Portfolio by Utkarsh Kumar

portfolio

“...there is a discrepancy between the acceleration of culture and the continuing slowness of architecture” REM KOOLHAAS

The point of collaboration is to step out of your own space & create a new space as a result of somebody else’s influence, their journey and their knowledge. Best collaborations unfold with the most unlikeliest suspects in the most unpredictable of spaces. The skills acquired through experiences in “hyper-collaborative” environments has allowed me to identify social, cultural & infrastructural needs thus realizing its latent potential which can help transform the unique “issues” faced by a city into solutions thereby helping create a better design ecosystem. The discovery of “latent potential” of any site helps develop a holistic approach for the design process, which encompasses cognitive thinking or systems thinking, the emotional experience, the cultural and psychological impacts. Manifestation of these aspects of design thinking not only helps create a better design but may also allow the city to find a point of departure to work towards a better future.

INTRODUCTION Trained as both an architect & urban designer, I understand that our environment is the defining character of our self image. The discovery of ones existential sense comes only through the intimate connection with our immediate surroundings. These connections further build a relationship with our present and possibly a future. Therefore, it is important to have an understanding of how these environments affect our realities and possibilities that can then come together as manifestations of complex systems, sociopolitical and cultural motivations. The following projects represent my understanding of the process of design where enhancing these complex systems and strategies, without loosing their diverse characteristics, is the key.

t h e s i s

01 NANO & THE CITY

c o m p e t i t i o n s

02 KINGSPAN HEADQUARTERS

a c a d e m i c

w o r k

04 REDWOOD CITY WATERFRONT

p r o f e s s i o n a l

w o r k

08 PANDEY RESIDENCE

03 O3 TOWERS

05 FORECLOSED URBANISM

06 COMBINATORY URBANISM

07 INT’L AIRPORT TERMINAL

Urban Design

Landscape

09 IIMT

Architecture

m a p

projects

travel & photography

O3 towers

t h e s i s

This project emanated from the research in the field of nanotechnology & the integration of design thinking with scientific scenario building aimed towards the understanding of sociopolitical & physical implications of a nano-enhanced urban environment.

RECIPIENT OF THE DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2013; THE DESIGN SCHOOL, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

[APPLIED RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE] PHOENIX , ARIZONA SPRING 2013 I ADVANCED ARCHITECTURAL AND URBAN DESIGN STUDIO The applied research collaborative studio operated as a multi-disciplinary design laboratory where faculty and students explored integrative design between science, technology and policy relative to the urban condition of the city of Phoenix, AZ. The following considerations were addressed: a) Existing & Emerging Nanotechnologies; b) Climatic Responsive Design; c) Urban Adaptation Strategies; d) Social Responsibility; e) Political Policy; f) Material Culture; g) Regulation. Through the study of socio-political and physical implications of a nano-enhanced urban environment relevant to new strategies for urban adaptation & integration of design thinking with scientific scenario building, the studio derived 4 alternate futures for the city of Phoenix existing in the year 2050. COLLABORATION: CHRISTOPHER CURIEL, POUYAN KHATANIFAR, NAMITHA JALORI, KIESHA LOCKLIER, CJ ROGERS, JENN LAURING, CALEIGH CRAFT, JORDAN KRAVITZ, PATRICK BAILEY, SUZAN OZCELIK & WILLIAM RYZCEK CORE COLLABORATIVE GROUP: POUYAN KHATANIFAR + SUZAN OZCELIK INSTRUCTORS: DARREN PETRUCCI, ARNIM WIEK, WIL HEYWOOD, RIDER FOLEY, RENATA HEJDUK, ALEX GINO CRITICS: MARK STAPP, MICHAEL UNDERHILL, MAX UNDERWOOD, MARK RODDY, KEVIN KELLOGG, DAVE GUSTON, DARREN PETRUCCI, ARNIM WIEK, WIL HEYWOOD, RIDER FOLEY, RENATA HEJDUK & ALEX GINO

[STUDIO THESIS] the designer of the 21st century does not work alone. the complexity and expertise required to produce innovative design is too vast for any one individual, therefore new collaborative design models are needed. the applied research collaborative is one such model. the studio aims to develop hyper-collaborative environment that embraces multi-disciplinary expertise toward establishing a common design objective. unlike conventional design studios where individual students develop their own projects, students in applied research collaborative work together toward a common design synthesis.

ALTERNATE FUTURE SCENARIOS 1. Will the sun rise in Arizona? A story of the future of solar energy market 2. Citizens and Cities: How communities can solve problems 3. Privatized and Securitized: A world under control 4. Grey goo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; revisited

GREY GOO - REVISITED A pale ashen sky gave way to streaks of magenta and lilac. The sun’s rays awoke, emanating from behind the Superstition Mountains. L’yan, one of millions of late night revellers, meandered home through Phoenix from the Wednesday night hacker event. L’yan only had a short walk through the early morning dawn to her building. She had spent the night with three friends at their conjoined apartments in a nearby pad. Their small group, along with 10,000,000 fellow hackers, beat the challenge posted on the PATHWAY (Privileged Access -The Hacker WAY) challenge board. L’yan shivered, a cool wisp of air and the feeling of success washing over her. This week’s PATHWAY challenge had been rather simple, but the implications had been important. Researchers in a government laboratory had created the genetic prototype for Grey Goo, a legacy threat, conceived of by science fiction writer Michael Crichton and taken seriously by risk and security experts for decades. This week’s PATHWAY challenge had a singular mission – create a defense system robust enough to handle a global, simultaneous, outbreak of Grey Goo. The United Nations Security Council, limited by their static budget, had created an interface, called Sedna, accessible for hackers to enter and engage in PATHWAY challenges. Sedna was not just another form of cloud computing, but it was a distant and remote reality, an entire virtual world, within which dangerous and lethal threats could be assessed and initial mitigation efforts tested. Sedna, named after the furthest planet from the sun, was distant enough to be safe and exclusive enough that only the 10,000,000 (plus or minus) PATHWAY hackers could attempt the challenge. L’yan had gained PATHWAY access during her thirteenth year of learning in the online ACADEMIA (Academy for Critically Adaptive trans-Disciplinary Engineering, Mathematics, Informatics, & Arts). She dropped out after that. Who needed a doctorate if you had hacker access to PATHWAY challenges? That was where the money was. Research funds were no longer tied up in the staid, traditional, disciplinary colleges and universities. In Phoenix, akin to many innovation centers around the world, social stratification was not determined by ability, race, gender, or family wealth. Stratification was based on your skills in problem solving and adaptive learning; your power to construction and shape materials; to write and decipher computer code; to hack and reap the rewards. L’yan’s place was posh, compared with ‘squares’ - people that either didn’t spend the time or didn’t have the skills to improve their condition through hacking. She lived on the top floor of an ever growing and changing building. L’yan had to continuously compete to stay on top. Gardens and waterfalls attracted birds, bats, and bees to the mid-air oasis. Phoenix, renewed by the ideals of individual freedom and independent creativity, had amended their building codes to allow the new hacker pads in 2035. Pads, served as the basis of innovation and growth. City leaders saw them as the keys to the Phoenix economy. Today, in 2050, ‘squares’ still live in relics, detached houses, off-pad. They constitute the labor force for the service industries that support the core pads at the urban core of Phoenix. Joseph Gammage, the security guard, smiled and waved as L’yan walked into her building.

VISUALIZATION SEQUENCE

SCENARIO 4 META-STRUCTURE

Dependency On Technology

Research & Understanding of New Technologies & Their Impacts

Rise in Economic Challenges

Innovation Hubs In Major Cities Innovation Centers Around the World

Social Cultural Technological

Risk Assessment

Grey Goo

Simulations

Layers

INNOVATION CENTERS

Defense Council

Law Political Hackers

UNSC SEDNA Economic

Hacker Pads as Primary Economic Generators Squares as Secondary/Supporting Economic Generators

PHOENIX 2050

PATHWAY

ACADEMIA

Challenges

Hackers

Engineering, Mathematics, Informatics & Arts

Simulations

Solutions

Money=Information

Social Superiority

OPEN SOURCE PATHWAY

Services for Hackers General Education ACADEMIA

OFF PADS

Lower Social Standing

THESIS STATEMENT Society has responded to urban sustainability problems by allowing people with the ability to manipulate the system to affect the quality of their own life and their community (if they are inclined to do so). There is no systematic public coordination; hackers are free to address any kind of problem in ad-hoc and random ways in specified locations. Whoever has an idea and the chance to manipulate the urban environment does so through distributed networks. This leads to scattered success in some places, as well as failures in other places, in which communities continue to experience stresses on people, economy, and environment.

MOTOROLA SUPERFUND SITE

PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA

SUPPOSITIONS SUPPOSITION I Public + Private investments have established Phoenix as an international innovation hub where hackers collaborate in sanctioned challenges to solve public issues. The population of Phoenix increases as projected in addition to the hackers that are attracted to the city, with the majority of hackers residing in downtown Phoenix. Downtown is underdeveloped with low density.

SUPPOSITION II Motorola 52 Superfund Site is targeted for remediation due to the continuous depletion of water resources. Water contamination has been the major reason for the underdevelopment and decrease in land value within the area, while the rest of the greater Phoenix area has experienced a steady growth.

SUPPOSITION III Performative building codes have permitted hackers to utilize the public realm to not only remediate the contaminated water but also provide a collaborative environment for hackers. The air rights over the street is given to the hackers.

SUPPOSITION IV As curious, highly creative people, hackers are at the top of the social structure due to the services they provide for the betterment of the public. The government commissions the hackers to solve issues and reward them exclusive access to the air rights over the road.

SUPPOSITION V As a reward for their services, hackers are provided with an exclusive community where they are able to collaborate with the ability to manipulate their environment. While non-hackers [regular citizens] continue to reside within existing urban context. The ground condition at the street scale completely transforms due to the benefits of the infrastructure, while the Superfund Site gradually develops and becomes more dense.

SUPPOSITION VI Through transparency of the infrastructure + information, non-hackers living in the existing community are informed of benefits of the hacker infrastructure that directly effect the urban context. Becoming a hacker becomes an inspiration to others, to utilize their skills to benefit the public while at the same time take advantage of a collaborative work environment and specialized amenities exclusively for the hackers. The greater context outside of the Superfund Site progresses to the same urban level.

SCENARIO VARIABLES & URBAN DESIGN IMPLICATIONS SOCIETAL CONTEXT: PUBLIC FUNDING AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS The government created a new set of structures - the hacker infrastructure - that occupied the public realm of the city. The government provided exclusive amenities for the hackers, which indirectly benefits the surrounding community. Once the hackers leave, the infrastructure that remains is transformed as a public amenity that is accessible to everyone. INNOVATION MODEL: OPEN SOURCE & DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) For their work, hackers are provided with new amenities exclusive to their communities. The structures they create integrate living & working within close proximity to each other. SOCIETAL CONTEXT: RISK MITIGATING CAPACITY Performative codes guide the structureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design. Variables - sunlight, bus locations, injection points & affected surface [area + depth] - are major factors that shape - contract & spread the codes that deliver the shape of the infrastructure. SOCIETAL CONTEXT: SOCIAL, LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND CIVIC CAPACITIES Information is delivered through the design to hackers as well as the larger community. Open information sourcing becomes part of the culture of the community, not isolated to certain organizations within the community. SOCIETAL CONTEXT: DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS Urban growth takes shape first in the interstitial spaces [public open spaces [roads [major, secondary, and minor]]. It trickled or is trickled to being through the injection points assemblages into the bus stops where certain amenities are provided. Once the site is cleaned, re-zoning allows for new development to happen.

PHOENIX METROPOLITAN: 2030

MOTOROLA SUPERFUND SITE

BUS STOPS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STRUCTURES

SUPPORT STRUCTURES

INJECTION WELL SPREAD

SCENARIO VARIABLES & URBAN DESIGN IMPLICATIONS URBAN SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES: SOCIAL COHESION AND JUSTICE New structures, never able to be conceived or physically shaped, are created by hackers to reform the urban environment. Single-family homes continue to expand at the urban fringe where the context is uncontrollable and without new amenities. URBAN SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES: LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES Messaging reports recent educational achievements and announces the names and images of successful students. Students demonstrate their skills and achievements in problem-solving challenges in the public realm where they are invited to join certain teams within the hacker community for further development, experience, and training in skills. URBAN SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES: RESOURCE MAINTENANCE AND EFFICIENCY Hackers are virtually and physically connected to urban infrastructure. The injection wells are integrated with the structural members that touch the ground which also act as bus stops. Information is relayed through wireless networks that allows open sourcing to continue with no restraints. Air purification units integrate with the structural system. NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS Hackers redefine ‘space’ through their infrastructure and in turn, it alters the urban fabric. The infrastructure responds to climatic conditions through the Shape Memory Alloy and glass material which act similarly but produce different comfort, protection, and design qualities within the space. Additions are dependent on mechanical, water, and electrical systems within the infrastructure. Pods have the ability to move to different locations as needed when needed by hackers and community after hacker’s leave. A separate transportation network is setup on the infrastructure to allow hackers to travel without dependency upon the existing transportation system of the general public.

STREETS ON SUPERFUND SITE

PRIMARY INFRASTRUCTURAL STREETS

SECONDARY INFRASTRUCTURAL STREETS

TERTIARY INFRASTRUCTURAL STREETS

PHASE I: 2030

PHASE II: 2050

PHASE III: 2070

HIGH TRAFFIC ROADS

HIGH PEDESTRIAN ROADS

HACKER LIVING PADS

HACKER COLLABORATIVE SPACES

AQUATIC ZONES

BIO-MEDICAL INTEGRATION SPACE

CIRULATION CORE

GATHERING SPACES

COMMUNITY GARDENS

ALGAE GARDENS

POLLINATION BIOZONES

SIBERIAN BIOZONE

TROPICAL BIOZONE

URBAN DEVELOPMENT: 2030

URBAN DEVELOPMENT: 2050

URBAN DEVELOPMENT: 2070

PHOENIX METROPOLITAN: 2070

ARBUTUS PROTOTYPE: AQUATIC ZONE

ARBUTUS PROTOTYPE: BIOZONE

GROUND CONDITION I

GROUND CONDITION II

AQUATIC ZONE The Aquatics utilizes day lighting and ventilation in order to provide a strong sense of indoor / outdoor connection. It consists of swimming, diving, therapeutic, freshwater and hyper-salinate pools. Holographic displays virtually coordinate with hackers to visualize their performance and movements to promote an active life.

SECTION: AQUATIC ZONE

GATHERING SPACES The gathering spaces provide a wide range of options and dropin activities. They are organized around a desert arroyo and views to the nearby mountains. Translucent shape memory alloy within the voids of Arbutus respond to interior and exterior climatic conditions to provide a space for large groups of hackers to gather and interact.

SECTION: GATHERING SPACES

INFRASTRCUTURE INTEGRATION Arbutus is integrated with the street, re-appropriating public infrastructure in order to enhance the streetscape.

INFRASTRCUTURE INTEGRATION

POLLINATION BIOZONE The Pollination Biozones utilize purified air in order to create an ecological system where hackers can observe and study the interrelationships between organisms and their environment. The paths through this amenity provide for opportunities to explore plants, birds, and insects while preserving their natural habitat.

ALGAE GARDENS SYSTEM CYCLE: INDSIDE THE BIOZONE

ALGAE GARDENS SYSTEM CYCLE: OUTSIDE THE BIOZONE

AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEMS

HEAT ISLAND MITIGATION SYSTEMS

SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION SYSTEMS

GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION SYSTEM

SECTION: POLLINATION BIOZONE

CIRCULATION CORES The circulation cores are the main access points from Arbutus to the street level. The pedestrian, the cyclist, and the high speed capsule make up the transportation system that gives hackers the ability to explore any point of Arbutus based on a desirable time of travel.

SECTION: CIRCULATION CORES

SIBERIAN BIOZONE The Siberian Biospheres encapsulates a micro climate where evaporation and condensation cycles are monitored to create and maintain a temperate condition. This amenity allows the Hackers to escape the harsh, desert heat while providing a snow setting to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing.

SECTION: SIBERIAN BIOZONE

GROUND CONDITION As hackers occupy Arbutus, nonhackers continue to reside within the existing urban context. However, the ground condition at the street scale benefits from Arbutus as the area gradually develops and becomes more dense, transforming it to a new vibrant, urban attraction.

TROPICAL BIOZONE The Tropical Biospheres retain a humid micro climate with its own atmosphere that create a series of different weather conditions. This allows the hacker to escape the city life and enter a space of relaxation.

SECTION: TROPICAL BIOZONE

COLLABORATION ZONES Collaboration spaces are setup throughout Arbutus to foster teamwork between hackers as they participate to find solutions to public issues.

SECTION: COLLABORATION ZONE

c o m p e t i t i o n s

The following projects were attempted during the Fall 2012 & Spring 2013 semester & were individual as well as collaborative efforts outside the academic setting. The projects create unique design solutions specific to the competition briefs, attempting to manifest these solutions at the site and city scale simultaneously.

GRAND PRIZE JURIED WINNER

[KINGSPAN HQ PROTOTYPE] GENERATION KINGSPAN COMPETITION FALL 2012 The designed Kingspan office and manufacturing unit is a prototype for future facilities. The objective of the design is to conceive an environmentally responsive, socially responsible, energy efficient sustainable model which is programmatically innovative.

The prototype for the manufacturing facility and office is designed to be located in the industrial zone, taking advantage of the existing infrastructure put in place to support a facility of the given scale and size.

PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION The prototype for the manufacturing facility and office is designed to be located in the industrial zone, taking advantage of the existing infrastructure put in place to support a facility of the given scale and size. The design for the office mainly constitutes of open office â&#x20AC;&#x201C; research and development department, administration, event center and conference center, an exhibition area. The manufacturing facility contains â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a large structure containing the production and manufacturing machines and equipment and worker lockers along with a facility office.

PROGRAM SPINE The programmatic pieces are arranged around a connecting spine to increase the efficiency of the design spatially. Eastern end of this connector becomes a semi-enclosed atrium. This atrium is open to sky and covered with a sloping sunshade roof with integrated PV panels. The atrium piece sits between the office/research and development building and the event center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; allowing the programs of respective buildings to spill out in the atrium space â&#x20AC;&#x201C; also the open atrium itself acts as outdoor exhibition space. The atrium visually connects different levels of the event center and office building which creates a unique sense of space.

SECTION

SUSTAINABILITY The energy efficiency in the design of the prototype is achieved through the way of reduction of existing energy use and the implementation of the renewable energy sources. Buildings are oriented North – South in such a way that the longer faces of the building face north and south. All the major program spaces such as offices, research and development labs, conference rooms and event spaces face the North or south. Increasing the natural daylight and reducing the heat gains from the East and West. The reduction is achieved through a number of strategies which include – providing sun-shades to minimize the solar heat gain, to provide low E value glass façade systems to decrease the glare. The atrium plays a major role as it creates a stack effect and continuous natural draft ventilation to relieve the load on ventilation and cooling. Along the same lines as stack effect – passive cooling is adopted to cool the manufacturing the facility through the use of natural draft cooling towers and forced ventilation through the factory floor. After a marginal reduction – to compensate for the energy demand on site renewable energy strategies are applied which include the wind turbines and integrated photovoltaic panels.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY The project proposed is on a brownfield site hence the design efforts have been made to restore native habitat. The site design maximizes open space, minimizes the building footprints, minimizes the amount of hard paved area and maximizes the amount of permeable area on site. The site is easily accessible by means of public transportation encouraging the users to be less dependent on cars resulting in low carbon emissions. Alternate public transportations should be proposed by for employees with restricted access to public transportation system. The indigenous trees are adopted in the landscape to make it water efficient. The non-potable water are cleaned through the bio filters and reused on the site. Retention ponds are provided in the site design to reduce the storm water runoff and for the landscaping purpose. MATERIAL EFFICIENCY The proposed prototype responds to the material efficiency and human comfort. Insulated metal panels are a major building material component of the manufacturing facility. Since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a single component material there is an ease of construction which allows for faster build times. The panels have a high R value insulation which helps reduce the solar heat gain in the manufacturing facility reducing the cooling load and increasing in efficiency. The proposed panels are environmentally responsible since they have a significant recycled content and they are recyclable. They are also LEED certified building materials.

[O3 TOWERS] EVOLO SKYSCRAPER COMPETITION SPRING 2013 With the current condition of the climate, severe consequences have been realized. Not only human health but effect on other species has been observed. The population and needs of a civilization are growing everyday and so is the pollution and consequences of exploiting nature. The primary concern of ozone layer depletion has raised many concerns and issues over the last several decades and it needs to be dealt with in a much aggressive manner than before. With that also exists the issues of global warming and even when ozone layer is repaired, this problem remains. Therefore, a system needs to be put in place that monitors, resolves and prevents such climatic scenarios from recurrence. COLLABORATION: VIOLET WHITNEY & VINEET BHOSLE

EFFECTS ON UV LIGHT Following such a drop in ozone levels around the world, the amount of ultra-violet light reaching the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s atmosphere and striking the surface of the planet would sharply spike. The resulting effects of the UV light would severely damage all life on Earth, forever changing the balance of ecosystems. OZONE DEPLETION The depletion of the Total World Ozone levels could reach catastrophic levels by the year 2080 according to computer models. Without intervention, humanity could potentially destroy its only habitat within the next century by releasing high levels of and similar compounds. Ozone is a pale blue gas, slightly soluble in water and much more soluble in non polar solvents, such as carbon tetrachloride or fluorocarbons (Freons) commonly used in refrigeration and aerosol containers.

HOLES Holes in the ozone have improved due to policy changes as apparent here in the hole in Antarctica.

IMPACT ON HEALTH Newly at-risk individuals by country

THE ISSUE For years now, we have exploited nature and its various resources to our needs. The early 20th century saw the advancement in technology and its exponential growth. This is the progress that we have made at the cost of losing our relation with nature and only recently have we realized its damage. The two most detrimental consequences of this loss have been ozone layer depletion and global warming. Our partial consideration of the existing systems around us and the conflicted perception of “man over nature” have started showing its impacts in the form of natural disasters, extinction of species and overall effect on our lives. THE IMPACT Since early 20th century, Earth’s mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. The discovery of the annual depletion of ozone above the Antarctic was first announced in a paper by Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin which appeared in Nature in May 1985. The climate system can respond to changes in external forcings. External forcings can “push” the climate in the direction of warming or cooling. The increased concentration of greenhouse gases has caused changes in the atmospheric concentration which has been a cause of rise in temperatures around the world. The impact of global warming can be seen on human systems, natural systems and terrestrial ecosystems. Sea level rise, changes in migratory patterns of various species, widespread decreases in snow and ice extent and ocean acidification are some of the consequences of global climate change. Like global warming, depletion of the ozone layer has raised complex problems of cause and effect that have led to international disagreements over coordinated efforts to reverse the problem. For example, elevated UV levels have been shown to compromise the aquatic food chain, alter plant-insect interactions, change the growth patterns of fungi, and slightly reduce the productivity of agricultural plants.

THE REASON With the current condition of the climate, severe consequences have been realized. Not only human health but effect on other species has been observed. The population and needs of a civilization are growing everyday and so is the pollution and consequences of exploiting nature. The primary concern of ozone layer depletion has raised many concerns and issues over the last several decades and it needs to be dealt with in a much aggressive manner than before. With that also exists the issues of global warming and even when ozone layer is repaired, this problem remains. Therefore, a system needs to be put in place that monitors, resolves and prevents such climatic scenarios from recurrence.

[ZONE III: EMISSION] OZONE LAYER

20 KM

[ZONE II: PRODUCTION] TROPOPAUSE

10 KM

[ZONE I: HABITAT]

THE CONCEPT As the global climate changes and starts affecting the human and natural processes, a strategy needs to be deployed for these systems to function smoothly and maintain a habitable environment for all. Arising from the need to regenerate the ozone layer, the “tower(s)” is conceived as a ‘city within a machine’ and further as a ‘machine within a city’. The tower(s) is deployed at four different locations based around the South Pole where the ozone hole exists while maintaining an equal proximity to each other. The tower is primarily formed of three zones. The first zone is the city zone or the research zone where the researchers, workers and their families live. This zone also serves as research space for multidisciplinary research initiatives towards ecological solutions. The second zone is the production zone where the most important element required to regenerate the ozone layer is produced, Oxygen. This zone uses both mechanical and natural processes to produce oxygen at a scale where the needs for the ozone regeneration and oxygen supply to the rest of the tower are fulfilled. This zone produces supplies and stores oxygen in both liquid and gaseous state. The fundamental functions of ozone regeneration and air purification occur in this zone. The third zone is the emissions zone where the produced oxygen is finally released back in the atmosphere through emission stations and stratospheric airships which carry the oxygen in liquid form to the required destination and then released in the atmosphere spending a few hours hovering over the depleted zones.

ELEVATION

THE SCENARIOS Scenario 1 - Nature (Year 01-1800 AD) This is a condition where humans have minimal impact on nature and nature continues to function and support life based on cyclic processes. Earth goes through climate changes at a natural pace, giving time for life to evolve, sustain and coexist with the environment. Humans coexist with nature and nature is the dominant force. Scenario 2 – Humans (Year 1800 AD – 2020 AD) In this scenario, the condition is reversed. Humans start advancing technologically and realize the potential of natural resources, only to exploit them based on certain needs. This starts a cycle of exploitation, depletion and in certain cases exhaustion of resources. Nature now serves as a resource to humans and dominance is the key to progress. This results in various social and environmental issues. This is where the “tower” assumes its role of fixing the major environmental issue (ozone layer depletion) and works towards regeneration of the deteriorating environment. Scenario 3 – Nature + Humans (beyond 2020 AD) Now that the issue of ozone depletion has been dealt with, the process of environmental cleanup (greenhouse gases) is undertaken to protect the natural systems from increasing pollution and create a healthier environment where nature and humans can begin to create a balance and begin to coexist. The “tower” becomes a machine and a refuge.

SECTION

EMISSION CITY PLATE There are two methods of dispersion, on site dispersion and aerodynamic dispersion. The on site dispersion is done using emission pipes where enough pressure is created to release the produced oxygen in the stratosphere. The aerodynamic dispersion is done using airships. The stratospheric airships fly at 22km where wind and turbulence is bearable. The oxygen gas will be discharged at relatively low stratospheric altitude (around 20-22km). The discharged oxygen cum ozone is expected go higher in the stratosphere by wind and other air motion.

PRODUCTION CITY PLATE The production phase is divided into two categories â&#x20AC;&#x201C; natural and mechanical processes. The natural process employs dense vegetation and farming (vertical and horizontal) with required quantity of sunlight both natural and artificial (controlled environments) while the water is supplied through water collectors (condensers) and water supply systems. The condensers at a height of 10 KM from earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface collect water in the form of air with heavy moisture content and ice and this is then condensed to a liquid state to make it usable. The mechanical process uses titanium dioxide nanotubes to break down the collected water into hydrogen and oxygen through photo-catalysis, which is then stored separately in oxygen and hydrogen tanks.

HABITAT CITY PLATE The Habitat Zone holds the ecological system in place with the coexistence of natural and human systems in the same setting. The human system comprises of a complex layered city infrastructure whereas the natural system takes care of the different habitat species and together these systems create a relationship which can become a model for such systems around the world.

THE PHASES Phase 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Phase one primarily serves the needs to regenerate the ozone layer and so the main functions carried out in the tower are focused on oxygen production. The production phase is divided into two categories â&#x20AC;&#x201C; natural and mechanical processes. The natural process employs dense vegetation and farming (vertical and horizontal) with required quantity of sunlight both natural and artificial (controlled environments) while the water is supplied through water collectors (condensers) and water supply systems. The mechanical process uses titanium dioxide nanotubes to break down the collected water into hydrogen and oxygen which is then stored separately in oxygen and hydrogen tanks. While the oxygen is supplied to emissions zone, the hydrogen is sent back to city zone for energy production. Phase 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Phase two starts once the ozone regeneration has been achieved. In this phase, the primary function of the tower is to collect the greenhouse gases, break them down into simpler elements, use the purified elements and emit the harmful compounds out of the stratosphere. The greenhouse gases collected at the city level are transferred to the production/purification zone. Here the gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide & fluorinated gases) are first broken down through the mechanical procedure using titanium dioxide air filters. The simpler broken down elements are then treated through the natural procedure and then transferred to other zones.

a c a d e m i c

w o r k

The following projects originated from attempts to solve certain Urban/Architectural issues faced by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast growing cities.

Ur La Ar

RECIPIENT OF THE DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2012; THE DESIGN SCHOOL, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

[REDWOOD CITY WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT] REDWOOD CITY , CALIFORNIA FALL 2012 I ADVANCED ARCHITECTURAL AND URBAN DESIGN TRAVEL STUDIO The key objectives of the Redwood City Waterfront Development project were to link the inner harbor to downtown, improve overall connectivity to and through the waterfront site, determine appropriate land uses, provide public access to the waterfront and establish a vision to share with the developers. The broader vision of the project was to help people understand the importance of water and increase awareness of various issues related to climate change such as sea level rise, migratory patterns of animals etc. COLLABORATION: RON ELLIOT, MEGAN WILLIAMS, RYAN HAUSER, LIZ HOAR, LINDSAY HAUGHT, NANDITHA THIAGRAJAN, NAMITHA JALORI, KIESHA LOCKLIER & VICTORIA JACOT INSTRUCTOR: GABRIEL DIAZ MONTEMAYOR CRITICS: ACADEMIC - GABRIEL DIAZ MONTEMAYOR, CATHERINE SPELLMAN, SUSAN GOLTSMAN CITY - MAYOR OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY COUNCIL

[STUDIO MISSION] reclaim the waterfront as a vibrant public amenity that reconnects with downtown redwood city and engages and activates the community to deliver a development model that reconciles urban systems with san francisco bay

PRODUCED BY AN AUTOD