academics

from Architectural undergraduate Portfolio - Swaraj Patil

professional

Living Beyond

Experience Centre for elderly

Design Dissertation Year level completed : 2019 Tutor : Prof. Ritesh Agrawal | riteshagrawal@vivaarch.org Work : Individual Thesis Area : 52,000 sq.meter approx. Experience centre for elderly is a multidisciplinary facility for the self-sufficient elderly people to live their life in peace and serenity after retirement. The place accomodates all the necessary facilities along with three distinct activities i.e Farming, Human Library and Village Development programme which would give them the opportunity to cast an independent source of income for self-sufficient way of living.

Inspired by the conventional road network created amidst the farm as known as “payvaat”. It is the road network developed naturally as people move on the same route for years. It is natural, irregular and never follows a linear path this creating different experience after every interval

site understanding Location : Nalasopara, Maharashtra Area : 52,000 sq.meter approx.

“bridging the gap between past and present”

road networking

figure ground

isometric map Location map of the site and road network connectivity

“As Vasai- Virar district lies in the suburbs, it has a wide range of lust green zones but it is very well connected to the MMR and other cities. As a result, Vasai – Virar region is deemed to be ideal for the proposal wherein elders would stay in peace with nature and at the same time, be connected. ”

water body

axis according to context

massing

profile evolution

movement

vegetation

legends medical block multipurpose area staff accomodation vertical farming area main accomodation admin block water body

view of the natural trail “payvaat” The Dilemma The elderly is going through a lot of changes in this stage of their life and tend to suffer from depression and a feeling of isolation. Putting them in an environment that feels like an institution would exacerbate their depression and may lead to other problems, such as deterioration in their health.

The Intervention

The Biophilia Hypothesis suggests that humans have an instinctive bond with nature and that people tend to show a positive response when they experience a connection with nature. This thesis explores the positivity of nature in the form of farming wherein the people would very much be in touch with the nature and be a part of it. This would not only increase their relation with the nature but also help them to carve a healthy lifeline by practicing some physical oriented tasks.

admin block

section through greenhouse and water body

“Complementing the view”

One of the major potential of the site is the view of Jivdhani temple seen above all the structures. Jivdhani has high religious value and since the project caters to elderly, that adds as an advantage in terms of religious direction. Thus it was important to “treat” that view in a good way. Thus creating an axis along the direction of view inorder to catch the reflection of the temple. Since temple is relatively far(approx. 5km), and since there are structures below, it was not possible to achieve the reflection until and unless the surface was inclined by few degree. Thus use of a reflective solid surface was taken into consideration