Work Portfolio by Swagata Das

Swagata Urbanist & Architect

The city of Gurugram is a leading industrial and financial hub of the India. Caught in the dichotomy of the explosive growth of the city and remnant rurality of the villages over which the city grew, Gurugramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambivalence is apparent in the different worlds within the city. The research is interested in the space where all these fragments overlap. This is the space where different aspects of everyday life of the city come together and hence, is essential to understanding the actually existing urbanism of Gurugram. The thesis

wished to look into specific spaces to

unveil the entanglement of social lives and reveal the hybridity that exists in the spatial configuration of these sites.

- ACADEMIC WORK KU Leuven MaUSP 2015-17 Master Thesis Spatializing hybridity: unveiling ambivalence in the interstitial of Gurugram

Spatializing hybridity

Interstitial Site

gaon Road uli Guru

Mehra long the

Site a

u th a N

Rapid metro line

w gh

Chakarpu r

Rapid metro Line

t Na

Urban villages

Sikander

al on

rds Towa

Tow ar d sF ari da b

DLF Developments

Various forces influencing the hybrid site

Extension of Rapid Metro system

Bristol Fish market

Delh

Private city

Spatializing hybridity

Place of work

Spatializing hybridity

Stall selling Phone cover

Tea stall

Shoe shine boy

Auto rickshaw stand

marketplace

Auto rickshaw stand

Left Right

Left Hybridity of M.G Road Right

Buildings Trees Social practices

The movement of different users along the street is traced which highlight the spaces they use. The buildings/services that come in contact with the user move closer to the trajectory and are shown in colour. For each user, their trajectory is traced as a static element and the environment is illustrated as a moving system with relation to the moving entity.

Left

Static Trajectory

Left Abstraction

Right

Buildings Trees Social practices Static Trajectory

Spatializing hybridity

Spatializing hybridity Left Hybridity of M.G Road Right Left

Buildings Hybridity Treesof M.G Road

Right

Buildings Social practices Trees Trajectory Static Social practices Static Trajectory

Left Right Left Abstraction Right Left

Buildings Abstraction Trees

Right

Buildings Social practices Static Trees Trajectory Social practices Static Trajectory

Left

Left Right Right

Left Left Right Right

Left Right

Kineasthetic experience along space

11 Highest gradient

- ACADEMIC WORK KU Leuven MaUSP Studio Urbanism- Fall Semester 2016-2017 A hybrid growth of Zaventem South Guided through the landscape and an alternate mobility system

The project aims at creating a hybrid growth between industry and living with the Leuvensesteenweg acting as a catalyst, by creating a dialogue between the tissue and its environment. The project focusses on strengthening the landscape and creating an alternate mobility system in order to achieve the same. By hybrid growth, the project not just targets the rising population growth but also provides a chance for growth of economy by guiding the industries to densify in a sensible manner.

A hybrid growth of Zaventem South

Regional scale

- Strategies -

Public Transport SITE

PUBLIC SITE

SITE

SITE 53

SOFT N

haacht

leuven

haacht

leuven

haacht

leuven

brussels

haacht

leuven

haacht

leuven

FAST V

Fast vs Slow Green space

Agglomeration

Soft network

brussels

Existing

Wet Landscape

Water System

EXISTI

De-mixing the mobility

A hybrid growth of Zaventem South

Existing

huge building footprints monofunctional buildings mixed mobility

Landscape as a guiding element

Phase 1

de-mixing mobility preparing the ground

Changing character of Leuvensesteenweg Phase 2 Instigating rotation Retail functions

Logistics

smal l

densification

Big

15 year old

empty/v acant

Rotation of industries

Phase 3

Densification

a new hybrid environmnt

A hybrid growth of Zaventem South

1 2

3 3

5 Leuvensesteenweg 20

A hybrid growth of Zaventem South

- ACADEMIC WORK KU Leuven MaUSP Studio Urbanism- Spring Semester 2015-2016

Based on the premise that Antwerpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20th century belt will need to accommodate 100,000 more inhabitants by 2030 (LABXX, 2014) this proposal tackles the flood problem as a strategy to create a qualitative green-blue infrastructure to support the densification. The proposal is based on the realisation that the current water management system (combined sewage lines) based on engineered solutions, is overloaded during peak hours of flooding and that more space needs to be made for water. The aim is to make the 20th century belt of Antwerp resilient to flood at different levels by radical transformation of the way water flows in this belt. The impact of this transformation on the social demographics will result in better quality public spaces by increasing interaction with water, thereby creating a frame for future densification.

Reconnecting the 20th century belt of Antwerp: Valorising the Blues and the Greens

APPROACH

What if the stormwater infrastructure of Antwerp enhanced ecological functioning and quality of space rather than it being an environmental liability ?

Reconnecting the 20TH Century belt of Antwerp

FLOODING

GREEN SPACES

CREEK SYSTEM

SEWAGE SYSTEM 26

STRATEGIES

BLUE-GREEN SYSTEM

STRATEGIES

SPATIAL INTERVENTIONS

BLUE-GREEN SYSTEM BLUE-GREEN SYSTEM SPATIAL STRATEGIES INTERVENTIONS

SPATIAL 27 INTERVENTIONS

Reconnecting the 20TH Century belt of Antwerp

accessibility

stormwater

green network

blue network

new densification common space as connector

activating courtyards

reviving creeks

walking trail activating public space

buildings

Blue Green infrastructural network around Albert canal

BEFORE BEFORE

AFTER AFTER

Reconnecting the 20TH Century belt of Antwerp

BLUE GREEN SYSTEM

Designing lively streets with water

Uncovering Urban Water

AFTER

BEFORE

SEPARATING

CHANNELING

TREATMENT

COLLECTION

DISTRIBUTION

RAINWATER

ROAD DESIGN

RAIN GARDEN

IRRIGATION

GREY WATER

PERMEABLE SURFACE

BIOSWALES

RETENTION PONDS

BLACK WATER

STORMWATER PIPES CREEK NETWORK

AFTER

BEFORE

POLDERS

CLEANING WATER PLAZAS RECHARGING GROUND WATER

UNCOVERING URBAN WATER

MULTIPLE STRATEGIES OF FLOOD MITIGATION AT MULTIPLE SCALES 31

Reconnecting the 20TH Century belt of Antwerp

PHASING

With decreasing livelihood opportunities, the neighborhood of - ACADEMIC WORK Action research as part of the development of Sagalosses area, Turkey - KU Leuven -

Aglasun is facing rapid decrease in population. This is resulting in abandonment of rural neighborhoods, unplanned transformation of spatial-cultural identity and unplanned transformation of family

MaUSP 2015-17 Strategic Spatial Planning

and social structure. Revitalizing the socio-economic landscape

Community based tourism in Aglasun, Turkey: Potential for building a stronger, more resilient community?

proximity to the Sagalassos archeological site, the neighborhoods of

of Aglasun neighborhoods have become an important issue. With its abundance of natural resources, authentic cuisine practices and Aglasun have high potential for tourism. Valorizing these assets offers potential for development of the communities as well as opening up a whole spectrum of opportunities for visitors and a chance to build a sustainable and diversified tourist industry. Alternative forms of tourism can be an effective development initiative to revitalize the socio-economic landscape of Aglasun neighborhoods. The project aims to delve into the socio-economic effects of community based tourism on local community building and the potential for this alternative form of tourism in Aglasun. The research aims to identify the potential resources and investigate about the challenges that Aglasun faces in reference to a development program such as Community based Tourism.

Community based tourism in Aglasun, Turkey

RESOURCE

POTENTIAL

WEAKNESS

WAY AHEAD

RESOURCE

POTENTIAL

WEAKNESS

WAY AHEAD

Natural Resource

Aglasun and Sagalassos have

Lack of well defined routes

Support tourism industry by

Lodging and

History of hosting guests

Locals lack the entrepreneur

Similar initiatives like

a good potential sites for

and day-trips

utilizing existing trekking routes and

Hospitality

Locals are comfortable with

skills and feel they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t well

subsidies from BAKA

hiking, cycling and climbing.

Lack of ngoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to organise and

re-vitalising daytrips to

hosting

prepared or informed

Training to locals

run nature routes-trips

villages

Guests enjoy home stays

Strengthening/ formalizing

Lack of nature guides

Local guides

because of the hospitality

the invisible role of women

and local food.

Cuisine

Rich culinary tradition

Lack of capital

Role of vocational schools in

Locals excited about hosting

Lack of awareness about or

training locals :packaging ,

guests and visitors with

capacity to apply for

marketing, collaboration and

locally made drinks, jams,

subsidies

knowledge sharing

pickles and dishes etc.

Lack of active social

Integrating local skills into

Existing community interest

organisations and institutions

tourism

Lack of alternative market.

Culinary Workshops

Youth

Changing trend of improved formal

No developed industry in Aglasun-

Association of Vocational training

education for youth

to provide opportunities to the

schools with institutes and planning

Potential entrepreneurs and service

youth

systems

providers

Migration of youth to cities

Youth, if appropriately trained and aspired, can help their families to market locally made products. 37

Community based tourism in Aglasun, Turkey

RESOURCE

POTENTIAL

WEAKNESS

WAY AHEAD

RESOURCE

POTENTIAL

WEAKNESS

WAY AHEAD

Architecture

Traditional character of

Lack of conservation plan

Subsidies from IPARD and

Institutional Resource

Availability of sufficient funds

People seem to be not informed or

role of local vocational schools of Aglasun

houses,when preserved, is an

Lack of know-how and

technical support from

Addition of Turkey in EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rural

enthusiastic about the subsidies

Training to locals

asset for culture tourists.

awareness about

experts and academicians.

development efforts

Entrepreneurs to invest 35-50

Gaining trust of locals

Potential of modern family

conservation and re-use

percent co-funding

Collaboration of local ngoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with external

houses in homestay with

Lack of capital

Bad image of cooperatives

networks

minimal refurbishment

Lack of subsidies

cooperatives are an ideal democrat

Aglasun Town Center

Absence of Public Spaces for

Cultural training centres for wom-

Friday Markets

Women

en / neighbourhood

Kahave

With introduction modern

Meeting Place

bathrooms, the tradition of hamamshave disappeared. carpet industry replaced by an industrial one

Reinforcing capacity to support formal local tourism in Aglasun

- PROFESSIONAL WORK Christopher Charles Benninger Architects Internship 2011 Forbes Marshall Green field campus

Forbes Marshall, Green field campus

Boiler pavilion - roof details

Spread over fifty acres, the maufacturing facility is for a state of the art factory. The work areas are conceived as much more than mere factory work areas. the industrial site is designed as a space where a large family of creative people can work together. The first phase of the project encompasses the vendor park and the boiler pavilion.

Detailing of vendor park 42

- PROFESSIONAL WORK Christopher Charles Benninger Architects Internship 2011 Urban Design Interventions Balewadi, Pune

Urban Design Interventions

Balewadi is a fast developing area of Pune located in the western part of city. Along with the development in Pune chaos and unplanned growth and traffic congession come part and parcle. A history lesson learnt from such instances and a planned foresight is what is needed before Balewadi becomes another story of missed opurtanities . Creating a judicial balance between the road and open space network and referring to the DP plan of the region this study wants to bring out the benifits of area planning . Regional map, Balewadi Hinjewadi

Project C - Redefine Street junctions and street layout The aim is to create functional and pedestrian friendly street junctions and street layouts which will upgrade infrastructure facilities and quality of life in Balewadi. Scope -Design recommendations for various hierarchy of street junctions -Recommendation for street layout making provision for pedestrian path and cycle tracks , trees , breakout spaces etc .

Location map Balewadi

-Recommendation for underpasses to the by pass road . -Designing street furniture Balewadi nodes

Executing Mechanism Funding from JNNURM and World Bank could be obtained if road layouts are prepared as per the guidelines.

Site

Roads 46

Land use Map

Plots

Project identification Designing Junction at Baner Road

Swagata Das E - 964, Block E, C.R Park New Delhi - 110019 +91 84484 20573 swagata.ar@gmail.com