SANGEETHA OTHAYOTH University at Buffalo, School of Architecture and Planning | M.Arch | May 2022
SELECTED WORKS
FENIX
CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM SPRING 21 DESIGN STUDIO- UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO INSTRUCTOR: ANNETTE LECUYER SITE: ALLENTOWN, BUFFALO, NY
8 | INTRODUCTION
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FENIX CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM The project is located at a junction of two prominent streets. Thus, the early stages of design conceptualization involved ‘lifting-up’ that intersection to create a niche that resembles something stuck in mid-flight. Like a Phoenix bird, rising from its ashes. The wrapper is bold and inviting. It touches the ground at three sides of the site. It then forms an elaborate roof in some instances while acting as a wall in the other. This project glorifies the journey that the audience take and hones the narrative the artists want to provide. This path is achieved with a triple height void on the west that holds the ramp linking the floors. The structure responds to the context, while creating a gateway to public at the corner and forming niche to foster art, it transforms into a stage with a new narrative day in and day out.
STRATEGY | 9
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10 | SECTION
SECTION | 11
12 | RENDER
Triple height void with ramp | Interior view
RENDER | 13
Gallery space with installation| interior view
14 | SERVICES
clear sky | Jun 24 | 665 lux
Gallery Cantilevered floor | Interior view
overcast sky | Jun 24 | 245 lux
overcast sky | Sept 24 | 175 lux
EXPLODED STRUCTURE | 15
MŪŽĪGO MEŽA
LATVIAN FOREST COLUMBARIUM COLUMBARIUM DESIGN COMPEITTION : BEE BREEDERS TEAM : 2 SITE : MEŽAPARK, RIGA
18| INTRODUCTION
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MŪŽĪGO MEŽA | Forest of the Eternals Situated in one of the world’s first garden cities, the urban Mezaparks is home to Meza Kapi, the forest cemetery. To unify the historic city and this sacred space, the north-south axial path of the cemetery is paved with cobblestones inspired by the Lielvarde belts of Latvian folk costume, in which woven patterns reputedly symbolize the origin of the universe and human DNA. The patterned belts are also said to provide protection against evil. This axial path is marked by four pauses or junctions called Nojumes, meaning canopies, where there is seating and lighting, as well as columnar structures of the Muzigo Meza. The benches are monolithic precast concrete blocks that are etched with a pattern inspired by shadows cast by the surrounding tree canopies. They remind the living of those who no longer bodily exist among us but remain etched in our memories. Nature along the path transforms with the life, death and rebirth cycle of the seasons: The vibrant green leaves of spring mature into a full shade canopy in summer. Bright autumn leaves are shed, revealing bare branches that signal winter. The path is flanked by swathes of wildflowers that include the Siberian squill, which forms a vibrant blue carpet in spring, white oxeye daisies in summer, and wild heather in autumn.
STRATEGY | 19
Mimicing the forest
Paving the journey
Benches with etched shadows
Columnar structures holding urns
20| SECTION
SEASONAL TRANSITION | 21
Seasonal transformations
Placement of flowers and candles
Placement of Urns
22| RENDERS
Exterior Render
RENDERS | 23
Exterior Render
OASIS
HOSPICE FOR CHILDERN HOSPICE DESIGN COMPEITTION 2021 : UNI SITE : SACRAMENTO, CA, U.S.A EDITORS CHOICE AWARD
26 | INTRODUCTION
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OASIS CHILDRENS HOSPICE CENTER A refuge amidst the storm. A pause from the terrors of life. Oasis is that sanctuary in the desert where the soul is replenished. This proposal aims at celebrating life while acknowledging the inevitable. The process made us question design thinking for such critical emotions and functions. An Ode to The Circle of Life From days to seasons, happiness to the blues, nature revolves around this conceptual circle. Trees bloom and breathe life and sometimes burn to their seemingly untimely, unfair demise. Their ashes become one with the earth. The earth forms the oasis. Just like the souls of the children are rejuvenated at this center. The focus of this proposal is to take this concept and resonate it with the values, function, materiality, and the form of the project. The project unravels ways in which the form can be looped along with its function. The most magnificent thing in a child is their mind. They dare to imagine without bounds. It is what sparks hope and curiosity in them. Oasis tries to glorify and challenge this quality in them with a form that is ever so intriguing and fantastical. Unlike adults the terminally ill children have less to do with nostalgia but more to do with dreams unfulfilled. An ode to the celebration of Life no matter how little it may be.
PLAN | 27
28| STRATEGY +SECTION
SECTION | 29
30| RENDER EXTERIOR
Cafe|Exterior Render
EXTERIOR RENDER | 31
Meditation zone and garden|Exterior Render
32| INTERIOR RENDER
Lounge|Interior Render
Lounge + Play area|Interior Render
INTERIOR RENDER | 33
Amphitheatre|Interior Render
Shared rooms|Interior Render
SCYLLA
REMOTE SENSING DEVICE
SITUATED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH STUDIO FALL’ 21 : UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO SITE : LAKE ERIE |BUFFALO RIVER TEAM: 3
36| INTRODUCTION
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SCYLLA | Remote water quality sensing device The apparatus has three parts, a sensor, that detects the pH anomaly in the water that denotes the presence of algal bloom, the indicator that signals or alerts the surroundings through various lenses – light installation, AR, and online real-time data. Third and the most important, the receptor or the people, who react to these various stimuli created for the wellbeing of nature and humanity? Presence of Algal blooms are seasonal yet a great threat to Lake Erie its habitats and the people using it. To combat this issue the device was conceived as part of the SOS campaign to provide an economic, flexible way to evaluate water quality, collect data and present it not just to the authorities but made available to people in the society. The device can be an independent unit, or as an add-on the kayaks which help the people become unified with the solution and in turn accountable for the wellbeing of their environment. This initiative has the capacity to evolve into a bigger system of signals. The more citizen scientists, the better.
SETUP | 37
38| OPTION 1
AERIAL | 39
40| OPTION 2
AERIAL | 41
42| STRATEGY A vast amount of research was conducted on Buffalo’s history with contamination. The first few steps involved manual testing of the soil and water for contamination. We found proxies of plant types that grow in contaminated soil and rejuvenate soil over decades. The buffalo river and Lake Erie tested positive for Lead content, copper, Iron and E. coli. The process led to identification of foam at the banks of the lake and the river depicting presence of Algal bloom. We reached out to existing organizations and available platforms withing Buffalo that help voice out such environmental issues. After finding the missing links in the enforcement of practices that help bring a positive outcome, we formed our own campaign that forms the interface connecting the organizations to the people.
Reach out to get more information on this project or refer to the website.
CAMPAIGN | 43
APUTI
INDIGENOUS FUTURISM ISAPD YALE
MECHANICAL MODEL CATEGORY : ISAPD YALE SUMMER 2021 COMPETITION WINNER PUBLICATION
46 | PROPOSAL
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APUTI| Indigenous Futurism Model-Making Indigenous Futurism confronts past and present colonial ramifications, transforms Indigenous knowledge bases, and imagines ways to heal and build better futures for Indigenous communities and for 21st-century culture. Adaptability has been part of Indigenous living for time immemorial. Adjusting to change requires insight, forethought, and the ability to envision the future. It is a responsible process one carries as decisions are made and as actions are taken. Historically, Indigenous Futurism has imagined and acted on the challenges, solutions, and potential circumstances and conditions the future holds to ensure the livelihood of the next generations. Today, Indigenous Futurism continues to develop into an expanding genre of imagery, object, and literary work at the intersection of Indigeneity and 21st-century science fiction, technology, alternative worlds, and studies of temporality. The structure takes its inspiration from the traditional Iroquois longhouse. Its orientation manipulated to grow vertically because the future would demand for increased shelter proportional to population growth. We imagine a world where genetically modified trees and plant forms can become the building material, with modified pigmented networks forming the skin. We conclude that in the future is transient. Since the entire structure is alive, once its purpose is terminated, it becomes one with nature. As the name suggests, Aputi, Inuktitut for “snow on the ground”, disappears after a season of need.
MODEL | 47
BRUTE
DOME DESIGN STRUCTURES AND CONSTRUCTION FALL’21 UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO INSTRUCTOR : CHRIS ROMANO TEAM : 4
50 | INTRODUCTION
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APUTI| Indigenous Futurism Model-Making Inspired by Frei Otto’s bubble experiments, our project began by questioning how this experiment made for tensile structures can be incorporated to a heavier material like concrete. Bubbles meet other bubbles and join at 120 °angles forming a stable bond and thus minimizes the surface area. In the prototype the largest bubble/dome didn’t hold its shape due to the lack of reinforcement transferring the forces to the base. The karamba analysis helped mapping out the vulnerable points of fracture and counter it with a reinforcement system that also followed the force patterns. Form driving factor - Air. Cotton gauze fabric is used to tie the different solids together - this helps for the concrete to seep as well as hold shape in other words “freeze the intended form”. We carefully chose the cutting plane to not cut the balls exactly at the diameter giving us surface below the center line. We were successful in capturing the form, imitating a formation of soap bubbles as well as when it dried and developed cracks gave us a clear picture where the “weak spots” that required reinforcement were. The balls are 30” dia, 21” dia, 12” dia. After the jig was made, we draped the entire set-up tightly tucking the cloth on the sides to form a compact shape. First, we poured a slurry of cement mix (cement: water = 1:5) to from the first solid shape. Second layer consisted of Glass fibers, Sand, Cement. After this rebars were placed and the last layer consisting of Aggregate, Sand, Cement was applied.
KARAMBA ANALYSIS | 51
52 | CONSTRUCTION
IMPACT ANALYSIS | 53
PROFESSIONAL WORK INTERNSHIPS
LOCATION DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT INSTRUCTOR : KUALA LUMPUR V
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Design Haus Medy | Dubai Architectural Intern Project : Cool De Sac, Palm Jumeirah | Deffour Residence - Ghana, Africa | Salim Khalifa Villa, Sharjah |DHM Office- Dubai Design District | HODA Office Tower- Dubai | Blue Ocean Academy - Dubai ArchiCAD modelling Interior layout Production of technical drawings Mood board presentations Fabric material selection Site Inspections
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T. R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn. Bhd. | Malaysia Architectural Intern Projects : Mixed Use Complex, Philippines | Tenaga Nasional Bhd - Malaysia | Idaman Residence| Refurbishment - Malaysia | International Airport | Cecil Chao Residence Tower 2, Malaysia | LYC Mall, Malaysia. Revit Modelling Sketch-Up Modelling Conceptual Design Floor plans and green wall design