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.

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 block’s massing is

Takes in internal street and trims the massing accordingly.

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 - b.arch semester 6.ii mumbai independent project

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.

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

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.

+ 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 b.arch semester 9 visitor's center - udaipur independent project

Ground Level, separating the residential from the community ground.

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.

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.

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.

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.

LOCAL CUISINE

REST-ROOMS

RETAIL UNITS

LOCAL PERFORMANCES

RETAIL UNITS

RETAIL UNITS

REST-ROOMS b.arch mumbai semester 8

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.

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.