Architecture & Otherwise
Shruti Jalodia Portfolio of work
About Author
Employment
education
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Assistant Tutor | 2018
Masters in Advanced Architecture | 2018 | GPA - 9.15
hruti Jalodia is an architect and researcher who is interested in creating meaningful and engaging ways to explore human centered environmentally responsible design. Her methods embrace complexity and lie at the intersection of computational design, material science, data driven strategies and physical computing. She is interested in learning from nature, it’s processes, behaviour and patterns, and further exploring how these can help in designing our built environment. Recently, In her Masters at IaaC, she developed projects and proposals for automated urbanfarms, data-informed structures, interactive interfaces and tools for spatiotemporal performance analysis and control. In past, she has worked with various architecture firms, taking up tasks ranging from concept develoment, architectural design, installation design, and construction coordination. She has experience of working on various scales, ranging from largescale mixed-use development projects to a more human scale in residential and art installation projects.
Global Summer School 2018 (IaaC) | Barcelona Physical Computing focused on Tangible Interfaces, Lighting design, Soundscape design.
Freelance Architect | 2016- 2017 Gurgaon, India Concept development, Working drawings, BIM, on-Site execution, Client interaction.
Abaxial Architects | 2013-2016 New Delhi, India.
Concept development, Construction drawings, on-Site execution, Client interaction.
MindSpace Architects | 2012 Internship, Bangalore, India
Concept development, Construction drawings, Model making.
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IaaC) Barcelona, Spain - Material science - Graphene. - Digital fabrication using CNC milling, Laser, 3D printing, Robotic Arm. - Automated Urban Farming. - Computational Design with grasshopper: Kangaroo physics simulation, Karamba Structural analysis, LadyBug environmental analysis, OWL machine learning. - Physical computing using Arduino, Processing, Unity.
Bachelor of Architecture | 2013 School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. Architecture Design, Building Construction, Building Management, Form Space and Public Behavior, Theory of Structural mechanics.
Softwares 3D / CAD
Visualization
Revit Rhino AutoCAD Sketchup
Photoshop Illustrator InDesign
Programming Grasshopper Processing Arduino
Skills
Movie Editing
Index
Premier Pro Final Cut Pro AR / VR Unity3D
1) Digital and Robotic Fabrication. 2) Functional Prototyping and Model making. 3) Pencil, Pen and ink rendering.
Accolades
Architecture & Technology
#Sensory Architecture #Data Driven Design
Festival Della Scienza, Genoa Synapse - Exhibition entry | 2018 Digital Matter Award - Best Project MAA | IaaC | 2018
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02 Farmscapes
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03 Willing
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#Programming # tensile structures
04 Knitectonics
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#Robotics # Data driven structures
05 Magic carpet
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06 Metalic spaces
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# automation # Urban Farming
Global Grad Show, Dubai Design Week Synapse - Exhibition | 2018
01 Synapse
#Public Art installation # Interactive Spaces
# Interactive spaces # Robotic Fabrication
architecture & Technology
Image showing a 1.2 m x 2.4 meter occupancy sensor for a floor
Artistic rendition of a sensor activated space with user input and control.
Synapse Master in Advanced Architecture | 2018 IaaC, Barcelona Team : Shruti Jalodia, Hayder Mahadi, Nikol Kirova.
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his research and experimentations aim to provide designers and decision makers with an information gathering sensor for users’ spatial behavioral patterns towards a better evidence-based, contextual, data-driven process and behavioral research.
Input to System
Pressure
Position
Gesture
Performance Control
Spatial Observations
Output from System
Using surface embedded Graphene Nanoplatelets, capacitive sensing system along with machine learning processes, this research presents an analytical and interactive medium for user’s presence sensing, position tracing, and gesture recognition.
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Right : Live demonstration of Sensing Under-mat, with position coordinates of the user visible on the screen. Left bottom : Ingredients for Graphene based conductive ink used to make electrodes. Left top: A flexible occupancy sensor.
Graphene Nanoplatlets
Water
Binder
Bottom : Ingredients for Active tiles. Top: Active tiles - light as a response upon user touch.
Sensing Surfaces
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he ‘sensing’ assembly can be embedded in the floor or wall surfaces, either under existing finish or in the form of custom made ‘active tiles’. The system includes two perpendicular electrodes, on either side of a PETG sheet, followed by a protective layer on both the sides. This sensor can be embedded in two large scale methods : 01 Large continuous Under-mats: The sheets can be used in the form of a continuous roll that can be embedded on a variety of buildups like floors, walls or furniture.
Silicon mold
Graphene Electrodes
Concrete
02 Modular tiles : Graphene electrodes can be miniaturized to be embedded in modular systems such as concrete or wood tiles. 9
Testing the sensor in an outdoor location and collecting data. The collected data and analysis can be available to the user as well as city authorities via an App, This Data , when overlapped with other relevant city data can give a realistic picture of space usage and performance.
Top : Sensing surface paired with Graphene based heating pads. Bottom: A Thermochromatic film is applied on top of the system, to visualize heating performance. A predefined User gesture activates heat in a selected area.
Applications 01 Urban Data analysis
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y recording traces of footsteps, the system can provide dynamic occupancy maps, trend prediction etc. Such information provides relevant authorities in urban areas with accurate, realtime metrics of user engagement, public spaces performance, put strategies for site and crowd management, perform risk evaluation, predict maintenance works, and deploy sufficient emergency services. 02 Localized heating
Sensing electrodes
Heating pads
Graphene based heating pads to be used in conjunction with the sensory surface can provide localized heating. When a user circles a specific area on the prototype (right), heating pads in that area get activated. The system can be further developed to allow for dynamically controlled- automatic localized heating based on user presence in space, which can lead to great energy saving. For more information : http://www.iaacblog.com/projects/synapse-2/
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8 different exhibits can be positioned inside the space.
Daylight Radiation hours
5 AM
6 PM
Most optimized exhibit coordinates.
Most optimized partition wall coordinates.
Visual Connectivity
Sunlight Radiation
Input Data by the designer:
Dynamic space configuration
1) Time 10 AM
2) User Engagement index 2PM
HIGH
LOW
3) Footfall rate HIGH
LOW
Output Data Machine Learning Algorithm : Object Coordinates
Pedestrian Paths
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his exercise attempts using genetic algorithm and Machine learning to arrive at an optimized spatial configuration in a given space. A computational design model is setup, taking in account three factors - Visual connectivity, Sunlight hours and Pedestrian paths. Position of predefined object can be optimized based on these factors. Coordinates of the objects based on Visual connectivity and sunlight hours are calculated using multi-objective, genetic algorithms. An artificial neural network is trained for up to 1000 times to accurately predict the coordinates, for a desired level of user interaction in the space. These three informations combined can give a cohesive and holistic spatial performance overview to the designers. Grasshopper tools such as Ladybug analysis, Bio morpher and OWL machine learning are used to achieve this. 13
Left : Artistic rendition of a street with Farmscapes Urban farm. Right: Schematic diagram showing arrangement of different types of ‘cells’ in the farm. The location and quantity of each type is decided based on site parameters such as availability of grey water, sunlight and access etc.
farmscapes Master in Advanced Architecture | 2018 IaaC, Barcelona Team : Shruti Jalodia, Hayder Mahadi, Cansu Cetin
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ood awareness and availability continue to be two major issues in our society today. As the pressure on natural resources continues to grow due to the increased food demand, we are faced with a situation which calls for a reassessment of how we use and design our urban spaces. This project proposes an urban farm which lies at the intersection of social interaction, big data collection, and sensor driven automated farming, while exploring the newly pedestrianized ‘Superblock’ streets as productive urban landscape, setting a novel paradigm for food production, awareness, and inclusive. This study centers on the two key subjects: (i) Analysis of forces that affect farming; (ii) A design for the farm situated in a specific Superblock context. 15
Grey water Collection
Actual image of a functional prototype of the farm. The prototype contains plant cells, technology cells and water cells, in a modular unit which can be repeated.
Plant Cells Micro controller and info. screen
Valves
Grey water treatment
Insect hotel Organic waste composting Water Storage
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he design consists of a combination of different modules called ‘cells.’ Different types of cells perform tasks ranging from: 1) Plant cells: Growing bed for plants. 2) Water cells: Grey water harvesting & distribution.
3) Technology cells: Controlling sensors and monitoring points. 4) Composting Cells 5) Insect hotel: Insects play a key role in a flourishing biodiversity and certain cells are made to attract and inhabit insects.
Outer skin
Inner skin
Schematic section of a Plant cell, showing inner and outer skin. also shown are robotic arms which are used to control and monitor the farm.
-Acts as mulch layer -Protects from weeding -Retains moisture -Strong -Water Drip irrigation system and Electrical conduits embedded in the skin.
-Acts as mulch layer -Protects from weeding -Retains moisture -Strong -Water Drip irrigation system and Electrical conduits embedded in the skin.
Since different system components have unique space requirements, the design follows a fractal geometry which allows easy integration of modules of various sizes together. In addition, a space frame has been introduced to house the various cells, which acts as an exoskeleton that provides structural support to the cells. Since the cells are modular, replacing, troubleshooting, or removing a cell can be done without affecting the neighboring cells and overall farm. For more information :
http://www.iaacblog.com/programs/urban-farm-farmscapes/ 17
Top: Actual image of arrangement of different ‘plates’ for the installation. Left: Multiple plates arranges with in the outer shell, connected with structural extensions.
willing Typology: Public Installation
Client: The Veridian Foundation
Location: World Trade Centre, Greater Noida Area: 700 sft
Scope of work: Development of idea and physical manifestation. Design of the Shell. Experiments on materiality and suspension system.
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illing is a Public Art Installation that explores notions on Time as a measure of change, offering meditative, hypnotic spaces within the public domain to pause, reflect and wonder. It offers contemplative and meditative spaces where one can take some time to pause and reflect amidst the hustle of the city. In its physical form it maps journeys through the changing inner world, both as natural evolution and self inflicted mutations. Set amidst the landscape of the 15 acre campus of the World Trade Centre in Greater NOIDA, the installation attempts to create Thresholds - offering the opportunity for private introspection within a larger context of public engagements. 19
Entrance of the installation, displayed in a 1:10 prototype. Play of light, shadow and materiality.
Spatial
Haptic
• Heights and distances to allow maximum interaction with the plates. • Arrangement to allow viewing through multiple plates..
• Some plates might give a slight shock.
• Some plates might light up when approached.
• The undulating floor vibrates.
‘Willing’ engages with every visitor uniquely through multi-sensory experiences. The canopy is translucent in parts, revealing the inside from outside, appetizing. The internal walls appear to breath. The ground people walk on is undulated. It forces people to sometimes experience the individual parts close up, and sometimes gives perspective where plates need to be seen from afar. This envelop creates an interaction between the individual plates and the people that are viewing them. The plates themselves are designed to be highly interactive. Extending from their individual stories and personalities, the plates acquire unique materials and textures that layer the sculpture with meaning. Some plates light up on touch, other may give you a slight electric shock! Spatial lighting is dynamic, controlled by the viewer. Shadows are an integral part of the installations. 21
Study models of tensile fabric in wooden frames.
Knitectonics 2012 By: Sanhita Chaturvedi , Esteban colmenares, Thiago S. Mundim
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im of this workshop was to understand how materials can self compute to find stability against forces, by simultaneously studying physical and computational models. To learn how this nature of material can be used to design performative architecture/ structure. It included software ( Processing) tutorial as well as physical model making. The first session was about understanding materials and geometry and we were introduced to the software-processing. We then made a physical model(shown in the pictures) and created the same digitally. We also learnt to compare and calibrate the analog and digital models. This learning was applied to a canopy which was first digitally made and then built in 1:1 scale.
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Left: 1) Finished structure, with a load bearing capacity of occupying up-to 22 adults. 2) Image showing wooden edge beams and internal members held together using cables, which together act as pre tensioned beams. Bottom Clockwise: 1) individual members that can freely rotate and held together by cables. 2) Termination joinery of the cables, which was also used for tensioning the cables. 3) Edge beam.
magic carpet Data informed structure Master in Advanced Architecture | 2018 IaaC, Barcelona
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he Magic Carpet, is composed out of wooden cross sections that create folded surfaces, which can be used as sitting, lounging or working spaces. The idea behind the structural design is based on ‘geometric locking of 3D surfaces’. The design also focuses on the ergonomics making sure that an angle between 90 and 160 degrees is maintained to increase the user’s comfort, whilst keeping in mind that the steeper the slope, the less it unfolds making the structure stronger. What makes it really interesting, is the fact that geometrically it spans along the axis where members are held together only by 4mm steel cables; even though each individual member is able to rotate along the cables, the overall geometry is such that cables and beams act together as beams and span a distance of 3 meters and can support up-to 22 adults. 25
Production A 70 mm x 20 mm wood section is used. Due to the complexity of the design, a unique and flexible joinery had to be designed. 6 mm cables were used for this. 10mm metallic pipes were used only on the two edges, to reduce shear force.
Joinery at Cable splice location
Due to the geometry, each member has two uniquely angled hole, which were made using ABB robotic arm.
Cables tying wooden pieces together.
Simulation showing ABB drilling holes.
Joinery for post tensioning.
Structural Analysis
Displacement analysis
3D and flattened version of a ‘ non-unfolding geometry’
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ased on a ‘non-unfolding geometry’, the structure is able to span together with the help of cables, and the faces also act as individual beams, adding to the strength. Structural analysis was performed using grasshopper plug-in - Karamba and strategies like adding a curved cable inside each face which decreases the overall deformation by 25% were employed.
Shear force analysis
3D and flattened version of a ‘ unfolding geometry’
Utilization analysis
Shear force in different ‘cable -beams’ 27
Fully assembled structure with metallic rods bent using KUKA robotic arm.
Simulation showing process of rod- bending. The process involves grabbing tool attached to the KUKA six-axis arm, and a rotating bending tool attached to a fixed turn table.
Metallic space Global Summer School | 2018 IaaC, Barcelona
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ecent development in technology is shaping a new urban landscape blurred by digital and physical stimuli. This process is called “digitization�. The construction sector has been slow to adopt this digitization due to various reasons. In this project, strategies are defined for the applications of Digital Design Strategies as essentials mean for the change.
Robotic rod bending
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he project explored a series of methodologies looking to incorporate advanced design thinking, generative algorithms, accompanied with novel interfaces for robotic programming and large-scale automated construction in form of metal rod bending. 29
Left clockwise: 1) Controlling individually addressable LEDs using Pixel-lite Circuit board. 2) Circular connections to be installed at the base of bent rods to allow them to be touch sensors 3) LEDs attached to bent rods 4) Bending metallic rods using 6 axisKUKA robotic arm Right bottom : schematic diagram showing work-flow of the physical computed interface.
Interactive interface and data visualization
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o extend the idea of digitization, the bent rod structure is turned into an interactive interface that can respond to user stimulus. USER TOUCH AS INPUT VIA SERIAL COMMUNICATION
Raw Data Collection
ARDUINO
C IA OS
V
TION NICA
MU COM
VIA S
ERIA
L CO
MMU
NICA TION
MAX MSP
RESOLUME
SOUND ACTIVATION
LEDs ACTIVATION
LIGHT AND SOUND AS OUTPUTS
Data Sorting
Exploiting the conductive properties of the structure, capacitive touch technology is used to convert static elements in to interactive touch sensors. Upon touch, light and sound responses are activated, which are programmed to dynamically respond to changing user engagement. In this process tools such as Arduino, Max MSP and Resolume are used to achieve the above mentioned functionalities.
Data Visualization 31
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Shruti Jalodia shruti.jalodia@iaac.net | Barcelona | New Delhi