Chisti Mosque

159.13 m

Delhi Darwaja

254.23 m

Qutubiddin Shah Mosque

119.97 m

Muhaaz Khan Mosque

211.41 m

Rani Rupamati Mosque

210.18 m

Kalupur Darwaja

109.34 m

Brick Minar

184.59 m

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

ANAND PARK

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

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GENERAL IND. ZONE

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

80'.0"

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

558/3

80'.0"

LOKMANYA TILAK BAUG

T.P SEC

T.P.S.NO.23 SABARMATI

T.P.S.NO-1 NARODA

198

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T.P.S.NO-37 SECTOR NO- V

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Site Analysis

C E F

Site A

Site B

Site C

Site D

Site E

J G

Site F

Site G

Site H

Site I

Site J

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site A

The Site is located in front of the doordarshan tower right in front of a temple.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site B

The Site is located at the edge of a wall of a commercial building facing a local school.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site C

The Site is a result of the commercial space in C form resulting into a common space inbetweeen them.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site D

The Site is located at the edge of a shopping mall and a temple with hospitals on the same road ahead at the pathway.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site E

The Site is located at the edge of a very public ground occasionally used for fairs and events. The site is a threshold between the residential block and the ground.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site F

The Site is located at the edge of a very public ground occasionally used for fairs and events. The site is near to the university area.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site G

This Site is an odd pice of land between a Y- shaped road near Commerce Six Roads inhabited by a local tea vendor for the past 30 years.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site H

This Site is located inbetween a dense residential area opening to the street. This site area is a junction between apartments and the road. Acting as a threshold to the city.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site I

This Site is located is an edge of a sidewalk behind the Sardar Patel Stadium and adjacent to the wall of AUDA.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Directional Movement

Site Edge Conditions

Population Density

Ground Condition

Current Site Conditions

Desired Change on the Site

Site J

This site is located in the middle of a busy crossroad in the old city of Ahmedabad.

Elements on Site

Texture of the Site

Case Study Analysis

The setting The setting of the transcript can also be defined as the representation used to define the connectivity between space and its use, type and its programme, space and the movement and an object to the event.

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aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s petr Cleo le Need ble flam The esda Beth in ta foun Mall The Mall The Mall The Mall e Th

The character Thec character here is the abstraction of the space and movement used to depict the usage and volume. The abstraction is represented in three parts; the picture; the plan and the movement diagram.

The plot The plot is the idea of not using the usual way of representing architecture/ space through plans sections and axonometrics.

The events and the climax

The event is the pattern the scene is shown in as a picture hen as a plan and then as a movement diagram. The climax occurs when all the diagrams are potrayed as a book make complete sense of architecture, atmosphere and emotion in it.

The setting The setting of the transcripts physically is in the New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s park; The central park.

The character The protagnists of the story are the victim and the muderer both. The character of the story is dull, dark, silent and scary park.

The plot and the events The plot of the story is of a murder mystery. The events in the story follows a sequence of actions like stalking, murder, intensive searching and then arresting the murderer.

The rising action and the climax The rising action occurs while the investigation is in process and the story comes to climax when the murderers fingerprints are recognised. And the story ends with the arrest of the murderer.

Design Process

STEP A

STEP B

STEP C

STEP A

STEP B

STEP A

STEP B

STEP C

STEP A

STEP B

STEP C

STEP A

Development of Script

Determination of Design Through Algorithm

Site

Size of the Site

1470 Sqm

230 Sqm

450 Sqm

140 Sqm

890 Sqm

870 Sqm

205 Sqm

80 Sqm

140 Sqm

220 Sqm

Exi

istiing Structure/Elements on Site

Number of People

Age Group

A/B/C

A/B

B/C

A/B/C

A/B

A/B/C

Axis of the Site

Site parameters used for designing.

Define the curve of the site boundary.

The script determines the area of the site and accordingly sets a distance between two points on the grid. The values can be changed into the script according to a designers understanding.

Bounding Plane is used identifty the space of the site. And provide it a plane at its origin.

A defined grid type has been applied to the script which will be place on the bounding plane and further used as the grid of the points generated inside the site boundaries.

The script so far generated a cloud of points in X and Y direction on a surface.

The height of the point cloud is user defined. it can be changed according to the users need through the number slider provided and the script will generate a set of points in Z direction with the similar grid dimension as used above.

The first parameter defines the spatial places inside the cloud of points. Define the curve of the space.

The extrusion height and offset is user defined. The area created a box in these areas onto the site.

The point cloud in the selected area is being decuted out of the overall point cloud to create a space in the area.

These are the remaining points in the cloud after the deduction of the space cloud of points.

The next parameter is to define the attractor points on sites.

The intensity of attraction of the attractor points will define the density of points near the atractors.

The next parameter is the movement on the site. A curve defining the axis of movement on the site is user defined.

The extrusion height and offset is user defined. The area created a box in these areas onto the site.

The point cloud in the selected area is being decuted out of the overall point cloud to create a space in the area.

These are the remaining points in the cloud after the deduction of the space cloud of points.

The third parameter defines the seatings inside the cloud of points. Define the curve of the space.

The extrusion height and offset is user defined. The area created a box in these areas onto the site.

The point cloud in the selected area is being decuted out of the overall point cloud to create a space in the area.

These are the remaining points in the cloud after the deduction of the space cloud of points.

The fourth parameter defines the pathways inbetween inside the cloud of points. Define the curve of the space.

The extrusion height and offset is user defined. The area created a box in these areas onto the site.

The point cloud in the selected area is being decuted out of the overall point cloud to create a space in the area.

These are the remaining points in the cloud after the deduction of the space cloud of points.

The point cloud can be used to generate various forms. Delaunay Pipe

The point cloud can be used to generate various forms. Delaunay Mesh

The point cloud can be used to generate various forms. Proximity Pipe

Iterations of Design from Script

Iterations of Form And Enclosure Finding

Iterations of Movement

Iterations of Light And Material

Final Design

Site A

Plan

Isonometric View

Site B

Plan

Isonometric View

View

Site D

Plan

Isonometric View

Site G

Exploded Isonometric

View

Plan

Isonometric View

Section

Site J

Exploded Isonometric

View

Plan

Section

Storyboard

STORY OF A TRAVELLER

The Setting The project is located across Ahmedabad city, along the metro railway that will soon be effectively in use.

The traveller observes a strange entity amongst the context and drags himself towards it.

The Setting This site is located in the middle of a busy crossroad in the old city of Ahmedabad. A traveller is visiting Ahmedabad; deep thrown into the streets of the old city of the Ahmedabad in search of the Pol Houses.

He a v perceived

The Catalysts in the City Studio IX Narratives in Architecture Riddhi Shah Faculty : Meghal Arya