Architecture and Urban Design Portfolio
Samarth Das
Design Concerns and Philosophies Throughout mymy undergraduate program, the Throughout undergraduate proprojects I worked on consistently examined the gram, the projects I worked on consistrole architecturethe and role built of form as a response entlyof examined architecture to their immediate surroundings and the city. and built form as a response to their Pursuing the motive ‘Architecture for the Peoimmediate surroundings and the city. ple’, my design philosophies such as synthesis Pursuing theand motive of 'Architecture for between built the un-built, landscapes and the People', myasdesign philosophies structures as well spaces and the public can such as the synthesis between the built be seen in the projects that I have subsequently and theon.un-built, and worked My focuslandscapes on urban design andstrucmore importantly motto— Citythe of it’s People, has tures; andmy spaces and public can become a core passion of mine. This has driven be seen in the projects that I have me to further improve my skills through a gradusubsequently worked on. My focus on ate program in Urban Design.
urban design and -- more importantly -my motto 'City of its' People', has These qualities and guiding principles of become passion mine. design can a becore observed in theof work showcased in this portfolio.
These qualities can be observed in the works showcased in this portfolio. Abstract idea of built form within an urban context taking inspiration from roots of a tree
Contents Curriculum Vitae
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Masters in Urban Design and Architecture | GSAPP, Columbia University 8
Growing Canopies Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Ghana Mapping Chengdu China Bizgowanus Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn State of Migratory Labor Doha, Qatar Mx Urbanism Ravenswood, Queens The 3-C Way New York The Spinal Corridor
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P.K.Das & Associates | Architects and Planners, Mumbai 72
Open Mumbai Let’s Expand Public Spaces Juhu Vision A Neighborhood Intergration Plan
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HCP Design and Project Management Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad Indian Institute of Technology - Gandhinagar Panchamrut Bhavan Museum Gandhinagar
Proposal for New Campus Design
82 86
International Exchange Program Loryplatz - Improvement of Public Space
Berne School of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
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Bachelors in Architecture | K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai Revelation, Transparency and Integration Final Year Design Dissertaion Mediapolis Re-envisioning the Office Complex, Mumbai Progressive Artists Group Museum Nariman Point, Mumbai Generating Public Space Lall Bazaar, Gangtok Local Government Interaction Center Andheri, Mumbai Exquisite Corpse Sewri Fort, Mumbai
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Samarth Das
Date of Birth: Sep 24, 1988 Tel. No: 917.573.4523 Email: sam88das@gmail.com
Education
2012 - Present : Masters of Science in Architecture and Urban Design, GSAPP, Columbia University, New York 2006 - 08 : Bachelors of Architecture, K.R.V.I.A, Mumbai University
Work Experience 2013
: Urban Design Lab- The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York Position
Design / Research Assistant
2011 - 12 : P.K.Das & Associates | Architects and Planners, Mumbai Position Projects
Architect
Open Mumbai : Lets Expand Public Spaces, Exhibition Nariman Point Central Business District Redevelopment Scheme, Mumbai Vision Juhu : Neighbourhood Networking Plan, Mumbai B-Ward Cluster Re-development Plans, Proposal, Mumbai Life Insurance Corporation OďŹƒce Complex, Lucknow + Chennai, Competition
2010 - 11 : HCP Design and Project Management Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad Position Projects
Design Intern, Urban Design studio
Central Vista Landscape Development Gandhinagar Indian Institute of Technology Gn, Gandhinagar Panchamrut Bhavan museum , Gandhinagar Sachivalaya - Parliament Complex , Gandhinagar
Administrative / Teaching 2010
: Conductor, Foundation Workshop - 1st year architecture students
2009 - 10 : General Secretary, Student Council - K.R.V.I.A
Organizer, Inter-college reviews + exhibitions + sports 2009 : Conductor, Building Technology Workshop 2008 - 10 : Organizer, Annual Exhibition of Student Work, Council of Architecture inspection exhibition 4
Curriculum Vitae
Awards / Academic Achievments
2012 - 13 : Honor Award for Excellence in Design, GSAPP
Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Award- Best final semester studio project, Kumasi, GSAPP 2010 - 11 : 3rd - Overall Academics - 5th year, K.R.V.I.A 2009 - 10 : Late S.L. Gokhale Memorial Award for Overall Performance - Indian Institute of Architects 2nd - Dr. Baliramji Hiray Trophy Intercollegiate Competition - 4th year 1st - Overall Academics - 4th year, K.R.V.I.A 1st - Technical Subjects (Building Construction + Working Drawings) - 4th year, K.R.V.I.A 2008 - 09 : 2nd - Overall Academics - 3rd year, K.R.V.I.A 1st - Technical Subjects (Building Construction, Services + Working Drawings) - 3rd year, K.R.V.I.A
International Exchange Programs
2010 - 11 : Bern School of Applied Sciences - Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering, Switzerland Theme : ‘IN:CH - Health and the City’, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Bern 2008 - 09 : Bergen Architect School, Norway Theme : Re-envisioning Dresden National Theatre, Bergen
Software Proficiency
Autodesk : Autocad, Revit, Maya ArcMap + ArcGIS Adobe : Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, AfterEffects Google Sketchup Microsoft Office : Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Travels and places visited
Countries : Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Italy, Austria, Czech- Republic, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Egypt, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Ghana
India :
Kolkata, Lakshadweep Islands, Sikkim, Leh- Ladakh, Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kerela, Orissa, Assam, Rajasthan. 5
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Photography, Fall Semester
General Grant National Memorial, Riverside Drive
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Growing Canopies : Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Ghana Spring Semester Semester: :2013, 2013GSAPP, Columbia University Team : Scott Archer, Samarth Das, Vanessa Espaillat, Sagi Golan The fast growing population of Kumasi is putting immense pressure on several key infrastructures, natural ecology and most importantly the health of the city. This project focuses on the concept of ‘holistic health’ in the development of the city of Kumasi. The strategy is tested within two sites — a pilot project in waste management within a new peri-urban municipality of Asokore Mampong; and a rural site that encompasses the design of a specialist hospital. The comprehensive system comprises various elements of holistic health, such as the healthcare system, traditional herbal medicines, aspects of eco-therapy, allopathic pharmaceutical industry as well as waste management. Our project aims to evolve a strategy that synthesizes these elements in order to have a meaningful impact on the overall health of the city of Kumasi. Kumasi’s landscape consists of a series of ecological corridors that transverse the city, creating green spinal connections through its fabric. These lands are presently threatened by sprawl and encroachment of housing, informal commerce, agriculture, and industry. These corridors can become key areas where development of productive canopies and sustainable harvesting safeguard the same while contributing to the region’s economy.
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Overall strategy plan for the Kumasi region
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The pharmaceutical industry has been noted as an essential area of investment for the city of Kumasi. Favorable political policies coupled with an immense human knowledge capital emerging from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology provide the city with competitive advantages in developing this industry locally. The increase in demands for traditional herbal medicines suggest cultivation of an industry focused on the production and distribution of these herbs — 85% of which grow within the region’s semi-deciduous climate. A formal distribution corridor along the Tamale-Accra road, along with the upgrading of the airport and a new ring road proposal, places Kumasi strategically within the nation as well as the sub-Saharan region. Severe environmental degradation and frequent epidemics give the city the urgency to develop new treatments and drugs. The eco-corridors are also threatened by poor waste management. Providing a new system of collection as well as co-composting household and human wastes can begin to reduce the contamination of the city’s waterways. Currently filled with various types of waste, these waterways are distributing water-borne disease through direct human contact, dispersed agriculture irrigation and fostered mosquito proliferation.
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Kumasi – once known as the Garden City of West Africa - faces a great challenge to preserve and utilize their lush protected lands along its waterways, which have become the city’s key environmental infrastructure. The rapidly increasing population and the informal encroachment of extensive agricultural production has inflicted immense pressure on the quality of the waterways and urban productive lands. The cleaner irrigation water and newly produced compost would create higher yields for farmers as well as diminishing the spread of these diseases. Bottom-up cooperative models of development play an important role in improving the socio-economic conditions of their members and local communities. The organizational system provides both economic and social benefits, strengthening community networks and reinforcing the importance of cooperation and education through waste management and medicinal plant production strategies. In the dual political system, traditional authorities have complete ownership of the land and therefore play an important role in the land provision. Meanwhile, the modern government will continue to have a managerial role within the strategy.
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Asokore Mampong, the first municipality outside of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) boundaries, currently faces complex land tenure ship, environmental degradation, together with poor systems of service management and provision. Asokore Mampong needs to implement collaborative governance structures that bring together partners from all sectors of society. The eco-corridor strategy is based on an environmental remediation plan, which restores the important natural canopy, replenishes the eroded soil with co-composting process of human and organic waste, collects and cleans the rainwater runoff and sets up an economy of medicinal herbal production. This system is devised through a series of wet-bottom ponds and terraced bio-swales that slow down rainwater runoff flow and naturally cleanse it before releasing it to the waterway. After the water and waste system has been put in place, the medicinal plant cooperatives begin the process of selective harvest of medicinal plants, completely transforming the waterways into productive eco-corridors for the municipality.
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SELECIVE HARVEST MEDICINAL COOPERATIVES
LAND RE-ADJUSTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PLOTS
WASTE CO-COMPOSTING PROCESS
Organic Household Waste
Composted Human Waste
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With extremely high maternal and child mortality in Ghana and a severe brain drain in Kumasi’s health system, WAHF hospital has an opportunity to become a leading hospital in Kumasi locally, and internationally in the sub-Saharan region. By focusing on these health issues and providing specialty care, while retaining and training skilled doctors. WAHF creates a holistic approach to the role of the hospital. This holistic approach is not only programmatic but also uses herbal medicine as part of the healing process by developing codes of dosage and usage in the research and development center within the hospital. The hospital plays an important role in its relationship to the town of Juaben, where women from the town will be employed in the herbal and therapeutic center. The town itself will cater to visitors that come to the hospital by providing lodging and dining facilities. The hospital’s economic model provides health care for high income patients, who in turn will subsidize lower income patients and providing funding for the upgrade of the existing district hospital.
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Comprehensive understanding of the functioning of a hospital through various case studies led us to evolve a plan that deals effectively with issues of efficiency, adjacency of programs, privacy and security. The plan organizes the most public elements of the hospital— primarily the diagnostic and consultation centers, to be accessible easily to the majority of visitors. This initial out-patient department leads into a more private and secured in-patient facility with operation theaters, single patient rooms and wards for men, women and children. Stressing on the importance of herbal medicine, a therapeutic healing center is located towards the end of the site, along with short-term hotel rooms for patients’ families. Through each stage of its development, this plan has constantly aimed at integrating the formal programs of the hospital with the healing aspect of natural landscapes. The courtyard becomes a formal element of organization and orientation for users, setting up a rhythm of movement through the hospital. It allows natural light to flood the corridors and rooms while facilitating cross ventilation of air.
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PROGRAMMING THE ACTIVE ROAD-SIDE EDGE
The entrance facade of the hospital is key in asserting the presence and identity of the hospital on the main Ejisu-Juaben road. The image of the hospital as a leading center for training as well as research and development is asserted by locating these programs on this edge. In the design of the hospital, we use the concept of an architectural canopy that integrates the building with the ecological canopy, which provides shade, facilitates ventilation, collects rainwater and hosts solar panels oriented for capturing maximum sunlight. It becomes the visual identity of the hospital and is an element that unifies the various parts of the building. The project also capitalizes on the heavy rainfall and strong sunlight by collection in storage tanks for irrigation purposes as well as storing solar energy. Other systems in the building include a passive cooling mechanism. In conclusion, the design of the hospital aims to promote the well-being of its patients through the overall values of holistic health that it embodies.
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ENTRANCE COURT TO THE HOSPITAL
INTEGRATION OF ARCHITECTURAL CANOPY WITH ECOLOGICAL CANOPY (Section A-A’)
SECTION THROUGH RAINWATE HARVESTING SYSTEM (Section C-C’)
PASSIVE COOLING SYSTEM OF BUILDING
SOLAR ENERGY AND RAINWATER HARVESTING
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PHASE 1
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PHASE 2
PHASE 3 - FULL BUILD OUT
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Photography, Fall Semester
An underpass in Central Park
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Chengdu, Sichuan, China - Mapping Public Spaces Recombinant Urbanism Seminar Spring Semester Semester: :2013, 2013GSAPP, Columbia University Team : Samarth Das, Ruixue Jia, Andrew Leung, Ziaoyun Mao, Li Yang The basic aim of the project was to map the growth of the city through history with a specific focus on public space typologies that evolved along with each time period. Since the political scenario in China plays a key role in the actual qualities of private, city and public spaces, the mapping was divided into four time periods - Ancient City, the time during Mao Zedong’s rule, the economic boom during Deng’s reign and finally the modern city in its present state today. In this first map, we can determine that there were very specific types of public spaces formed in the ancient city - mainly streets, temple complexes and the plazas around the main gates of the fortifies city.
1:250 256 BC 400 AD
3
1879
streets pedestrain commercial streets city wall Type temple shool 1 millitary ground gate
1904
University
Dujiangyan King Shu Irrigation Project ‘One year town, Imperial City allows dvlpt in Two years capital’ Ching Dynasty Chengdu
of public space Plaza
Chenghuang temple
Chunxi street
337m
259m 115m 230m
Chunxi Street
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Central Central gate Gate
Chenghuang Temple
5 gates 3 millitatry ground
c
In this second map, during Mao Zedong’s rule in China, the push towards industrialization of the country is very evident in the growth of the city of Chengdu as well. New factory towns are developed on the fringes of the city, and the rail line comes in to promote connectivity to these areas and to ensure efficient transport of goods to and from these company towns, otherwise called Dang Weis.
PIXIAN XINDU zoo (opened in 1974) RAIL STATION
1
WENJIANG
2
factory university
Danwei (Factory town)
SHUANGLIU
The typology of public spaces transformed into the rural areas that were now being taken up for development, and a more communal public space within universities.
park rail
Mao’s period
256 BC 400 AD 2
1879
Danwei (Factory town)
1904
Dujiangyan King Shu Irrigation Project ‘One year town, Imperial City allows dvlpt in Two years capital’ Ching Dynasty Chengdu
1940
1949
World War 2 General Chiang brings businesses+ academics+ industries to Chengdu
1953
RAIL Green space planned STATION to be 12 sq.m/person
1958
Owing to the Cultural Revolution, scores of universities were built in an effort to increase literacy within cities. These universities were planned as towns including facilities for housing, recreation and education.
1976
1.19 sq.m/person
Industrialization + Modernization 3
University
central plaza
north rail station plaza
Tianfu Square
Company Town
Company Town
Sichuan University
Sichuan University
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Xintiandi
The third time period that had a telling effect on the fabric of the city is the period of Deng’s rule. This was the period of the Socialist Market Economy that introduced F.D.I. (Foreign Direct Investment) to China. This was also the period of the housing boom, and huge residential complexes were built, most of them gated communities.
Wukuaishi
Walmart
Chengdu Northern Station
Beijing Hualian Honghua
Parkson Mall
Renrenle
Lijiatuo Fuqin Xinercun
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Ma’an
Trust-Mart
Asian Food
Baiguolin
Renhe Spring
Laiya Qingyang Xinyicun Xinhonglu
The nature of public space also changed greatly. The new public spaces were developed within residential complexes and the concept of shopping malls invaded the city. These shopping malls became the most popular gathering locations due to their massive sizes and commerce attributes.
Wangfujing Wannian
Xinshijie Yitengyanghuatang Shuinianhe
People’s Baihuo Scale: 1M = 50,000 inch
Supermarket Shopping Mall Residential Zone Train Station
Xiaojiahe
Wangfujing
Zongnan
Yulin
Park Zongbei Techan Trust-Mart
River Railway Road Ring Road
Mannings Qiansedian Raffles City
Chengdu Southern Station Renhe Spring
256 BC 400 AD
2
1
1 Shopping Shopping Mall &Mall Supermarket & Supermarket
People’s Mall
People’s Shopping People’sMall, Shopping 1960 Mall, 1960
1904
Dujiangyan King Shu Irrigation Project ‘One year town, Imperial City allows dvlpt in Two years capital’ Ching Dynasty Chengdu
Xiaoqu (Residential Zone)
Chengdu Baihuo, Chengdu 1960Baihuo, 1960 Chendu Baihuo
Public Space in Xiaoqu
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1879
1940
1949
World War 2 General Chiang brings businesses+ academics+ industries to Chengdu
Public Space along street Public Space along Street
Deng’s period
Mao’s period
1953
Green space planned to be 12 sq.m/person
1976
1958
1.19 sq.m/person
1979
Post cultural revolution, 1sq.m/person
1992
1.7 sq.m/person
Market Economy - F.D.I. Xiaoqu Socialist (Residential Zone)
Industrialization + Modernization
2
1989
Public Space Xiaoqu
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Satellite
e Town
Presently, Chengdu is fast growing into the key city in western China’s development. The company town concept has now expanded to the idea of satellite towns outside the city. These towns are home to factories along with residential development. Commercial programs generally line the ground floors of most residential buildings and these contribute to new typologies of public spaces to be generated.
legend major road subway farmland urbanized area
In this situation, the rural lands are like fingers penetrating the urbanized areas around the city. The city is growing out along the main infrastructure routes that connect the center to the satellite towns. In a classic case of a tele-citta growth model, these satellite towns have become new centers of varying themes around the old city.
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Mao’s period
256 BC 400 AD
1879
1904
Dujiangyan King Shu Irrigation Project ‘One year town, Imperial City allows dvlpt in Two years capital’ Ching Dynasty Chengdu
Shuida Luozhounian
‘Rur-urban’ spaces
1940
1949
World War 2 General Chiang brings businesses+ academics+ industries to Chengdu
1953
Green space planned to be 12 sq.m/person
2
Museum
Deng’s period
1958
1.19 sq.m/person
1976
1979
Post cultural revolution, 1sq.m/person
Industrialization + Modernization
Sichuan Museum
1989
1.7 sq.m/person
Socialist Market Economy - F.D.I.
Sichuan Museum
Economic Period 1992
2013
Satellite Town development
3
Privately owned Public Space
Sliced Porosity, Steven Holl
Sliced Porosity, Steven Holl
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Wangfujing,Wangfujing, 1999 1999
Public Space in Xiaoqu
Renhe Chuntian, Renhe2010 Chuntian, 2010
EVOLUTION OF BLOCK SIZE
713 m
376 m 55m
180m
349m
420m 157m
2000 m
28260 sqm
23100 sqm
Ancient City
Archi-citta
Cine-citta
GROWTH MODELS OF THE CITY
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Tele-citta
1426000 sqm
131224 sqm
Megablock of Danwei
Megablock of Xiaoqu
Information city
Public Space along Street
Future Garden City of Chengdu GARDEN CITY OF CHENGDU METROPOLITAN AREA WITH TELE-BLOCKS AS PARCELS OF DEVELOPMENT
City Model : Information City Development Parcel : Telo-blocks
Planned Railway Line Railway Line Satellite Town Green Belt Innovation Centers FUTURE GROWTH OF THE CITY
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Photography, Fall Semester
A pier at Brooklyn Navy Yards with Williamsburg Bridge in the background
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Bizgowanus : Collaborative Learning for Competitive Growth Fall Semester Semester: :2012, 2012GSAPP, Columbia University Team : Celine Armstrong, Samarth Das, Lilly Djaniants, Shiyao Yu
Our project expands on the understanding of the construction and media business clusters that have been identified along the Gowanus Canal. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 68% of money spent by the client of a small businesses stays within the local community. Designated as a Superfund site, the Gowanus canal is drawing many educational institutions to its waters. Introducing educational research within the area allows for the neighborhood to function as an outdoor classroom. Spatial needs for the expansion of the media and construction clusters, as well as educational components have been analyzed, recording the potential overlaps through a matrix and matching these needs with possible building typologies and zero F.A.R. lots available on site.
Exsiting site conditions
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programs construction co-working shop spaces offices contractor storage
spatial requirements
critical infrastructure
film production filming studio sets film screening spaces
closed box
collaborative gathering spaces editing rooms storage rooms
music jam studios / rehearsal space outdoor performance venue indoor recording studios indoor performing venue classrooms outdoor recording space music equipment store
one-story warehouses indoor multi-use space
outdoor multi-use space
technology collaborative working space experimental testing space tech fair / exhibition spaces equipment storage spaces awareness campaigns
multi-floor buildings
storage
art / artists studios / creative spaces exhibition spaces storage rooms art supplies store
parking
canal
education awareness campaign library classroom
open floor plate
community outreach programs lecture/ conference spaces outdoor canal access exhibition spaces
environmental ecology water treatment awareness campaigns environmental testing
lab space
zero F.A.R. / streets
solid waste treatment emergency mgmt. facility field office for epa field office for army corps construction staging
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The Gowanus Walk
Strategy for green infrastructure
Eastern Effects Inc., an anchor business in the media cluster, focuses on special effects and building management. Analyzing the Gowanus neighborhood, we found strong synergies within the local construction cluster. By providing various working spaces, Eastern Effects can attract additional small businesses and strengthen the media cluster. Grouping various needs and common spaces in close proximity to cluster groups will promote economic stability.
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2015 Phase 1 Plan
Our proposal is designed to support the health and growth of these clusters through showcasing opportunities for collaboration and providing more exposure to the educational initiatives on site. The intent is to establish a long term impact by re-branding Gowanus as an innovative industrial waterfront that strengthens local economic development within the live work community. Enhancing economic stability will promote collaborative learning for competitive growth of the Gowanus.
2025 Final Masterplan
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Canal cross section looking north
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Multi-purpose plaza looking north
Wetland laboratory looking north
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Perspective of site intervention looking south from entrance plaza
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Photography, Fall Semester
Looking south from 57th st. and Joe Dimaggio highway
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State of Migratory Labor- Retrofitting Qatar’s World Cup Stadia with Affordable Housing Urban Prefigurations Seminar Fall Semester Semester: :2012, 2012GSAPP, Columbia University Team : Samarth Das, Kristina Ricco The basic aim of the project was to map the growth of the city through history with a specific focus on public space typologies that evolved along with each time period. Since the political scenario in China plays a key role in the actual qualities of private, city and public spaces, the mapping was divided into four time periods - Ancient City, the time during Mao Zedong’s rule, the economic boom during Deng’s reign and finally the modern city in its present state today. In this first map, we can determine that there were very specific types of public spaces formed in the ancient city - mainly streets, temple complexes and the plazas around the main gates of the fortifies city.
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Qatar’s GDP growth over the last 30 years
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Expat Population Of the economically active population in Qatar (total 1,261,074) nearly 94% are expatriate (1,196,394) and of that population, roughly 89% are male, due in large to the private construction sector which employs 494,208. There are 3 men for every woman in the country.
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Columbia University GSAPP Seminar Fall 2012
Migrant workers come to Qatar because they lack stable job opportunities in their home countries. The most popular labor-sending countries in Qatar include India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Migrant workers are often committed to paying high fees during the recruitment process. Because visas in Qatar are tied to the employer in a sponsorship system known as Kafala, indebtedness can trap laborers in unfarvorable conditions. Along with these restrictions, laborers are often denied access to basic
This project seeks to subvert these conditions by exploiting the 99-year lease hold as an alternative visa sponsor - challenging the physical conditions of these social standards by proposing an alternative housing solution.
health and educational services and are physically relegated to the periphery of the city in concentrated settlements known as labor camps.
MIGRANT WORKER
RECRUITMENT
SPONSORSHIP
FEES - $3,650
INDENTURED SERVITUDE
99 YEAR LEASE HOLD
NEW HOUSING
SPATIAL SEGREGATION
A6832 Urban Preconfigurations
Samarth Das & Kristina Ricco
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Columbia University GSAPP Seminar Fall 2012
A6832 Urban Preconfigurations
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Samarth Das & Kristina Ricco
Columbia University GSAPP Seminar Fall 2012
These stadia become the site of the project intervention. The Al Gharrafa stadium is proposed for redevelopment including modular seating tiers to be dismantled post-World Cup.
A6832 Urban Preconfigurations Phasing Strategy
Samarth Das & Kristina Ricco
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Columbia University GSAPP Seminar Fall 2012
Al Sadd Stadium Site Plan
A6832 Urban Preconfigurations
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Samarth Das & Kristina Ricco
Columbia University GSAPP Seminar Fall 2012
Modular Plans
Plan
Section
Section through east end of stadium
A6832 Urban Preconfigurations
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Samarth Das & Kristina Ricco
Columbia University GSAPP Seminar Fall 2012
A6832 Urban Preconfigurations
View of public passage connecting various houses on different levels of the stadium
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Samarth Das & Kristina Ricco
View of Public space with housing units within stadium in the backdrop
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Photography, Fall Semester
New York City Sanitation Department piers, from Hudson River Greenway
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Mx Urbanism : Ravenswood
Summer GSAPP, New Columbia GSAPP, Semester Columbia: 2013, University, YorkUniversity Team : Samarth Das,:Ruixue Summer Semester 2012 Jia, Kevin Le Team : Kevin Le, Ruixia Jia, Samarth Das Ravenswood is a community located just East of Roosevelt Island in the Queens Borough. Largely a manufacturing-zoned community, Ravenswood is home to Consolidated Edison (Con Ed), a generating power plant that caters 20% of New York City’s total energy. It is also home to some of New York City Housing Authority’s largest public endeavors, amongst other sparse commercial developments and public facilities. With low- density and fragmented developments within a predominantly manufacturing district, Ravenswood must become a porous social hub that can address pressing needs of the expanding city.
urbanism
At the end of 2011, the Office of Mayor Bloomberg (NYC) announced that Cornell University and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology would create a joint technological research campus on Roosevelt Island.
Site conditions
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Mx Urbanism booklet
What impact will this have on its adjacent urban form, and more importantly, in what way will the campus impact the growth and prosperity of the city? How do we encourage development without the estranging of much needed manufacturing units? Our aim is to preserve and enhance the existing manufacturing district while addressing the need for densification by promoting an alternative mixed-use (MX) zoning typology in Ravenswood. The MX zone manifests into an applied system by its nature where an emphasis to rezone certain areas and corridors surfaced within our research.
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New Zoning Masterplan
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New MX typology studies
Periodic table of existing zoning typologies
Urban density through new typologies on site
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Aerial perspective of Mx-B condition
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MX-URBANISM opens up the architectural discourse to the questions raised by the ever expanding infrastructural city of New York. The generation of new configurations of urban space, form and different conditions of urban collaboration helps MX-URBANISM present both an examination as well as the visual deployment of the formal properties of Ravenswood. This will help in blurring the dialectical relationships between fabric and object, figure and ground along with writing and reading.
Views at road level with Mx-A and Mx-C typologies
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Photography, Fall Semester
Red Hook, Brooklyn
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The 3-C Way
Reading New York Urbanism Summer Semester : 2012 Team : Samarth Das, Ryan Jacobson The project emerged from the basic research of public transit connectivity within the city of New York, the focus being the subway system. Mapping 10 minute walks around all subway stops helped us determine those areas of the city that were not well served by the system. The city plans to launch over 600 bike share stations, but intersetingly most of them are located within Manhattan, and island that is already very well served by the subway system. By highlighting under-served areas in other parts of the city such as Brooklyn, this project questions the focus of new initiatives in Manhattan. New bicycle share stations strategically placed in areas and neighborhoods lacking commercial activity or density, can act as key activity and economy generators. The bicycle stations also ease one’s commute to the subway stops thus cutting down on total journey time of a person from their home to work place and back.
Project Argument
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10 minute walk
With the new bike share stations holding programs such as rental bikes, service areas, parking spaces and open community spaces, the location of these centers attract people and eventually commerce to the neglected areas. Conveniently located on daily routes, these bike share stations become popular gathering spots for hiring bicycles for transit and recreation, hence becoming community building elements.
Effects of implementing the Bicycle station in a neighborhood and eventually throughout the city
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Photography, Fall Semester
Looking south from Broome Street on Lafayatte Street
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The Spinal Corridor
Digital Modelling in Urban Design Summer Semester : 2012 Samarth Das Essentially based on digital modelling, this class taught us skills for form generation and animation using Autodesk Maya. Producing moving images or animations, this software allows one to convey design, construction and implementation ideas through precise digital modelling and clearly curated videos. Along with tools such as Adobe AfterEffects, these new softwares allow dynamic, exciting and extremely efficient methods in making arguments and presenting designs. This project takes advantage of the tools available to demonstrate the construction and assembly of this pavilion. Architecturally defined by exposed structural components such as beams and columns, this pavilion takes on the name of its appearance - that of a spine. A pilot project located towads one end of the busy Herald Square, this pavilion structure becomes an ideal multi-use space through different times of the day. It can host a farmer’s market during the day, provide a covered walkway through the market; and can be appropriated into leisure spaces by night time.
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Construction of the ‘Spine’
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View looking through the pavilion
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View from within the pavilion
Detail of roof system and joinary
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Photography, Fall Semester
Inside the Brooklyn Navy Yards
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Open Mumbai - Let’s Expand Open Spaces P.K.Das & Associates | Architects and Planners Publication + Exhibition, 2012
As Mumbai expands, its open spaces are shrinking. The democratic ‘space’ that ensures accountability and enables dissent is also shrinking, very subtly but surely. Unfortunately, over the years, open spaces have become ‘leftovers’ or residual spaces, after construction potential has been exploited. Comprehensive mapping of the city's open spaces done by the firm, have led to the evolution of a 'People's Plan' for Mumbai city. It aims at redefining land use and development, placing people and community life at the centre of planning, not real estate and building potential. It redefines the ‘notion’ of open spaces to go beyond gardens and recreational grounds; to include the vast, diverse natural assets of the city, including rivers, creeks, mangroves & wetlands. The plan also aims to create non-barricaded, non-elitist spaces that provide access to all our citizens for leisure, relaxation, art and cultural life. A plan that ensures open spaces are not only available but are geographically and culturally integral to neighbourhoods and a participatory community life. This plan along with its elements were displayed in a public exhbition for a period of two months at the highly reputed National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Mumbai.
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Beach Conservation and Nourishment
Like most of our coastline, beaches too have been neglected, abused and misused. There is no plan for their conservation and protection either. In this plan we connect the various beaches with other open spaces and their neighborhoods to prevent their isolation while achieving the integration and expansion of open spaces in the city.
River Re-vitilization
Before
Before
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As with every other natural asset, these rivers too have been continuously neglected and abused with the dumping of solid waste and debris, releasing sewage into them and land filling. The proposed development of riverfronts as open public spaces establish a much needed buffer zone with vegetation and an opportunity for walking, cycling, and leisure.
Present
After
Nullahs
Nullahs are drains for storm water. But in Mumbai, due to lack of planning and shortage of sewage networks, nullahs are used for sewage. Through this plan we propose walking and cycling tracks along with plantations on both sides along the nullahs to network and integrate these with open spaces and neighbourhoods.
Irla nullah masterplan
Right top : Existing; Centre : Vision
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Railway Stations
Trains are the lifeline of Mumbai and almost 7 million Mumbaikars use them every day to travel to work. The city has 51 stations, covering 155 acres. These ‘Roof Plazas’ with extensive landscaping and public facilities would not only provide substantial open space, but also enable easy access to and from platforms, help commuter dispersal and contribute substantially to the idea of expanding public open spaces in our city.
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Creeks and Mangroves
Creeks are a distinct geographic feature of Mumbai. Along with the creeks a rich variety of mangroves characterise the ecological and environmental landscape. We propose ways by which the continuing abuse can be arrested and the edges of the creeks and mangrove areas developed as public open spaces,providing a much-needed barrier or buffer zone.
After
Wetland Conservation
In urban planning and development terms, wetlands including saltpans are commonly understood as wastelands and therefore considered under-utilized. In this plan we propose the creation of planned public spaces along the wetlands edges as a part of a larger conservation plan. Boardwalks, promenades and gardens along their edges will allow us to enjoy the rich natural treasures that we have in the city. Before
After
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Juhu Vision Plan : Area Networking P.K.Das & Associates | Architects and Planners 2012
Mumbai is a city of constant evolution. Each neighbourhood has its own unique set of strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, best understood by the people who live and have an interest in it. Vision Juhu is a pilot project that demonstrates a direction that could become a role model for neighbourhood planning. By involving members of every section of society, government organizations and experts from the urban planning sector, the aims to re-envisage how the neighbourhood ofJuhu can be alternatively planned.
Exsiting conditions of public spaces in Juhu
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Exsiting conditions of public spaces in Juhu
View of Juhu neighbourhood looking south
In terms of physical planning, the aim is to develop contiguous open spaces by interconnecting various areas open to the public. This would develop a green spine through the city and its different localities – nourishing community life, neighbourhood engagement and public participation. With public space being the main planning criteria, the hope is to promote a more collective culture and resist alienation of individuals or groups. Exsiting conditions of public spaces in Juhu
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Photography, Fall Semester
Gowanus Canal
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Indian Institute of Technology - Gandhinagar HCP Design and Project Mgmt. Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad
Recharge pond
2011-12
River view trail
Sports field and sports center
Large sized lecture rooms
Library knowle
A competition project, the task was to draw a masterplan for a 100 hectare site for the Indian Institute of Technology at Gandhinagar, the capital of the state of Gujarat. The plan was evolved after analytically asserting relations between programs and activities. Implementation is to be in three phases for a list of programs given by the client, which included Academic buildings, incubation centres, hostel facilities for students, faculty housing, a campus arboretum and a sports centre amongst many others.
Incubation center
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Parking area for visitors
Academic building cluster
Campus main entrance
Hostel
Campus Arboretum
and edge center
Hostel future expansion
River access from village
Primary campus road
Campus secondary entrance
Faculty residence entrance
River view deck
Emergency service road
Faculty residence - future expansion
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Academic Building cluster
Auditorium
Student housing
Landmark entrance gateway
Transit facility
School, Health - care facilities
Central plaza
Recharge pond
Faculty housing neighborhood park
Campus Vision 2035
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Panchamrut Bhavan - Gandhinagar
HCP Design and Project Mgmt. Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad
2010-11
The Panchamrut Yojna (5 principles) was the grand strategy adopted by the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat for the overall development of the state. The brief was to design a space in the capital city of Gandhinagar that could embody the Panchamrut development philosophies as well as demonstrate Gujarat’s development in these directions. The 5 principles are :- Education, Water, People, Security and Electricity. The result is a museum project, where each of the principles are assigned unique exhibition halls where the work being carried out relating to each of them are to be displayed to the public. Beyond the confines of the building, there are also five gardens, each assigned to and designed with the specific development principle in mind.
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Design strategy 1
Design strategy 4
Design strategy 2
Design strategy 3
Design strategy 5
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Preferred design strategy for museum
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Final masteplan for museum and gardens
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Photography, Fall Semester
Brooklyn Bridge
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Loryplatz - Improvement of public space Berne School of Applied Sciences, Switzerland 5th year exchange program : 2010-11
Poor planning and design, has converted a potentially lovely public open space, Loryplatz, into a mere traffic junction. The aim of the project was to critically look at the communities and activities and evolve solutions to transform this into a public square which can be used for recreation and relaxation. The design incorporates re-routing of traffic effectively to create a sunken plaza with multipurpose areas including an amphitheatre, a shallow pool, a kids’ play area, a pergola-covered central area, a cafeteria and water spouts. The spaces are separated visually by highly permeable walls.
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Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Section C-C’
The 2 axes create a strong sense of space while the cut-outs and gateways in the frames enable permeability at the same time. The central plaza is covered with a pergola to create a partially shaded area. The multi-purpose amphitheatre can be used as a movie screening space as well as a ski rink during winter time. Strategic planting of trees provides rest spaces within the site as well.
Plan of new public space
2 primary axes hold site together
Sunken plaza provides relief from visual clutter
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Photography, Fall Semester
Williamsburg bridge from Brooklyn Navy Yards
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Revelation, Transparency and Integration : Civic Amenities and Infrastructure Design Dissertation, K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai 5th year: 2010-11
My keen interest in the relationships that governments share with the common people of the city culminated in my thesis, which was essentially aimed at dealing with the government bodies and citizens, to evolve a new language for participatory planning. The project was developed to promote the ideas of Revelation, Transparency and Integration of public amenities , administration and related setups with the city and its people. The masterplan aims at promoting transparency of government amenities through active interaction and vigilance of citizens and integrating them into the area. The programs included in the civic centre are designed to supplement the existing amenities in the ward. Buildings should provide easily accessible built up spaces and also a smooth transition into open spaces. The final vision importantly focuses on the revitalization of the storm drain.
Site Conditions
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Masterplan at +2.5m
Evolution of masterplan for the Juhu neighbourhood nullah
The site chosen was a part of a storm water drain (Nullah) adjoining the longest stretch of public land in the ward on either side. Locating this project on public land was most appropriate instead of getting private developers involved. The drain is currently misused as an open sewer and hence is filthy and neglected. The project aims at cleansing the water system, while integrating the public spaces within the neighbourhood. Layered analysis of masterplan
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Plan of Municipal Administrative Outpost at +2.5m
Plan of Municipal Administrative Outpost at +5.5m
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Administrative structure of Mumbai’s local government
Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Section D-D’
Section C-C’
Located south of the municipal market and directly across existing housing for government officials, this Municipal Administrative Outpost abuts the biggest road of the area. The building houses the most public elements of the local government, i.e. junior officials of each of the 13 departments of the ward office in an effort to decentralize interaction centres for citizens. The citizens’ facilitation center is a key addition. Architecturally, volumes appear to be coming out from under the roof which is a metaphor for a cloth, thereby ‘revealing’ the government setup to the public.
Architectural explorations of the concept of transparency - with volumes punctured by accentuated circulation
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View of feature wall with circulation puncturing the building
View of reception
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Overhead view of the citizen’s facilitation center with the main block in the background
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Plan of Municipal Market at +2.5m
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Plan of Municipal Market at +5.5m
Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Section C-C’
Section D-D’
Located at the north end of the site, this municipal market’s free and open nature promotes easy access and movement to those walking through the site. Strategically located across from the primary bus depot of the area, the market allows itself to plug in to the daily activities of the public. The administrative body is located above the market symbolises transparency and approachability to the government agency in charge of the maintanence and safekeeping of the market. The market steps down to the water giving rise to a public plaza that can become an informal performance or exhibition space.
Section E-E’
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View of entrance to market with administrative block above
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View from a pedestirian bridge crossing over towards market
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Photography, Fall Semester
Amsterdam Avenue looking south from Columbia University overhead bridge
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Mediapolis : Re-envisioning the Office Complex K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai 4th year: 2009-10
This project was primarily a master planning exercise - the total area of the site being 109,636 sq.mts. The programmatic requirements of the project were a Soundstage, Business Support, Production Company, F&B, Retail, Institution, Dist.& Pay-Out, Shared Amenities, Shooting venues and Recreational Spaces. The total built-up area of the project was 1,16,000 sq.mts at an F.S.I. of 1.4 for the site. Programs added for my project included a Water Nourishment and Cleansing Plant, a public open space and a promenade along the waterfront that can be accessed by the general public. Establishing networks amongst various departments, merging work and recreational spaces and addressing the current condition of the river were the key concerns while drafting the master plan for the site.
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Business support Production companies
Soundstage Event space
F&B, Retail
Institution Hotel
Importance in terms of public use Park
F&b, Retail
Shared Amenities
Institution General process in production line Soundstage F&b, Retail
Business Support
Production Companies
Distribution & Pay-out
Institutions
Production Companies Business Support
Distribution & Pay-out
Soundstage F&B, Retail Hub Insitution
Park Shared Amenities
Plan of Production and Retail at 2m
Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Plan of Production and Retail at 15m
Section C-C’
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Museum of the Progressive Artists’ Group K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai 3rd year: 2008-09
Located on the western sea-front of South Mumbai, this project sites itself across the National Center for Performing Arts building, in the heart of the theatre district of the city. This site was chosen from a list of other sites within the city with the intention of plugging into the existing cultural activity in and around the area. Museums are generally visited by a select category of the society, and one of the motives of the project was to break that trend and make it accessible to the general public.
Site conditions
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Site plan
Design development process
Plan at +11m
Plan at +7m
Plan at +2.5m
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Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Section C-C’
Section D-D’
Section E-E’
Section F-F’
Section G-G’
Section H-H’
Located towards the waters edge, this proposed museum gives rise to a completely pedestrian plaza between the existing NCPA building and itself. The concept of design was that of linearity. Since the P.A.G. movement was a ‘transition’ from the art that was common at that point in time, this was related to movement through a pathway or a walkway in design. The building essentially functions as an extended walkway and the shift from indoor exhibition spaces to outdoor spaces heightens the feeling of ‘change’ in experience.
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Generating Public Space K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai 2nd year: 2007-08
Our field trip to Gangtok - in the state of Assam, resulted in students choosing from multiple sites to locate their interventions. This project sites itself in the core of the busiest market and most dense area on the city- Lall Bazaar, the step market. The aim is to release space in a context where open space , and more importantly public open space is not seen often, rather, barely exists. The steps of the market are pulled into the site and form an amphitheatre which acts as a casual meeting space as well as a place where theatre is hosted. A restaurant, public toilet and a tourist information centre are the other programs included in the project.
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Site Plan
Plan at 2m
Section A-A’
Elevation
Plan at 10m
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Local Government Interaction Center K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai 2nd year: 2007-08
This studio project was the design of a public interface for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ward office building in Andheri east, a suburb of Mumbai. The existing building is preceded by a parking lot and is neither approachable nor aesthetically inviting. Being the administrative building of the local governent, the aim was to create a public interaction centre where most of the common utilities would be provided. The utilities include various counters and kiosks catering to a plethora of functions The space is designed to be one large area- segregated only visually by highly permeable walls or simple gateways. The level of the plinth also changes to assert the change in space. This results in a majority of the people getting their work done without entering and navigating through the congested building.
Site conditions
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Design development process
View of courtyard / waiting area
View from courtyard / waiting area
View of entrance to intermediate level
Plan of interaction center
View of the center from the west
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Exquisite Corpse : Taking to the Roots K.R.V.I.A., Mumbai 2nd year: 2007-08
The site chosen for this project was the historic Sewri Fort. Networks were drawn from Sewri Station to the fort. The project is designed to attract people to the rich heritage of the fort, which is completely ignored presently and is often used by drug addicts and prostitutes. The strategy was based on integrating the fort with the station and communities in surroundng areas through networking. Essentially an underground exhibition space- it is ‘designed’ to be disorienting in terms of circulation and experience. As one moves through the space, one is actually moving through the foundations of the fort metaphorically bringing it back to life.
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Site Plan
Section A-A’
Section B-B’
Floor Plan at -1.5m
Section C-C’
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Photography, Fall Semester
Riverside Park, 122nd Street
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