Aasha Ki Haveli - 6th Year

Design Report p o aasha ki haveli ? आशा की हवेली

In the preparation of this report, I would like to extend a special thanks to Anne Claxton for her support, encouragement and guidance throughout this project.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the following who have dedicated their time and knowledge throughout the project:

Professor Alex Wright

Andy Jarvis

John Martin

Rupert Grierson

Steve Fisher

A special thanks must also go to my family who have supported me throughout my six years at Bath. I wouldn't have been able to do it without them and their continual support. I am proud to have crafted a building that holds the values and morals instilled in me by my family.

A design project submitted by Tom Ellis as part of the degree of Master of Architecture at the University of Bath, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

May 2023

Total pages: 200

Content pages: 178

Preface

On 7th August 2020, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. The lives of my family and I were completely overturned in an instant. The year that ensued was the toughest of our lives as my mum bravely underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Then in June 2021, my grandmother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. How did we manage this period? We had hope. We were fortunate that they both had access to one of the best healthcare systems in the world. This gave us the hope that they would get better. I feel incredibly fortunate to still have my mum and nan here today.

Sadly, many women in Udaipur do not have the same hope that helped my family. Indian women face numerous barriers to accessing quality cancer diagnoses and treatment. Sadly, this paired with an incredibly inadequate health system, results in low survival rates.

The design project to be undertaken following this briefing document will seek to address the accessibility of quality cancer screening and treatment for women in Udaipur. The proposal will sit as a key component of the proposed masterplan - helping to address the growing population of the city.

Narrative

This section sets the scene for the Aasha Ki Haveli, detailing the substantial issue surrounding female cancer care in the city of Udaipur. The section will go onto detail the building's programme and spatial requirements.

PATRIARCHAL PAST

Gender inequality is as ancient as civilisation itself; all four corners of the globe are tarnished with a history of misogyny and female suppression. Indian scriptures from the early stages of the Vedic age (c. 1500 BCE) offer a different picture of the country’s ancient past. Then, women were revered and respected, with access to intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. Women were free to choose their husbands, and many were revered as Rishis (accomplished people).

Sadly, as history progressed, inward migration to the Indian subcontinent brought a devastating decline in attitudes towards women. Religious teachings began to equate women with property, and the restrictions placed on them developed at pace. Hindu scriptures from 2000 years ago introduced sati – a custom whereby a female widow sacrifices herself by sitting atop her husband’s funeral pyre. Sati, alongside polygamy and child marriage, crippled the female population of India. As the Mughal dynasty took control of north India, the Purdah system was introduced. This social practice of female seclusion saw women restricted to the confines of their homes and concealing their bodies when allowed into public view.

By the 15th century, Purdah and sati were standard practices of the Rajput community across Rajasthan. The women of Udaipur were forced to comply with the oppressive regime. Consequently, Female infanticide ravaged the Mewar region as the birth of a girl was seen to be a hindrance to the family. Colonial rule brought little change to the patriarchal society despite the introduction of new legislation intended to bring female empowerment.

A 19th century painting of a Rajasthani sati ceremony

CANCER INCIDENCE RATE BY INDIAN REGION

HEADING EAST

Cancer has been considered a ‘disease of the wealthy’ due to its greater prevalence amongst developed economies in the west. Unfortunately, studies have shown that India’s rapid economic rise is being matched by a troublesome rise in the rate of cancer. By 2025, it is expected that 29.8 million people in the country will suffer from cancer. Some doctors in India worry that the country is destined for a ‘cancer epidemic’ by 2050 unless serious intervention is taken to slow the rising rate.

As the life expectancy of Indian citizens increases, so too does the cancer rate due to the increased risk that comes with old age. Rajasthan has experienced a 13.6% increase in life expectancy in the last 20 years.

Several factors relating to the introduction of ‘western lifestyles’ have also been identified as key contributors to the rising rate. shifting diets is viewed as a dominant factor, with many consuming increased amounts of processed meats and increasing levels of obesity. Activity level is also seen as an essential factor. Rajasthan has witnessed a shift in its economy in recent years, with a decline in the agricultural sector and a consequent increase in the service sector. This has resulted in manual labour roles being replaced by sedentary work. There is evidence that suggests this is a factor behind rising cancer rates in the state.

Udaipur

LIFTING THE VEIL

Adawn of social reformers through the 19th and 20th centuries paved the way for liberation from the social evils and religious taboos of the past. Across India, citizens became conscious of the social disabilities that had crippled the female population. Legislation brought women’s property rights, the abolition of sati and the ability for widows to re-marry. The people of Udaipur, and the broader region of Rajasthan, remain inherently tied to their religions, with religious attire and ornate temples acting as visual reminders of the cultural richness of the city. Whilst religion remains an integral component of the lives of many in the city, it is now practised in a manner that allows greater female empowerment. The last sati in Rajasthan occurred over 30 years ago, and purdah has largely disappeared amongst the state’s Hindu population.

However, levels of female inequality remain in Udaipur, even if not to the extent of the past. Deeply entrenched patriarchal views and social structures continue to exist throughout Udaipur. The city has a ratio of 890 women to 1000 men showing signs that female infanticide is still in practice. Census data on female education and employment highlights the oppression that is still faced by many in the city.

The ladies of Udaipur who we accounted on our travels across the city

FEMALE CANCER

Despite the rising prevalence of Cancer in Rajasthan, the incidence rate is still low compared to developed economies – evidence suggests that the rate is currently 1/3 of that of the UK. Whilst the current rate of cancer may still be far lower than other nations, the speed of the increase is very worrying and levels could soon rise to match the UK. What is even more worrying is the low survival rates for female cancer sufferers in India. In Rajasthan, the female cancer survivorship rate stands 70% lower than in the UK. Resultantly, even though fewer women are diagnosed with cancer in Rajasthan than the UK, more sadly die from it.

The low survivorship rate is largely contributed to the late diagnosis of many female cancer sufferers in the Indian state. For example, breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed at stages 1-2 in the UK. Whilst in Rajasthan, 70% of sufferers are diagnosed at stages 3-4. Late diagnosis makes cancer far harder for oncologists to treat. Udaipur currently has a population of 750,000 with a prediction that 42,000 women in that population will develop cancer in their lifetime. Therefore, earlier diagnosis will be imperative for the future growth of the city.

5 year survival rate for female cancer sufferers in India

77%

CULTURAL BARRIERS

Religion is innately intertwined into Indian culture, with over 97% of the country’s population firmly believing in a god. It is found that religious beliefs can be an instrumental barrier to women seeking timely cancer detection and is attributed to the poor survival rates for women in Rajasthan. Pre-destination (fate) is a belief amongst some in the two dominant faiths of the city - Hinduism and Islam. As a result, some individuals commonly attribute illness to the will of God.

Whilst purdah practices of the past no longer exist, the modesty of women is still an integral component of culture to many Indians. Females are particularly hesitant to reveal themselves in front of men, which poses a significant issue given that 80% of the oncology team in Udaipur is currently male.

Several societal barriers also restrict women's access to cancer screening. Patriarchal family structures still exist. In some cases, this limits women's medical decisionmaking autonomy. It would be expected for the husband to accompany his wife to medical appointments. Whilst this is often an act of compassion and support, women often see it as restricting their ability to openly talk and describe any worries to medical professionals. The rate of education amongst women in Rajasthan is a further societal barrier to accessing cancer screening. The female literacy rate stands at 52%, nearly 30% lower than the male rate — this lack of education for many women results in many being unable to make fully informed health decisions. Many women do not have the information required for self-examination.

66%

82%

of people in Rajasthan believe that a wife must obey her husband at all times

of women in Rajasthan have access to education

of people in Rajasthan feel that men should have more rights to a job than women

THE FINANCIAL BARRIER

Udaipur has a rich royal history, dating back to Udai Singh’s arrival in the city in 1553. The many remaining palaces of the city offer visitors a glimpse of the lavish and luxurious lifestyles that have been enjoyed by the royals throughout the centuries. Unfortunately, the surrounding city is not so lucky. Udaipur is amongst one of the poorest districts in Rajasthan, and this has blighted many of the city’s people. Like the whole of India, Udaipur suffers from wide disparity between the richest and poorest. Resultantly, the average annual salary for the city’s poorest 50% is ₹53,610 (£561).

Indian studies have shown that economic status is a primary barrier to women accessing cancer screening –even when they are displaying symptoms. This is for fear of catastrophic financial expenditure that treatment would require. Indian government policy does offer free access to healthcare to all citizens. However, underfunding has resulted in insufficient public healthcare facilities. Sadly, the lack of provisions leaves many women from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds unable to access the required facilities.

Map of Rajasthan showing the % of population below the poverty line by district

AYURVEDIC TREATMENTS

SOUND THERAPY

The chanting of mantras help to balance body and mind. Assisting in healing of illnesses

AYURVEDIC PRACTICE

Hinduism is far more than a set of religious beliefs; it is a code of behaviours that govern every aspect of its followers’ lives – including their approach to medicine. First established over 5000 years ago, ayurvedic medicine is a natural system of medicine. The practice is based upon the knowledge gained from four Vedas – the most ancient scriptures in Hinduism. The medical system is founded on the belief that the human body and mind are constituted of five elements - Prithvi (earth), Jala (Water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air), and Akasha (ether). These five elements combine to form three life forces called doshas. Each person inherits a unique mix of these doshas, and an imbalance of them results in disease. Ayurveda medicine aims to re-establish the balance of one’s doshas through a series of treatments, including massage, acupuncture and herbal medicines.

Despite being deeply rooted in the beliefs of Hindus, ayurveda medicine is practised widely throughout India by people of all faiths. With limited access to allopathic medicine, ayurveda is often utilised for both the prevention and treatment of illness.

YOGA

Used to help relax the body, mind and spirit. It helps to balance one's doshas

PANCHAKARMA

An internal purification process that cleanses the body of toxins

MEDITATION

Mental well-being is a key component of ayurveda. Meditation is used to relieve stress

ACUPUNCTURE

Used to stimulate nerves below the skin triggering the body to produce a natural pain killer

MASSAGE

Used to relieve pain and to stimulate and strengthen the lymphatic system

HERBAL MEDICINE

Ayurveda uses a number of plants that have been tested over hundreds of years

NUTRITION

Dietary habits are an important component. A diet plan tailored to a person's dosha is used

The treatments that form the practice of ayurveda

CANCER & AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is practiced extensively across India with 1 in 5 people turning to it for treatment of minor ailments. Many cancer sufferers in India will also turn to ayurvedic medicine as the sole means of treatment. Several Ayurvedic doctors practising in Udaipur openly claim to be capable of curing cancer with the therapy. Worryingly, research has found no evidence for the practice curing cancer.

Whilst Ayurvedic treatment is not capable of treating cancer, studies have shown that many compounds used in the herbal potions of ayurveda do possess cancer suppressing qualities. Carctol, sanjeevani and mangosteen are just a few of the plants native to India that hold these qualities. In addition to this Cancer Research UK suggests that Ayurvedic practices such as yoga and meditation can also relieve cancer symptoms. This suggests that ayurveda could create a promising treatment plan when used alongside allopathic treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Ayurvedic understanding of the effects of allopathic cancer treatments

Chemotherapy Surgery Radiotherapy Imbalance of Doshas

Formation of ama Dhata kshayam

NARRATIVE SUMMARY

It is evident that preventable obstacles impede the ability of the female population of Udaipur to access timely and effective cancer screening. Factors such as finances, religion and social norms are obstacles to accessing cancer screening for many women. Resultantly, many more women are sadly dying of the disease than should be.

Whilst aspiring for the survival rates of developed nations, it is evident that a standard Westernised healthcare model will not suffice given the city's unique social and cultural beliefs. Three founding concepts are required to overcome the current low survival rates: empowerment, familiarity and knowledge. These three concepts combine to provide hope. An intervention that works with the social grain of the city is desperately needed to improve the prospects of female cancer patients.

The haveli is a traditional Indian housing typology synonymous with Rajasthan. The private nature of the typology was an articulation of the historic oppressive societal attitudes towards women. It created an introverted microcosm that hid women from public sight, aligned with purdah practices. The Aasha Ki Haveli seeks to re-establish the protective nature of the haveli for female empowerment rather than oppression. This empowering protection will allow women to remove themselves from the societal and cultural constraints that hinder their access to timely cancer screening whilst upholding the religious and cultural traditions that are important to them. Therefore, the loose definition of haveli is re-aligned to sanctuary in this context. Thus, Aasha Ki Haveli translates to sanctuary of hope.

Aasha Ki Haveli

Although India is undergoing a period of rapid economic growth, the country’s GDP per capita is still extremely low. As a result, the central government can only tax 4% of citizens. This low level of taxation prohibits the government from investing in critical provisions, such as healthcare. Hence a multi-stakeholder alliance will be necessary for this project. A public-private partnership (PPP) will be utilised to ensure the delivery of Aasha Ki Haveli.

Public Funding

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare will be the lead operator for Aasha Ki Haveli. The government department oversees all public hospitals in the country, including Geetanjali Hospital in Udaipur, where Aasha Ki Haveli will refer cancer patients for allopathic treatment. The ministry’s involvement will ensure that the centre remains a public provision accessible to all women from all backgrounds.

Private Funding

Active since 2003, WISH is a non-profit organisation operating throughout India. The organisation has worked with Rajasthan’s government since 2015 to provide healthcare facilities through a PPP model. Therefore, WISH has the relevant expertise to act as a stakeholder to Aasha Ki Haveli. Furthermore, the non-profit nature of the organisation ensures that the Aasha Ki Haveli will be operated in a sustainable and non-exploitive fashion.

Charity Partners

Due to the government’s severe lack of funding, free healthcare is not available to all. Consequently, Aasha Ki Haveli will require the involvement of charity partners to ensure the delivery of services and also to offer support for patients requiring treatment. Charities Women in Need and Cancer Patient Aid Association will act as service providers.

AASHA KI HAVELI

SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION

Udaipur’s survival rate for female cancer patients is incredibly poor due to the social and cultural barriers that hinder access to early diagnoses. With the rising female cancer incidence rate compounded by the city’s predicted rapid growth, it is essential that steps are taken to improve the prospects of women who have cancer. The Aasha Ki Haveli aspires to increase the survival rate in Udaipur through engagement with women of the city to encourage them to take part in timely cancer screening, free of the barriers posed by a conventional hospital environment.

The centre will root itself firmly in the cultural and religious richness of the city to induce engagement with women. Four programmatic elements are utilised: engage, support, examine and empower. Recognising the city’s agricultural past, ayurvedic public gardens and community eating look to engage with the city’s women and disseminate cancer education.

The examine programme provides medical diagnostic facilities to enable the screening of patients. A series of medical imaging and procedure rooms offer the capability to perform initial diagnostic tests for most cancer types experienced by women. In recognising the issues of modesty that currently present a barrier to cancer screening, the examine programme focuses on providing an alternative environment to a traditional hospital. The female-led department will be highly secure and offer superior levels of privacy.

The Aasha Ki Haveli will collaborate with the oncology department of Geetanjali Hospital on the outskirts of the city by referring any identified cancer cases for allopathic treatment at the unit. The support and empower programme elements of Aasha Ki Haveli will offer continued guidance to patients through their journey in the environment that they feel comfortable with. Ayurvedic therapies will be provided to cancer patients as complementary treatment alongside allopathic treatment at Geetanjali Hospital.

This section introduces the city of Udaipur, Northern India. The physical character of the site is analysed at varying scales. The city's culture is also assessed to understand its influence on architecture.

NATIONAL CONTEXT

Rajasthan, located in northwest India, is the country’s largest state spanning 340,000km2. The state is bisected by the Aravalli mountain range that runs from southwest to northeast. The rugged topography of the hills creates two distinctive landscapes within Rajasthan. The northwest tract, bordering Pakistan, is primarily covered by the Thar Desert. Meanwhile, a more fertile landscape sits southeast of the range.

Udaipur, a city founded upon water, is situated within the lush hills of the Aravalli range. Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East', the city holds a unique network of lakes borne from a necessity to capture and retain the monsoon rains. However, a rapidly expanding population and changing climate are putting great strain upon the once reliable water catchment area.

MASTERPLAN CONCEPT

hilst respecting and celebrating the unique cultural identity of Udaipur; the masterplan proposes a new framework for the city that will enable its anticipated future growth in a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable way. The masterplan seeks to re-balance the urban and natural fabric to create an enjoyable and prosperous future for Udaipur’s people. The rapid expansion of the city’s population has resulted in the loss of significant green space. The Chhatta will be a green tapestry running through the city that safeguards surviving agricultural land. As the agricultural industry dwindles, the land will be re-purposed as a city-

In recognising the city's historic relationship with water, the chhattah helps to re-establish the city's drainage basin linking the lakes in the west to the hills in the east. This ensures that the city’s people have easy access to these assets. The chhattah also looks to enhance these natural assets through the provision of cityscale infrastructural systems that are currently absent. Working with existing natural and man-made systems, the infrastructural proposal seeks to maximise the city’s potential for people to thrive whilst minimising degradation of the environment through pollution.

Fateh Sagar

Swaroop Sagar

Roop Sagar

Lake Pichola

The hills to the city’s eastern edge were once fertile jungle lands that captured rainwater feeding the lake network. However, the establishment of mining activities within the hills caused significant degradation resulting in the barren landscape seen today. The masterplan seeks to re-establish these once-fertile lands creating an expansive natural world for the community to explore and adventure through. Raghunath Range will be funded through the generation of eco-tourism revenue. The chhattah joins the range at the foot of the hills. Here the chhattah is wild in nature. The introduction of tall growing structures provides the shade required to establish a dense shrubland environment. Meandering paths offer free-flowing routes through the chhattah allowing the community to engage with it.

As the city population grows, so too will Raghunath Range atop the hills. This evolving landscape will benefit the natural world and ensure that the city continues to provide generous areas of green space for its people.

PRAKRTI KE ZAMEEN

The 5.5km weaving chhattah transitions from the wild and expansive shrublands of Prakrti Ke Zameen to a more ordered and compact environment as it moves west, wandering amongst the dense surrounding urban fabric. This culminates in the Hara Bazaar, which flanks the old city edge before opening onto the bank of Swaroop Sagar, where Aasha Ki Haveli will be situated. The close connection between the city's people and the lakes has slowly eroded with time as the lake edges have been built upon, restricting access to the waterfront. The traditional ghats of holy waters are re-interpreted in the form of shallow steps that lead into the blue waters. Rills running between the steps celebrate the city's new infrastructural systems; the water that has been purified through natural means along its route from the hills flows down the stepped rills into the lakes, ensuring the circular nature of the drainage basin is re-established.

Access to the edge of Swaroop Sagar allows locals to enjoy the waters in the same way that tourists can in the restricted hotel water frontages of the old city.

HARA BAZAAR

THE CITY OF LAKES

Udaipur's lakes are undeniably beautiful; however, their origins are deeply rooted in the city's functional necessity to store water. The hot arid climate of Rajasthan posed frequent risks of drought, with the state reliant upon monsoon waters to sustain its people for an entire year.

In 1362, the Banjara tribe utilised a system of dams to flood the valley encompassed by the Arivalli Hills, creating Lake Pichola. The tribe formed the lake to provide greater water security throughout the year, ensuring sufficient water for drinking and irrigation. Throughout the centuries, as the city's population grew, so did the network of lakes, providing a continued source upon which the people of Udaipur were entirely dependent. Today seven lakes sit across the city, creating picturesque scenes that attract millions of tourists. However, to the city's people, these lakes are more than this; they are the lifeblood of the city.

The development of the lake network Hindu women prepare offerings on a ghat of Lake Pichola. One of the many religious ceremonies that take place on the water

SWAROOP SAGAR

Swaroop Sagar Lake was constructed in 1857 under the rule of Maharana Swarup Singh. Like the city's lakes built before, Swaroop Sagar was constructed to supply the growing city population with a year-round water source from the surrounding hills. However, the lake also performs the vital role of balancing the water levels of the city's other lakes. Sitting between Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake, Swaroop Sagar acts as an overflow during intense monsoon periods. A dammed channel connects Swaroop Sagar to the Ayad River. When the water levels of the city lakes become too high, the dam is opened, allowing water to flow out of the city and downstream along the Ayad River.

Udaan Park Swaroop Sagar Dam Proposed Site

Proposed Hara Bazaar Development Old City

SITE LOCATION

The site, located along the eastern bank of Swaroop Sagar Lake, towards its northern tip, boasts incredible views across the glassy lake waters. Despite sitting at the city’s heart, the site benefits from serene surroundings away from the hectic streets. A narrow road separates the site from the lakefront, its width limiting regular vehicular movement. Whilst to the east of the site is a no-through road.

Following years of neglect, the two buildings on the site sit in disrepair. The western building facing the lake, constructed in the 1940s, is a 320m2 two-storey single unit home. The building on the eastern side is a 220m2 two-storey row of residential units. A 6m high retaining wall bounds the south of the site, separating it from the grounds of a five-storey apartment block. The level change reduces the stature of the apartment block against the buildings on the site.

Connection to Nature

The adjacent Swaroop Sagar offers the site with fantastic long views across the water allowing for a strong connection to water and nature.

Frontages

The restricted north and south boundaries form very clear frontages to the site. The east boundary is likely more suitable for a service entry.

Existing Fabric

The two existing buildings on site provide fabric that could be utilised or material that can be re-purposed for new build.

Existing Context

A number of buildings surround the site on three sides and the impact of overlooking must be considered.

Levels

The rising levels from the west boundary create a unique landscape. Whilst being a constraint they also have the potential to increase site privacy.

Road Use

The lake front road is rarely used other than by school buses at the start and end of day. The dual use of the road by vehicles and pedestrians must be considered.

EXISTING SITE CONTEXT

Currently the site features a series of terraces that rise from the west lake edge to the eastern rear boundary of the site. This terracing of the site is in response to the difference in levels from the front to the rear. These levels are an important component of the site's character and could be utilised to generate privacy for Aasha Ki Haveli's patients.

EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS

1. Narrow road separating the site from Swaroop Sagar Lake

2. The western frontage to Swaroop Sagar Lake

3. The eastern site boundary

Havelis were once a standard housing typology used through Udaipur and the wider Rajasthan region. As the city densifies, mid-rise towers now dominate the city's architecture. However, havelis can still be found around the city. As previously mentioned, the typology is borne from environmental needs along with the oppressive purdah principles of the past. The external elevations are often very minimal with little decoration other than jaali patterns providing glimpses of the surrounding streets. The internal elevations facing into the courtyards are often extremely ornate with cloisters providing a permeable edge. The courtyards and their shaded edge would have typically been the heart of the home. In the summer many would even sleep in the courtyards with the cooling night breeze.

Havelis, whether large or small, all have modest courtyards with fairly standard sizing. Larger havelis would have a greater number of courtyards. This is due to the fact that the modest sizing provides plentiful shading from the high and intense summer sun. These small courtyards create an incredible richness to the typology when viewed in section.

Sectional model of an Udaipur haveli

Plan model of an Udaipur Haveli

White is seen to represent the Sattva guna. This guna is a force that manifests itself as purity, harmony and knowledge.

Black is the manifestation of the Tamas guna, the quality of darkness and inactivity. Black is associated with denial, negativity and death.

The Rajas guna, the force of passion, is represented by the colour red. Red is seen to express courage, passion and hope.

COLOUR SYMBOLISM

Udaipur has long been labelled the white city due to the white marble used throughout the old city’ architecture. However, wandering the streets of Udaipur, you are greeted by an abundance of colour and texture, exhibited through architecture, textiles and food. Much of the colour expressed throughout the city is a direct result of the resources available locally – whether that be ores used for pigmentation or the colours of native planting grown by local farmers.

Colour symbolism is an important component of Indian culture, and certain colours bare religious significance. This is particularly important in Hinduism, where certain colours are directly attributed to the three gunas (qualities) that created the universe.

Green is associated to Islam throughout India due to its representation of paradise to Muslims.

Blue has diverse meanings in Indian culture. Some refuse to wear it due to the traditional blue dye having the potency to kill. However, others are fond of blue and see it as a colour to ward off evil.

Yellow is the colour of purity. Many believe it has powers to keep evil spirits away.

White

Green

Black

Blue

Red

Yellow

Proposal

Aasha Ki Haveli has a rich programme that seeks to overcome the huge social issues of female cancer diagnosis in the city of Udaipur. This section details the design proposal that enables this programme to operate. ?

Aasha Ki Haveli looks to nestle itself within the dense urban grain of the city and become an essential asset for the female community of Udaipur. The building seeks to respond respectfully to the close-knit urban context that surrounds it. The massing is a direct response to this, with the building stepping down towards the rear, eastern edge of the site.

Ayurvedic gardens along the edge of Swaroop Sagar Lake provide an interactive environment for the propagation of cancer awareness. Aasha Ki Haveli harnesses the picturesque views across the glassy waters of Swaroop Sagar with a tall perforate block brought close to the water's edge. This perforate massing offers visitors stunning views across the lake and to the distant Aravalli hills. The perforated block sails atop four columns creating a colonnaded extension to the street.

MAIN MOVES

The building's primary spatial strategy is driven by the site's physical context and the city's cultural context. These massing moves provide the various environments needed to encourage the ladies of Udaipur to access the building’s screening services. Aasha Ki Haveli also seeks to minimise its impact upon the environment; hence, the massing is further informed by an environmental strategy.

Courtyards are punctured through the screening and restorative masses to generate the sectional interest of a haveli. These courtyards create shaded external space and allow natural light into the building.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

The ground floor creates a permeable threshold with the street, welcoming people into the community cafe. The cafe serves as a space for the dissemination of cancer awareness. Both men and women are able to engage with the ground floor programme.

Plant space is placed at the rear of the plan embedded against the retaining wall.

1. Community cafe

2. Kitchen

3. Kitchen store

4. Toilet

5. Changing places room

6. Plant

7. Fan Room

8. Tea pavilion

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

A terraced landscape guides female visitors to the first floor herbal pharmacy. Located at the centre of the plan, this space offers an engaging entrance that offers hope for people arriving to screening appointments. To the east of the herbal pharmacy sits the medical screening block. Whilst to the west is the dining hall of the restorative programme.

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

The medical screening block continues up to the second floor level. These procedure rooms have lightweight equipment that does not pose the loading of the scanning machines on the level below. Consultation rooms to the north offer a highly private space for the diagnosis of patients. A rear entrance allows patients to quietly leave the building if they wish after a cancer diagnosis. To the front of the plan sits a mezzanine living room with additional rooms for group support activities.

1. Patient waiting room

2. Recovery room 3. Changing rooms 4. Minor procedure room

5. Equipment reprocessing room 6. Clinical waste store 7. Equipment store

Reflection Room

Consultation Room

Toilets

Living Room

Large group room

Small group room

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

Only the west block of the building continues up to third floor level. A generous library provides educational resources for patients to research their diagnosis or treatment. Counselling rooms and the charity office provide spaces where patients can obtain emotional and practical support. The reflection garden sits over the medical screening block and is accessed by a bridge, crossing the herbal pharmacy. The walled garden creates a sanctuary where patients can escape from the chaos of the surrounding city.

1. Library

2. Counselling room

3. Charity information office

4. Toilets

5. Reflection garden

6. Meditation chattri

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

The restorative block extends upwards, housing a programme of holistic ayurvedic therapies. The ayurvedic courtyard provides a sheltered external space for patients to gather. A large, double-height yoga studio set to the west of the plan offers expansive views across Udaipur’s stunning lakes and landscape. Individual ayurvedic treatment rooms to the south of the plan offer spaces for patients to receive therapies, such as massage and acupuncture.

1. Yoga studio

2. Store

3. Ayurvedic treatment rooms

4. Ayurvedic courtyard

5. Changing room

6. Toilets

FIFTH FLOOR PLAN

The holistic ayurvedic spaces continue to the fifth floor, providing further individual treatment rooms. The circulation space around the courtyard void is reminiscent of balconies of traditional havelis.

1. Ayurvedic treatment rooms

2. Store

3. Changing room

4. Toilets

MATERIAL PALETTE

The material palette has a rich earthen theme created by the use of natural materials acquired from the Udaipur area. Aasha Ki Haveli strongly focuses on using locally sourced materials, with Udaipur being an incredibly resource-rich region of the world. Natural materials such as clay, stone and timber are used. The quarry waste bricks provide a similar hue to the natural stones used. Vibrant local fabrics and copper are used to contrast the earthen tones.

The restorative programme of the building has an inherent connection with fauna due to the emphasis on ayurvedic practices. Resultantly, native ayurvedic flora are key to the surrounding landscape. Sitting against the earthen palette the verdant colours of the planting are accentuated.

1. Ardu

2. Mycelium insulation

3. Quarry waste bricks

4. Fair faced concrete (50% marble slurry replacement)

5. Terrazzo with local crushed stone

6. Travertine

7. Local textiles

8. Copper

9. Ayurvedic planting

1.

2.

3.

4.

8.

6.

5.

7.

Quarry Waste Bricks

Solid Walls

Quarry waste bricks have been selected for the lower level external walls of the building, given the abundant use of brick as a building material throughout Udaipur. It is a material familiar to the local construction workers.

Bricks made from quarry waste and lime will be air-dried to create an extremely low-carbon material. The local quarry waste will give the bricks an earthen tone with yellowbrown hues.

Bricks walls will be given a lime slurry wash to offer protection during the monsoons.

KEY MATERIALS

Copper Perforate Walls

Copper will be used to create perforate building facades influenced by the jaali screens of Indian architecture. Udaipur has the largest copper reserve in India.

Influenced by the importance of colour symbolism in Indian architecture, copper has been chosen for its red-saffron hue that is associated with the rajas guna. This guna represents qualities of courageousness and hope. The copper, therefore, reflects the attributes of those visiting Aasha Ki Haveli.

Travertine Wall Details

Travertine is a form of limestone and is found extensively in the hills surrounding Udaipur. Travertine has been used widely in local architecture.

Travertine will be used sparingly in the design for detailing. The primary use will be for the deep reveals lining the openings of the medical screening block.

Concrete

(50% marble slurry replacement)

Structure

The use of concrete has been carefully considered, given the high embodied carbon value of standard mixes. However, the concrete uses a 50% marble slurry replacement sourced from local quarries. This reduces the amount of Portland cement and, subsequently the embodied carbon value.

However, its embodied carbon value is still significant, and so a structural strategy has been designed to reduce the volume of concrete used.

Ardu Joinery, Windows

Ardu is a timber native to areas of Northern India. It is found in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh.

Ardu will be used in the design for joinery details and window frames. The dark brown timber will contrast the light earthen tones of the other materials. It is easy to work and finishes nicely. A termite protection will be applied to the surface for the longevity of timber elements given the significant termite issue in Rajasthan.

PERFORATE PATTERN

Jaali screens are synonymous with the traditional architecture of Udaipur's old city. The intense heat of Rajasthan summers requires high levels of shading to ensure the thermal comfort of internal spaces. The lattice stone jaali panels of Udaipur's buildings limit the amount of direct solar gains entering whilst still providing dappled natural daylight. Jaali screens also provided females of households with the level of privacy that was required by the strict purdah rules of traditional society. Traditionally, many women would only experience the city through the openings of jaali screens. Aasha Ki Haveli utilises a jaali-inspired pattern throughout its design. The geometric pattern is derived from the ornate floral jaali panels of Udaipur's City Palace. The pattern extracts the underlying tessellating geometry of the jaali screen whilst simplifying its design to create a contemporary interpretation. This jaali pattern is cut into copper sheets used in the facades and smaller detail elements.

Carved stone jaali panel of City Palace, Udaipur

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The west elevation has been crafted to engage with the lake frontage, establishing itself as the primary elevation of the building. Perforate copper cladding wraps the restorative block creating a beacon of hope that is visible from afar across the lake's waters. This element is positioned closer to the street to offer glimpses of the empowering programme offered by Aasha Ki Haveli. Positioning this at the forefront of the building illustrates that there is life beyond a cancer diagnosis. The ability for patients to open the facade panels will add a transitional richness to the elevation. Four concrete columns support the restorative block and create the sheltered colonnade of the ground floor community cafe. The brick walls of the building's base signify a sense of solidity which contrasts the perforated, lightweight nature of the copper, emphasising an interplay between strength and delicacy inspired by the architecture of Udaipur's old city.

COMMUNITY CAFE

प्रवेश

The community cafe sitting under the overhang of the copper beacon provides the public with shelter from the sweltering summer heat and the pouring monsoon rains. Those working in the ayurvedic street gardens will use the shelter of the colonnade to take respite from their work. The cafe and the ayurvedic gardens are where the engagement of Udaipur's female community will be instigated. Indian culture is extremely social, and the social interaction that the community cafe instigates will allow for the dissemination of cancer education to the community. The space will be reminiscent of verandahs that act as social platforms in traditional Rajasthani architecture.

The cafe will be accessible to all - both male and female, old and young. This provides a space for husbands and families to wait as their loved ones access the screening or restorative programmes. This allows male family members to attend and offer their support whilst providing a level of separation for females to feel comfortable openly talking to medical professionals.

SECTION B-B

A stepped landscape leading to the first floor herbal pharmacy mirrors the waterfront steps offering access to the aquatic ayurvedic gardens.

The main entrance to the screening and restorative programmes is via this raised access. Raising the main entrance to the first floor level is influenced by the existing terracing of the site whilst also being used to create a degree of separation between the public cafe and the female-exclusive programme. This aims to give women the confidence to enter the building.

THE ENTRANCE

प्रवेश Staircases meander through the stepped landscape to provide a route for those on foot. A perforated copper clad elevator offers access to the first-floor entrance for those less able - This is of particular significance, recognising the potential mobility challenges faced by individuals undergoing cancer treatment.

This entrance sequence acknowledges the extreme apprehension one may feel when attending a screening appointment. By elevating the main entrance, a captivating and elongated landscape-focused entrance procession is created, setting it apart from the abrupt entrances typically found in many hospitals. Benches integrated into the stepped landscape offer a tranquil respite, allowing women to gather themselves before entering. The stepped ayurvedic planting beds shield the benches and offer a level of privacy for those ascending to the entrance.

Moments to prepare

HERBAL PHARMACY

The herbal pharmacy runs along a north-south axis, positioned between the restorative and medical screening blocks. Perforated brickwork placed alongside the entrance doorway offers glimpses of the space for those approaching, helping to reassure them of what lies ahead. The herbal pharmacy acts as an extension of the ayurvedic gardens, easing the transition from the street to the screening rooms. Continuity of the limestone flooring from the external landscape blurs the threshold between the outside and inside, enhancing the harmonious flow between spaces.

A dispensary positioned to the south of the space welcomes new patients while conveniently positioned for returning patients collecting ayurvedic remedies. A large production space at the centre of the plan allows women to engage in the processes of producing remedies. To the north of the space, shielded by herbal storage shelving, is the staff office. The shelving provides a level of privacy whilst still integrating staff and making them accessible to visiting patients if needed.

HERBAL PHARMACY TECTONIC

Storage built into the east wall of the herbal pharmacy is influenced by the interiors of traditional apothecaries. The storage sits within the brick wall's depth, highlighting the wall's solidity that is shielding the medical screening programme. The niches are lined with ardu timber that contrasts the light slurry-washed brickwork. Shelves fill the top of the niches providing storage for colourful jars of dried herbs from the ayurvedic gardens. A worktop at a height of 900mm offers a workspace for mixing and measuring herbs, ensuring that the wall becomes an interactive element. Drawers sitting below the worktop provide storage for the array of equipment required in the remedy production process. Copper nameplates with a copper tab handle allow visitors to find the necessary equipment easily.

Rajasthani miniature painting of an apothecary

AN INTERACTIVE SPACE

The herbal pharmacy seeks to act as an interactive entrance to the building that presents itself as a warm and welcoming environment. Ladies cultivating the ayurvedic gardens both on the street and in the roof garden will bring cut herbs to the herbal pharmacy. Plants being used for remedies will require drying. Overhead drying racks on pulley systems will suspend the herbs, similar to traditional apothecaries. These herbs will fill the space with a rich fragrance while filtering natural light entering through the roof light to create a subdued quality.

Large work benches sitting beneath the hanging herbs will act as a hub of socialisation. Patients at differing stages of the cancer journey can pass on their knowledge and share their experiences, helping to reassure others.

A seamless extension

MEDICAL SCREENING SPACES

The medical screening spaces are sensitively positioned towards the rear of the site, shielded by the herbal pharmacy. This placement ensures the utmost level of privacy that is required. This is particularly important given the cultural sensitivity towards modesty in Indian culture. A courtyard sits at the heart of the block, the proportions directly influenced by the need for shading. A generous internal circulation space wraps the courtyard to ensure patients travelling from the waiting room to screening rooms have views of the intimate courtyard right up to the point at which they enter screening rooms. The natural daylight penetrating this corridor and the views of greenery aim to alleviate some of the anxiety associated with the forthcoming screening procedures.

PATIENT WAITING

Many traditional hospitals provide windowless, sterile waiting spaces that only fuel the anxiety in patients waiting for cancer screening or results. Aasha Ki Haveli offers waiting rooms for screening patients that are bright and open to the central courtyard. Large glazing allows the subdued light of the courtyard in whilst ensuring the environmental conditions required of the medical block. The canopy walkway of the second floor waiting room provides shading to the glazing below during the warm summer months when the sun is passing directly overhead.

MEDICAL BLOCK FACADES

Whilst maintaining the highest levels of privacy is vital to make patients feel comfortable, there is also a innate need for ample natural daylight to allow provide bright and reassuring spaces that do not feel claustrophobic. The elevational treatment of the external facades of the medical screening block differ to those facing the courtyard. This is influenced by the contrasting elevations of traditional havelis. The large screened openings of the circulation space allow light to flood in acting as reassurance to the patients.

Meanwhile, the screening/consultations roooms positioned along the external facing elevations feature carefully detailed punctured openings. These openings, again, allow for generous, reassuring lighting whilst limiting views in from outside.

External Elevation Study Courtyard Elevation Study

MEDICAL BLOCK TECTONIC

The tectonic strategy of the medical block is led by the necessity for privacy and creating a sense of security for patients. Masonry construction is used to infill the concrete frame producing deep walls with a thickness of 550mm. This thickness portrays a sense of solidity whilst also allowing a high level of insulation. Deep Travertine window reveals protruding from the wall enhance the sense of depth whilst also acting as privacy blinkers for those passing by externally.

Initially, the use of load-bearing masonry was explored; however, the use of a concrete frame infilled with masonry provides greater flexibility and offers the structural capacity required for the cumbersome screening machinery.

Masonry construction is widely used throughout Udaipur's architecture and is familiar to local workers. Traditional brick clamps operate on the city's edge. Aasha Ki Haveli utilises unfired bricks that are far lower in carbon than the bricks of traditional clamps.

Traditional brick clamps, Udaipur

Brick infill construction, Udaipur

COURTYARD ENGAGEMENT

खंड

The circulation space wrapping the courtyard establishes a strong visual connection to the external environment whilst maintaining the privacy of patients through the use of screened windows. The copper screens fixed to the travertine reveals maintains privacy for patients who may be feeling uneasy or upset. A bench wrapping the screened windows offers a resting place for patients to gather themselves before entering the screening rooms.

Wall:

Lime slurry wash

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

50mm ventilated air cavity

50mm mycelium insulation (outside of concrete frame)

245mm mycelium insulation (between concrete frame)

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

Intermediate floor:

30mm terrazzo floor, locally sourced aggregeate

150mm raised access floor system

Service runs (water, electricity, data)

50mm in-situ concrete screed (bind and level pre-cast slabs)

375mm ribbed profile pre-cast fair faced concrete slabs (50% marble slurry cement replacement)

375mm in-situ concrete beam

Window:

3mm waterjet cut copper jaali screen

80mm travertine window reveal

16mm double glazed, argon filled windows, ardu frames

28x600mm ardu bench seat

Scale 1:25

CONSULTATION ROOMS

Consultant oncologists will use the consultation rooms positioned along the north of the second floor plan to deliver diagnoses to Aasha Ki Haveli's patients. The rooms are raised above the public route passing along the north elevation, which diminishes any risk of overlooking. Large timber-lined windows allow views of greenery creeping over the perimeter wall whilst also allowing generous north lighting. Whilst there is minimal risk of overlooking, patients must have a strong sense of privacy. The fixed copper jaali screens shielding the lower portion of the windows help to create this sense of privacy. Additionally, ardu timber shutters integrated with the internal timber lining allow for complete enclosure if desired. The design of these windows provides for the degree of privacy that makes the patient most comfortable.

Roof terrace:

20mm terrazzo floor tiles

100mm raised access floor, 600mm centre pedestals

Waterproof membrane

175mm mycelium insulation

Vapour control layer

50mm in-situ concrete screed (bind and level pre-cast slabs)

375mm ribbed profile pre-cast fair faced concrete slabs (50% marble slurry cement replacement)

375mm in-situ concrete beam

Consultation windows:

3mm waterjet cut copper jaali screen, 650mm high, recessed into travertine reveal

80mm travertine window reveal16mm double glazed, argon filled windows, ardu frames

28mm ardu timber lining

Ardu timber shutters

Scale 1:25

RESTORATIVE SPACES

The restorative program, providing support and empowering patients, is housed within the copper beacon situated along the lakeside. Drawing inspiration from the sections of traditional havelis, the section seeks to provide vertical connectivity. Voids invite natural light from above, illuminating the interiors with plentiful natural light. Furthermore, these voids establish visual connections between the floors. This enables new patients entering the centre to effortlessly glimpse the array of facilities available to them.

The section transitions from the vibrant and energetic ambience of the bustling dining hall at its base, gradually leading towards serene and intimate spaces as it ascends higher. As the sounds from the dining hall permeate upwards through the voids, the vertical arrangement of spaces attenuates the noise levels upon entering the library, ensuring a tranquil atmosphere.

DINING HALL

Sitting at the base of the restorative programme, the dining hall provides a space for cancer patients to learn about the benefits of ayurvedic nutrition. A kitchen that opens to the dining hall allows women to interact with the cookery of ayurvedic meals. These skills can then be taken home, allowing ladies to feel a sense of empowerment by playing an active role in their own treatment. Natural daylight floods from above, offering a bright and pleasant environment. The living room sits as a mezzanine over only part of the dining hall creating a generous volume whilst also creating a strong connection between the two floors. Windows shaded by the overhanging colonnade provide views across the glistening waters of Swaroop Sagar.

RESTORATIVE BLOCK TECTONIC

The perforated copper facade of the restorative block is designed to maximise the amount of natural daylight entering the block while blocking direct sunlight that would result in excessive internal solar gains. The perforated copper facade is separated from the thermal line of the wall by an expansive external balcony upon which patients can sit or gaze across Swaroop Sagar.

Whilst inspired by the jaali screens of traditional North Indian architecture, the design of this facade looks to move away from some of the oppressive qualities held by traditional screens. The facade panels can be opened by Aasha Ki Haveli's allowing them to control their own privacy rather than the high-level of privacy enforced in traditional buildings. This signifies the progressive nature of the building's design. The individual panels rotate on a single pivot at second and third floor level. Wide spans of panels can be rotated open to allow light to flood in. Or just a single panel can be turned for a more intimate atmosphere. The large double height panels of the yoga studio are held onto a sliding rail system. This allows the copper facade to be folded back to allow uninterrupted, expansive views of the lake's waters.

Isometric view of second & third floor facade system

Restorative block detailed section

Thermal Labyrinth: Pile foundation

Reinforced concrete ground beam (structural engineer to specify)

200mm blinding layer

200mm uninsulated concrete slab

Rubble stone walls (directing the air flow, local quarry waste stone)

200mm concrete slab

Damp proof membrane

200mm mycelium insulation

70mm concrete screed

Limestone flooring

Intermediate floor:

30mm terrazzo floor, locally sourced aggregeate

150mm raised access floor system

Service runs (air, supply duct, water, electricity, data)

50mm in-situ concrete screed (bind and level pre-cast slabs)

250mm pre-cast hollowcore concrete planks

400mm in-situ concrete beam

Wall:

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

50mm ventilated air cavity

50mm mycelium insulation (outside of concrete frame)

245mm mycelium insulation (between concrete frame)

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

Scale 1:25

Perforate Facade:

1100mm high fixed perforate panel (3mm perforate copper sheet, 80mm SHS frame)

Ardu timber clad balustrade rail, 70x200mm RHS (1100mm above FFL)

1450x500mm pivoting perforate copper panel (3mm perforate copper sheet, 80mm SHS frame

Inner Wall:

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

50mm ventilated air cavity

125mm mycelium insulation

15mm sheathing board

5mm natural clay plaster finish

Overhang Floor:

30mm terrazzo floor, locally sourced aggregate

150mm raised access floor system

Service runs (air, supply duct, water, electricity, data)

50mm in-situ concrete screed (bind and level pre-cast slabs)

250mm pre-cast hollowcore concrete planks

400mm in-situ concrete beam

Vapour control layer

150mm Mycelium insulation

Suspended copper jaali soffit panels (backing panel with integrated lighting above).

Scale 1:25

THE LIBRARY

Whilst India has one of the leading technological industries in the world with widespread communications networks, a high proportion of the female population do not have access to the internet. The taboo of cancer also results in incredibly low cancer education in the country. The third floor library offers a space for visitors to conduct their own research into cancer - whether that be understanding process of screening or treatment that lies ahead. Books along with IT equipment provide women with the tools they need to learn. Glazed doors open to the balcony encased by the perforate copper facade. This allows women the ability to tailor the light level as they sit and learn.

THE BEACON OF HOPE

The perforate copper facade of the restorative block seeks to not only provide patients the ability to control their privacy level but also acts as a beacon of hope. Highlighting to the wider community of Udaipur that Indian societal views that cancer is 'untreatable' are no longer correct. Instead, there is now hope for female cancer patients. During the daytime, the red-orange hue of the copper facade symbolises the courage and hope of the patients. Red hues are associated with the Rajas guna in hindi culture. The folding and rotating panels of the facade are controlled by the users providing a dynamic nature to the copper elevations.

As the sun drops and daylight fades, the building begins to glow gently. This illuminates the movement of people behind the facade whilst still ensuring their privacy. Resultantly, the building is able to act as the beacon of hope throughout the day.

HOLISTIC AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

The restorative block is topped by two floors of holistic ayurvedic therapy space. These spaces benefit from the privacy and serenity provided by their elevated position. This allows for women to be removed from the modesty principles of the city below. A courtyard punctures through the roof, allowing light to penetrate through the glazed floor to the below restorative spaces. A generous cloister around the courtyard provides sheltered space for small group meditation. Small ayurvedic therapy rooms line the two floors on the south side of the courtyard.

Aasha Ki Haveli

Yoga Hall Timetable

14th May 2026

Time

Activity

Dawn chorus meditation

Morning Mantra

Morning yoga

Mindfulness

Open hall

Afternoon yoga

Mindfulness

Sunset meditation

twilight mantra chanting

Visiting Yoga Guru Series

30th May 2026

YOGA STUDIO

The yoga studio sits as a double-height space atop the building providing expansive views across the lake and further into the distant Aravalli hills. The Studio offers a large adaptive space suited to activities such as yoga and meditation. The upper two floors are left uninsulated as is common in North Indian architecture. This allows a gentle breeze to blow in across the lake providing refreshing conditions and a strong connection to nature. Connecting to nature is a fundamental principle of Ayurveda and most yoga halls in India are open pavilions. The large folding copper facade panels can remain closed to block the afternoon sun or they can be opened to reveal the lake views.

NORTH ELEVATION

Steps lead one along the edge of the north elevation, linking the level of Swaroop Sagar Road to the raised road level to the east of Aasha Ki Haveli. This stepped edge to the north facade not only provides a convenient public route but also creates a buffer between the proposal and the adjacent residential property to the north. This allows for sufficient light to reach the property and prevents the proposal from overbearing the low-level building.

The tactility of the protruding brick surface of the herbal pharmacy signifies the separation of masses to those ascending the stairs. The deep reveals and perforate copper jaali panels of the medical screening block windows prevent direct views into the internal spaces, given the perpendicular angle from which people travel along the path.

Landscape

With a programme focused on the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, Aasha Ki Haveli has a strong landscape programme. This section details the specifics of the landscaping strategy.

LANDSCAPE STRATEGY

Udaipur has a rich agricultural history - the Aravali hills provide protection from the scorching heat of the Thar Desert, creating a once lush, productive landscape. Whilst the patriarchal society of Udaipur has prevented women from being called farmers, they have for centuries worked the land.

Aasha Ki Haveli's landscape harnesses the city's agricultural familiarity to engage women passing along the lake edge. A productive landscape of ayurvedic herbs and plants lines the edge of Swaroop Sagar Lake. Members of the public - both male and female - will be able to interact with the landscape, helping to cultivate the land. This initial public engagement will instigate the dissemination of cancer education amongst the community.

In addition, the landscaping strategy will strengthen local ecosystems currently being degraded by the city's expansion. This will encompass the strengthening of both land and aquatic habitats.

Two women working the land, Udaipur

LANDSCAPE PLAN

A change in landscape surface marks the threshold of Aasha Ki Haveli's Ayurvedic gardens. Swaroop Sagar Road is currently accessible only to school buses, so the street surface looks to prioritise the pedestrian. The surface will be shared by people and buses doing school drop-off/collection hours. The ayurvedic gardens run between the shared street surface and the lake frontage. The beds are shielded by a shrubbery boundary to the north edge. This creates a sense of discovery for those passing along the street. This shrubbery edge is also used to develop secluded seating areas within the gardens themselves. These spaces allow people to momentarily 'escape' from the bustling city around them.

1. Existing trees

2. Bollard positions (to control vehicular movement)

3. Ayurvedic planting beds

4. Aquatic ayurvedic garden

5. Waterfront steps

6. Tea pavilion

7. Secluded seating areas

8. Raised entrance landscape

9. Limestone paved shared street

10. Bicycle rack

AYURVEDIC PLANTING

The planting strategy for Aasha Ki Haveli focuses on productive ayurvedic landscaping that supports the building's herbal programme. Ayurvedic planting species believed to have cancersuppressing qualities have been chosen specifically. All selected plant species are also native to the Rajasthan region, ensuring that they provide suitable habitats for local ecology. The species list consists of low-level plants and herbs, along with shrubs and small trees forming the street garden's shielding edge.

Aasha Ki Haveli is open all year round; subsequently, it is vital to have a consistent supply of plants for the herbal pharmacy. Therefore, the ayurvedic species that are specified provide staggered harvest times. This ensures a constant supply whilst creating a landscape that provides interest and interaction all year round.

Indian frankincense Gale of the wind Atemoya

Indian pennywort Mappia Turmeric

Wild jujube

Winter cherry

Indian gooseberry

Plants/herbs

Ashwagandha

Water hyssop

Tulsi

Indian pennywort

Brahmi

Winter cherry

Punarnava

Indian gooseberry

Gale of the wind

Shrubs

Mappia

Atemoya

Wild jujube

Heart leaved moonseed

Guggul

Ashoka

Neem

PLANTING CALENDAR

Quarry waste bricks

The bricks used in the building's construction are also used in landscape elements, such as bench bases and the educational signage pillars.

Udaipur limestone

Waste Udaipur limestone from local quarries is used for all external floor surfaces. Fragmented limestone pieces are laid and levelled to form the approach landscape surface.

LANDSCAPE MATERIALS

The landscape materials have been selected to unify the building and the approaching landscape to create a coherent proposal. Aasha Ki Haveli looks to utilise similar materials in the landscape as in the building to reduce the threshold upon entering the building. In Indian architecture, the boundary between internal and external space is blurred and hence the material selection looks to represent that whilst also providing the seamless transition required to improve accessibility for women.

Corten

Corten steel is selected as an accent material within the landscape to compliment the copper utilised on the building's facade. It will be used for signage, drainage grates and edging to the street ayurvedic planting beds.

Ardu

Ardu timber finished in bees wax is used as bench tops for all external seating. The extreme temperatures of Udaipur would result in heat transfer to thermally massive elements. Therefore, ardu offers a comfortable finish for sitting upon.

Concrete

(50% marble slurry replacement)

Concrete is used to construct stepped elements within the landscape. The waterfront steps and the stepped entrance landscape both utilise fair-faced concrete.

AQUATIC AYURVEDA

Swaroop Sagar and Udaipur's other lakes suffer severe effects from the city's mining industry - mineral extraction has resulted in the deposition of heavy metals within the water bodies. Therefore, the Udaipur masterplan will implement a number of infrastructural strategies to improve water quality in the city.

Aasha Ki Haveli will support this wider strategy through the aquatic ayurvedic garden. Ayurvedic plants, such as lotus and water hyacinth, have the ability to improve water quality through filtration and the absorption of excessive nutrients. This aquatic garden will be used to heal Swaroop Sagar. The aquatic plants will not be able to be harvested for several years whilst the water quality remains low. Once the water is of sufficient quality the aquatic garden will serve as a healer of both water and people.

Aasha Ki Haveli is about creating more hopeful futures for female cancer patients within the city. The main aim of the proposal is to improve patient survival rates. Hopefully, the building will be able to identify a large proportion of cancer cases at an early stage so that successful treatment of patients can ensue. It is important that the building celebrates the successes and milestones of patients as they progress through treatment whilst also being respectful to other patients who sadly may not be in such fortunate positions.

The tea pavilion housed within the existing pavilion on the edge of Swaroop Sagar Lake will provide a space to celebrate. Patients and their families will be able to gather and collectively celebrate milestones. This pavilion will also act as a public display of modern cancer treatment in the attempt to break down perceived misconceptions about the disease. The separation of the pavilion from the building provides a buffer to patients inside who may be facing less joyful moments of the treatment path.

ROOF GARDEN

The Pitha Mandala is revered within the Hindu faith due to its common use as a temple format. The religious importance of mandalas to many people within India has influenced traditional Indian garden design. Mandalas are believed to facilitate positive energy flow and balance within gardens, creating a tranquil setting for meditation and other quiet activities.

The proposal's roof garden uses the pitha mandala as precedent for its design in plan. The garden is set out according to a nine-bay grid. The central bay sinks to form the courtyard of the medical screening programme. The vertical and horizontal axes from the central courtyard define areas for planting beds within the roof garden. Low-level brick planters with timber bench tops allow those less able to perch as they tend to the plants. The corner grid bays are for interaction and reflection. The east corners contain meditation chattri whilst the western corners each house a fabricshaded sitting area for group socialising.

Pitha Mandala

MEDITATION CHATTRI

A cancer diagnosis is devastating - it evokes so much emotion that it can often overwhelm the patient. Meditation chattri within the roof garden offer a contemplative space for female cancer patients to reflect upon their diagnosis or treatment quietly. The space is large enough to accommodate two people if a patient wishes someone to join them in their contemplation. Quiet spaces for a moment of reflection are hard to come by in a city with a population approaching 1 million.

The meditation chattri seek to provide a level of privacy and seclusion without being claustrophobic. A canopy roof covering the seating provides shade whilst the rest of the space is open to the sky, allowing for a constant connection to nature.

The landscape proposal seeks to cater for a number of different groups of people. Some people may simply pass through towards the city centre, whilst others may be patients or families nervously waiting to attend screening appointments. The design seeks to provide an array of seating options that will suit the circumstances of each individual within the ayurvedic gardens.

Individual benches constructed from a brick base with an ardu seat are tucked away within the gardens shielded by the higher level shrubbery edge. Larger L-shaped benches of the same construction are also located within the ayurvedic beds and provide secluded spots for families to wait while their wives or mothers undergo scans. The surrounding greenery not only provides a level of privacy but also intends to alleviate the anxiety associated with screening or a diagnosis slightly.

The 400mm deep steps along the edge of Swaroop Sagar provide a less private seating area where communal gatherings can occur. Friendly conversation will flourish as people gaze across the green lake edge.

Similar stepped seating is provided within the entrance landscape. However the surrounding planting offers a higher degree of privacy for those who need a moment prior to attending an appointment.

Individual Bench

Waterfront Seating

Family Bench

Entrance Pause Seating

EXTERNAL LIGHTING

The external lighting strategy will not only seek to provide a safe environment at night but also showcase the ayurvedic planting beds. Uplighting will be installed to highlight the trees along the waterfront and the entrance-level landscape.

Recessed corten uplights will be positioned along all primary and secondary paths, guiding pedestrians along the waterfront. Corten light fixtures have been specified to compliment the copper building facade whilst providing hard-wearing fixtures. Recessed lighting will also be used to illuminate the waterfront steps and the main entrance steps.

Uplighting of trees Recessed corten-faced path lighting

AYURVEDIC EDUCATION

The ayurvedic gardens serve to supply the herbal pharmacy of Aasha Ki Haveli whilst also acting as an educational experience for visitors.

750mm high brick pedestals are located throughout the ayurvedic gardens offering educational information on the species within the planting beds. An angled limestone topper positions the information at an angle that can be easily read by both those standing and those in wheelchairs. A corten plaque will be embossed with the species and information regarding its potential cancer-suppressing qualities.

Each plaque will also offer a QR code providing web access to further information on how to grow the species at home and methods for using it. India is undergoing rapid technological advancements, and it is hoped that all visitors will soon have the ability to access the QR code.

EDUCATION OUTREACH

Aasha Ki Haveli only has the ability to provide a relatively small series of productive gardens, given the constrained size of the site and minimal nearby green space. The centre, however, looks to disseminate the information and skills needed for patients to undertake their own ayurvedic gardening at home. Visitors will be able to take away seeds of the ayurvedic plants so that they can propagate them at their own homes. This helps to widen the centre's impact whilst also enabling female cancer patients to feel empowered by growing and harvesting crops. In addition, this spread of ayurvedic gardening across the city will instigate broader cancer education amongst the community to encourage more females to come to Aasha Ki Haveli for screening.

Structure

Aasha Ki Haveli seeks to utilise a simple structural strategy that aids the overall architectural intent. This section details the structural members, load paths and material protection.

A concrete frame under construction on 100 Feet Road, Udaipur

STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW

While Udaipur may be known for its ancient stone architecture, the modern city is shaped by concrete. It is a construction technique that local workers are familiar with and is suited to the local resources and climate. Therefore, Aasha Ki Haveli's structure seeks to align with these local skills and materials. A cast in-situ concrete frame is utilised with pre-cast specialist concrete slabs that are manufactured off-site.

This structural strategy has been selected as it is not feasible to use timber structurally in this region of India. Large section timbers are unavailable, requiring transportation over many thousands of kilometres. There is also a high risk of termites in Udaipur, requiring timber to be treated. It is, therefore, more sustainable to utilise locally sourced aggregates and cement to construct a concrete structure.

The restorative block utilises a 5x5.5m structural grid which is splayed along the north and east grid line to accommodate the nonorthogonal form of the block. The screening block uses a 7.5m grid, reducing to 6m for the two central bays.

Cast in situ concrete frame, pre-cast concrete hollowcore slabs

Cast in situ concrete slab, ground floor frame and stability core

Cast in situ concrete frame, ribbed profile pre-cast, reinforced concrete slabs

LOAD PATHS

Cores act as cantilever elements giving lateral stability

Load is transferred to the concrete frame and then to the pile foundations

PREFABRICATION

The site for Aasha Ki Haveli is extremely constrained with an area of only 1250m2. This will create challenges during construction with minimal room for the storing of materials or equipment. The proposal utilises pre-cast concrete floor slabs that are delivered to site and lifted onto the cast in-situ frame. The use of these slabs will allow for a quicker construction phase whilst also alleviating some of the challenges associated with the small site.

The use of prefabrication allows for specialist slabs to be used that can support the building's ventilation strategy. These slabs can also be made to a higher precision and with more advanced techniques allowing for reduced concrete volume. Hollowcore slabs will be used for the restorative element of the building whilst ribbed slabs will be used for the medical zone.

There was a study into the feasibility of pre-cast concrete columns and beams. However, given the building's size and the earthquake risk in the area it was established that these would not offer sufficiently strong connections.

Concrete sheer wall

Cast in-situ RC column

Cast in-situ RC beam

Pre-cast hollowcore concrete slabs

RESTORATIVE STRUCTURAL STRATEGY

This drawing illustrates the structural plan for the restorative block to the west of the site. A cast in-situ concrete frame is utilised alongside pre-cast hollowcore slabs. A small grid of 5x5.5m is used in order to reduce concrete usage and hence reduce the proposal's embodied carbon.

Lateral stability is provided through the 250mm thick concrete walls of the core. The yoga hall at the top of the building has an 11m span to allow for the open space required. The concrete structure is thickened to create a portal frame that offers the required stability

Concrete walls

Rubble stone walls

THERMAL LABYRINTH

A half-storey basement level will be excavated below the ground floor plan for the thermal labyrinth. 50% marble slurry concrete is specified for all structural walls of this basement. Parallel concrete walls aligned to the concrete frame above will provide the primary route for air through the labyrinth. Marble and limestone offcuts from the local quarries will form rubble walls perpendicular to the primary concrete walls. The use of stone offcuts reduces the need for more concrete whilst also providing a rough surface that increases the exposed surface area. This provides a greater area for heat transfer to the thermal mass, similar to the corrugated walls of the labyrinth in Federation Square, Australia.

Corrugated labyrinth walls - Federation Square, Australia

Cast in-situ RC beam

Pre-cast ribbed concrete planks

Contiguous piled retaining wall

MEDICAL STRUCTURAL STRATEGY

The medical screening space is composed of a cast in-situ concrete frame along with pre-cast ribbed slabs. Certain screening equipment presents substantial loading to the structure - for example, MRI machines have a mass of 8000kg. All heavy screening equipment is located at level 01, where the load sits directly on top of the building's foundations, reducing loading upon the frame. These pieces of equipment are also susceptible to minor vibrations, so positioning them low in the building reduces the risk of vibrations resulting from building movement.

Scanners have an average replacement cycle of 12 years. Therefore, a path of reinforced floor will link the CT and MRI room with the patient waiting room. This will allow for transportation of machinery to the courtyard, where it can then be lifted by crane over the building to the eastern road.

Concrete sheer wall

Cast in-situ RC column

Due to the 6.5m level change from the west to east boundaries of the site, two retaining walls are required to hold back the earth. These will take the form of contiguous bored pile wall with 700mm diameter concrete piles. A spray-on concrete will be used to regularise the wall whilst a concrete waterproofing additive will be used to prevent water ingress through the wall.

The retaining wall along the eastern boundary will be constructed first followed by the lower retaining wall along the eastern edge of the restorative block. Once complete, additional piles can be drilled for the building’s foundations. Continuous flight auger piling has been chosen due to its very low level of vibration, and hence this work will not cause disturbance to nearby structures.

Location of retaining walls to create the site's levels

MEDICAL STRUCTURAL SLABS

The hollowcore structural slabs used throughout the restorative building areas are not suitable for the medical screening element as the quality of air passing through the slabs is not of a suitable level, as stipulated by HBN documents. Instead, a system of U-shaped ribbed slabs will be utilised. The medical programme of the building requires high levels of service infrastructure, particularly for ventilation. These slabs create an elegant aesthetic whilst providing semi-circular voids along which services can run. The exposure of the services allows for easy access, offering a level of adaptability which is necessary given the advancements of the medical screening equipment used in the spaces.

The 7500mm grid bays are divided to give 750mm wide precast planks. The reduced width of these planks allows for easier manoeuvrability and reduces safety risks on site.

400mm deep cast insitu slab

41% of material removed to create ribbed slab

Ribbed profile allows for the integration of services

Ribbed slab subdivided to create precast planks

350x350mm in-situ RC concrete column

Raised access terrazzo floor finish (150mm service void with integrated service boxes)

50mm in-situ concrete screed (to bond and level pre-cast slabs)

750x500mm pre-cast ribbed profile concrete planks

In-situ RC concrete ring beam

350x350mm in-situ RC concrete column

Primary supply and extract ducts, high level electrical equipment in screening rooms

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

The site's constrained nature will pose several challenges to the construction of Aasha Ki Haveli. Therefore, construction will be split into two phases, with the works along the lakefront completed prior to the construction of the building. This will result in a widened passageway along the front of the site allowing for greater separation of the public and construction deliveries.

Landscaping works to the site and the lake edge will be completed after the completion of the construction of the building.

1. Hoarding installed along Swaroop Sagar lake edge in front of the site and temporary site office is positioned on the road to the east of the site

2. Completion of the existing partially constructed retaining wall along the water’s edge

3. A temporary coffer dam is constructed using metal sheet piles to create a dry work zone

4. In situ pouring of concrete of the lake edge steps

5. Hoarding is erected around the site boundary

6. Site cleared of existing buildings and terrace structures

7. Contiguous bored pile retaining walls built to form the two retaining walls

8. Excavation of the thermal labyrinth basement

9. Further concrete piles can now be driven into the ground for the building’s foundations

10. Pouring of the concrete ground beams and ground bearing slabs

11. In-situ casting of the concrete superstructure –stabilising cores, columns and beams

12. Pre-cast concrete slab elements will be delivered to site and erected using a crane

13. The construction of the external envelope walls followed by glazing of the building

14. Roofs installed to complete the external envelope

15. Internal partition walls constructed

16. Internal servicing installed

17. Final fitting out and furnishing of all areas

18. External entrance stairs and lift constructed

19. Landscaping works to street, entrance and roof garden

20. Snagging undertaken by the architect

21. Building inspected and signed off

22. Building opens to the public

Environment & Sustainability

With the imminent threat of the global climate hitting +1.5°C of pre-industrial times, it is critical that all building proposals should have an environmental agenda that sits at the forefront of the design. Aasha Ki Haveli seeks to limit its environmental impact in a number of ways.

Climate change is expected to significantly impact Northern India, with a dramatic temperature increase expected. Resultantly, the proposal also looks to provide a resilient building that can operate in the context of a warming climate. This page offers an overview of the implemented strategies that reduce Aasha Ki Haveli's impact on the environment and those that future-proof the building.

Materials

The selection of materials has been a primary concern for the proposal. Consideration of embodied carbon of materials and their ability to reduce the building's operational carbon. With timber unavailable in the region, Aasha Ki Haveli utilises materials from within a close radius and materials constructed from waste where possible.

Thermal Mass

Given Udaipur’s extreme temperatures during the summer months, thermal mass has been used throughout the building to slow heating from solar gains. Whilst resulting in a slightly higher embodied carbon, the strategy does significantly reduce operational carbon.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a significant concern, given the heat and humidity of the city. The building is split into different ventilation zones depending on the required conditions of the spaces. This ordering of spaces allows for natural ventilation to be used where possible.

Energy

70% of built environment emissions arise from operational energy usage and hence the design seeks to limit its energy requirement. The energy demand has been reduced as much as possible through passive strategies. A large PV array on the building's roof looks to harness clean energy for Aasha Ki Haveli

Ecology

Udaipur has experienced severe degradation to its natural habitats over the past 20 years with rapid population growth. The ayurvedic landscaping strategy seeks to heal nature as well as the centre's patients. The brownfield site sees a significant increase in green space compared to the existing site conditions.

Solar Control

High levels of solar radiation and a high solar altitude make the consideration of solar shading a particularly pertinent element of the design. The punctured openings of windows in brick walls feature deep reveals to offer shading and privacy. Meanwhile, the perforated copper facade is based upon the inherent need for shading.

Thermal Comfort

The medical screening element of the proposal requires a high level of environmental control as specified by regulations. A water source cooling system is utilised to provide the necessary thermal environment. A thermal labyrinth allows for passive cooling of the restorative programme.

Water

Drought has been a long-standing issue in Udaipur; however, changing climate patterns are increasing the frequency of drought events. A rainwater harvesting system looks to capture water that falls onto the building. Efficient water systems, such as dual flush toilets, will reduce the building's water demand.

Lighting

Whilst trying to limit solar gains, the proposal still offers high levels of natural daylighting. This creates a pleasant environment for users while reducing demand for artificial lighting. When artificial lighting is required, low-energy LED fixtures and external landscape lighting are used.

Air quality

Materials have been selected for their ability to improve internal air quality. This is particularly important given the vulnerability of some building users. All materials release minimal VOCs. Meanwhile, the quarry bricks can moderate the humidity of the air.

LOCAL MATERIALS

As previously mentioned, timber is not a viable material for this region of India for several reasons. The transportation of timber to the site would also result in significant carbon emissions, given a lack of suitable structural timber for many thousands of kilometres. Resultantly, the material strategy is founded upon a desire to use materials from within close proximity. The wider Udaipur region is resource-rich; hence it is only sensible to utilise these available resources. A number of these materials available also offer the thermal mass required to help limit extreme temperature fluctuations. Whilst using locally sourced materials, the project also seeks to cause minimal degradation to the nearby environment. Aasha Ki Haveli utilises waste products from a number of different sources to create a palette of materials with extremely low embodied carbon values.

Material sourcing

1. Marble (Slurry & Aggregate)

2. Travertine

3. Copper

4. Mycelium

5. Lime

6. Ardu timber

7. Cement

QUARRY WASTE BRICKS

Marble and limestone have been extensively mined from the Aravalli hills surrounding the city for many years leading to significant degradation of the environment. Large scars across the hills are visible on satellite imagery.

Marble is typically cut into sheets of 10mm using a 5mm blade. This results in a wastage rate of 33% from the cutting process. The blades produce fine marble dust which is then mixed with water and deposited in slurry pits around the city's edge. This marble dust is constituted mainly of a fine silica dust which is a significant cause of lung cancer.

Aasha Ki Haveli will utilise this waste from local quarries to create bricks for the building. Marble slurry will be combined with sand, glass waste and lime to create low-carbon bricks. The process will capture the silica dust from quarrying and lock it into the bricks so that it no longer poses a health risk for the people of Udaipur.

Carmody Groarke has utilised a similar technique to create bricks for a Gallery in Ghent, Belgium. The bricks are sufficiently durable to resist weathering from rain.

Marble slurry depositing, Udaipur

Ghent Waste Bricks - Carmody Groarke

Site

Marble slurry pit

BRICK MANUFACTURING

1. Collection & Mixing

Marble slurry and waste marble pieces are collected from the local quarries and slurry dumps. Waste glass is also collected from local demolitions. This waste is then crushed and graded before mixing with lime and water.

2. Forming

The mixture is formed into bricks using traditional brick moulds, replicating the process used at local traditional brickyards.

3. Humidity Curing

The soft-formed bricks are placed into a humidity chamber for three weeks to instigate the curing process. This process will be undertaken during the monsoon season using a chamber that captures the air humidity.

4. Air Drying

The bricks are next left to dry under a canopy for three months. Air will freely flow under the canopy and allow continued drying of the bricks. As the bricks cure, the lime undergoes carbonation and sequesters carbon dioxide into the bricks.

5. Continued Carbonation

Following the air-drying process, the bricks can be laid by local bricklayers. A lime mortar allows a high degree of expansion and reduces the need for movement joints. A lime slurry is pasted over the bricks to give added protection during the monsoon season. The lime will continue to carbonate for many years, both increasing the strength of the bricks and sequestering further carbon.

UTILISING THERMAL MASS

Near the Tropic of Cancer, Rajasthan experiences an extremely hot, arid climate. The Aravalli hills offer Udaipur some protection when compared to cities to the west closer to the Thar Desert. However, Udaipur still receives highs of >40°C during the summer months. Temperatures remain relatively high throughout the whole year. From the perspective of building comfort, the main challenge is cooling the building.

Aasha Ki Haveli will have a demand for cooling throughout the majority of the year, given the high temperatures. It must also be noted that thermal comfort is subject - what is considered a comfortable environment in Udaipur will vastly differ from here in the UK. Therefore, the building seeks to consider the regional perception of thermal comfort.

BRICK WALL DETAIL

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

50mm ventilated air cavity

50mm mycelium insulation (outside of concrete frame)

245mm mycelium insulation (between concrete frame)

102.5mm quarry waste brick leaf (locally sourced waste material)

The brick walls of the building have a total thickness of 550mm. An internal brick leaf is exposed to offer extensive thermal mass to the building's interior. Thick insulation protects this inner brick leaf from the high external temperatures. A ventilated air cavity helps to further reduce the risk of heat transfer from the external brick leaf. This wall type is used for all walls of the medical screening block. This helps to create a highly insulated space that is required to create the controlled conditions required.

Thermal conductivity of quarry waste bricks = 0.62 W/mK

Thermal conductivity of mycelium insulation = 0.04 W/mK

Total Wall U Value = 0.125 Wm-2K-1

Recommended U-values for a UK non domestic new build states walls should achieve lower than 0.22 Wm-2K-1. Whilst India experiences a very different climate, the principles of heat transfer remain. The above calculation shows that the brick wall construction is highly insulating. This will greatly limit heat gains.

VENTILATION & AIR QUALITY

Sufficient ventilation is essential to maintaining good internal air quality and a comfortable thermal environment. Below are guideline rates of ventilation for some of Aasha Ki Haveli's main spaces:

Cafe: 10-12 ac/hr

Kitchens: 30 ac/hr

Hospitals (sterile): 15-25 ac/hr

Hospitals (General): 6-8 ac/hr

Library: 3-5 ac/hr

Yoga Hall: 12 ac/hr

The diverse range of spaces within the proposal results in a wide array of ventilation rates being required. Resultantly, the building programme has been grouped into distinct environmental zones. The medical screening programme is grouped towards the rear of the site. A highly insulated fabric wraps the block, and a mechanical ventilation system is employed. The remaining programme is grouped into two zones. An insulated zone with passive ventilation occupies the lower four floors of the restorative block. The top two floors are passively ventilated and uninsulated, allowing a strong connection to nature.

Key

Insulated, mechanical ventilation

Insulated, Thermal Labyrinth air supply

Uninsulated, passive ventilation

Thermal insulation line

VENTILATION - MEDICAL SPACE

The medical space is subject to stringent air quality and thermal comfort requirements. A hollowcore deck system, as used in the restorative element, would not provide an acceptable level of air quality. Resultantly, a mechanical ventilation system with mechanical cooling is necessary. Air is delivered at a high level to ensure the sterile air conditions that are required by certain procedure rooms.

1. Fluid within a closed loop water source heat pump transfers heat from air brought in by the air handling unit to the water of Swaroop Sagar Lake.

2. The cooled air is distributed to the medical spaces via overhead ducts.

3. The warm stale air that has risen to the ceiling level via buoyancy is extracted from the spaces.

4. This air is then taken to the heat exchanger, where the stagnant air is exhausted from the building at the roof level.

5. Despite being warmed, the internal air will still be cooler than the fresh air being brought in. Coolth from the expelled air will be transferred to the incoming air.

Closed loop water source heat pump

Cooling Operation

Throughout the year, the water heat pump is used to cool the medical block. Heat energy will be transferred to the water loop and this will then be dissipated into the lake water. The lake is sufficiently big enough to handle the heat from Aasha Ki Haveli.

Heating Operation

For the majority of the year the system will be used for cooling. However, the building will be used into the evenings and so some colder winter evenings may require a level of heating. The system will be reverted to provide this heating.

WATER SOURCE COOLING

The Swaroop Sagar Lake will serve as the primary cooling source for the medical screening block. A water source heat pump will extract coolth from the lake's waters to cool the fresh air supply entering the internal spaces via soffit level ducts. This system offers multiple advantages to Aasha Ki Haveli. Firstly, water-source heat pumps are more efficient than traditional air conditioning, reducing operational carbon emissions. Additionally, these heat pumps eliminate the need for refrigerants used in conventional air conditioning, which are potent greenhouse gases harmful to the ozone layer.

To minimise ventilation heat gains/losses, a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system is integrated into the medical block's ventilation system. This system continually brings in fresh air while expelling stale air. The extracted stale air retains coolth from the water source cooling system. Through the heat exchanger of the MVHR, this coolth is transferred to the incoming fresh air, preventing its expulsion. This energy transfer provides "free" energy and significantly reduces the building's energy demand. Consequently, the pre-cooled fresh air requires less cooling from the water source heat pump compared to fresh air brought in without heat exchange.

Evaporator

VENTILATION - RESTORATIVE SPACE

1. The prevailing wind blows warm, dry air from the west across the surface of Swaroop Sagar. Evaporative cooling of the lakes water results in a slight reduction in air temperature.

2. Air is drawn into the thermal labyrinth from vents along the waterfront. The rubble stone walls of the labyrinth absorb from the air, cooling it further.

3. A fan draws the air up the buildings riser into the hollowcore slabs at the soffit level of levels 0-3. The passing of air through the slabs helps to cool the thermal mass of the concrete which has been heated by internal heat gains.

4. Once the fresh, cooled air has circulated through the hollowcore slabs it is released into the internal spaces above, providing direct cool air.

5. Stale air is expelled from the building via the openable facade.

Air drawn into thermal labyrinth

PERFORATE FACADE

The perforate facades of the restorative block are driven by the desire to compliment and enhance the passive cooling of the block. The solid areas of panelling greatly reduce the solar radiation that enters the building, whilst the perforations still enable pleasing levels of natural daylighting. The perforations also allow air to flow through the facade. Openings in the inner facade wall allow this fresh air to enter the building, helping maintain the comfortable environment.

Levels 4 and 5 do not feature the inner wall of the floors below; hence, air can continually pass through the holistic ayurvedic spaces. The height of these floors above street level and surrounding obstructions ensures a sufficiently fast air speed to create a thermally comfortable environment.

ENVIRONMENT & STRUCTURE INTEGRATION

Aasha Ki Haveli looks to unify the structural and environmental strategies so that they work in harmony to complement one another. The hollowcore slabs of the restorative block are one such example of this. Ventilation supply ducts run in the raised accessed floor, delivering air from the riser to the individual hollowcore planks. The use of a raised access floor system allows for the concealment of the ventilation ducts whilst allowing the hollowcore slabs to be left exposed on the underside. This exposure of the soffit allows for the transfer of heat energy from the warm air to the underside of the hollowcore slabs. The flow of cooled air through the slabs reduces their temperature, ensuring their continued ability to store heat from the spaces below. The air supplied to the slabs is delivered to the space above via floor-level vents. This air will be subsequently warmed by internal heat sources before rising and transferring this heat into the hollowcore slab above.

350x350mm in-situ RC concrete column

Raised access terrazzo floor finish (150mm service void with integrated service boxes)

50mm in-situ concrete screed (to bond and level pre-cast slabs)

250mm pre-cast hollowcore concrete planks

In-situ reinforced concrete beam

350x350mm in-situ reinforced concrete column

SOLAR SHADING

Solar shading is integral to the environmental success of Aasha Ki Haveli as a result of the extremely high levels of solar radiation. Shading is vital to prevent excessive solar gains resulting in overheating of spaces.

Udaipur is located at a latitude of 24.5°C, so the solar angle is very high throughout the summer. At summer solstice, the sun passes almost directly overhead. Three different solar shading strategies are used on the building. The design of each varies in response to the architectural intent of the internal spaces.

The restorative block seeks to have strong connections to the surrounding landscape with a sense of permeability whilst still offering patients the required levels of solar shading and privacy. The perforated copper facade influenced by traditional jaali screens provides this. A secondary weatherproofed wall sits back from the perforate metal, providing additional shading to the internal spaces.

1. Perforate copper facade

Hit-and-miss brick facades are utilised for the herbal pharmacy. This change in brick texture to the surround blocks signifies the individual character of each block whilst also creating large screens of dappled natural light. The shadows cast by the facades move across the internal double-height walls as the day progresses.

Deep window reveals are proposed for the elevations of the medical block. This allows for plentiful natural daylight for the comfort of patients whilst ensuring a high level of privacy and solar shading. The protruding travertine reveals offer shading when the solar angle is high during the summer whilst also offering vertical shading as it lows into the afternoon.

2. Hit and miss brick

3. Deep window reveals

Udaipur experiences substantial solar energy levels throughout the year. During the monsoon period of June and July, the level drops to its lowest of 132 kWh. This is still higher than the solar energy levels in the UK throughout the summer months. Rajasthan has a high carbon grid electricity with a reliance on coal-powered generation. Therefore, the high levels of solar energy provide an opportunity for Aasha Ki Haveli to generate low-carbon energy. This aligns with the overall energy strategy of the Udaipur masterplan.

The number of sunlight hours in Udaipur remains high for the majority of the year due to the city being located close to the Tropic of Cancer. It is sunny for an average of 80% of total daylight hours. The number of sunlight hours drops slightly during July and August due to the monsoon season. There is an annual average of 9.6 hours of sunshine per day which compares to 4.2 hours for Bath, United Kingdom.

AVERAGE SUNSHINE HOURS UDAIPUR PER DAY 9.6 HOURS

PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

Aasha Ki haveli looks to utilise Udaipur’s high solar potential through a photovoltaic array on the highest roof. The height of the roof ensures that it is not overshadowed by surrounding buildings, providing a consistent supply of electrical generation. The proposed PV panels are arranged with a southern aspect to maximise the sunlight hours on the panels. The PV panels are connected to an inverter and battery in the ground floor plant room, which then distributes the power throughout the building.

1:20 photovoltaic panel system detailed section

5.2 hectares of mixed British woodland required to offset the 1152 tCO2e*

£57,596 at £25 per tCO2e (Woodland Trust)

£109,433 at £95 per tCO2e (Camden Warm & Well fund)

CARBON ASSESSMENT

These tables have been generated using the FCBS Carbon Tool by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. The tool makes an estimation of the operational and embodied carbon emissions of buildings over a lifespan of 60 years. The calculations also consider the emissions offset by the project, including carbon sequestration, reuse of building elements at the end of life and onsite renewables. Given the differing nature of the restorative and medical components of Aasha Ki Haveli, it was suggested by Joe Jack Williams of FCB Studios to calculate the two blocks individually. These tables are, therefore, a sum/average of the two individual calculations.

In regards of operational carbon, the proposal sits within the 2030 band of the non-domestic RIBA 2030 challenge. The photovoltaic system on the roof pulls it up from the 2025 band. However, it must be noted that the carbon intensity of the Indian national grid is vastly different to that of the UK. Therefore, it is likely that the operational carbon values shown are not representative of the project's location.

When assessing the building's embodied carbon, the most carbon intensive elements are the external walls (due to the copper facades) and the substructure due to the half-level labyrinth basement. These results, however, do not show the carbon offset due to the thermal labyrinth. Using the quarry waste bricks and mycelium insulation results in carbon sequestration within the external walls. The high level of carbon in the superstructure is also negated somewhat by the thermal mass properties of the concrete. However, the substitution of the concrete and copper elements would lead to a lower embodied carbon value. Substitution of the concrete frame with a lighter structure, such as timber, would also likely result in a reduction in substructure embodied carbon; however, as stated, timber was not a feasible structural strategy given the location.

WATER USAGE

As climate change grips the world, Rajasthan is facing particularly severe effects with greater variability in annual monsoons and a general fall in annual rainfall. Udaipur has experienced a sharp rise in the number of droughts in the past 20 years. Aasha Ki Haveli seeks to act positively towards the overall masterplan's goal of increasing the city's water resilience. The capture and use of rainwater on site will reduce the need to extract water from the city's strained water system.

The water strategy, illustrated by the diagram to the far right, is as follows:

1. The biodiverse roofs and the pedestal roof all serve as the water catchment area for rainwater harvesting.

2. Downpipes direct the water to the subterranean water storage tanks located under the herbal pharmacy.

3. Excess water is slowly released into Swaroop Sagar lake.

4. Water stored in the subterranean water tank is directly used for irrigation of the ayurvedic gardens within the site boundary and along the lake front.

5. Water is pumped to the basement plant where it is filtered for nonsterile use in the building.

6. Filtered water is then pumped to the toilets throughout Aasha Ki Haveli for flushing.

Average annual rainfall in Udaipur

Annual water requirement/m2

Ayurvedic garden area

Annual water requirement

Estimated annual toilet flushes 200 (per day) x 365

Water usage per flush

Annual water flush usage

Total annual rainwater requirement

Rainwater catchment potential

Roof water catchment area

Yield coefficient

Hydraulic efficiency

Annual rainwater harvesting potential

GREEN ROOFS

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) is a founding principle of the Hindu faith. This ideology recognises the interdependence of all life forms, emphasising a need for humans to respect and enhance the natural environment. Aasha Ki Haveli’s green roofs acknowledge this by providing ecological benefits. The roofs provide a habitat and food source for many local species that have been impacted by the loss of green space within the city. The mass provided by the roof build-up also reduces the amount of heat transfer to the internal space below. Green roofs have also been proven to improve the efficiency of PV panels by reducing the risk of overheating.

Green Roof

Vegetation - plug planted with species selected by consultant landscape designer

320mm specialised lightweight growing medium

Polypropylene filter fleece

50mm DSE60 water retention and drainage layer

Pro Mat protection layer

Visqueen EcoMembrane® 100% recycled polyethylene Type “A”

damp proof membrane as defined by BS EN 13967: 2012

150mm mycelium insulation

Vapour control layer

250mm hollowcore pre-cast concrete slab

400mm cast in-situ concrete beam

(The internal space below this roof is uninsulated space and so the insulation of the roof is simply to prevent direct heat transfer to the thermal mass of the concrete slab)

Ecology and land use form one of the critical BREEAM assessment criteria. Improving the local ecology of Udaipur is also an integral component of the overall masterplan strategy, given the severe degradation of the natural environment caused by the increasing population.

The proposed site is brownfield land currently occupied by several residential properties. The site presently has minimal ecological benefit with large amounts of hard landscaping. There are several trees on the site which do offer a small amount of habitat for wildlife. The proposal looks to retain two of these three trees with the planting of two additional trees.

Ecological sustainability is key to the overall environmental strategy of Aasha Ki Haveli. Every effort has been made to activate the site with native fauna. Ayurvedic planting throughout the site and along the street landscape creates substantial areas of new habitat for local wildlife. The ayurvedic water garden along the lake edge creates further habitat for aquatic creatures. The plant species used within the water garden have been selected for their watercleansing benefits alongside their ayurvedic uses. Aquatic plants, such as lotus, have the ability to act as natural water filtration, helping to reduce the level of pollutants within Swaroop Sagar Lake.

PART B - FIRE SAFETY

B1 – Means of Warning & Escape:

An automatic visual and audio fire detection and alarm system will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the building. The proposed system will comply with the principles of BS 5839-6 to a Grade A standard (Separate detectors, sounders and central control and indicating equipment with a backup power supply that conforms to British Standards BS EN 54.). As a general rule, horizontal escape distances to a protected corridor, stair or final exit are less than 18m in one direction or less than 45m in two directions.

An escape stair in the front restorative block of the building provides an escape route from all levels down to the street. The screening block to the rear of the site has fire two fire escapes at each level removing the requirement for an escape stair. Escape routes and doors exceed the minimum requirement of 1050mm wide, as determined in Table 2.3 of Part B, serving a maximum of 220 occupants per core. Automated release doors open in the direction of escape and minimise fire spread. Disabled refuge points (900mm x 1400mm) are located at each level of the fireprotected circulation core and positioned so as not to obstruct the flow of movement. Any inner rooms have an occupancy below 30 and pass through only one accessible room. The connecting doors will therefore be fitted with vision panels to allow occupants to see if a fire has been started in the outer rooms.

Fire curtains along the perimeter edges of voids in the restorative block protect the fire escape route in the event of a fire. This curtain will be automatically dropped when the alarm system sounds.

B2/3 – Internal Fire Spread:

The inherent fire-resistant properties of concrete and brick ensure that the risk of internal fire spread is low. The fire-protected core is constructed from 250mm concrete which gives a minimum of 90 minutes protection, with 90-minute protected doors. Certain areas of the medical screening zone require additional fire safety measures due to risks associated with the machinery. Resultantly, a fire system is integrated into the soffit-level servicing to provide additional protection. Nonferrous sprinklers and fire extinguishers will be provided to allow for the safe protection of the MRI suite. Floors plans of the building will provide firefighters with the zone of magnetic risk from the MRI scanner.

B4 - External Fire Spread:

Aasha Ki Haveli is closely situated to the adjacent buildings to the north and south due to the restricted site size. However, the risk of external fire spread is extremely low, given the inherent fire-resistant properties of the external envelope. In addition, the top storey of Aasha Ki Haveli stands at 16.2m above street level. It hence is not subject to regulations requiring a limited combustibility envelope to any structure above 18m.

B5 – Fire Service Access:

The requirements set out in AD B, Table 15.1 are comfortably met with vehicular access to more than 50% of the building perimeter, far exceeding the minimum 15% required in Part B 15.1. Fire service vehicles can access the building from the east and west with sufficient width on both adjacent roads. The external floor surface is of non-combustible stone paving. The inlet for both fire mains will be located on the face of the building within 18m from the vehicular access point. Water valves are situated in stair cores, and hydrants are placed around the perimeter of the site.

PART M - ACCESS TO AND USE OF BUILDINGS

Aasha Ki Haveli has been designed with a focus on creating an inclusive and non-biased environment. The building’s design focuses on offering equal access to all areas regardless of an individual’s ability. This is particularly important given that many people undergoing allopathic cancer treatments may have reduced ability due to treatment side effects.

Access & Approach:

As part of Udaipur’s wider sustainable transport network, Aasha Ki Haveli will be located within walking distance of multiple bus stops. The nearby Hara Bazaar tram stop will also allow access for women from the wider city network. This ensures that the building can be accessed by as many of the city’s female population as possible. Level access from the nearby tram and bus stations benefits the ease of access. Bicycle storage is located in front of the building along with staff changing and shower facilities to offer a further sustainable transport option.

Entrance, Circulation and Navigation:

The entrance landscape features a lift to ensure that less abled users can experience the same landscape-based approach sequence. The decision to detach the lift from the building was a conscious decision as the entrance sequence through the landscape is intended to alleviate some of the stress associated with cancer screening. It is critical that all can experience this in the same way. All doors provide level access into each room, with main entrance door widths exceeding the minimum requirement of 1200mm. To ensure that all levels of the building are accessible, lifts are provided in prominent positions. Both lifts are located

adjacent to vertical circulation stairs to ensure users all have an equal experience of the building. All stairs have level landings with no more than 12 risers without providing a level landing which is equal to the width of the stair. All stairs throughout the building have consistent risers (150mm) and goings of (300mm) with handrails provided to both sides. Each stair core has designated refuge zones within the protected core.

Sanitary Provision:

Accessible WC’s are positioned on each floor level and are provided with outward opening doors of sufficient width for wheelchair access and incorporate a minimum 300mm nib to the pull side of the door to allow ease of access for wheelchair users. The number of sanitary provisions has been calculated using expected maximum occupancy numbers and recommendations set out in BS8300. The community café is open to both male and female visitors. Therefore, the toilets are individual cubicles which can be utilised by all. A changing places room is also provided at ground floor level.

Security:

Aasha Ki Haveli has a large focus on ease of access for all women and so naturally the design seeks to mirror this. The main entrance is the primary route into the building and this will be passively supervised by staff working in the herbal pharmacy. These members of staff will ensure that the female-only environment is maintained. The community café features large doors that can be locked overnight to prevent vandalism.

CDM - HEALTH & SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

The construction industry in India is one of the most hazardous industries due to limited health and safety practices in the country. In order to ensure the highest standards of health and safety throughout the construction process, Aasha Ki Haveli will comply with CDM regulations. This will ensure the safety of all construction workers and members of the public walking in close proximity to the site.

Pre-construction:

In compliance with CDM regulations, a principal designer will be appointed. Whilst this does not have to be the project architect, in this case the role will be assumed by the project architect as they form an integral part of the design team, with clear oversight on all aspects of the design. The principal designer’s role in the pre-construction phase will involve the following:

• Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase between all parties and design team members.

• Advise and provide assistance to the client to bring together pre-construction information and also provide relevant information to designers and contractors in order for them to effectively carry out their duties.

• Work with design team members and other designers to eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the works and where it is not possible to eliminate, reduce or control associated risks.

• Ensure everyone working on the pre-construction phase is properly and effectively communicating and coordinating work.

• Liaise with the principle contractor, keeping them updated on any risks that need to be controlled during the construction phase.

• Furthermore, a pre-construction risk assessment will be undertaken to identify potential risks to surround buildings and occupants. This will include, but is not limited to, noise and air quality impact assessments.

Construction:

The Aasha Ki Haveli site is relatively constrained with Swaroop Sagar to the west and residential buildings sitting adjacent to the north and south. The road to the east site boundary will provide the site entrance allowing for the safe delivery of construction goods. This will ensure minimal disruption to the west boundary road that is used by school buses. The site sits close to the city centre and, therefore, there is likely to be heavy pedestrian traffic passing. Resultantly, hoarding will be used to create a secure site boundary, ensuring separation of pedestrians from the construction works. Timed delivery slots will be allocated to ensure that minimal disruption is caused to neighbours. Aasha Ki Haveli will maintain a high standard of safe practice throughout construction, including:

• All construction workers must complete relevant health and safety training prior to working on site.

• All people entering the site must wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

• A site office will be located close to the site entrance and a first aid area will be clearly marked.

• Measures will be taken to ensure safety when working at heights. This is often ignored on Indian construction sites with limited scaffolding. Permanent metal scaffolding with access stairs and safety nets will be used.

Maintenance and Use:

Considerations have been made to ensure the safe maintenance of Aasha Ki Haveli throughout its use. At handover, the client will become responsible for exercising the safe maintenance practices. All external glazing can be cleaned from ground floor level to avoid risks associated with working at height.

• The roof is accessible via a hatch from the stair core. A mansafe harness system will be provided on the roof to ensure the safety of those servicing the PV and rainwater systems.

• Regular checks of the gutters and flashing must be undertaken to prevent moisture ingress. This is particularly important during the monsoon season.

• All balustrades in the building are a minimum of 1100mm high to prevent falling.

• The external façade of the building requires minimal maintenance as the materials have been chosen due to their durability.

Process & Relections

This section details the development of the architectural project and the reasoning of key decisions. It also includes a reflection on potential improvements to the project.

UNDERSTANDING THE SITE

Despite spending 10 incredible days in Udaipur in early October 2022, I unfortunately did not get to visit the site. Our original area of interest for the masterplan was further east and so our time in the city focused on this area. At the outset of this project Google street view imagery surrounding the site was not available. Fortunately, Studio Saar undertook a site visit to capture a number of photos to help me better understand the site. These images allowed for a detailed picture of the site to be built culminating in the creation of a physical existing site model. This model proved particularly useful in understanding the site's levels and relationships with neighbouring properties.

PLANNING A BUILDING

The building plan was continually revised throughout the project. It was a personal aim of mine to keep the design adaptive to change as close to the final review as possible. As such the plan underwent a continual process of refinement. The intial plans put an emphasis strongly zoning the building into four separate programmatic areas. However, this diminished with the project's progression in order to create a more integrated and cohesive proposal.

FLOOR PLANS

At the first review, the plan was strongly dictated by the existing terraced levels of the site. Visitors would step up off of the street to a raised community engagement space with terraced gardens. From here visitors would then move up another floor to a support level. This floor would then offer vertical circulation to either the screening facilities below or the holistic ayurvedic treatment areas above. This plan arrangement resulted in very awkward visitor flows - people would go up a floor to come back down again. These plans showcased that replicating the terraced levels of the site in the buildings form caused planning difficulties. The arrangement also resulted in a deep level 0 plan that would be starved of natural daylight.

FLOOR PLANS - INTERIM 2

At the second review, the proposal began to look at splitting the building's programme in plan rather than section. The plan has been split into two individual blocks which can each have differing environment controls and systems to align to their individual needs. The restorative block is pulled to the front of the site allowing for expansive views across the the lake. The plans of the restorative block seek to respond to the surrounding context and so the south wall is aligned to the axis of the existing pavilion on the water's edge. Meanwhile the medical block is embedded into the back of the site where it is given greater privacy.

The splitting of the programme results in the formation of a lower roof over the medical block. This provides a platform for a walled roof garden that can offer private external space for patients.

SECTION DEVELOPMENT

The development of the section was integral to the progression of the design given the rich sections of traditional havelis in udaipur. The section of the building at review one did not capture this richness. The proceeding sections sought to integrate internal space with haveli-like courtyards whilst also creating an internal richness of section with voids to replicate the vertical views of havelis. The section development also sought to create a strong connection between the building and Swaroop Sagar. Pulling the restorative block close to the water's edge and undercutting it with a colonnade helped to achieve this.

EXPLORING MASSING

Physical massing models were used throughout the early stages of the design to test various compositions for the site. These models proved incredibly useful to test how the building would sit within the tight urban grain and its relationship with the adjacent buildings.

The massing shifted quite significantly thanks to this process. Initially, the concept was to reflect the terrace levels of the site by creating a stepped form. This, however, sat uncomfortably on the site with the tall massing at the rear of the site feeling very over powering to the lower buildings at the rear.

COURTYARDS

With the project's design originating conceptually from the spatial qualities of traditional havelis, courtyards were to be a key focus of the design. The sizing of haveli courtyards are always modest no matter the size of the property. These small courtyards offer the shaded space that is required by the high solar angle of northern india. The diagrams to the right were created early into the design process to understand the optimum sizing of courtyards. It was identified that the longer edge of the courtyards should run along a north-south axis. It was further found that a width of 6-8 provided the best levels of shading.

SETTLING THE MASSING

Following an extensive massing testing process that explored 12 different variations, a massing arrangement was identified that sat comfortably on the tight site whilst also suiting the building's programme. The photo to the left shows the massing model that was presented at the scheme review and was the basis for the final proposal. The massing is informed by the internal programme. A low rectangular block with a central courtyard is positioned to the rear of the site. Its low level is sympathetic to the nearby 1/2 storey buildings. A taller block is then positioned along the edge of Swaroop Sagar for the restorative programme. The two blocks are separated by a linear block that acts as an entrance and orienting space.

MATERIAL THOUGHTS

Several sample bricks were created to understand and test how waste from the quarries of the Aravalli hills could be utilised as a building material. Marble fragments and slurry were collected from a stone yard in Cheddar, Somerset. The slurry was produced by the yard's CNC cutting machine which uses a flow of water over the cutting blade. Typically 2 tonnes of this slurry would be sent to landfill each week. The slurry used in these samples contained a mixture of stones cut by the yard and so the visual appearance isn't representative of the bricks that would be produced in Udaipur.

Testing Process:

1. The small marble fragments were crushed using a mechanical crusher to create a finer aggregate.

2. This crushed marble mixture was then graded using sieves to split the aggregate into different sizing groups

3. Marble pieces of <5mm were mixed with slurry, lime and water

4. This mixture was then compacted into a timber mould

5. The brick was then left to cure naturally for two weeks

MATERIAL EFFICIENCY

It was identified from a very early stage of the design that concrete would offer the most suitable structural system given Udaipur's climate and the available resources. However, the high embodied carbon of concrete meant that the design process involved extensive work to maximise the efficiency of concrete use in the building. Standard flat concrete slabs were found to be very inefficient and so the design looked at evolving a system of slabs that used less concrete. The design looked at ways of reducing concrete volume whilst providing the same structural capacity. Waffles slabs were utilised in the design until the scheme review. It was then identified that the slabs posed difficulties for running the services required of the medical block. The proposal, therefore, progressed to the ribbed slabs and hollowcore slabs used in the final proposal.

Hollowcore Slab

Flat slab with void formers

Ribbed pre-cast slab

THE JAALI

Jaali screens play an important role in the architecture of Northern India. Whilst helping to moderate the internal temperature through shading, the screens were also borne from a desire to provide privacy to females of the house. Given the privacy requirement of Aasha Ki Haveli and its extremely sensitive programme, it was decided that jaali screens should play an integral role in the building's facades. This series of physical models first looked at the surface quality of a traditional jaali pattern. The models then explored how this quality could be replicated using perforated brickwork.

At scheme review, the perforated brick jaali was proposed for the upper floor of the medical block. Medical rooms sitting behind the brick screens would be given the required privacy by the small perforated openings. However, the use of perforated facades on the medical block did not offer the quality of light required. The dappled light would not be suitable for the medicals screening procedures taking place. Resultantly, the decision was taken to apply punctured window openings to the medical screening block and a perforate facade to the restorative block.

THE JAALI

The decision to apply a perforate facade to the restorative block was further driven by a desire to give the massing a sense of being lightweight and permeable given its scale next to the residential property to the north. The facade design began to explore a perforate sceen with a wider balcony space separating it from a solid thermally insulated wall. The image to the facade that was presented at the detailed review.

The decision was made that the perforate brick facade should be replaced with a perforate copper facade. Traditional jaali screens can be viewed as being very oppressive to women given their inability to look outwards from the building. Women would only ever be able to capture small glimpses of the street around their home. Therefore, an openable perforate copper facade gives the female occupants the ability to control the level of privacy that they desire. The copper facade also allows for a replication of intricacy that the brick facades did not offer. This intricacy the panels is more closely aligned to that of traditional screens. It also allows greater control of lighting.

DETAIL DEVELOPMENT

These sketches explore the detailing of the medical screening block. The corridors of the block wrapping the courtyard were seen as a key detail to improve the patient experience. These sketches seek to offer resting moments for patients to sit once they have changed into gowns and are waiting to be called through. These pause moments look to ease the transition from the waiting room to the screening rooms. It was important for generous natural lighting of the corridor whilst ensuring the privacy of patients who would likely be in hospital gowns. These details explored internal timber shutters to the courtyard facing windows, however they were dismissed as they would protrude into the corridor when open.

Framed wall

Diaphragm wall

It felt important that the design of Aasha Ki Haveli was directly influenced by the rich culture of Udaipur without making cliché design moves simply because 'it looks Indian'. India is a rapidly advancing nation and it was imperative that the design followed a similar progressive nature.

Research identified that pavilions (chattri) are an integral component of Indian architecture, largely as a result of the country's warm climate. The design looked to introduce pavilions at roof garden level to provide private intimate space. These quiet moments were influenced by the paintings of Michele Angelo Petrone. His paintings whilst undergoing treatment for leukaemia represent the emotional journey of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Many of these paintings explore the idea of chaos and a sense of being lost. The chattris seek to provide a refuge from the psychological cancer experienced by patients.

Design Review 1

DESIGN REVIEWS

Design Review 2

The concept and narrative were well received in the first review. However, the critics were concerned with the massing proposal that reflected the existing terracing of the site. It was felt that the stepped arrangement resulted in awkward stacking of the programme and was too formal. Instead, it was suggested that greater delineation of massing to reflect the programme might be beneficial. The importance of thresholds for the sensitive nature of the brief was also highlighted as a critical area to focus on.

Feedback from the second review was very encouraging. The critics felt that the proposal responded well to the restricted nature of the site, and the move to split the restorative and medical programme elements into two distinct volumes was credited. Observations were made regarding the harsh landscape leading to the entrance and how this space needed to minimise the threshold. The geometry of the restorative volume was also felt to be restricting the spatial planning of the top three floors. The critics suggested the exploration of a perforate façade for the restorative block.

Critics : Anne Claxton and Rob Mitchell

Critics : Anne Claxton and Peter Clegg

Design Review 3

At the detailed review the proposal was fairly well received. The critics both shared positive comments towards the building arrangement and the tectonic language that was beginning to take shape. It was suggested that further interrogation of the facades was necessary to align them to the core design diagrams and principles. It was suggested that the perforate front block should be entirely copper clad. I was pleased to receive this feedback as I had concerns for the elevational treatment of the proposal. Additional comments focused on the material detailing with suggestion that refinement of this would emphasise the building's sense of approachability.

Design Review 4

During the final review there was some positive feedback to the scheme along with some constructive criticism. The critics felt that the medical courtyard needed to be more perforate as it was felt that this would align better to the haveli precedent. There was also suggestion that the void of the restorative block should continue right down through the building. However, this suggestion would break the thermal line of the lower floors. It was further suggested that the visualisations should be updated to illustrate the bright colours of Rajasthan.

Critics : Anne Claxton and Nigel Bedford

Critics : Anne Claxton, Sasha Bhavan and Andrew Morrison

PERSONAL REFLECTION

This project draws to an end the most incredible six years at the University of Bath. I feel so privileged to have been taught by some of the best in the architectural industry. Aasha Ki Haveli, whilst not the largest, is the most complex project I have undertaken during my architectural education. However, this challenge has brought great satisfaction.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to undertake my final project in the context of a city so different to any I have ever worked in before. The challenge of the building programme was dwarfed by the testing task of understanding Udaipur’s complex and rich culture. I believe this challenge has expanded my approach to the cultural context of a building’s design. A building must be of its place and people. Aasha Ki Haveli has sought to do this with the utmost respect for tradition whilst also recognising the rapid development of the city.

Though the project has been completed to the best of my ability during its short four month period, there are still many aspects of the design that I would have liked to refine and explore further. I put a lot of emphasis on the façade design as this is something that I have found challenging in the past. I have attempted to create a façade that is very different to any I have done before, and this posed a challenge in understanding how the detail would work, Given more time, I would like to explore the detailing of the façade further, particularly looking at how the pattern transitions with the height of the building.

Despite the areas of the project that I am unhappy with, I am overwhelmingly proud of Aasha Ki Haveli and the social agenda it creates. Architecture is an extremely powerful tool. During my fourth year studies, architecture helped occupy my mind through an incredibly challenging time as my mum went through cancer herself. It now feels incredibly rewarding to use architecture to create a proposal that is extremely meaningful to my family and I.

I would like to extend a massive thank you to my tutor Anne Claxton and all of the consultant tutors who have guided me through this project.