ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO SIDDHARTHA THOMAS 2018
TA B L E OF CONTENTS
Architecture DESIGN: TECTONICS.
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URBAN DESIGN: STUDIO 2
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Architecture Placement: MOZAIC, Goa, India.
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URBAN DESIGN: DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS
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Architecture Placement: HKS inc. Singapore
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Architecture DESIGN: EXPLORATIONS.
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Architecture DESIGN: ANY PLACE.
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1 Urban Design: Studio 2 Revitalising Bourj Hammoud
Urban Design Studio 2 is a continuation of a study carried on in a previous module titled “Issues 1”. Issues 1 sought to answer the question “How do we safeguard and deliver high levels of environmental quality in the context of increasing intensification of land use?”. Taking the area of Bourj Hammoud in Beirut as a site of study, the aim was to provide a solution to the mass influx of refugees into Beirut
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by providing a compact Urban Design scheme which will accommodate, rehabilitate and facilitate the services needed for the people to not just survive conflict but to establish a new vibrant, prosperous and diverse community. Studio 2 looks to build upon that by detailing out a small portion of the master plan produced for the previous
module. A courtyard typology was taken into account to match the urban grain of the existing city of Beirut.
Master plan of final scheme in the area of Bourj Hammoud.
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The Site
Vision
The Concept
The chosen site is located in the district of Bourj Hammoud, located north-east of the capital city of Beirut, Lebanon. The development is located specifically on an industrial site with a dense residential area surrounding it.
To revitalise the area around the main harbour of Bourj Hammoud. This is done with a primary focus to intensify the area while at the same time establishing a sustainable, peaceful neighbourhood which reflects the character of Lebanon.
The project aims to create a link between the one end of Bourj Hammoud to the harbour. Activities will be introduced along this route that will bring a rich sensory experience to those who use it.
Master Plan developed in Issues 1 Module.
The existing site consists industrial land bordered by the harbour and a high density residential development. 6
This proposal aims to revitalise the area with the introduction of buildings with a mix of uses.
The proposal aims to revitalise the harbour by introducing a mix of activities.
Opportunity to redevelop harbour into a mainstream attraction that invites people onto the site. Opportunity to develop land into an open space that is inviting to the masses.
SITE
BEIRUT
The site is well connected and the road network forms an important intersection on site. Direction of prevailing winds. Close Proximity to religions buildings.
Site Location
Strengths and Opportunities
Threat of pollution from existing site.
Node presents threat of traffic jams.
The Site
Weaknesses and Threats
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View A: Open space is depicted as being able to cater to the locals as well as provide opportunities for vendors to set up stalls. A
Redevelopment of the Harbour area. Open public space which allows for vendors to set up shop and provides views to the waterfront. Public Road catering to cars and public transport.
B
Block with a mix of cafés on the ground floor and retail above. Traditional open market selling local materials and produce.
D
C
Shared street linking the residential units to and street market to the main market area. Street Market with units that are a mix of residential and retail. Residential Block with primarily courtyard dwellings ‘sleeved’ with a mix of retail and apartments.
Master-Plan: (NTS)
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Reference imagery of traditional Souqs
INTEREST AND RICHNESS To create a modern townscape that is still attached to the traditional Arabic cultural roots. Create visual diversity through the use of traditional Arab façades and the introduction of small market spaces (souqs) throughout the site. Create a multi - sensory experience that responds well to the local context through the introduction of the souqs and redevelopment of the open space by the harbour View B: Open Market that sells local goods. Behind is a block with a mix of cafés on the ground floor with retail on the following levels.
View C: Street Market that ‘sleeves’ the residential units behind. The buildings here are a mix of retail and café’s on the ground floor and residential units above.
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PERMEABILITY To provide safe and easy accessibility and navigation throughout the site. To create a hierarchy of streets that help to define different levels of privacy within the site. Introduce a shared street in front of the residential block to help with the transition from the market street to the open market.
View D: Street-scape between residential blocks.
Active Frontages As the clusters merge together, views become limited to only two sides of the unit thereby reducing the number of active frontages on the street level. To counter this, the units are ‘sleeved’ on the inactive side by blocks consisting of a mix of retail and residential uses. Detail Plan showing hierarchy of streets. (NTS) Main Market Street
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Secondary Routes
Service Lane
Courtyard Typology Units are organised in clusters of four to form a central courtyard. These clusters are then organised into more groups for the purposes of intensification. Internally the units are organised to maximise privacy. Therefore the living spaces are organised close to the courtyard while the bedrooms are placed to the edge of the unit.
Courtyard Typology.
Cluster of Courtyard Houses - Limited Active Frontage.
PRIVACY To provide safe and easy accessibility and navigation throughout the site.
Active Edge
Creating Active Edges through sleeving.
Inactive Edge
A courtyard typology of housing is for each residence. The courtyard provides a space that is private and allows for leisure activities to take place in each individual unit. To make sure that the streets have an active frontage.
Ground Floor.
First Floor.
Second Floor. Courtyard
Living Space
Third Floor. Bedrooms
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INTENSIFICATION To accommodate at least 800 people per hectare without affecting the standard of living. Designing a variety of units that attracts families of different sizes to occupy them.
Ground Floor
First Floor Responsive Intensification
Matching the existing dense urban grain of Lebanon to accommodate a large number of families to site. Prevailing wind from the south west.
Staggering of each level makes the buildings self shading
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Staggering of each level allows for natural light to enter the courtyard areas.
To maximise energy efficiency throughout the site through the use of natural methods of energy generation. To Harness natural energy from the sun and prevailing winds to help in naturally lighting and ventilating the buildings on site. Due to the Mediterranean climate, emphasis is placed on maximising the amount of shade on site. 3 Bedroom
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2 Bedroom
1 Bedroom
Circulation Core
FEASIBILITY
RESIDENTIAL
To provide an economically feasible scheme.
CAFÉ’S
3805 m2
RETAIL
8312 m2
DENSITY
750 pph
Attract investors to the site by creating an area that has a mix of uses. Provide a variety of residential units at different prices.
Wind towers are used to bring in the prevailing winds to cool the lower courtyard levels.
Variety of Units.
RLV
18,164 m2
£7,767,764
Use of local biodiversity such as cedar and ficus trees.
Section Depicting schemes for energy efficiency employed throughout the site.
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2 URBAN DESIGN: DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS Promoting Place Identity on Bridgetown’s Waterfront.
This module presents more advanced urban design theory and practice debates, centred around issues of place-identity in a globalizing world. The core of the module covers for example: history and theory of placeidentity in different cultural contexts; restructuring of large urban areas to promote place-identity; collaborative engagement in the place-identity making in different cities and
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neighbourhoods; designing placeidentity in different cultural contexts and with different densities. Place Identity theories were used to develop an urban design solution for the redevelopment of the site in Bridgetown, Barbados, to make it connect more with the people inhabiting it while at the same time employing new activities to generate
revenue through the tourism industry while also allowing the existing community a better form of integrating with their surroundings.
Street View of New Development Proposal in Bridgetown, Barbados.
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Map of the Caribbean.
Bridgetown, Barbados.
VISION To build upon the rich heritage of Barbados the urban scheme aims at activating a neglected portion of Bridgetown to afford both locals and visitors the opportunity to engage in healthy activities that sustains place identity. The new development will increase accessibility to the shoreline with vibrant streets that reflect the contemporary Caribbean lifestyle and preserve the character of the city’s built environment. 16
The Site.
Old Swan Street
Swan Street
New Swan Street
Broad Street
Old Broad Street
New Broad Street
Historical Analysis of Bridgetown, Barbados.
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THEORIES EMPOWERMENT
LAND FORM/ LINKAGES Introduce a new mode of public transport i.e. water taxis that helps ferry people across the Constitution River giving them an added choice in mobility.
PLOTS/ BUILDINGS Introduce opportunities to the site in the form of commerce, housing, entertainment and tourism by introducing a mix of uses in buildings.
COMPONENTS/ DETAILS
Introduce a variety of amenities to make the public space more inclusive.
Reinforce a personalisation of individual buildings to create a sense of individuality and ownership to the new community.
Artistic expression in the form of a hotel to respond to a more progressive idea of the city as well as making design . professionals feel included.
TRANSCULTURALITY
Create new routes through the site to increase interaction between the existing community and the new community. .
Maximise the number of plots on site to increase the amount of surveillance onto the public spaces as well as to increase the number of occupants on site. .
According to the types of people who will be using the new development, amenities will be provided in the manner that allows for intermixing of activities.
Introduction of buildings such as the hotel help attract a wide range of people.
Create links to forms such as façades and landmarks that have cultural significance.
Inactive buildings such as the car park are ‘sleeved’ with buildings with more active usages.
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THEORIES CO-DWELLING WITH NATURE
LAND FORM/ LINKAGES Produce an energy efficient mode of public transport in the form water taxis to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions on site.
PLOTS/ BUILDINGS Using tropical vernacular techniques of ventilation and solar gain in buildings to help combat the hot and humid climate of the region.
Identify existing open spaces on site and link them using a biodiversity corridor.
ROOTS
Use of topography and public spaces to create an identity for the space.
COMPONENTS/ DETAILS
Use of planting will be used to strengthen the biodiversity corridor.
Introduce a variety of buildings and public spaces (restaurants, vending, shops and parks) along the waterfront to encourage people to engage with nature.
Preserving and restoring old buildings such as the Empire theatre on site to increase the character of the site and strengthen its link to the historical city.
Use the indigenous vegetation in green spaces to evoke a sense of place identity.
Introducing new buildings on site relating to the architectural style and materiality of the existing buildings on site to improve the character of the city.
Use of public art and landmark buildings to create visual interest and richness in the public realm.
Using new infill buildings to establish continuity along roads or street frontages to improve legibility and character along the street scape. .
Place Identity Analysis.
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STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
Independence Square provides a much needed green space in the city which also facilitates important cultural events.
Lack of access to beach front due to physical barriers such as a metal fencing.
An alternative mode of transport across careenage can create linkages to other parts of the city.
Natural disasters such as hurricanes and storms pose a threat to shoreline.
Some building along the street do not have high architectural value.
Major intersections can be define by nodes that make the site more legible.
Old warehouse buildings are outdated and need to be retrofitted.
The site is well connected by major routes to link to other keys areas of the city.
Permeability.
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Land uses along waterfront are not inclusive to the public.
Old Land Use.
New Land Use.
Active and Inactive Frontages.
Not to Scale Master plan of Proposal.
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Conceptual Sketches.
Buildings creating a node at primary routes
Areas Facing the Careenage
CONCLUSIONS Based on the theories related to place-identity, a master plan was produced based on the design actions put forward. The design proposal explores how a new development can take place to offer a new experience while being connected to the overall identity of a city. The urban scheme enhances the natural features that are existing and make them inclusive for all. According to the surrounding amenities, new land use 22
were provide to ensure residents are open to a number of opportunities that they need from a city. Cultural traditions were examined and the architectural expression was reinterpreted within the master-plan to make sure the design was location specific. Each location has unique challenges but thoughtful design can resolve specific issues and formalizes memorable characteristics of a place.
Private Spaces Sitting Vending
Recreation Playscape
Zoning Diagram of Beach Front Activities.
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3 Architecture placement HKS Asia Pacific Design Consultants Pte. Ltd.
The firm is located in Singapore and is a branch of HKS incorporated. The clients were mainly from the medical sector and I worked on four different projects during my time here. They are: 1. Parkway Cheungdu, China. 2. St. Luke’s Hospital, Manila, Philippines. 3. Max Hospital, New Delhi, India. 4. CUHK, Hong Kong.
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The kind of work varied from producing drawings and presentations for client meetings to 3D modelling.
competition and thus I was tasked with helping to create a concept design to present to the clients.
For the Parkway project for instance I was tasked with helping the interior design team in selecting materials and in designing the first floor interiors for the new hospital.
Other forms of work involved attending said client meetings and also doing basic site surveying for drawing up plans for a new office.
The St. Luke’s project was a
Conceptual Sketch for the Design of a Gift Shop.
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Parkway cheungdu Interior Design The project is for the design and handover of a hospital in Cheng-Du, China. The client had envisioned the interiors of the hospital to reflect a 6 star hotel and so in order to do this I assisted the lead interior designer and architects with sketching out potential details reflecting the various themes talked about in the preliminary design package. Materiality was heavily taken into consideration. The sketches were later rendered in 3D by a third party and presented to the client.
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Sketch of Plan and Elevation for First Floor Lobby, Parkway Cheng-Du.
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Max Health Site Analysis. The project is a complete renovation of the Max Health Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, India. The client had specified certain conditions before hand regarding what should be demolished and what should be retained on site. In addition to this the client had wanted the site to be built up by about 60%.
EXISTING
Site
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G AR R
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SURGER Y
AN
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AN D
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IN PATIENT
RO
AD
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RO
OUT PATIENT
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SH
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SERVIC
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EXISTING PRESS
ENCLAV
E MARG
EXISTING PRESS
ENCLAV
E MARG
EXISTING
ENCLAV
E MARG
VILLAGE
KIRKI VI
LLAGE
Site Context
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Existing Condition
SHOPPIN
M
AR M R DI AN M
SITE
PRESS
EXISTING
15M
G
SAKET DI ST CENTER RICT
F.A.R 1,172,03 at 3.75 6 Sq.ft.
SITE 3,21,543 AREA .00 Sq.ft .
15M
Exits
Flow and Drop-off
F.A.R 1,172,03 at 3.75 6 Sq.ft.
60% BU
ILDABLE
15m 30m -
40% OPE
N
40% OPE
N
EXISTING
Clients Requirement
EXISTING
Total Number of Floors Required
SERVICE
M
AR
G
S
M
AN DI R
SURGER Y
ES
IN PATIENTIN
RO A
D
PATIENT
ED
OUT PATIENOU T
T PATIENT
AR SH
PRESS
SERVIC
SURGER Y
M
AN
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M
AR G
SAKET DI ST CENTER RICT
EXISTING PRESS
ENCLAV
E MARG
EXISTING
ENCLAV
E MARG
KIRKI VI
LLAGE
Roads
BEDS
CRIT
ICALS
40% OPE
N
45m 30m
EXISTING
Inclusion of Additional Floor
The following diagrams were drawn to help the client and architect get on the same page with regards to the site conditions. I was also involved in doing a block analysis on site to calculate the Floor to area ratio that the client desired as well as help prepare an initial presentation containing information that could be shown to all parties involved.
Site Zoning
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4 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN: TECTONICS Sunnyside Recreational Gardens.
The task in hand is to create an intervention in the lost space that will provide living accommodation and associated common facilities for a particular protagonist in need of care, implementing a strategy of socially integrated and architecturally sustainable neighbourhood. Responding at the scale of the project site, the proposals will prioritise
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specific residential functions with open spaces and common facilities adapted to modern living patterns. The site chosen with regards to this was an area in Edinburgh called Sunnyside. The site sits close to a now defunct railway line and the strategy employed was to help bring life back into the site. Studying the Belles Des Artes Castellon by Mansilla & Tunon,
a language of residential towers was designed on site to cater to the protagonists and general public.
Exterior View, Sunnyside Recreational Gardens.
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Solid and Void
Public Green
Private Green
THE SITE. The Site is Sunny Side Road. It is located right near the epicentre of where Easter Road and a Railway Line meet. The Railway Line is now non functional and only garbage transport is made on it once a day. Some of the most prominent features located on this site are the Higgs football fan club, The John Cotton Factory, A Church, a few local garages and charities. Sunnyside
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Master Plan 1:500
Site Context.
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Site.
Plinth.
Towers.
Residences.
Precedent. The design itself takes inspiration from the studies done on a precedent (The Belles Des Artes Castellon by Mansilla & Tunon). Studies were made on the form of the building.
There is a clear distinction between Solid and Void as well as the way in which there is a dramatic undulation. The Protagonists.
Model of Precedent Study - .Museo des Belles Ares Castellon; Diagram Illustrating Proposal merged with Precedent
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Solid and Void.
Diagonal.
Levels.
Concept Model on Site.
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PROGRAM. The proposal on Sunnyside road will house 25 young offenders who have been released from juvenile detention (The Protagonist). They face alienation from society and hence must work their way to earn society’s trust. The facilities provided include classrooms and libraries to enhance their knowledge. Event and activity spaces are also provided so that they can interact with society. View from Plinth Level.
3.
3. 1.
12. 9.
15. 13.
2.
14.
9. 5.
7.
5.
4. 11.
8.
11.
10.
6.
17.
4.
5.
17.
4. 8.
16.
Key 1. Bike Storage 2. Watchman’s Apartment 3. Meeting Room
4. Storage 5. Electrical Room 6. Administration
7. Records Room 8. Recycling / Bin Store 9. Classroom
10. Library 11. Reading Room 12. Dining Room
13. Kitchen 14.Therapy Room 15. Nurses Room
16. Events Space 17. Activity Rooms/ Workshop Ground Floor Plan, 1:200.
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Axonometric Drawing of Proposal on Site.
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CONSTRUCTION. The building consists of three residential towers separated from the ground level by a plinth. This also acts as a way of segregating the society from the protagonists. The ground level consists of smaller garden spaces that are tended to by the protagonists. The units are based on modular homes and the plan is such that it allows for two individuals to stay together in a single unit. It has a shared living space.
Modular Unit.
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Unit and Tower Assembly.
Assembly of Modular Units on Site.
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5 Architecture placement Mozaic Architecture.
The firm is located in Goa, India. The clients were mainly from the hospitality and residential sector in India and I worked on a variety of projects during my time here. They are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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House for Rehina Pereira. Prestige Chopdem. Resort for Ozone Group. Meenakshi Sanjay House. Hebron School.
The kind of work varied from producing drawings and presentations for client meetings to 3D modelling as well as site surveying and master planning. Marketing was also a key role for me as I had to produce drawings to be used in brochures for selling the design to prospective clients. The house of Mrs. Pereira for instance involved me drawing up a
plan of an existing house from data collected through site surveying and implementing the clients requirements into it. Other forms of work involved providing master planning solutions to Mapusa market in Goa to de-congest the area and also provide some form of organisation among the different kinds of stalls located there.
Renovation Plan for House of Rehina Pereira, Goa, India.
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PRESTIGE CHOPDEM Marketing. The project is a master plan for a residential area in Chopdem, Goa. The plan includes villas for housing in as well as amenities like a swimming pool, tennis courts, multipurpose hall and gym. I was involved in modelling an rendering images to present to the client for marketing purposes as well as helping with the overall master-plan by subdividing and grouping the different villa types of the area.
Villa Render.
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Render of Club House.
Club House Swimming Pool.
Master plan showcasing Villa typologies, Prestige Chopdem, Goa, India.
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OZONE Planning. The project is a master plan for a resort comprising of specially renovated cottages for the guests to stay in. I was involved with the positioning of these cottages on site and also the rendering of the site plan, site section and the views for one of the cottages. I also helped senior architects with the layout for a few of the cottage typologies.
Ozone Cottage Variation.
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Ozone Master Plan 1:1500.
Render of Cottage Variation 1.
Render of Cottage Variation 2.
Site Section, Ozone, Goa, India.
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6 Architecture DESIGN: EXPLORATIONS Memorial for Tsunami Victims.
The module deals with the exploration of form to design a sacred structure. The Copella de Santa Monica by Felix Candela was analysed and from that studies on catenary curves were done both physically and digitally to create a structure that would house a sacred function. Sacred Form will comprise three different stages:
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Stage 1 - Form-finding Stage 2 - From Form to Space Stage 3 - Sacred space This subdivision is intended to support the experimental work process, by focusing in particular targets and activities each week. However, all work is considered to be ongoing and therefore it is expected that all stages are re-visited as the semester carries
on. The experimental nature of this work inherently requires a back-andforward process of design rather than moving in a continuous straight line.
View towards Mecca.
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EXPLORATION OF FORM This exploration involved the study of catenary curves. Looking into the precedent of the Copella de Santa Monica by Felix Candela, Models were built to explore the buildings unique column. The column made the building look as though the roof originated from it. The following models are a shear representation of a catenary curve originating from a single point. 48
Exploration of form.
Testing Various States of Flexibility in a Catenary Curve.
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FORM TO SPACE The catenary curve drawings are now modelled into a space that is habitable. Material considerations are made as well as the buildings programme. The model showcases the same principle of catenary curves originating from a single point Interior Montage Exploring Form and Space.
Concept Model. Scale 1:50.
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Before and After Concept Montage showcasing the Journey taken by whoever enters.
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SACRED SPACE The structure serves as a temporary memorial to victims of the tsunami that struck the coast of Indonesia and Sri Lanka in the year 2004. The programmes includes an exhibition space as well as a prayer area for people to pay their respects. People who enter this space go through it as a journey starting with the ablution of sins, through the exhibition space emphasising remembrance and finally terminating at the prayer space facing Mecca.
The Site. Water Services Display Area Video Area
Programme of Spaces.
Long Section Showcasing the Different Programs.
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The Site The site is located in Indonesia. Since Indonesia is a Muslim country the structure and programme are more focused on Muslim rituals. The structure is placed on site such that it is facing the Holy Land, Mecca. This allows views to the sea and sunset while praying.
STRUCTURE The building is a temporary structure built during a period of remembrance for the tsunami victims. Initial considerations included using bamboo to form the catenary curves but after consulting an expert the structure would not have been as stable. Copper is therefore used to form the catenary curves.
Secondary Copper Catenary curves.
Primary Copper Catenary curves.
Ablution and Exhibition spaces.
Concrete Plinth
Compressed Paper is used as the cover for this. The base is made of concrete and since it is situated on the beach a pile foundation system is used. Axonometric showcasing how the structure is installed.
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7 Architecture DESIGN: Any PLACE Library in Rome
Buildings come between us and our environment, they put us into place. The design of building is indebted - on the one hand - to the nature of the things and activities it places, and – on the other – to the qualities of the locations they take place in. AnyPlace, will ask students to make building design proposals that respond firstly to the things and activities they accommodate and the location (Rome)
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and situations they occupy. Secondly to architectural, special & cultural exploration’s of the meaning of library. The library proposal begins with an initial study of de-constructive architecture through the use of model making. The models help in the study of form and materiality. The location of the site was critical in developing a programme that allowed for this
buildings integration into society as its form was very unique to the area.
Final Model.
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INITIAL STUDY The task of examining what the written word meant to me gave way to this idea that because a library acted as a container for knowledge (books), Knowledge was sealed in and this gave way to regular sealed structures like a box. The initial exploration explored what would happen if said box was “shattered�.
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Conceptual Models exploring form and materiality of the Written Word.
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Pictures of Site context.
SITE The site is in Rome. It is generally flat but overlooks some ruins that have not been maintained as well as Rome’s more popular attractions. There is also a church at one end of the site.
CONCEPT The shattered effect gave way to many different forms and sizes. The key was making forms that had a function as well as testing out new materials. 3D Models were also tested because there was more control as opposed to random physical shattering. 58
RUINS
SITE
Site Plan (N.T.S).
Conceptual Model.
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Testing 3D Model on Site.
Section through Concept Model.
SECTION STUDY After constructing the concept model sections were made across it to plan the structure spatially.
Section Diagrams.
VORONOI TESSELLATIONS Using a shatter algorithm in Autodesk Maya I was able to make models with shatter patterns on them called voronoi tessellations. More 3D Models were made and tested on site. Experimentation with Voronoi Tessellations.
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B’
Section B-B’ 1:100
Conceptual Section.
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PROGRAMME The Library serves its purpose as well as acts as a tourist information center. The library acts as a tourist attraction and brings people to it to view and give attention to the ruins. Traditional spaces such as reading rooms, a reception and security kiosks are also implemented in the design.
FINAL DESIGN In plan the structure takes up most of the site. It is built up to almost 6 storeys in height so as to allow it to stand out on site.
Ground Floor Plan 1:200.
FEATURES One of the shards acts as a viewing platform to see the ruins from above giving the viewing process as a whole a new perspective. There are 3 floors dedicated to the library and knowledge. One floor is the tourist information center and the top level acts as an amphitheatre. 62
Section through Building.
Interior Render.
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