Architectural Portfolio (Ar. Shraddha Kher)

Shraddha Kher

Architect, Mumbai

I. ACADEMIC ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Design Dissertation, Architectural Design Projects and Research work

SEM IX : AIRPORT HOTEL DESIGN, NAVI MUMBAI

SITE : OPP. NAVI MUMBAI AIRPORT

Design Intent : To provide maximum rooms with the airport view, atrium for indoor common spaces, public use spaces on the outer shell for ease of accessibility

Exterior views

AIRPORT HOTEL, NAVI MUMBAI

AIRPORT HOTEL, NAVI MUMBAI

SEM VII : HOUSING COMPLEX

SITE : BOISAR

Design Intent : Central gathering space for all house units, zig-zag arrangement of units to maximize views. Interconnectivity for all the wings and unit

Interactive design

Semester VI : Jaipur Municipal Corporation

Brief

: Municipal corporation design for the heritage department of the city Design Intent : Functional zoning, Level segregation for functional distribution

Research Paper Conference

Revival of Mumbai’s Rivers : The Man-made Edge of River Dahisar

Abstract

Rivers have been significant for all the civilizations in the world. In India, rivers were considered sacred and a symbiosis existed between the river and the people, who held themselves responsible for its preservation. Over time, rivers were exploited and encroached upon, intervening their natural flow. Especially urban rivers, such as those of Mumbai, have been narrowed and channelled artificially affecting their flow and aquatic life, degrading them into disconnected parasitic edges and reducing human involvement. One of these is the River Dahisar. The aim of this paper is to understand the ways to retrieve and revive the river’s edge and transform it from a parasitic environment to a symbiotic one. The methodology helped understand factors leading to a disconnected edge and understand its sectional condition, involvement of the people and contextual activities. Successful cases were studied to suggest applicable strategies for revival of the edge of R. Dahisar.

Keywords : Urban rivers, river environment, natural river edge, revival of river, river activities, river edge land use

I. Introduction

Rivers have always been a significant factor in the origin of civilizations as they provide the required food, water and resources for sustaining civilization. Rivers also provide for spaces for community engagement and socio-cultural activities. In India too, rivers have contributed to the origin and evolution of settlements and cities and are considered sacred. One such example is the Indus Valley civilization along the Indus River who used its water to drink, wash and irrigate the fields and for religious ceremonies [i].

Unfortunately, rivers today are not looked upon similarly and are not treated well. Especially in urban contexts, due to the increasing population and infrastructure, they are used to dump domestic and industrial waste. One of the most affected cities is Mumbai which has four major rivers flowing through it: R. Mithi, R. Poisar, R. Oshiwara and the R. Dahisar. Once significant contributors of the natural watershed and biodiversity, today these rivers are heavily polluted and have been reduced to mere streams with a disconnected river edge [ii].

Out of these, the R. Dahisar originates at the spillway of the Tulsi Lake located inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali in the northern suburbs of Mumbai [iii]. After about 8 km, the river exits SGNP and enters the urban context with settlements around it and flows for another 4 km until it reaches Manori Creek to meet the Arabian Sea. In these 4 km, the river is contravened and encroached upon, disturbing its ecosystem. These encroachments on dry parts of the riverbed and on its banks had choked and pinched the watercourse and subsequently contributed to water pollution. The river currently is highly polluted with dumping of industrial effluents from workshops and sewage from slums and stormwater drains [iv]. This ingress of encroachments and pollutants from the banks as well as modification of river-course have compounded the risk of flooding [v].

Factors leading to disconnection of river edge Solutions to overcome the factors

Dhobi Ghat community lined along the river blocking the edge (Figure 5b, 5c)

Bridge over the river as potential site for dumping waste (Figure 5d, 5e)

Concrete retaining walls along the open space blocking it and making it inaccessible and under-utilized. (Figure 5f, 5g)

Rehabilitation of the community and opening up the river’s access.

Banning of waste dumping and any ill activities, surveillance of such strategic spots.

Opening of the river and integrating the open space into the river.

Infrastructure development’s construction destroying the river ecosystem. (Figure 5h, 5j ) Proposing policies regulating the extent of construction, use of materials, management of construction waste.

Construction activity and waste dumped disturbs the river bed and ecosystem. (Figure 5k)

Policies should be proposed to limit the degree of construction activity and policy to manage the waste generated.

In order to curb flooding by the river water, the municipal authorities have built high concrete retaining walls around it, leading to the absence of a natural water edge depleting the rivers of rich soil, vegetation and aquatic life. This also discourages the growth of vegetation and sustenance of flora and fauna around the bank. This disconnection signifies the lack of a healthy river ecosystem, ground water table, an urban recreational waterfront. Apart from the tangible aspects, a disconnected river edge lacks observation of socio-cultural activities and prohibits spaces for community engagement with the river.

In order to maintain the ecological balance and a healthy living environment, it is essential to have an open public space accessible to all which allows citizens to be in proximity to the water body, without disturbing the river. It is thus imperative to revive R. Dahisar and bring back its natural river edge. The aim of the paper is to understand the methods and solutions to revive R. Dahisar’s edge and transform it from a parasitic environment to a symbiotic one.

The objectives of the research are as follows:

1. To study the existing fabric, demographics and sectional condition of the R. Dahisar.

2. To observe the involvement and activities of the surrounding people and neighbourhood settlements with the R. Dahisar.

3. To identify the factors and reasons leading to a disconnected river edge of the R. Dahisar.

4. To study the various methods and interventions at the design and policy level involved in the process of reviving R. Dahisar’s natural edge.

5. To suggest architectural and policy level solutions which can be implemented to revive river edges in a similar context. The above objectives would aid to revive river edges with similar contextual background.

D Y PATIL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

CHARHOLI, LOHEGAON, PUNE MAHARASHTRA in association with MAHARASHTRA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE [MASA]

Certificate OF PARTICIPATION

This is to certify that Shraddha Kher has presented the paper titled

Revival of Mumbai’s Rivers : The Man made Edge of River Dahisar

day

12th & 13th April 2022 hosted by D Y Patil School Of Architecture, Charholi Bk, Pune. Paper shall be Published in the E Proceedings.

Convener Prof. Nilesh Pore (DYPSOA)

Advisor Dr. Sushant Patil (ADYPU)

Principal Prof. Shubhada Chapekar (DYPSOA)

Interior work

(July 2022 - August 2022)

-Allied DesignNeighbourhood Mapping

SEMESTER VII - NEIGHBOURHOOD MAPPING

Land use and land distribution

Technical Drawings

Section through staircase block

Covid Hospital Design

Site and planning

Vertical movement

COVID HOSPITAL DESIGN

COVID HOSPITAL DESIGN