Banerjee SubhaR portfolio

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CONTENTS 1. THESIS : THE NEW TOWN MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY AND KNOWLEDGE CENTRE: DESIGNING LIBRARIES IN THE DIGITAL AGE WITH THE COEXISTENCE OF BOOKS AND CONTEMPORARY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, KOLKATA, INDIA 2. MODULAR PORTABLE HOUSING FOR FUTURE, INDIA 3. HOUSING FOR 2050; RK PURAM, NEW DELHI, INDIA 4. ST. JEAN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT; QUATRE BORNES, MAURITIUS 5. URBAN DESIGN AT NOIDA;Sector – 18, NCR, INDIA 6. AMRYLIS MASTERPLAN; RANIKHET, INDIA 7. SCHOOL AT SUNDERBANS; SUNDERBANS, WEST BENGAL, INDIA 8. ADAPTIVE REUSE OF EKTA VIHAR COMMUNITY CENTRE; RK PURAM, NEW DELHI, INDIA 9. DISSERTATION : DIGITAL AND NON-EUCLIDEAN ARCHITECTURE : IS THE QUALITY OF SPACE AND QUESTION OF SUSTAINABILITY BEING TAKEN CARE OF? 10. INTERIORS OF OFFICE SPACES 11. PHOTOGRAPHS - SOME OF THE IMAGES CLICKED (2009 ONWARDS)


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THESIS : THE NEW TOWN MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY AND KNOWLEDGE CENTRE: DESIGNING LIBRARIES IN THE DIGITAL AGE WITH THE COEXISTENCE OF BOOKS AND CONTEMPORARY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, KOLKATA, INDIA

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

1.2. OBJECTIVE BEHIND THE CONCEPT

Final Thesis Report shortlisted and published by SPA University Publications, New Delhi, India

Location : Kolkata, India Year : 2011 Work Type : Academic Involvement : Entire process. From conceptualization to final digital production.

1.1. LOCATION The New Town Multimedia Library And Knowledge Centre is located in a strategic area of central New Town; a satellite city adjacent to Kolkata. To the west of the site exists the KMOMA (Kolkata Museum Of Modern Art) and to the north-west lies the massive International Convention Centre (both projects currently under construction). On the other side of the site to the south east exists numerous schools and colleges.

The main objective of the project is to design a library in the modern era, with inclusion of information and books in other formats apart from printed copies. The library should also aim to act as a community space for different events like book fairs, education fairs and also provide exhibition areas for temporary exhibition in various disciplines. The other objectives in the design process is to bring in more people to the place, ranging over various age groups and with different intents: from a casual browser to a serious scholar. Within each user group, ideas of connections, both visually and acoustically, are investigated as well as the connections with other user groups. A visual connection between the individual and the books created a catalyst of way finding.

Road Ways: The site is connected through major 6 lane Arterial Road of New Town Action Area 2.

Left to Right: Recent components of a library building include the computer peripherals for the digital books, Bluetooth download stations and self issuing and self checkout areas.

Far Left : Entry to the Knowledge City Complex. Image shows vibrant entrance gateways with auditorium on its immediate left. Left : The Central Axis leading the visitor through the colonnaded temporary exhibition areas; to the main Multimedia Library building.


1.3. ZONING

1.4. PROGRAMME AND ITS OBJECTIVES The project consists of a Knowledge Centre in New Town, Kolkata, India, which is intended for diverse uses. It comprises of a 5,000 m2 Physical Library with Bookstacks, a Digital Library of over 1000 m2, Reading Areas of 1200m2, the Knowledge Centre of over 2500 m2, an Auditorium for symposiums and seminars of over 800 m2, among others. The proposal is guided by four important aspects of activity in the complex -function, zoning, circulation, certain environmental considerations and controls. The Library encourages the gathering of diverse groups of people from the surrounding community- Prominent design features include large windows, o welcoming entrance and central atrium with clear sight lines that allow visitors to quickly orient themselves in the space. Below : Massing of the major components and the relation in between them.


1.5. PLANNING OF THE MAIN LIBRARY BUILDING

-The Zoning in the Library Building is done keeping in mind the aspect of noise level in the Building. -Functional Components like the Retail Areas, Children's Library and Digital Libraries have been kept in the Lower floors whereas the upper floors make room for the stack areas and Reading areas of the Physical Library. -From the entrance point in upper floors, a user could view the entire book collection and be directed towards the applicable area along the "wall-of-books".

1.6. PLANNING OF THE KNOWLEDGE CENTRE BLOCK The various kinds of fast information that users would be looking to procure from the G+1 level of the knowledge centre are : IMMEDIATE: Instant information such as: Personal interaction w/others Breaking news Traffic news Weather Pod casts MEDIUM: Instant information such as: Newspapers Magazines Daily news broadcasts PERMANENT: Instant information such as: published books encyclopedias history maps -G+2 Level of the Knowledge Centre block consists of Zones with interactive touch screen sand Print viewing Areas of Knowledge Centre. - Retrieving information about the latest happenings and developments in various disciplines and subjects through viewing videos of them in the print viewing rooms or through interactive touch screens surely encourages a larger turnover of the techsavvy younger generation. Left : View showing different kinds of users in the Knowledge Centre and their possible sight lines


1.7. CONCEPTS INVOLVED IN PLANNING OF SITE

Above : Books correspond to a rectangular form. In terms of functional components, the Library is contained as merely a part of the larger Knowledge Centre, similarly the form of the library is a part of the larger rectangle of the Knowledge Centre. The larger Rectangular volume holds the smaller volume as an integral part of itself.

Above : Pedestrians move along the central axis, leading to the main Library building, which actually is visible right from the entrance. The visual axis has been reinforced by balanced distribution of equivalent forms and built volumes on either side. The linear waterbodies and the covered walkways within the adjacent volumes further strengthens the axis.

Above : Various perforations and gateways have been created on all sides of the Knowledge Centre, thus allowing people to move in from any side at any instant. Right : A hierarchy in heights is generated in the Knowledge Centre Block, henceforth reinforcing the central axis and emphasizing the main Library Building at the end of the axis by making it the highest building in the site.

Right : A view of the Patio level at G+1 Level which gives the user a larger circulation option in moving around the


1.8. SITE PLAN WITH GROUND FLOOR PLAN


1.9. DETAILED FLOOR PLANS OF THE MAIN LIBRARY BLOCK

Top Left : In front of the main Library Building. At left and right are G+1 Patio Levels for pedestrian circulation. Top Right : Staircase leading to the G+1 Patio Level. Left : The entrance gateway visible from the 6 lane major Arterial Road of New Town.


1.9. DETAILED FLOOR PLANS OF THE MAIN LIBRARY BLOCK

G+2 Level Floor Plan

G+3 Level Floor Plan

- Floor Plates have been designed so as to allow the maximum amount of light from the North-Lighters over the central Atrium. - Maximum use of daylight has been ensured in each floor by placing the reading areas along the outer side of the building

Right : A view along the central axis looking towards the Main Library Building

G+4 Level Floor Plan


1.10. SECTIONS

SECTION – AA’

SECTION – BB’

SECTION – CC’


1.11. VIEWS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SITE

Above : An elevation of the site from the New Town Major Arterial Road Top Right : Covered colonnaded walkways along water bodies leading to the main library building Right : One of the entrance gateways to the complex

Below : A view of the OAT (Open Air Theatre) behind the main Library building Below Extreme Right : Sit-out areas adjacent to the Temporary exhibition areas


1.12. DETAILES OF VARIOUS DESIGN ELEMENTS


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MODULAR PORTABLE HOUSING FOR FUTURE INDIA

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Year : 2009 Work Type : Academic Involvement : Entire process. From conceptualization to final digital production.

2.1. OBJECTIVE BEHIND THE CONCEPT

HOUSING IN EARLY 1900s

Over the past 100 years the Housing typology has experienced a major change – From Low-rise Community housings to High-rise Skyscrapers. Modular buildings are sectional prefabricated buildings, or houses, that consist of multiple sections called modules. The modules are six sided boxes which can be constructed in a remote facility or at the site itself. Using a crane, the modules are set onto the building's foundation or joined to the building core to make a single residential building. Modular housings have numerous advantages like a higher speed of construction, higher sustainability and more flexibility (because modules can be extended in any direction).

HOUSING IN EARLY 2000s In this academic exercise, housing modules have been designed which gives the user larger amount of freedom. He may chose to live in a Low-rise Community housing or High-rise Skyscraper, and yet live in his own apartment module. The modules can be placed side-byside, end-to-end, or stacked up, allowing a wide variety of configurations and styles in the building layout. These housing modules can be typically transported to their site by means of flat-bed trucks.


2.2. DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF A 10 MTR x 5 MTR HOUSING MODULE

- An outer structural metal chassis has been designed to which wall, ceiling, flooring etc components get attached. - The metal chassis is further attached to the core or joined with the foundation depending on the given conditions.


2.3. DETAILS OF FIXING OF THE 10 MTR x 5 MTR HOUSING MODULES TO A CENTRAL LOAD BEARING CORE

- The chassis of each module is attached to sub-frames with high tension tendons. -The sub-frames are hung to the concrete core with the help of high density polymer gaskets. - The height of the overall buildings is directly decided by the strength of the cores (number of modules that can be attached).


2.4. THE BASIC DESIGN STRATEGY MODULE

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SUPPORT FRAME SYSTEM - MULTIPLE SIZES - FUNCTION BASED - NO LOAD BEARING FUNCTION

COLUMN GRID FRAME SYSTEM

- STANDARD SIZE, SERVICE AND SPACE - NO LOAD BEARING FUNCTION

- EXPERIMENTATIONS WITH MODULE LAYOUTS

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TENSION BASED FRAME SYSTEM - SERVICE MODULE - LOAD BEARING

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Below : Possible low-rise combinations with the given modules Right : An example of a possible high-rise combination with the given modules


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HOUSING FOR 2050 RK PURAM, NEW DELHI, INDIA

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Year : 2009 Work Type : Academic Involvement : Entire process. From conceptualization to final digital production.

3.1. THE BASIC DESIGN STRATEGY This academic exercise dealt with planning and designing of Multi storey modular housings for future. The design has been developed giving large priority to a central open space. All other activities like the commercial and institutional have been placed on the site periphery; adjacent to the vehicular roads and hence can be used by outsiders along with site residents. A central vista forms the main activity zone at the site level with the central water body at the centre, an auditorium at one end and a lot of other recreational facilities. It has been attempted to merge the cetral vista into the existing wide green cover on the left, hence making the green cover not left as an extra strip of land but a part of the site. Right : Master Plan of the entire Housing Proposal Below : Site Section showing Central open area with row of clusters on either side.


3.2. PLAN OF ANY TWO CONSECUTIVE FLOORS

Top Left : Lower Floor Plan Top Right : Upper Floor Plan

- The above floor plans are floor plans of the entire housing for any two consecutive levels which consists of 3 kinds of units. - An attempt has been made to provide users with large amounts of open spaces within the housing cluster itself – in the form of individual terraces common terraces ( between two units). - At any unit level the terrace forms an extension to the living area. Thus providing the user with large number of options o using the space.


3.3. SECTIONS THROUGH A HOUSING BLOCK

SECTION – AA’

SECTION – BB’

- A large community space has been generated within the housing itself– in the form of the intermediate podium level.


3.4. TYPE I UNIT – I BEDROOM STUDIO APARTMENTS

Inside the given modules, three kinds of layout – Type I - Studio Apartment Type II - 2 Bedroom Apartments Type III - 3 Bedroom Apartments; have been proposed.

Top Left : Floor plan of 2 Studio Apartments Bottom Left : Section through the Studio Apartment

Left : An interior View of the Studio Apartment Below : Elevations of the Type – I Unit.


3.5. TYPE II UNIT – 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS

Above : Interior Views of the Type – II Apartment Below : Elevations of the Type – II Apartment

Above : Floor plan of Type – II; 2 Bedroom Apartments Below : Section through the Type – II Unit


3.6. TYPE III UNIT – 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS Far Left : Floor plan of Type – III; 3 Bedroom Duplex Apartments Below : Section through the Type – III Unit

Below : Interior Views of the Type – III Apartment Further Below : Elevations of the Type – III Apartment

LOWER FLOOR PLAN

UPPER FLOOR PLAN


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ST. JEAN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT QUATRE BORNES, MAURITIUS 4.1. LOCATION PLAN The St. Jean mixed use development which lately has been renamed as THE THREE SQUARES is located in a strategic area of Quatre Bornes, which is one of the most vibrant, central and modern town in Mauritius offering the most comfortable weather on the island throughout the year. The plot is well situated along the M1 Motorway on one side - offering easy access to Port Louis, Ebene Cyber city and the airport, and on Tulipes Avenue on the other side - which makes THREE SQUARES easily accessible for Sodnac and St Jean residents.

The strategic location of the plot boasts a residential and commercial potential that gives THREE SQUARES the ability to become a truly functional integrated development that will deliver a unique lifestyle experience to residents and Image : An aerial view of the proposed mixed use visitors. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS development in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius Winning Project in Competition, with project currently under-construction Location : Quatre Bornes, Mauritius Year : 2011 4.2. CONCEPT’S CORE PROPOSITION Work Type : Professional Involvement : Conceptualization, Planning and Digital Production A mixed use development centered around the following major components

4.3. OBJECTIVE BEHIND THE CONCEPT Create an authentic mixed use development that will offer an integrated lifestyle experience to both residents & visitors.

3 TYPES OF APARTMENTS

OFFICE SUITES

NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAIL

4 STAR BUSINESS HOTEL

SERVICED APARTMENTS

LEISURE, SHOPPING & EATING OUT

:


4.4. CORE PLANNING PRINCIPLES

1. THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE

2. THE PERIPHERAL CIRCULATION

3. GREEN BUFFERS ALONG THE VEHICULAR PATHWAY

4.5. NARRATIVE

A friendly living, working and leisure development that intelligently integrates with neighborhood retail, f & b outlets, boutiques, and essential services to provide a life-simplifying experience for both the residents and the immense population catchment living in St Jean and Sodnac. The development is complemented with a 4 star business hotel along with serviced apartments in order to give it an international and upmarket cachet.

4. EXTENDING THE GREEN BUFFERS FURTHER IN ORDER TO IMPART A CHARACTER TO THE ADJACENT STREET

With its multiple public gathering spaces, low vehicular circulation, pedestrian streets and friendly environment, the development will encourage both residents and visitors to experience life at a more leisurely pace, in line with Maurice Ile Durable (MID) initiatives.

The development is conceptualized and designed to work as an urban magnet for the locale of Quatre Bornes, Mauritius.

5. OPEN SPACE ARRANGEMENT


4.6. PLANNING PRINCIPLES

Above Left : View showing the open space arrangement on site Above Middle & Right : View showing the hotel and office buildings as anchor on site.

Below Left : View showing the open space arrangement on site Below Middle : View showing the Retail connections generated Below Right : View showing the location of the park


4.7. FURTHER PLANNING PRINCIPLES

Above : View showing the positioning of the residential towers to have the full panoramic view Top Right : View showing location of the town home residences. Right Middle : View showing location of the terraced garden residences as a response to the existing neighbourhood Below Right : View showing the location of the residential towers.

The development integrates with Sodnac & St Jean communities by providing the following: - Free public access to various leisure spaces - A green pedestrian boulevard along Tulipes Avenue - A pedestrian street with neighborhood retail - connects Tulipes Avenue with M1 motorway - A police station for heightened security throughout the development - A supermarket, bakery, post-office, pharmacy, medical centre, bank, among several other neighborhood retail and convenient services to simplify the lives of Sodnac & St Jean Residents A community-friendly development designed to add value to Quatre Bornes.


4.7. MASTER PLAN AND SITE SECTION


4.8. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOTEL BLOCK

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4

2

3

5


4.9. VIEWS

Above Left : Aerial view of the mixed use development at Quatre Bournes, Mauritius. Above Middle : A view of the proposed Hotel Block. Above Right : A view of the fountain Plaza Left : View of the proposed Sculpture Court


4.9. VIEWS (CONT.)

Left : View of the elevated Park accessible only by the residential towers. Above : A view of the proposed terraced garden residences. Below Left : Interior view of the proposed residential tower Below Right : A view of the proposed Office Block.


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URBAN DESIGN AT NOIDA, Sector – 18, NCR, India

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Location : Noida, Sector – 18, National Capital Region (NCR), India Year : 2009 Work Type : Academic Involvement : Entire process. From conceptualization to final digital production.

5.1. LOCATION The site is located in Noida, Sector – 18 of the National Capital Region. Currently the site is almost a dead commercial area; which once had great vibrancy in mid-1970s. The site experiences extreme scarcity of water in the summers. Through the site runs a Nallah (riverlet) which later joins the river Yamuna. The current existing buildings look away from the water body; which in turn is not used for any purpose.

5.2. OBJECTIVES BEHIND THE CONCEPT In this academic exercise, an Urban Design proposal for the entire site was proposed, with several details to be incorporated. A major emphasis has been laid on the importance of fresh water. Numerous urban water bodies have been created in order to retain rain water throughout the site. A Museum of The Water has also been proposed. This Water Museum would be a contemporary and interactive museum basically aimed at creating a public awareness about all aspects of fresh water in both India and worldwide.

Above: Location of the site at the banks of River Yamuna Left : A view along the Museum Axis looking towards the Museum of Water Right : Vibrant 3-storey traditional market areas along the riverlet, making people look towards the water body; which was lying unused and uninvolved. Below Right : A through and through connection between the Central Urban Forest Area and the Waterfront along the riverlet has been generated. Pedestrian Walkways through the cut-outs through underside of all buildings along the Central Museum axis makes the entire neighborhood look active and vibrant.


5.3. SITE PLAN

Above: Figure ground diagram of the proposed Urban Design layout

Above: Proposed Land-Use pattern for the entire site


5.4. SECTIONS All along the riverlet channel, a design consisting of traditional market spaces and sit out areas have been proposed. The covered arched market places have large viewing decks, overlooking the waterfront. The decks can be used to host people in times of several water sports. Also adjacent to the market areas are sitouts and stairs which lead down to the nallah; which can be used while reaching for water transportation. Along the riverlet, boat ways have been proposed; which can be both : functional in times of need and for providing a pleasurable experience.

5.5. OTHER DESIGN COMPONENTS

Above Right : Typical Section through the Nallah (riverlet) area Right : A Detailed view of a typical 3-Storey traditional market space along the Nallah area

Museum of Water : It is a real hands-on museum, where one can , watch an impressive film about water and learn all there is to know about water management, drinking water, groundwater and water usage in both India and the rest of the world. Urban Forests : Throughout the site an approach has been taken to create URBAN FORESTS at various locations on the site. An urban forest is a forest or a collection of trees that grow within a city, town or a suburb. Above Left : A view looking towards the Museum of Water . Above Right : A view of the Navigable waterway proposed in the riverlet.

Above : Conceptual section showing underground cisterns and urban water bodies , present throughout the site for retention of rain water


5.6. RAINWATER CONCEPT WITH COLLECTION STORAGE PURIFICATION AND INFILTRATION AT THE MUSEUM OF WATER

Right : A view looking towards the Museum of Water. Below : Conceptual part section through Museum of Water showing the usage of rain water stored for various activities throughout the building

Above : Conceptual section through Museum of Water showing how rain water is percolating through various stages to recharge the groundwater system.

5.7. CREATION OF URBAN FORESTS Various blocks of Urban Forests have been created throughout the site in order to reduce the Urban Heat island effect. The urban forests have been concentrated generally around the urban water bodies created in order to reduce the loss of water from evaporation. In general, Urban forests play an important role in ecology of human habitats in many ways: 1. They filter air, water, sunlight, 2. Provide shelter to animals and 3. Recreational area for people. 4. They moderate local climate, slowing wind and stormwater, and shading homes and businesses to conserve energy.


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AMRYLIS MASTERPLAN RANIKHET, INDIA

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Location : Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, India Year : 2012 Work Type : Professional Involvement : Conceptualization of Master Plan to sketches and final digital production.

6.2. THE MASTERPLAN

6.1. LOCATION The site of 65 acres at Ranikhet is located at the foothills of the Lower Himalayas. The Program mainly consists of a Vacation Home for the client, a 15 room Guest House, 23 acres of organic farmland, Polyhouses, Packaging units for the produce, and Community Clusters/Hamlets for the farmers amongst many others. As per clients’ requirements various points of interest have been generated throughout the site, which would make a visit to the site a completely heart-warming experience. Road Ways: The site is connected through the adjacent National Highway.


6.3. CIRCULATION Various modes of circulation cutting across the site have been proposed. They include the vehicular roads, public and private cart tracks (for small golf carts), and the pedestrian trails.

Below : Plan and section of an organic PUBLIC CART TRACK farming field; marked PRIVATE CART TRACK PEDESTRIAN TRAILS on the right VEHICULAR ROADS




- Numerous landscape features have been added in order to create a varied experience throughout the site. - At the southern most tip, in the midst of a rocky terrain; a stepped seating with a sun dial at the centre has been designed.

- A rope bridge with an adjacent tree house has been planned at an existing water body.




Left : A sketch section of the proposed polyhouse made of bamboo. Right : Other possible prototypes of bamboo polyhouses.

Above : A schematic section through the proposed house of the client




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SCHOOL AT SUNDERBANS Sunderbans, West Bengal, India

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Location : Sunderbans, West Bengal, India Year : 2012 Work Type : Personal proposal for an NGO Involvement : Entire process. From conceptualization to final digital production.

7.1. LOCATION The site is located in Sunderbans, West Bengal, India. Sunderbans is the world’s largest delta and has a heavy tropical forest cover. There are a few villages in the inhabited area, which on a whole is extremely underdeveloped. The literacy rate in the area is around 15%-18%. The region has a serious lack of educational facilities. The site has been carefully chosen; so that it can be accessed from the neighbouring villages. Both roadways and waterways through the 20 ft wide village canal; makes the site easily reachable.

7.2. CONCEPT AND PLANNING Design approach : The main approach for the design is to focus on creating inspiring learning environments for the students and the same time the singular classroom does also have the potential to be developed to a fully functional school. The design solution would also involve the use of local community members through a initial construction training. PLANNING & DESIGN : The entire design has been done keeping in mind the local climate and architecture. In order to bring in more people to the site a village dispensary has also been proposed along with the four classrooms and the staff room. Using locally available materials and local labour would make the site popular amongst the locales.

Above: A view of the proposed school building from the playground Right : A view from the entrance to the site with the proposed playground and lily pond in front of the school building. Below : Site elevation showing (left to right) the village dispensary, playground, the school building and the staff room at the extreme right.


7.3. FLOOR PLANS

7.4. SUSTAINABILITY & MATERIAL The whole design solution was to be responded to the local climate. Therefore, the classrooms have pitch roof which is for the two rainy seasons each year. The roof is thick layers of palm leaves laid over treated wooden boards; which in turn are nailed to treated bamboo trusses. And the sufficient windows were designed to provide natural circulation to the classroom. For windows, circular frames of burnt clay have been used (These frames are generally used as frames for water tank covers in low cost housing in the locality). These burnt clay frameworks are locally produced and hence are easily available.For the wall, the local handmade clay bricks are the best choice which is used presently as they are the cheapest and most readily available material in Sunderbans.

Left : A view of the bamboo framework for the classrooms.


7.5. DETAILS

The opportunity to design a village school for an educational institute in northern Bangladesh, whose guiding tenet is ‘learning with joy’, provided European architects Anna Heringer and Eike Roswag with a unique commission. Kazi K Ashraf describes how this collaborative community effort has resulted in a wholly inventive and intriguing design, realised solely with traditional materials and local skills. 1 Palm Leaf Roofing 2 Treated wood for hosting the palm leaf covers 3 Bamboo trusses, doweled, tied, borax-treated for insect proofing 4 Concrete columns at corners 5 Clay Brick, reinforced with straw, sun-dried 6 Clay Brick. 10% cement stabilizer 7 Natural stone for securing columns 8 Clay Mortar, Cement Stabiliser 9 160 mm rammed earth floor moisture proofing, multi-layer PE-foil 10 bamboo post as wall connector

Below : A view of a single bamboo truss used to make the bamboo frameworks for the class room


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ADAPTIVE REUSE OF EKTA VIHAR COMMUNITY CENTRE RK PURAM, NEW DELHI, INDIA

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Location : R.K. Puram, New Delhi, India Year : 2009 Work Type : Academic Involvement : Initial conceptualization to sketches and final digital production. The final work was awarded the first prize of G. Sen trophy ( Building redesign competition) at annual NASA (National Association for students of Architecture) congregation. Above Left : State of Delhi, India Above Right : Location of Laurie Baker Centre adjacent to the Ekta Vihar Slum

8.1. LOCATION The Laurie Baker Building Centre (LBBC) is located in Delhi, in Sector 6 region of R.K Puram, which is among the largest housing townships of Delhi consisting of over a 1000 dwelling units occupied by people of different income groups. Next to the centre dwells a respectably large slum, Ekta Vihar , which was initially developed as an organized housing for the urban poor. Within this, the slum dwellers were alloted a plot of 12.5 sq. m. per family with services of electricity , drainage and water supply and a community bath/toilet facility. Presently most of the residents work as domestic servants or are involved in other labor activities.

8.2. EXISTING AREA COMPONENTS The centre , promoted by HUDCO and the slum department of MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), was established to serve and work towards the betterment of the adjacent slum, Ekta Vihar, and to propagate Laurie Baker’s ideologies on cost effective planning and construction methods. The building complex comprised of the following : 1. A Health care centre run by an NGO (ASHA) 2. Laurie Baker Building Centre 3. Co-operative office (presently non-functional) 4. Ashwin Gathem, an Open Air Theatre (presently non-functional) Below Left to Right : Views of adjoining Ekta Vihar slum around the site


8.3. REASONS FOR DEFUNCTIONING AND REVIVAL B

Factors leading to the Defunctioning of the Building • Lack of government funds and the willingness to keep the building in proper shape. • The haphazard planning and mis-execution of the design intent. • Irrelevance of the design intent to the needs of the slum dwellers. • Dilapidated condition of the building structure. • Non-cooperation from the contractors’ lobby discouraged the purpose of LBBC.

A

Right : An existing view of the NorthWest Corner of the building

B’ A’

Above : Ramp Entry to the First Floor from the OAT

C

Section AA’

N Above : Ground Floor Plan of the existing structure

Why revive this Building ? – Revitalization of the building is necessary to preserve and carry forward the ideologies of Lt Laurie Baker.

Section BB’

– The scenario of the present day society calls for costeffective and sustainable methods of construction. – The up healing of the building is complimentary to the up healing of the socio-economic status of the immediate neighbourhood. Elevation C


8.4. THE NEW DESIGN THE NEW DESIGN INTRODUCES 1. A much needed Play School The urgent need for an educational facility for the slums’ toddlers who are otherwise being neglected has been met. The play school encourages a positive social change in the neighbourhood. • Two Classrooms- one for children aged 2-3 years under formal supervision, the other for children aged 3-5 years with a moderate degree of freedom. • A kitchen and a dining-cum-multipurpose space. • Office for the principal, a staffroom and a store. • Separate toilets for adults and children. • Sufficient open play spaces for the children, a toy house included. •2. LBBC with an extension of an exhibition hall and library •Extends the architectural awareness among the social strata of Delhi as a whole and makes it as a place where people can research and communicate on Laurie Baker’s building principles. •3. An amphitheatre Other functions which have been incorporated in the complex are the following : •A Conference room with media facility. •Workspace for 2 persons. Right : Attempt at preserving the •Manager’s office (existing). existing landscape features provide •A Library the building with contextual •An Exhibition Hall sensitivity. Below : The amphitheatre acts as a centre-stage for cultural and promotional events.

First Floor

Below : Exhibition area on the first floor

Section AA


8.4. OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE DESIGN

Filler slab reduces amount of concrete and steel used. The span between steel reinforcement is increased. Gross embodied energy is overall reduced.

Rat-trap bond provides better thermal insulation, higher strength and reduces brick consumption by 25% for the same volume of wall. The original bricks from the site will be reused.

Above : An interior view of the exhibition hall

All the external walls have been retained , making it a truly low cost project.

Above : Courtyard for classroom

- The objective of Adaptive re-use is thus established with the injection of the above functions. -The building acts as the identity of the local community and re-defines the socio-economic context. - The bulding has been redesigned as per Architect Laurie Baker’s design ideology for low cost housing. Right : Reading room of the Library


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DISSERTATION : DIGITAL AND NON-EUCLIDEAN ARCHITECTURE : IS THE QUALITY OF SPACE AND QUESTION OF SUSTAINABILITY BEING TAKEN CARE OF?

Dissertation Report shortlisted and published by SPA University Publications, New Delhi

Year : 2009 Work Type : Academic Details : A 60 page research report throwing light on the pros and cons of newly evolving digital tectonics in all spheres of architecture. This architectural evolution often overlooks the basics of spatial quality and sustainability in architecture.

Dissertation Synopsis : Space constantly encompasses our being. Through the spatial volume, one travels, visualizes forms, feels objects and experiences the world. The fundamental element of this cosmos is space. Its nature is emptiness and because it is empty, it can contain and embrace everything. Space is the Above : A housing with the form of conjoined Above : An interior of a library resulted from blobs and horizontal floor plates inside is boundkinematic sculpting of space surely imparts precondition of all that exists. to lose out a massive volume of space, which futuristic aesthetics; but doesn’t take into The basic visual form of space along with its scale and dimension, could have had been put to use if consideration the sustainability and purely depend on our assessment and perception of spatial boundaries, which parametrically designed more judiciously. economics involved. further are defined by elements of form. The elements of mass and form At this point of time it became a globally understood fact that capture, enclose, mold and organize the space in various distinct ways that new age computer programs could make enigmatic icons, hence rendering discrete spatial qualities. rendering a new identity to a city or a place. Also, there was no reason for retreating from this digital realm, which in turn was helping one to state his In the last couple of decades, a new paradigm of thinking has evolved in superiority over others. the architectural culture with the advent of the digital age. From the moment the Patterns and forms in nature, such as the spiral and fractal, computers first made a significant impact on architectural design, a critical are products of internal laws of growth and of the action of external forces, counter-culture began to emerge. This counter- culture championed the such as sun, wind, and water. Architects learn to use natural forms from tectonic, and claimed that those who were producing seductive computer observing living structures: trees, bones, shells, wings, webs, eyes, petals, imagery failed to understand the intrinsic nature of architectural production. It scales, and microscopic creatures. They are the very forms of life and growth was argued that digital architecture was born not out of the algorithmic potential and have been key inspirations in organic architecture, whether for ornament, of computer programs, but of the tectonic capacities of actual materials. as in Art Nouveau, structure, as with Gaudí. With time however computer technologies have infiltrated almost every aspect of architectural production, and are now being used to offer insights into the realm of the tectonic. This marks a particular moment in history of architecture when the old opposition between the digital and tectonic has begun to collapse, and the digital is beginning to be used increasingly in the service of the tectonic. A new tectonics of the digital – a digital tectonics has begun to emerge. The new age of architecture has witnessed a massive wave of iconic buildings replacing the classical notion of the monument, with the revolution being brought about by Frank O Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao followed by his work of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

There is an upsurge in interest in nature's designs spurred on by modern science and mathematics and particularly amongst engineers, who are using new computer-modelling technology to twist, fold, and curve shapes to support stresses more elegantly. As science sees further into the microscopic world of matter and uncovers more about the remarkable structures of living things, nature continues to surprise us and teaches how one might build more cleverly, economically, subtly, and ecologically. With the advancements of mathematics and development of computational logic, complex forms can be perceived and later on fabricated easily, with digital technology.


At this juncture, architects should be careful about all the issues of sustainability related to their buildings; from the carbon footprint of their buildings to sustainability of the materials being used to attain the required futuristic forms. Modern buildings in today’s urban context basically consist of three main materials: Steel, Glass and Concrete. Of these three, Steel is the most important component of a building as it is used from beginning to end in any construction. But steel is produced from iron which itself is obtained from mining. Further, mining of metals always causes loss of rainforest which includes the flora and fauna in it. Moreover huge amount of fossil fuel needs to be burnt to obtain the finished steel from iron. Finally it may be concluded that steel has high level of embodied energy within itself. But very recently a material vastly lighter than steel and 100 times stronger has been discovered which within a decade may make steel, an obsolete material for construction. Until very late scientists used to think graphite and diamond are the two flavors in which carbon come. The new material is an allotrope of carbon. It is known as carbon nanotubes which is extremely strong and resilient. Another positive and advantageous property of this material is that it is incredibly tough and very lightweight. When nanotubes are mixed with metal, plastic or ceramic they can lend the later materials their incredible strength, creating a new generation of super-strong and superlightweight components that could make steel structures out of date. Other advantages of this material include its everlasting properties as the material never grows old. It is available in nature and has much less production cost than steel. Hence making the product more sustainable than steel. Nanotube reinforced composites can be easily shaped into any required structural form. Its first major architectural application is going to be in the cylindrical trusses in the proposed 300 feet high Megacity pyramid in Tokyo Bay, Japan. Below : 3D model of three different types of carbon nanotubes.

Below : Proposed Megacity pyramid in Tokyo Bay, Japan

Left : Digital advancements make structures like Rotating Tower , Dubai possible.

Similarly, many other materials and technologies can be utilised to achieve sustainable outcomes in modern architecture. Firstly, architects must be aimed to develop sustainable iconic buildings which are visually and aesthetically fascinating. One should remember that iconic buildings are the ones noted throughout the globe, and hence these structures themselves need to be the perfect ones. Secondly, we as architects must also generate sustainable/climate responsive forms and architectural systems, on a planet with ever depleting sources of energy, by digital programming of climatological data. Data driven designs are more efficient and accurate in responding to the climate. Thirdly, architects must address the human psychology in making the user an active participant of the space by ensuring dynamism and increased interaction and the space time dependent. Lastly, we should also develop more efficient space planning systems and modules by implementing appropriate ergonomic and anthropometric data leading to subtraction of defunct spaces and voids from the existing clichĂŠd box. Conclusion : In future, buildings should speak more about the success of its spatial quality and functionality rather than merely picturing an architectural fashion. Then, architects and designers must not get carried away by a flash of inspiration while designing and must consider the practical issues of space and sustainability. One must be concerned about current issues of global warming and increase of green house gases. Hence buildings need to be built with materials having lesser embodied energy so; selection of building materials must be judiciously done. Lastly, it is time architects start targeting Zero-Discharge Buildings (ZDB), rather than iconic buildings; which further will allow reducing the negative environmental impacts on the surroundings of future buildings.


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INTERIORS OF OFFICE SPACES

10.1. EMAARS OFFICE AT STESALIT TOWERS, KOLKATA PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Year : 2012 Work Type : Professional Involvement : Design to final digital production.

Top Left : Floor plan of 2 Studio Apartments Bottom Left : Section through the Studio Apartment

Extreme Top : View of the proposed entrance Corridor for the mining office, to be fitted with fabricated wooden ribs. The wavy pattern; derived parametrically; represents the rough contours of a mining site.

Top Left : View of the CEO’s office Bottom Left : View of the Workstation Area Far Left : View of the Conference


10.2. OFFICE OF RICE GROUP, KOLKATA PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Year : 2012 Work Type : Professional Involvement : Design to final digital production.

Right : View of the proposed Conference Room Far Right : View of the central lobby

Top Left : Proposed entrance to the RICE group office Top Right : View of the Director’s Room


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PHOTOGRAPHS SOME OF THE IMAGES CLICKED (2009 ONWARDS)


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