Architecture portfolio excerpts_Somansh Arora by Somansh Arora

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO SOMANSH ARORA

Architecture Portfolio

LVL 10 - 11 SHOC Room//Control room//Print & Storage// Data Processing//Office//Meeting

LVL 7 - 9 Lounge// Individual office//Open offices// Washrooms//Directorâ&#x20AC;şs office//Quiet room// Print room//Maintenance//IT room

LVL 4 - 6 Lounge// Individual office//Open offices// Washrooms//Director's office//Quiet room// Print room//Maintenance//IT room //Meeting room// Archives//Stationary//Storage//Data Processing// Data Storage//Multipurpose// Cafeteria LVL 1 - 3 Lounge// Individual office//Open offices// Washrooms//Director's office//Quiet room// Print room//Maintenance//IT room

PLINTH LVL. Landscape//Cafeteria// Restaurant//Open exhibition// Cocktails//Reception// Open seating

GROUND LVL. Entrance//Exhibition//Gallery// Multipurpose//Modular Conference// Archives//Technical room// Storage// Restaurant//Kitchen//Cafe

Building the Picture - 'Boundless' (Academic work) Critic: Elena Manferdini The traditional role of skins in architecture has changed from being just practical folding devices for buildings to being more interactive binding instruments for producing improvements in urban life. The envelope now challenges the idea of what is inside/outside, natural/artificial, and public/private. The envelope enables a multi-directional approach towards architecture specifically in the form of spherical buildings. Spherical envelopes are able to incorporate a wide variety of programs under a single roof. Moreover, they also challenge the concept of what is the facade, ground, or roof. Owing to the shift in the politics of the envelope, this project focuses on challenging the edge condition in buildings. It manipulates the edge to examine the idea of what is inside vs. outside and what is real vs. virtual. The project does this by using simple linear patterns and playing with gradients in order to explore depths of surfaces. The result of the project reveals a structure that creates illusion of depth through manipulations of the facade and questions the boundary of the envelope. In addition to the above, the building also serves as the new headqaurters for the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland. Architecture Portfolio 3

College of Architecture [above] Floor Plans [below] Exterior rendering, elvations & sections

College of Architecture (Academic work) Critics: Ashok Grover, Savinder Raj Anand, Puneet Chadha Location: Vasundhra Enclave, Delhi Area: 4075 sqm. A new college was to be created for the students of architecture. Since it was a developing zone, the idea was to create an iconic structure that would attract students who wish to study architecture. The design consists of a composition of cubes of different sizes, rotated along a curvilinear axis, in an attempt to create spaces that are extraordinary and unique. The design focuses on interaction between the students and the professors by creating an open space through the middle called ' the central street.' An emphasis is also given to the planning of the different spaces using the form and understanding of the sun-path patterns throughout the year. The planning distinguishes walkways and courts, which are active during different parts of the year. An extra focus has also been given to the appearance of the college in order to define the emphasis of art in architecture.

Architecture Portfolio

Mixed Use Development - 'pub-lic' (Academic work) Critic: Stephane Paumier Location: Sector 18, Noida Area: 14250 sqm. The project focuses on redefining the ideologies associated with a mixed use development. The idea was to create a building/site that would attract all strata of the the Indian society and create a space which could be 'public' in its true sense, while maintaining privacy for its inhabitants. One of the prominent feature of the building is the different zones of green belts incorporated within the form, namely: The Promenade (Z1), The Mall Roof (Z2), The Sky Gardens (Z3), The Hotel Face (Z4), The Roof Top (Z5). The different zones act as breather spaces within the building for its inhabitants as well as spaces for leisure and activty for the public.

Architecture Portfolio

Pre-Stack [left] Unit 1 [below] Unit 2

Pre-Stack [right] Unit 1 axonometric [below] Unit 2 axonometric [opposite] Site plan, Front elevation, Rear elvation

FAB PREFAB: 'Pre-Stack' (Academic work) Critic: Craig Hodgets

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Location: 1001 Electric Ave, Venice, CA Square Footage: 283876.61 s.f. Unit Height: 9›10 Total number of units: 268 Number of L:evels: 7 Fabrication method: Prefab metal structure The project explores unique ways of utilizing standardized spaces using non-standardized dimensions and different ways of arrangement. The two units planned conform to the area requirements of the building units for the community, while adding to the systematic configuration of the entire form. Service utilities are planned as linear spaces without any obstructions, keeping the living/ bed area as separate and interchangeable entities. The arrangement of the units is planned so as to create both private and public areas for leisure for the community. Daylight and ventilation are kept in minded while stacking each of these units to ensure a healthful environment for the residents.

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Architecture Portfolio

Artists village (Academic work) Critic: Amrita Madan Location: Aravalli Hills, Haryana Area: 2275 sqm The project explores passive solar techniques and strategical planning to create a climatically responsive building. In additon, the project houses a community for like-minded artists to live, work, and promote art. The building consists of an exhibition space for the artists, individual living units, living units for the staff, common community hall, dining area, and public and private interactive spaces. One of the prominent features of the design is the solid-void composition. The form acts as wind tunnels ensuring a constant supply of fresh and cool air through the building voids. These voids also function as private balconies for the artists. The building is oriented to minimize the heat gain from the east and the west side, and ensure a constant supply of north and south light, maintaining a nice working environment. The central courtyard was designed to promote interaction between the artists.

Architecture Portfolio

Drip It! [opposite above] Process diagrams [opposite below] Production of new objects using effects [left] Illustration showing process and effects

Misfigured Assemblies and Fuzzy Monoliths'Drip It!' (Academic work) Critics: Marcello Spina, Casey Rehm The project investigates the use of color as not only an aesthetic addition to the object but also as a physical and material entity that is inextricable from the object. Digital data is used as a starting point for the aesthetic approach, which is later translated into analog. Color is used as a material agency for translating the digital information onto the object by continuously registering data, resulting in a hybrid tectonic assemblage. Robotic precision is combined with the inherent entropic agency of the material to allow for both controlled and uncontrolled results. The generative processes discovered in this investigation allow for the production of new complex and ambivalent objects.

Architecture Portfolio

Coding Form [above] Diagrams showing derivation of geometry through python scripting [below] Renderings of different iterations formed through the script

Coding Form [below] Final render: Different iterations of geometries are combined to form an object

Coding Form (Academic work) Critic: Satoru Sugihara The project investigates coding/scripting as means of generating complex and articulate form. Python and grasshopper scripts are used to manipulate surface geometries to derive new articulations. These forms are further corrupted and divided into multple geometries to produce new forms. Various iterations that are produced in the process are then combined to generate a hybrid assemblage having different qualities.

Architecture Portfolio

Weird Bismuth [below] Diagrams showing the extraction of the bismuth as a tectonic and aesthetic element in design [above] Sectional diagrams showing interlocking [opposite] Digital model and 3d printed model

Weird Tectonics- 'Weird Bismuth'(Academic work) Critic: Tom Wiscombe This project deals with the defamiliarization of conventional tectonics made possible through composite materials. The focus was to create strange scalar effects and mysterious joinery and seaming techniques, which create a sense of surprise and mystery not possible with mineral materials. The project explores how seams and components can begin to exhibit autonomy and avoid generalizing conditions often associated with construction systems by focusing on an exceptionally high degree of discreteness of components. An integral part of this investigation was looking at ways of moving away from the homogenizing panelization promoted by parametric design. To achieve this, the possibilities of joints and seams to become jagged, near-figural, and even fake were examined. Joints and seams are no longer understood as the site of hardware, but rather of interlocking, friction-fitting, keying, and gluing.

Architecture Portfolio

Whiplash [left to right] Digital line drawings and fuzzy effects leading to halftone

Whiplash [below right] Digital rendering & CNC fabricated model

Superimpositions - ' Whiplash' (Academic work) Critics: Peter Testa, Devyn Weiser The project challenges the idea of perceived enclosures vs. true enclosures. The idea of 3 dimensionality is questioned by reverse engineering an object through lines and grids. Through the translation of the grid and the augmentation of its nodes, new surfaces and forms are developed, leading towards a new underlying grid. Through a series of offset and rotational operations, lines achieved via grids of Miesâ&#x20AC;şs Mandrel House are translated to create an augmented grid. The physical offset and rotation allows a parallel to escape 2D and enter 2 Â˝D. By virtue of mimicking an analog effect robotically, the physicality of an object in the form of a pen is then added to the new augmented grid. By adding the qualities of the pen, an analog implication is fed forward and superimposed with the digital process. All these effects blur the purity of the 3D form and decrease its legibility. Material effects, through the analog processes create a physical rendering of the perception of the augmented grid, which then forms the enclosure. Architecture Portfolio

Grotto misreadings [opposite] Sectional view and rendering [above]Different iterations of the physical model made to reveal characteristics of the parkscape [below] Interpretation of the parkscape through 3D printed physical models

Weird Nature - Grotto misreadings (Academic work) Critic: Marcelyn Gow The project recasts the role of nature and, more specifically, landscape in the context of contemporary architecture. In considering the possibilities of weird nature and weird landscape, the seminar posits that the imaging of landscape is a generative, rather than a representational tool. Using notions of fusion and fission, complex terrain defined by the interference between nature and artificiality was examined. The process involves manipulation of the documentation of sites, objects, and spaces to engender multiple authenticities. Photographic and cinematographic techniques were combined with digital and analog modeling to produce a fusion between architectural form and forms germane to constructed natures. The design seeks to amplify latent environmental and atmospheric interactions in the interest of producing a landscape that has the capacity to integrate multiple concepts of nature. The final proposal consists of discrete landscape objects, which act as constituents of an urban parkscape. The site was siutated on a portion of the LA River. Architecture Portfolio

Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex (Professional work) Company: ARCOP Location: Sallalah, Oman Site Area: 5390566.34 s.f. (123.7 acres) Status: Under construction The building is a cultural and sports complex designed by ARCOP. It includes indoor multipurpose sports halls, swimming pools, library, cafeteria, gyms, and other facilities designed for men and women designed separately. Project involvement: Preparation of construction documents, coordination of construction documents (architectural, structural, mechanical, civil, electrical), interior architecture, finishing schedule, door window schedule. Software: AutoCAD.

Architecture Portfolio

Khoula Hospital (Professional work) Company: ARCOP Location: Muscat, Oman Site Area: 35036.53 sq ft Status: Under construction Project involvement: Schematic design, Design Development: Coordination of construction documents (architectural, structural, mechanical, civil, electrical), wall sections, interior architecture, finishing schedule, door window schedule, ceiling plans. Software: AutoCAD

Architecture Portfolio

Hi Point Housing (Professional Work) Company: M-Rad Architecture Location: Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles Status: Unbuilt The housing consists of 45 affordable dwelling units. The most interesting aspect of the design is its ability to incoporate views of the Hollywood Hills for all dwelling units. and provide natural daylight. Project involvement: Project Designer Concept design, Schematic design, Presentation: 3d modeling, Plans, Renderings, Diagrams Software: Rhino, Revit, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop

Architecture Portfolio

3d Printed House [above] Floor Plans [below] Exterior and Interior view renderings

3d Printed House (Professional Work) Company: M-Rad Architecture Location: Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles Status: Unbuilt The house incorporates the use of 3d printing concrete technology. Set in Hollywood Hills, the building demonstrates the use of the new technology and portrays an ultra-modern style of living. Project involvement: Schematic deisgn, Presentation: Plans, 3d renderings Software: Rhino, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Keyshot, Photoshop

Architecture Portfolio