Portfolio
Select works 2018-2023
School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal
Taruna Aiyyar
Select works 2018 - 2023
Public Library
Undergraduate thesis
Practical experience
Internship
Centre for change
Centre for change
Urban design studio, Academic
Location : Sanpada, Maharashtra, India
The public library is the local centre of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information readily available and accessible to its users.
It is an integral part of knowledge societies that continuously adapts to new means of communication. This fulfills their mandate of providing universal access to and enabling meaningful use of information for all.
Mapping of public libraries and other culture centres in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai, a 50 year old planned satellite city, supports the cosmopolitan city of Mumbai (500 years old). With major projects like the international airport to infrastructural, educational and transport projects, Navi Mumbai has the unique opportunity to create a social and literary culture of its own and evolving as a self contained city. Currently, there are about 19 small public libraries.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has planned a central inclusive library for the citizens that will be constructed in Sanpada; it plans to bring in the best software, books and activities in the library.
“India, China, and Thailand spend the most time reading. Although they read frequently, they are not the most literate. These low literacy levels are primarily attributed to limited access to libraries, newspapers, and computers.”
World Reading Habit Statistics, 2021
Presently, public libraries in India are a passive repository of information set in a bureaucratic environment lacking social connect.
Mapping of public libraries in Navi Mumbai
Conditional Mapping of Public Libraries in Navi Mumbai
Lack of staff
Deteriorated condition of the books and services Reading material is not digitized
Poor Management
Disconnected Learning and interactions in a non-inclusive enviroment
NAVI MUMBAI
MUMBAI
The proposed site is a cornered plot that has an area of 5800 SQM.
Total buildable area = Site Area X FAR = 5800 X 3 = 17,400 SQM
UTILITIES
ECOTONES
The transitional area between two distinct zones/biomes . Where the communities from two zones meet, interact and integrate. The distinct zones could be narrow and wide or local and regional. An ecotone may appear on the ground as a gradual blending of the two communities across a broad area.
Meeting and Integrating ground for diverse groups
Narrow/ Wide Corridors
Responsive , dynamic and sensitive region
PUBLIC LIBRARY AS AN ‘ECOTONE’
Facilitates radical growth
Community Centre & Library
Digital & Physical Realm
Third Place - Not a home or workspace
Reimagining ecotone in the architectural realm of a public libraryA concept of overlap, transition and/or gradient
Connectivity
Structural Integrity
Multiplicity
Membrane
Diversity Layers
Resilience & Adaptation
Evolution
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC VIEW OF THE STRCUTURE
The exploded view of the proposed structure showcases the following:
- Flat slab structural system
- Shear walls places at the the edges of the floorplate
- 1000MM wide (dia) column placed at 12M X 12M
- Columns are inspired by the entwining of mangrove roots that symbolize strength by smaller parts coming together to form something substantial
- Inspired from the rhizomic root system of mangroves, space frame covers the atrium as well as acts as the canopy for the entire structure
- Grand staircase that is visible from any distance making it an anchor for the strcuture.
Studio Sangath
Academic to practice exposure
Location : Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Rambaug, Ahmedabad, India
Located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, an
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I worked on the following during my internship period for this particular project.
- Designed dog kennel
- Designed compound wall
- Metal staircase
- Setting out drawings - Shuttering drawings - Electrical drawings - Doors and window details
Axonometric view of garden extension along with the metal staircase
staircase plan at ground floor
staircase plan at first floor
Metal
Gazebo metal frame structure at ground floor
Gazebo metal frame structure at first floor
Kensville, Ahmedabad, India
Located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India , a weekend home or a farmhouse is proposed for this project. I worked on the following during my internship period for this particular project.
- Shuttering drawings
- Electrical drawings
- Bathroom
- Doors and window details
- Waffle slab
-Creating landscape levels
Waffle slab plan
Electrical- Ground floor plan
Ground floor shuttering plan
Wall shuttering process Slab casting Curved beam
Greenfield 20, Ahmedabad, India
Residential
project
Located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India , a bunglow is proposed for this residential project for a family of five. I worked on the following during my internship period for this particular project.
- Jaali design
- False ceiling
- Electrical drawings
- Bathroom
- Doors and window details
- Flooring
- Renders
- Skylight
Dharavi community hub
Showcasing mosaic of cultures
Location : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Dharavi, the largest slum of Asia, is a microcosmic representation of India that integrates the boundaries of the various communities it hosts.
The organic urban fabric of Dharavi is a repository of the history and memories of those communities.
Dharavi is the breeding ground of diverse businesses developed and sustained by the residents for over 100 years.
WASTE-RECYCLING
With three-quarters of Mumbai’s waste recycled here and a global presence in the leather and embroidery industries, Dharavi contributes around $500-600 million to the city’s economy/year.
The proposal embodies the essence of Dharavi as the hub of small industries and services that transformed a dull swamp into a vibrant community of over a million residents.
EMBROIDERY/ GARMENT
Conceptualization
Lack of access to infrastructure
Lack of social services
Disenfranchised settlement
Lack of traditional opportunities
85 communities
Preserve culture and heritage
Skills passed to next generation Grassroot Entrepreneurs Support networks
PAPAD MAKING
POTTERY
TANNERY
Ad Boards
Shed
Bridge
Makeshift stage
Folding door
Swings
Outdoor gallery walkway
Walkway - Jaali
Window
Design elements
Night
Indoor gallery - Jaali
Door
School - Jaali
Railing
Pottery - Jaali
Staircase
Scaffolding
Shading
school
Pottery
Frame structure :
I- Section Columns
Steel Truss Panels
Terrace and meeting place
Papad
Pottery Market
Changing streetscapes
Street as a living room
Location : Chowk Bazaar, Bhopal, India
Chowk Bazaar is a market square located in the heart of the then walled city of Bhopal, India. Now, the central historic core is the market, an epicenter of Bhopali culture, cuisine, traditions, and commerce.
As one of the oldest markets of Bhopal, this grid-iron pattern bazaar has a high heritage value with Jama Masjid at its center acting as an anchor point that attracts a large footfall.
The streetscape studied for the course is the east-west cardinal axis of Chowk Bazaar i.e. from Peer gate to Itwara gate.
This streetscape is 784M in length. The contour difference between the highest (Peer gate) and the lowest point ( Itwara gate) is 15 meters. Due to the proximity of the lake, natural drainage of the site flows towards the lake.
Buildings along the street vary from G to G+4 stories.
EVOLUTION OF THE CITY
Cluster Pattern Map :
Built Age Map :
Linear clusters Clusters
Open courtyards
Closed courtyards
New complexes
< 80 years
40 <= 80 years
< 40 years
Building height map :
ground Map :
The map illustrates the dense fabric of the built and its relation to the street. The width of the main stretch ranges from 3 - 3.5 meters
Figure
GANPATI AND SCHOOL COMPLEX
School
Textile and home
Commericial
complex
SHOP TYPOLOGY LEGEND
HASAN ALI COMPLEX
Residential units
Unused storage shops
Textile and home
Home and textile shops
SHOPPING COMPLEX
Commercial complex with textile and home apparel spot
Commercial complex with textile and home apparel spot
Commercial complex with textile and home apparel spot
Footwear shops
Mosques
Police station
Optics
The Junction acts as a major node due to the pedestrian and vehicular circulation. It hosts:
- The only two eateries of this half stretch
- Clothing shops
- A school inside a complex that makes it busy during school opening and closing timings.
Beginning of market hours
Morning Afternoon
Temple visitors
Jewellery
Vegetable market
Women
Masjid users
Footwear Eateries
2 wheelers
Electrical & home appliances
Evening
Mosque prayers
Temple prayers
Temple prayers
Morning eateries
Vegetable market
opening
Peer gate entrance
Peer gate entrance
Peer gate entrance
Peer gate entrance in morning Temple
The Junction acts as a major node due to the activity surrounding it as well as the pedestrian and vehicular circulation. This stretch hosts:
- Electronic shops
- Mosque, masjid and temple
- Has open drains
Commercial Node
Itwara entrance
Itwara entrance
Commercial Node
Commercial node in evening
Played a key role in the commerce, art, culture and city planning.
A ‘City within city’ that acts as a destination in-itself.
A market hub with a plethora of shops that reflects art and culture of the diverse communities.
Change in the character and coherence of the market over time results in altered street experience.
Pressure of commercialization
Strengthen the street life to have a ‘new lease of life’ and a stronghold on the community which keeps the street alive
CITY WITHIN THE CITY
Vibrant, dynamic and inclusive street that hosts ephemeral activities throughout the year
Increase of stress points and decrease in multi-functional spaces ;restricts catering to the increased demand.
INFORMAL VENDING
Emotional, place and associative values of communities are created thus,reinforcing the city’s identity
Series of relief points or polychronic spaces need to be created.
Decentralization of the street to create active inner zones. Enhance discoverability and meandering.
Morning Afternoon Evening
Chaos created by 3-4M wide road due to overspills during market hours
Junctions as pain points due to conflict between pedestrian and vehicular movement
Hampers the walkability of the street
Time slot division respecting each mode of circulation
MOVEMENT AND WAYFINDING
Shops engulfing the residences - from ground floor to vertical levels
Change in architecture vocabulary of the front facades over time
Shop typology of first half stretch is female catered, whereas the latter is predominantly male
Inconsistent architecture character.
Lack of interaction spaces.
An anchor point that helps in orientation, wayfinding and creates a sense of belonging.
Street hardware like tarpaulin, etc, hinder the serial vision and create visual clutter.
Loss of traditional architecture values and elements.
Livability hindered.
The inner roads are not permeable unlike the main spine.
Strengthen the street life to have a ‘new lease of life’ and a stronghold on the community which keeps the street alive
SPATIAL CHARACTER
Entrance Plaza at Peer Gate
Mahal Complex as a part of the plaza
Chabutras
Urban Insert
Shriji Temple and Public Space
Re-inventing
Jama Masjid
Play Zone and Seating Area
LONG TERM GOALS
- Phase wise pedestrianization.
- Rerouting of vehicles.
- Strengthening the DCR guidelines to restore architectural qualities.
SHORT TERM GOALS
- Creation of pause and relief points.
- Using local communities to make street art.
- Polychronic spaces to support ephemeral activities.
Vision
statement
- Increasing livability and quality of life.
- Decentralization of the main spine.
- Transition from a mohalla style cluster to vertical complexes.
“ To preserve the essence of the streetscape while striking a balance to enhance the experiential quality of diverse user groups.”
