Selected Work_Rucha Valimbe

Portfolio.

Selected Work I Rucha A Valimbe

AccessourCity, Manchester

Designing a computational tool, Urban

Student Edifice, Manchester

DfMA Project: Student Accommodation

Fashion Tech, Manchester

Adaptive Reuse of Grade II Listed

Design Consultancy Services for Maryam Island Masterplan, Sharjah

Private Members Club Piers, Abu

The Kingdom’s Gardens, KSA

Creek Beach District, Dubai

Residential led Masterplan

DIRC Al Marjan Island, RAK

Masterplan, Model making

Assoufid Development, Marrakech

Vertical Farms, Manchester

High Rise building

Africa One Tower, Kibera

Benzie Event Pavilion, Manchester

Parasite Music House, Manchester

Semi-detached House, Manchester

Design for MDMA, Manchester

Manchester Urban Regeneration

Manchester Accommodation

Manchester

Listed building

5 Plots, Makkah

Sharjah

Dhabi

Dubai

RAK

M.Arch Thesis

Manchester School of Architecture

Atelier - CPU Ai

M.Arch Year 01

Manchester School of Architecture

Atelier - CPU Ai

Part 1 Year-Out

SSH Design, UAE

BA (Hons) Architecture Final Year

Manchester School of Architecture

Atelier - Advance Practice

BA (Hons) Architecture Year 01, 02

Manchester School of Architecture

Transit Oriented Development

ACCESS our CITY Urban Regeneration

Developing Our Own Computational Tool

Generating urban patterns with an aim of lowering travel times to local amenities by controlling the street network and plot sizes, in order to achieve a zero-carbon city.

Project Location: Eastern Gateway, Manchester

Client: Manchester City Council

Project brief:

Propose low- carbon to zero carbon solutions for the regeneration of Eastern Gateway, as a consultant for Manchester City Council.

Our Vision (Group project):

Our site is based in East Manchester, which has, in the recent years seen an increase in the use of private cars as primary modes of transport to pursue daily activities. This has caused exponential environmental harm. As a response, we have applied urban design principles such as Transit oriented development and 15-minute city, to achieve generative urban patterns, through a computational design process.

Project Software: Grasshopper Unity Adobe Creative Suite

Rhino 3D

Tram Hubs

Residential Region Mixed Use Region

Existing Tram Line

Neighbourhood clusters based on the concepts of Transit Oriented Development and 15 min city to encourage walkability

j

Zone’s attractiveness (Wj)

Commercial: Number of jobs

Retail: Number of shops

Sports/ Recreation: Capacity of building

Education: Capacity of school

Gravity Accessibility Measure:

Create sample user journeys to calculate amenities Ai

Feedback

Model Performance Criteria

AccessibilityMeasure

End Decision

Urban Plan Generation

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) along the existing tram lines on the site

The travel distances considered were inspired by 15 minute city principles. The distance between new transit hubs placed over the existing tram lines is set to be 1200m - a 15-minute walkable distance.

The diagram above showcases our interpretation of urban design principles such as Transit Oriented development and 15-minute city. I was responsible to convey the same through diagrams.

The tool calculates required for each diagram highlights required and allocated sector, along with highest GFAs of each specified responsible for allocation tool.

Residential zones inspired by TOD land use distribution

Commercial/ mixed use cores inspired by TOD land use distribution

calculates the space each sector. The highlights the total GFA allocated to each with the lowest and of buildings within land use. I was designing the space

Retail:

Population 02: 238850

GFA: 410000 m2

GFA Range: 4000 to 20000 m2

MIXEDUSE REGION TRANSITORIENTED NEIGHBOURHOOD

Education:

Population 02: 238850

Education GFA: 27600 m2

GFA Range: 1950 to 6000 m2

Residential:

Population 02: 238850

Residential GFA: 2481700 m2

Building GFA Range: 17965 to 21890 m2

Commercial:

Population 02: 238850

Commercial GFA: 1048600 m2

Building GFA Range: 18000 to 27600 m2

Sports and Recreation:

Population 02: 238850

Sports & Rec. GFA: 664800 m2

Building GFA Range: 9600 to 24000 m2

Key Plan

Ranking Iterations generated based on performance criteria

ITERATION 01

ITERATION 03

ITERATION 05

USER INPUT PARAMETERS

Plot size: 50

Population Size in 5 years: 188,850

USER INPUT PARAMETERS

Plot size: 55

Population Size in 5 years: 188,850

USER INPUT PARAMETERS

Plot size: 65

Population Size in 5 years:

Rank 08

Rank 12

Walkability

Embodied Carbon measure

CO2 Emissions due to travel

Rank 01

Walkability

Embodied Carbon measure

Rank 02

Walkability

Embodied Carbon measure

Rank 03

CO2 Emissions due to travel

Rank 01

CO2 Emissions due travel

Iteration achieves low CO2 emissions. However, the measure for accessibility remains low.

Iteration achieves low CO2 emissions. However, the measure for accessibility remains the lowest.

Iteration achieves low However, the measure remains one of the lowest.

PARAMETERS

188,850

ITERATION 09

USER INPUT PARAMETERS

Plot size: 50 Population Size in 7.5 years: 238,850

ITERATION 11

Rank 10

Walkability

Rank 04

USER INPUT PARAMETERS

Plot size: 65 Population Size in 5 years: 238,850

Rank 03

Carbon Embodied Carbon measure

Rank 02

to CO2 Emissions due to travel

Rank 05

Walkability

Embodied Carbon measure

Rank 07

Rank 06

CO2 Emissions due to travel

Rank 06

Rank 05

low CO2 emissions. measure for accessibility lowest.

Above average ranking for CO2 emissions due to travel, Accessibility and Embodied Carbon.

Mid-range measures for CO2 emissions due to travel, Accessibility and Embodied Carbon.

Developing a User Interaction Tool within Unity

I was responsible for developing the user interaction tool for our project, utilizing Unity and C# programming. The tool permits a user to examine twelve unique iterations and evaluate them against the selected performance criteria.

Iteration

Comparison Graphs

Performance criteria Graphs Iteration ranking graphs

Performance Criteria - CSV Data

Simplified csv data with measures for:

• Walkability

• CO2 emissions due to motorised travel

• Embodied carbon

• Energy Generation

models,

graphs

Chosen Iteration

The road network was designed based on the concept of superblocks. The urban plan was divided into regions, which was then parcellated into 400 x 400 m blocks, and then further divided into smaller plots. This image zooms into a 400x400m block.

1. Roads that lie surrounding the blocks are designed to accommodate residents’ vehicles, urban services and emergency vehicles.

2. Roads lying within the blocks would be accessed by pedestrians and bicycles.

3. Tram line running centrally located within the block. the road is designed to include tram tracks, bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways.

Embodied CO2 emissions: Residential

1. Buildings: 28,994,000 kgCO2

2. Detached houses: 1,422,500,000 kgCO2

(For all buildings within the sector)

3,751,400

Embodied CO2 emissions: Commercial

17,618,000,000 kgCO2

(For all buildings within the sector)

1.

1.

2.

3.

Tramstop

Embodied CO2 emissions: Retail

600,170,000 kgCO2

(For all buildings within the sector)

Embodied CO2 emissions: Sports, Rec

835,250,000 kgCO2

(For all buildings within the sector)

Embodied CO2 emissions: Education

346,400,000 kgCO2

(For all buildings within the sector)

Student Edifice

DfMA Project: Student Accommodation

Project Location: Manchester

Project brief: Design a student accommodation to attract postgraduate students to Manchester. Incorporate sustainable strategies in order to push the zero carbon target for before 2038.

Client: MMU Estates

Vision:

With an annual influx of 33,000 students at Manchester Metropolitan University, the demand for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) continues to rise. In our discussions with MMU Estates, a key stakeholder, we gathered insights into their goals of achieving carbon neutrality and increasing the enrollment of postgraduate students at MMU.

Upon conducting a thorough examination of existing accommodations in Manchester, it became evident that there was a lack of integrated study spaces. Additionally, when evaluating the available amenities in the vicinity, we made the strategic decision to develop accommodation that not only includes essential amenities but also dedicated academic areas. This approach fosters a higher level of academic engagement and serves as a compelling draw for postgraduate students considering Manchester as their academic destination.

Project Software:

Salutation Street

Upper Medlock Street

I worked alongside a group mate to develope the construction strategy for the student accommodation project. I created the exploded axonometric drawing on the far right to showcase all the distinct elements of the DfMA assembly residential units. I created a sketchUp model and exploded the panel system assemblies to depict the same.

My groupmate created the diagrams on right to showcase the overall construction strategy of the project.

FASHION TECH Adaptive Re-Use

Project Location: Manchester

Client: MMU Estates

Project brief:

Adaptive Re-Use of Righton building (Grade II Listed*) to create makerspaces and learning commons.

Our Vision (Group project): A scheme incorporating makerspaces and learning commons to initiate collaboration between the existing fashion department within Righton building and the MMU Digital Arts department. Our aim is to equip students for the ongoing digital transformation of the fashion industry.

*Building must be more than 30 years old before its listed as Grade II. Buildings are important due to technological innovation, or illustrating particular aspects of social or economic history, have external visual quality. Listed elements in Righton building that we retained:

Project Software:

Rhino 3D Revit Photoshop InDesign AutoCAD

1. Primary structure, decorated columns and beams

2. Art Nouveau character of the interiors and exterior facade

3. Raised lettering on the frontal arched parapet “A.D. RIGHTON 1905”.

4. Art Nouveau wrought-iron balustrades to the gallery, and a glazed roof supported by slender iron trusses with open- work spandrels.

RIBA Work Stages

Mobilisation Period

- Activities carried out after the client has chosen the contractor, but before the contractor commences work on site

A. Demolish existing cores, service stairs, internal walls

E. GFRC structural floor slab (500mm) built over the new cores introduced.

B. Existing and listed facade elements to

F. Glu-laminated timber structural frames attached to the floor slab. This would support the envelope structure.

G. Envelope layers installed glulam structural frames concrete floor slab.

Handover/ Defect liability period

- A typical defects liability period lasts for about 12 months.

- At this stage, after the completion of construction, the contractor has the right to return to the site to remedy defects.

listed structure and be re-used

C. Laying out pile foundations, pile diameter being 800mm, Pile cap size 1000mm x 1000mm x 800mm and pile depth to be 8m.

installed over the frames attached to the

D. Building cores to support the new intervention.

H. Interior walls and finishings to be installed.

Detail drawings and Structural Strategy

Detail Drawings:

Based on research and discussions with Studio tutors, I created drawings to highlight the construction details for the project. These were done using AutoCAD.

Structural strategy:

The new structure connects to the existing Righton building through two cores, designed to be centrally located within the building. I created a model in Rhinoceros 3D to visualise our new structure. The added intervention was then attached to the Grade II listed building’s Revit base model.

I created the diagram shown on the far right to highlight our envelope strategy. This was created by developing an exploded model in Rhinoceros 3D.

2mm anodized sheet steel gutter

• Thermowood timber cladding 20mm

• Timber battens 100x50mm

• Rigid Insulation 120mm

• Wooden sheathing

• Glulam Structural frame 1200x240mm

• CLT Structural frame

• Wooden Sheathing 20mm

• Rigid Insulation 120mm

• Acoustic Insulation 25mm

3mm Metal flashing

LED Strip lighting

Steel angle

DETAIL 01: Roof and exterior wall connection

Drawn at Scale 1:5

• 50mm air barrier within 170x50mm vertical timber battens

• Horizontal timber battens 50x50mm

• Thermowood timber cladding 20mm

• Thermowood cladding 20mm

• Horizontal timber battens 130x50mm

• Vertical timber battens 100x50mm

Suspended ceiling ties

• Acoustic insulation 25mm

• Rigid insulation 95mm

• GFRC Structural floor slab

• Floor screed 75mm

• Carpet 10mm (events space)

Drawn at Scale 1:5

Aluminium Frame

Ceiling Vents Triple Glazing

Ceiling LED Lights

Secondary structure 150mm Plasterboard Ceiling 20mm

DETAIL 02: Floor and exterior wall connection

Triple Glazing

• 300mm wide gravel bed

• 3mm retention trim

• Green roof system soil 100mm

• Damp proof membrane

• Rigid insulation 100mm

• Existing floor slab (concrete) 180mm

• Existing Beam

Flashing lapped over waterproof membrane

DETAIL 03: Balcony & exterior wall connection

Drawn at Scale 1:5

50mm adjustable height pavers Water reservoir 50mm

Timber Roof Cladding

Vertical, horizontal timber battens

Timber Board

Rigid Insulation

Glu laminated timber

Metal flashing

CLT structural panel

Wood sheathing board

Insulation + air gap within timber battens

Horizontal timber battens

Timber cladding

Glazing

Carpet floor finish for events space

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES

Thermowood facade

Glu-laminated timber structural frames

GFRC Floor Slab

Concrete floor slab

Concrete pile foundation

Pile cap: 1000 x 800 mm

Diameter: 800mm

Structural floor slab

Structural Core

Thermowood cladding (envelope)

Adding new structure to existing Righton building

CREEK BEACH DISTRICT

Residential led Masterplan design

Project Location:

Dubai, UAE

Client:

Emaar Properties

Project Stage:

Phase 1 & 2: Construction Stage

Phase 3: Tender Stage

Phase 4 & 5: Not started

Programme:

00 KEY PLAN NTS

Forty eight residential buildings to be built in five phases and covering a total GFA of approximately 592,000 sqm. The buildings are distributed in clusters. Every cluster comprises of around 300 apartments each with one, two, three and four bedroom apartment types.

General Arrangement Drawings

I worked on client comments for one, two and three bedroom apartments with guidance of Architects and Senior Architects at the firm. This involved arranging floor tiling layouts, furniture, sizes of fixtures and drain positions according to client requirements and building regulations. - I also created two internal elevations each for the two types of two bedroom apartments of the scheme.

1- Do not scale from this drawing. Dimensions are in millimeter unless otherwise stated.

2- This drawing must be read in conjunction with all other relevant drawings.

3- Contractor must report any discrepancies prior to execution of any works.

4- All dimensions must be verified on site prior to order or manufacture of materials or production of site drawings.

5- All shop drawings to be submitted to the architect / interior designer for comment prior to fabrication.

6- Samples must be submitted to interior designer for comment prior to manufacture.

7- Drawings to be read in conjunction with FF&E , Finishes & Sanitary schedules.

8- Refer to details drawings for further floor, wall , ceiling and door information.

9- Samples of all visible M&E fixtures to be submitted to interior designer for comments.

10- Refer to lighting information by services engineer and lighting consultant for setting out and specification of non decorative lighting . All samples to be submitted to interior designer for comment.

11- Operator and MEP consultant to determine specification of all audiovisual fittings within the ceiling. Location to be determined by operator AV, MEP.

12- All structural requirements relating to interior design elements are to be confirmed by the structural engineer.

13- Refer to acoustic consultant documentation for further information with regards to acoustics.

14- For wall types,Facade windows and doors refer to architectural drawings package.

15- For balcony Floor drain refer to ID 200 series.

Project Software:

MARJAN ISLAND MASTERPLAN

Project Location: Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Project Stage: Pre-concept design

Programme: The project execution will be split into 3 phases: Phase 1: 4* Hotel, F&B Retail Complex, Beach Villas, detached Villas, Entertainment Zone, Beach Facilities and Landscape.

Phase 2: Branded Serviced Apartments, semi detached Villas and Residential Buildings.

Phase 3: Branded Serviced Apartments, semi detached Villas and Residential Buildings.

Project Tasks:

Within the scope of this project, my duties included crafting conceptual diagrams for client presentations. The diagrams displayed on the right illustrate our promenade/podium strategy, and I designed them using Illustrator.

I generated a massing model for the masterplan, aiding the design team in evolving our concept. My responsibilities included regularly revising the model to incorporate design modifications.

Full Podium

Expensive to build, disconnects levels

Half Podium

Expensive to build, disconnects levels

Minimum Built Road Level 446 car park spaces at road level/ 792 car park spaces on beach level

Outdoor 26,855m2 = 34.5%

Podium 16,187m2 = 20.8%

Site coverage = 55.3%

Podium Parking = 25,237m2 = 32.4%

Building = 10,740m2 = 13.8%

Project Software:

InDesign Illustrator Model making

BA HONS ARCHITECTURE FINAL YEAR

VERTICAL FARMS

Parametric High Rise

Project Location: Manchester

Vision:

The building was designed as a hub to invite sustainable practices to Manchester. With the main programme being vertical hydroponic farming to promote consumption of local foods, the building also accommodates office spaces for sustainable practices and a retail centre to distribute the food produced by the farms in the building.

Project Software:

The Hulme Arch Bridge

Deansgate Square Towers

Canvas

Rhino 3D

Grasshopper Adobe Creative Suite

The Mancunian Way

Manchester Central Convention Complex

Canvas Manchester

Concept Design

The external structure of the building was crafted by folding an outline of the Mancunian Way, which serves as a focal point of the site. Subsequently, floor plate templates for the building were generated by tracing a top view of the physical model, and these templates were then stacked atop one another to create a distinctive architectural form.

Programme of the building was accommodated within 32 floors. First, second and third floors were designed to comprise markets/ retail spaces, 4 to 22 for hydroponic farming and 23 to 32 for office spaces.

Mancunian Way

Outlines genarated by tracing the plans of concept models, to create floor plans of the buildings

Concept models made using the outline of the Mancunian Way

32 Floors

10 FLOORS

Office spaces + Gardens

19 FLOORS

Production of local goods (Vertical farming in a controlled environment)

3 FLOORS

RETAIL - Locally Produced goods in the building could be sold as part of a retail centre