Urban Design Portfolio

SALONI AGARWAL

URBAN DESIGNER & ARCHITECT

+1 (412) 954 8457

saloni.agrawal497@gmail.com

linked.com/in/saloni-agr

EDUCATION

Master of Urban Design

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh 2021 - Present

Relevant Coursework -

• Geographic Information System (GIS)

• Fundamentals of Programming & Computer Sc.

• Urban Ecology

• Real Estate Design and Development

• Scripting and Parametric Design (Gh-Python)

• Project Planning and Reporting

• Urban Policy

Bachelor of Architecture

Balwanth Sheth School of Architecture, Mumbai 2014 - 2019

SKILLS

Rhinoceros | AutoCAD GIS | Grasshopper

Photoshop | Illustrator | InDesign Office | Python | Gh - Python

English | Hindi

WORKSHOPS +

Urban Land Institute - Hines Competition

2023: Worked in an inter-disciplinary team to devise a development program for a real large scale site in North Charleston

Design Futures Forum

2022: Hosted by University of Virginia, it was an interdisciplinary student leadership development program focusing on social (in)equity.

Digital Design: Portraits of Shape and Form

SummerSchool2018:BSSAxSci-Arc

Auroville Earth Institute & Bamboo Center

SummerSchool2018

Light Now, CEPT x Institut

SummerSchool2018

Committed to creating innovative solutions to complex urban challenges drawing on experiences from diverse geographies of the Global North and South. Passionate advocate for social equity, with an interest in creating inclusive & accessible spaces. Fascinated by the changing dynamics of public spaces, through their relationship with the street-scape & local mobility. Keen on exploring urban issues from the lens of resource utilization and climate impact.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Remaking Cities Institute, CMU ResearchAssistant | 2022-2023

• Conducted a literature review of best practices for mapping and design to support the research project on New Local Mobility study in Shaler township.

• Utilized GIS to map local conditions to understand the site.

• Actively engaged with the community by participating in meetings and working collaboratively with them throughout the project.

• Link to the report.

Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh ResearchAssistant | Summer2022

• Researched various precedents to identify effective strategies for building relationships between lower-income neighborhoods and educational institutions such as CSC.

• Engaged with the community through outreach activities. Synthesized the gathered data to gain insights into the community’s needs and preferences.

Sanjeev Gupte Architects, Udaipur ArchitectureIntern | June-December2020

• Contributed to an urban design project for the city government aimed at re-imagining the Fateh Sagar Lakefront.

• Created schematic designs & working drawings for a restaurant located at the Sajjangarh Biological Park and provided on-site supervision.

• Developed schematic design for two residential projects.

• Conducted practical research on ways to utilize Bamboo for furniture design.

MOAD, Chennai

ArchitectureIntern | January-March2020

• Contributed to the redesign of infrastructure for three local governmentowned schools, while integrating innovative learning methodologies in collaboration with Teach For India.

Anand Patel & Associates, Mumbai

ArchitectureIntern | February-July2019

• Worked on 6 projects in many capacities, focusing on space & furniture design, with client and contractor coordination, and regular site visits.

semester 3 - [present

Commoning Studio, a two-semester program by Stefan Gruber & Jonathan Kline, provides a comprehensive understanding of Commoning. In the first semester, we explored global case studies & visited Montevideo and Buenos Aires to gain first-hand exposure to different cooperative modoels in the Global South. For our personal project, we developed a research query related to Commoning & currently are working on an exhibition to present the developed research question, hypothesis, & design strategy.

Research Query - How can we negotiate between the top-down and bottom-up approaches to public transit infrastructure in order to safeguard the livelihoods of Tempo Drivers in Udaipur while also enhance their working conditions and improve the city’s urban mobility?

Hypothesis - Is it possible to find new opportunity areas for tempos to operate within Udaipur’s milieu, in order to address the conflict between the existing resilient systems of Tempos and the new public transportation of buses? By doing so, we could potentially benefit the tempo drivers and, in turn, enhance the city’s transportation options for its users.

retaining resiliency of udaipur

Udaipur, a fast-developing city in Rajasthan, established its first formal public bus transit network in July 2021, after having no formal mode of public transportation until then. However, this move created conflict with the existing semiformal transit system of the city - Tempos, which has affected the livelihood of Tempo Drivers who are struggling to compete with the buses that run on the same fare. This has impacted a city of 600,000 people with a high population density of 23,700 people/square mile.

The following images capture the current milieu of this situation and sets up a stage to move forward.

key stops

railway line

aravali hills

institutional zones

industrial zones

commercial zones

bus routes

East Liberty - a neighborhood in Pittsburgh - was in its “golden era” in the 1940s and 1950s. East Liberty exemplified a vibrant commercial center and a tight-knit residential community. Pittsburgh’s “second downtown” declined rapidly in the 1960s after an ambitious urban renewal program. The brief was to propose a mixed-use development program with an urban forest is proposed, featuring commercial, residential, and green spaces with a focus on sustainability and community engagement.

Connectivity

Connectivity

Street connections to bridge the primary roads surrounding the site and creating user-friendly streets.

Identity and Interchange

To morph the site into a landmark and make it a regional destination.

To build street connections to bridge the gap between the primary roads surrounding the site and creating friendly streets for all users

Cultural Landmark

Revitalising East Liberty’s historical influence and encouraging around the clock cultural programs.

To create a new identity for the site using landmark features, public spaces, and urban forest; allowing the site to facilitate interactions and

Identity and Interchange

Penn Avenue

Liberty Avenue

LIBERTY ART

Cultural District

Pgh glass centre

kelly strayhorn theatre

August Wilson African American Cultural Center

Road connectivity with existing cultural spines of Pittsburgh

Colors used as a language to create a cultural identity for East Liberty and to promote inclusion. Colors define the physical bounds of this space, bleeding into Penn Avenue to mark the site

Streets designed to be accessible to as many people as possible. Idea of Pedestrians-First to encourage walkability within the site with reduction in cars. Barcelona’s La Rambla used as precedent

Multiple civic pockets designed for public gathering of varying scales - to be used by regulars in the areacustomers and business owners alike

New vehicular and pedestrian streets introduced to increase movement within the site

vehicular (existing) vehicular (proposed) pedestrian

9 acres of urban forest first positioned close to both sides of the railway tracks in order to create a visual barrier and to have them become the backdrop for other programs in the area

The proposal features various public spaces, including squares, themed plazas, community courtyards, and an elevated pathway that connects them. The urban forest acts as a visual buffer for the railway line while residences with balconies overlook it for safety. The elevated pathway has multiple nodes and demarcates the site. The plazas and square offer diverse activities for all ages, and Boulevard Avenue aims to reduce traffic density from Penn Avenue and create a pedestrian-friendly streetscape.

top left: Gateway Park - A landmark and identifier for East Liberty. Gateway into the site.

top right: Culinary Plaza - Open space between tight pedestrian food street and the expansive forest, concentrated with various culinary activities.

bottom: Community Plaza - A semi-public open space utilized by surrounding residents, and school students along with its soft green edge

Braddock, Pennsylvania is a small working-class community in Allegheny County, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Once a prosperous steel town with the Edgar Thomson Steel Works built by Andrew Carnegie in 1875, Braddock suffered economic decline and population loss in the latter half of the 20th century due to factors such as white flight and red-lining. Today, Braddock’s population is around 1,720 which is significantly lower than its peak of 20,879 people in 1920.

The studio aimed to address environmental and social injustices resulting from the US steel plant’s operations by engaging the community, stakeholders, and council members. My project, as part of the infrastructure group, focused on identifying community assets and proposed an adaptive reuse of an old building to create a community incubator. The proposal links it to the existing community efforts by Ohringer and the Braddock Carnegie Library.

braddock

It acts as a spatial extension of The Ohringer and the Braddock Library. It’s design is accessible and open to interpretation by its users. The outdoor steps and stage is for everyday and special occassion use. They are strategically placed so as to avoid the summer Sun and be useable. The building fenestrations are sized and placed as per Sun’s movement through the year. Other elements such as the sidewalk, trees, and benches are introduced to make the entirety of the block more user-friendly.

first floor second floor third floor fourth floor

This proposal was designed around two main actors -

Since its opening in 1941, the Ohringer building has been a vital part of the Braddock community, serving various purposes and undergoing numerous transformations. It has recently been repurposed as affordable housing for artists, aimed at enhancing Braddock’s arts and culture scene and fostering economic growth. This project has been acknowledged by AIA, which awarded Rothschild Doyno Collaborative for their adaptive reuse work.

The Braddock Carnegie Library, the first of Andrew Carnegie’s 1000+ libraries, is now managed by community members and hosts events for all age groups

The first floor is for all community members to use and occupy. It provides a gathering space for events, exhibitions, and open mics, a small cafe which can be affliated with Braddock Farms while also accomodating the Repair Cafe and the Woodshop. These spaces, although for artists, is for all community members to utilize.

The space opens up to the adjacent lawn where larger events can take place. The connection between the indoors and the outdoors is key.

The second floor is a quieter zone for different scales of co-working spaces. There are combinations of multi-capacity conference rooms while also allowing people to work quietly along the windows.

There is a computer-cluster with free wifi for the community along with a class room for Youth Skill Development workshops which can be conducted by the Library.

third floor fourth floor

The third floor is open for artists of Braddock and North Braddock to occupy for their personal use. These also vary in sizes as per different requirements. There is a small space dedicated to the chefs in the community and outside where they can conduct culinary workshops for the local youth with the Library.

The fourth floor accomodates musicians as this is the top most floor in the structure and therefore adds to the least disturbance to other members of the community. There are two large soundproof jam rooms and three individual practice rooms. As this floor is compromised in area, there is a seperate break room and restroom.

Research Assistant for Professor Ray Gastil and Stephen Quick at Remaking Cities Institute (RCI).

The Traffic21 Smart Mobility Challenge’s ‘Building Better Boulevard Analytics’ study, which was funded by the US DOT and conducted by RCI, is a part of the New Local Mobility initiative. This initiative focuses on re-imagining main streets and regional highways to enhance mobility options. The study aimed to improve mobility along Mount Royal Boulevard in Pittsburgh, a major transit and economic corridor that has incomplete sidewalks and limited space for bikes and micromobility, leading to mobility and safety issues, especially for vulnerable populations. To accomplish this, we employed urban design and planning tools, including stakeholder and community meetings, GIS mapping, and collaboration with CMU Robotics department to gather visual information, analyze conditions, and propose enhancements for walking, biking, rolling, and transit.

Better Boulevard Analytics Report

Flowmaps overlaid on heatmaps Gateway square

To establish connections between lower-income neighborhoods and educational institutions like CSC, we adopted two methodologies. Firstly, we studied successful precedents and created a menu of approaches for the Carnegie Science Center, such as pop-ups and interactive public installations. Secondly, we developed and conducted outreach activities in a neighborhood where CSC wanted to build connections. Through community engagement, we gained valuable insights into their needs and preferences, enabling us to tailor our approach effectively.

cmu x csc

Research Assistant for Professor Kristin Hughes and Stefan Gruber in collaboration with Carnegie Science Center.

mud

north charleston semester 4 group competition(5)

The 22nd ULI Hines Student Competition is one of an education initiatives of the Urban Land Institute. The competition offers students the opportunity to form multidisciplinary teams and engage in a challenging exercise in responsible land use by providing a real life urban scale site. For 2023, this site was based in North Charleston.

The brief tasked us as the master developer with several responsibilities. The site for the 2023 competition was located in North Charleston. The competition involved analyzing regional forces and the site, determining feasible redevelopment plans, identifying development value and pricing, considering necessary subsidies, establishing fair return rates, providing conceptual plans for a DoD parcel, including affordable housing, and detailing key implementation steps such as strategic partnerships and community engagement.

ULI Hines Competition

EC(H)O proposes interlocking corridors to unify urban and natural systems, restore habitats, increase equity, and offer an urban living experience surrounded by nature. It comprises three phases with wetlands restoration at the heart, creating a business innovation district, new affordable housing, retail spaces, and a community eco-center, while integrating urban development with healthy ecosystems. The $939M project will be financed through a public-private partnership, including equity financing, debt financing, and government funds, with a projected leveraged IRR of 32%.

The final project aimed at comparing two neighborhoods - Oakland & Shadyside, both different in their ‘feel’. Oakland is comparitively livelier and through these maps, we tried to quantify this difference. Age demographic, 15-minute walkable proximity to nearby universities, student population of each university, and housing ownership status were used as parameters. The project intent was to make a prototype that might help newcomers to make informed decision for choosing their neighborhood.

The brief required us to create a basic working game of Tetris using simple Python base commands, and the built-in Python GUI (Tkinter). During this introductory course to python, also worked with OOP (Object Oriented Programming), recursion, and sets and dictionaries.

Course - Fundamentals of GIS by Kristen S. Kurland

Course - Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science by David Kosbie

of 5 - minute the large geometry neighborhoods, are created as per columns given by and trims the

PLUG-IN 01

Creates a primary grid of 5 - minute neighborhoods within the large geometry provided by the user.

PLUG-IN 02

Within one 5-minute neighborhoods, streets and open spaces are created as per the number of rows and columns given by the user.

PLUG-IN 03

Takes in internal street and trims the massing accordingly.

block’s massing is

PLUG-IN

04 (future potential)

Based on FAR, each block’s massing is developed.

The course used GH-Python to introduce basic scripting in python with a focus on algorithms relating to form making while strengthening concepts of parametric modeling. Two relevant projects from the course -

A - Parametric Facade that responds to an attractor point - in this case, the sun. Designed and executed using grasshopper and gh-python.

B - MinuteCity - Plug-In designed in gh-python. MinuteCity helps users to visualise the scale of an x-minute city (5, 10, 15, 20 minutes) within a grid layout while generating public spaces as per the scale of the neighborhood.

Course - Scripting and Parametric Design by Jinmo Rhee

A - Parametric Facade

B - MinuteCity, Plug-In for Grasshopper

b.arch

semester 6.ii

mumbai

independent project

Vile Parle West in Mumbai has a plethora of multidisciplinary colleges. The brief was to design a lowrise, high-density social housing for the faculty members of SVKM educational institutes. We were to provide for 90-100 housing units consisting of 1-BHKs (50-60 sq mt), 2-BHKs (75 sq mt) and 3-BHKs (100 sq mt). The design needed parking and was to encourage a community environment with one prominent amenity (restaurantfor me) assigned to us by our respective mentors.

The

Site can be broken down into basic zones. Four major points of influx can be identified on all sides.

Zone I - raised to accommodate parking underneath. Zone III and IV - raised least to accommodate the G+2 clusters and Zone II - raised to add the element of play.

Staggered stacking allows for cozy personal

Site (red) lies adjacent to the busy Irla Market, with S.V. Road and a stream on either ends.

Cluster A - Two 3BHK at ground level, two 2BHK on mid level and two 1BHK on uppermost level.

Cluster A being the tallest, it is placed on the low lying zones to allow an overall horizontal growth rather than vertical.

Cluster B accommodated over the parking area. Being the least dense, it is paired with a heavier mass (level raise).

Cluster C being the most dynamic and complex of all sits on a mid-level raise Zone II.

Cluster B - Two 1BHK at ground level, two 2BHK on the upper-most level.

Cluster D.i & D.ii - Four 1BHKs of two typologies at ground level, two 2BHKs on the upper-most level of varying typologies.

Plan - Design concept driven by restaurant as core amenity with clustering and kitchen garden access to compensate for lack of accessible terrace and open ground spaces in Mumbai homes.

Section AA’ - (left to right) Private Cluster A, tree-filled community gathering space, restaurant with kitchen garden, and courtyard with kitchen garden in Cluster C. Elevation - Private Cluster A designed with distinct levels to emphasize varying space usage.

section AA’

elevation AA’

+ 5.65 M

Shared terrace spaces between two 2BHK houses with a puncture in the slab for a common tree for the 6 flats that make a cluster.

Play on levels to distinguish clusters. Four 1BHKs are positioned at the bottom.

+ 2.50 M

+ 0.00 M

ground level with seating space, plantation area for restaurant and semi private ground for groups to gather in evenings.

+ 10.45 M

3 meters height for all units, allowing for intimate space.

+7.45 M

Two 1BHK units with shared terraces with visual connection in two directions.

+ 4.45 M

Two 2BHK units with shared terrace spaces overlooking the common community ground.

+ 1.15 M

Ground Level, separating the residential from the community ground.

Cluster C

Cluster A

b.arch

semester 9

visitor's center - udaipur

independent project

For centuries, we utilized the Sun as our sole light source and built spaces to maximize its potential. However, with the advent of artificial lighting, our source of light changed, resulting in duller spatial quality for many structures. Shadows, while lacking volume, can fragment and sculpt spaces, and inform us about the presence of light. Architects such as Louis Kahn, Tadao Ando, and Alvaro Siza have utilized shadows to create mystery in their designs. My thesis explores the potential of daylight and shadows in designing spaces of various scales.

Predicting time and astrological events using the Sun’s position is possible thanks to its constant movement and annual trajectory. 3D forms are crafted to cast shadows on markings, allowing for accurate measurements.

Dynamic shadows from the Sun’s movement transform spaces using 2D projections of 3D forms. Architects like Ando and Siza design around natural light, using openings and cutouts to create their desired effect.

To study the functional aspect of light and space, Rajasthan’s Jodhpur and Udaipur were examined for differences in sun radiation and daylight duration. With Jodhpur in the west and experiencing harsher sun due to less rainfall, and Udaipur in the east and experiencing heavier monsoons, the two locations provided ample vernacular case studies for understanding the role and functionality of spatial elements such as courtyards in the context of designers’ interaction with light and space.

Various scales and types of open-to-sky areas in a space, showcasing techniques used to cope with extreme weather conditions.

JODHPUR

UDAIPUR

Sectional axonometric views of the house + courtyard working as a system.

Secondary courtyard, i.e. it is not directly connected to the street. It sits within a network of many courtyards.

With three houses surrounding the courtyard, it becomes the central source of light and activity. The Courtyard is heavily used throughout the day.

Case Study 1 - Udaipur

Date - 19 June 2018

Time - 13:35

Sun Duration - 8:30 to 14:00

Height - Ground + One

Access - All through Courtyard

5700mm/3200mm = 1.80

1.80 = 9/5

9 units Height

5 units Width

The Proportions allow for the sun to leave by early afternoon, leaving the courtyard with diffused sunlight rather than harsh summer sun. The problem occurs when the same rooms in winter get extremely cold because of the slant winter sun.

Used by men for chai & newspaper, by women for daily chores., by children to play & study. Overhang allows for multilevel connection & being G+1 makes the space intimate.

A verandah that takes you further into House02. This transition space is used while hosting guests, entertaining larger groups of people, therefore secluding the private.

House 2

House 1

Verandah

Connection to street via another courtyard

House 3

Sectional axonometric views of the house and the courtyard co-existing.

Case Study 2 - Jodhpur

Date - 21 June

Sunrise and Sunset - 5:20 to 19:00

Duration of sun in the sky - 13 Hr

40 Mins

Cross-sectional proportions -

i- 7330mm/6950mm= 1.05

1.1 = 11/10

11 units Height x 10 units Width

ii- 7330mm/6100mm = 1.2

1.2 = 6/5

6 units Height x 5 units width

The courtyard that right now is being used just as a mere garage was built to fulfill the purpose of a pre-primary school, with courtyard as assembly & play area and the sheltered spaces around for conducting sessions.

Stand-alone courtyard, which is functional and operable on its own as well as with the house.

Unlike the conventional way of having courtyards centrally located with respect to the house, here is position is as per the function it was intended to serve.

House

Verandah Courtyard House

Entrance buffer

Courtyard

Ancillary spaces

The courtyard bleeds into the ancillary spaces, i.e. the entrance and the then used as classroom spaces. This allows for a spatial continuation while still restricting the Sun.

The house adjacent to the courtyard and the courtyard itself have a pause between them, a buffer. This restricts the sun into the house when not needed.

A prototype study of what kind of a courtyard would work best in the city of Udaipur through all the seasons was run on Rhinoceros. I took in consideration the position of the sun in the morning, afternoon and evening. This helped me decide when I would require the sunlight in the courtyard and when I would not.

The prototypesI explored the proportions and the orientations a courtyard could take at any point. How it behaved when the dimensions were ‘a*a’ vs ‘a*b’ vs ‘b*a’ and so on.

I varied the cross-sectional proportions of the courtyard, i.e. the height of the built on the south side. This exploration helped me with my design and orientation of the Visitor’s Center.

Udaipur’s geographical conditions present us with a plethora of potential sites. The fringe condition of Lake Pichola and Dudh Talai allows one to experience Udaipur. Being located next to the City Palace and with its proximity, yet at the same time the distance from the old city, the fringe attracts tourists in high numbers. Exploring the said fringe spatially with respect to Udaipur’s existing Light conditions will allow to explore the tangible with the intangible.

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Park, located on a low hill on the fringe between Lake Pichola and Dudh Talai is easily accessible to tourists. Its propinquity to the ropeway service to Karni Mata Mandir offers advantage to this choice of site. Situated slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the City Palace, it allows for a peaceful and quaint spot for visitors to come in and enjoy the city and everything that it has to offer.

PICHOLA

PANDIT DEENDAYAL UPADHYAY PARK

PICHOLA

FATEH-SAGAR

DUDH TALAI

DUDH TALAI

LOCAL CUISINE

REST-ROOMS

RETAIL UNITS

LOCAL PERFORMANCES

RETAIL UNITS

RETAIL UNITS

REST-ROOMS

CAFE

TOURIST INFORMATION

LAKE PICHOLA

The first place that you see when you reach the Visitor’s Center is the Tourist Information area where you can get an overview of things to do in Udaipur with details. The main Movement axis is diagonal and once done, it brings you out face to face with the lake, the hills, and the greens.

Retail Units is a system of three separate yet connected courtyards. Each is surrounded with a separate local made product - miniature paintings, handicrafts, clothing material. These units have the same quality as the streets in old city of Udaipur - contracting and expanding spatially.

1:100, 3-D printed models on a frosted acrylic base.

b.arch

mumbai semester 8

The local trains in Mumbai have been the lifeline for the people, weaving the city together from North to South. However, with the city’s exponential population growth and increasing number of private vehicles, a new public transport system, the Metro, is being developed to keep the city functional. The brief was to design an extension infrastructure space for the proposed or existing Metro stations, catering to the public using the facility. Additionally, we were required to provide a program suitable for the extension.

transport infrastructure

The given site is adjacent to the proposed metro in Bandra Kurla Complex, a majorly commercial hub in Mumbai. Block A’s fabric consists of Department of Sales Tax, Family Court, State Bank of India & its ancillary offices, Department for Regional Development, MMR Environmental Consultancy, various customer care and courier services, and residential blocks. Block B on the other hand consists of a plethora of significant restaurants of the city. Due to the diversity of programs, the proposed design hold the potential to serve each of the above across its respective levels. With rental office spaces to a green market for the residents & restaurants, the proposed design can add to the existing fabric of BKC.

The site currently is an open ground with an existing bus stop, public seating, a fountain, an amphitheater with Mithi river on one end. With the coming of proposed metro plan, the site experiences a natural gradiation. A form that follows this said gradiation would complement and resonate with the site itself.

Movement of dispersion of people through the site.

Working in z-axis with the zones.

Rigid & Organic movement of dispersion superimposed.

Pushing & pulling each zone as per functionality.

Zonal fragmentation achieved due to movement of dispersion.

Intra-zonal play in z-axis to facilitate for respective programs.

LEVEL 2

recepting + dispersing passage from metro

rental offices relay workspace toilets

working space cafe

rental offices

central dispersion passage from metro

LEVEL 1

restaurant + cafe casual workspaces

elecated bus stop toilets

bus reception bus park waiting rooms + toilets for bus drivers

elevate bus stop

metro

LEVEL 0

bus stop bus stand

resting area for bus drivers green waiting area for people reception + ticket counter green market + nursery toilets

staircase elevators toilets

green market & nursery

direct exit

reception ticket counter lift main road

staircase elevators toilets

green waiting area for local and city bus users

auroville summer workshop

Auroville Green Practices

Light Now (2015) - The ‘Light Now’ workshop explored the possibilities of artificial lighting in design through hands-on projects. The first project involved creating a dynamic viewer interaction on multiple screens using spotlights. The second project was a one-day temporary light installation for a chapel in Cesky Krumlov, where our group highlighted the central dome and created a gradient effect for the front elevation. I participated in both projects.

Earth and Bamboo Workshop (2017) - The Auroville Green Practices conducted a five-day Earth and Bamboo Workshop that was rigorous, methodical, and hands-on. The workshop focused on both the theoretical and practical aspects of earth and bamboo as sustainable building materials. The first three days were dedicated to learning about earth and building sample walls in groups to explore its structural capabilities. The next two days were spent at the Bamboo Center where participants learned about the physical aspects, advantages, and treatment of bamboo. We also worked in groups to build parts of a treehouse and learn about fish-mouth joinery.

b.arch

semester 2

mumbai

group project

The brief required us to select a self-organising pattern from nature. We examined patterns, conducted a diagram study, then with physical models, analyzed a specific pattern in response to varying environmental conditions. Later, we worked in groups on 1:1 scale installations. For this project, we chose the organization of sand ripples at the sea shore. The process occurs at an intertidal area where sand particles form repetitive patterns perpendicular to the water current. The thickness of ripples depends on sediment size. Asymmetrical ripples form with one-directional flow, symmetrical with two.

For our installation, we used file cards to create an origami sand grain with 5000 pieces in five sizes. We assembled it on site without adhesive, relying on inter-piece friction. The final product served as furniture for 14 months with no damage.

self-organising patterns in nature

b.arch

kala ghoda art festival

mumbai

group project - 8 members

Kala Ghoda Art Festival is a week-long cultural event in Mumbai that celebrates art, culture, and literature. It features various activities such as art exhibitions, street performances, dance shows, and literary events. The festival also promotes social awareness through its annual themes. For 2018, it was “Kala Ghoda goes Green”. Our Proposal - A sustainable design considers its carbon footprint. Our design uses a horse’s hoof as a metaphorical representation, resulting in a horseshoe-shaped structure made from recycled mild steel and factory waste woolen threads. The 3D frame creates a cocooned space, allowing for an immersive experience with unwoven windows to view the surroundings.

taach

Picture credits - Deep Modi