Architectural Portfolio
Vibhushan R. Moodley
BAS 2013
- House by Architect - Medical Center - Cultural Center
Work Experience 2014 - DHS - Hilton Gates - Midlands Medical - Simbithi
MArch 2016 Part 1: 4th year - Urban Design - Mixed-Use - Public Building
Part 2 : 5th year - Mixed-Use Intermodal Transport Hub for Durban City Center
Contents
BAS 2013
(UKZN)
House by Architect
Second Year [BAS]
Brief
House by Architect is a project designed to create an understanding of precedent studies, the objective is to design a house based on the principals of one of the modern masters.
Location
Berea, Durban. Context: - Residential - Low Rise - Natural Views
Architectural Influence
Mies van der Rohe- The Design
employs the clean lines and minimalist style of Mies along with the extruded slabs which appear floating due to the predominently glass facades. First Crescent- First Crescent house by SAOTA was used as a precedent on how to deal with large glass facades in a warm South Arfrican climate. Locatd in Camps Bay , Cape Town this house makes use of large overhangs on the north and protective elements on the east and west to reduce the solar heat gain.
Design
The brief called for a luxury house. The execution sought to create a distinct divide between private and public spaces within the dwelling. This was achieved by creating a ground floor which served to entertain and a first floor which houses the private functions, the staircase acts as the threshold between public and private.
Cultural Center
Third Year [BAS]
Location
Warwick Junction, Durban. An area defined by: - Informal practices - High pedestrian activity - Traditional beliefs
Materiality
Concrete- a robust and soundproof material was selected
in response to the high activity movement corridors. Concrete is reflective of the flyovers which define current day Warwick Junction as a transport hub. Corten Steel- was selected as an aesthetically warm material to balance the cold feel of concrete. The weathered effect of the steel is tribute to the railway lines which flank the site and further define Warwick Junction as a transport Hub. The aging of the steel also pays tribute to the historical depth of Warwick junction.
Project Brief
Create a community center which will unite the community whilst improving the daily lives of the working class in Warwick Junction , as well as attracting tourists to the precinct by showcasing its unique and vibrant character which is iconically transient. The aim of the project is to improve the infrastructural conditions for the daily population of Warwick Junction while promoting community integration on a larger urban scale.
West Elevation
Design Response
East Elevation
Urban Design
South Elevation
On an urban scale the design aims to integrate with the proposed pedestrian route from Warwick to the Golden Mile. This is done by a continued design language from the golden mile flowing to the site and across to the iconic Victoria Street Market. The building itself therefore becomes part of the journey creating a new link from Brook Street to the Victoria Street Market via Berea Station.
The design of the building makes use of a sensory experience to differentiate itself from the hustle and bustle of Warwick Junction providing a ‘break’ for daily commuters. This is done through a change in texture of floor surface, a change in lighting, and acoustic quality. The building makes reference to the city of Durban and its progression through the portal windows on the east facade which frame iconic views of the oldest cathedral and mosque in the city, before framing the current highest skyscraper, referencing the shift in influence from religion to financial houses.
Work Experience 2014
FGG Architects
DHS
Work Experience- FGG Architects
Location
Durban High School (DHS) Musgrave, Durban.
Brief
Reception- Redesign the entrance to
the school to create a new welcoming front reception space as well as new vehicular entrance with the existing entrance becoming pedestrian only. SciMath Block- Upgrade the science and math facilities offered by the school to cater to the developments in technology and provide learners and educators with access to improved teaching facilities in terms of both lecture spaces and practical spaces.
Involvement
My involvement in this project included: - Site Surveying - Sketch Design - Design Resolution
Hilton Gates
Work Experience- FGG Architects
Location
The Gates at Hilton Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal.
Brief
Design a spec house which sat within the Gates at Hilton and subscribed to the estate guidelines. Estate Style- The Estate Guidelines called for a Cape Dutch Style Architecture. Design- The layout of this house was designed to allow for the separation of entertainment and private spaces, creating the gradient between private and public spaces. This is done with the center of the house being the most public with a semi private guest wing and a private bedroom wing for permanent occupants. The verandahs act as a threshold between the indoor entertainment and outdoor garden spaces.
Involvement
My involvement in this project included: - Site Surveying - Conceptual Design - Sketch Design - Design Resolution
Midlands Medical Center
Work Experience - FGG Architects
Location
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Brief
This was an extension to the existing private hospital in Pietermaritzburg. The extension included a revamp of existing wards, the inclusion of new wards as well as an increase in the amount of undercover parking available. This was done by linking the existing blocks to form one cohesive building. I was involved very briefly in this project providing assistance where required.
Involvement
My involvement in this project included: - Facade Design - Fire Plans
Inkwazi Development Work Experience- FGG Architects
Location
Inkwazi Development- Simbithi Ballito, Durban.
Brief
Design 8 spec houses which sat within the Simbithi Eco Estate and subscribed to the estate guidelines. Estate Style- The Estate Guidelines called for a nature sensitive design which sat naturally within the environment. Design- The design called for very efficient planning as the already small sites were further encroached on by large changes in level. The development sought to provide an affordable option to people wanting to buy into the estate and thus required the niceties and comforts of estate living with a much lower budget.
Involvement
My involvement in this project included: - Conceptual Design - Sketch Design - Promotional Drawings/Renders - Design Resolution - Consultant liaison - Estate Submission - Council Submission - Construction Drawings
MArch 2016
(UKZN)
Urban Design Part 1
Location
Berea Road, Durban. Context: - Transient Community
Brief Urban
Character-
The urban character linking Cato Manor and Warwick junction is focused primarily on vehicular movement and does not cater to the needs of pedestrians. The urban design sought to address this by providing safe space for the transient community to walk this route on a daily basis. Transient Community- Due to the community who occupy this space being largely transient a sense of ownership and belonging is lacking in the space which resulted in poor upkeep. The aim of this design is to create spaces of belonging and ‘ownership’ to establish a sense of pride in the space and thereby improving the up keep.
Design
As a group we identified Urban agriculture as a tool to provide people with spaces in which they could actively participate, as well as creating destinations, in the form of urban farms, along the route and shortening the walk from home to work for people seeking employment.
Mixed-Use Part 1
Location
Berea Road, Durban. Context:
- Transient Community - Proposed Urban context
Brief
Urban Design- The Mixed Use
Building was designed to fit into and compliment the previous Urban design. The building therefore needed to break down the threshold between the street and the building while maintaining the privacy gradient.
Design
Apart from the employment opportunities created by the urban farm located on the roof of the building, the steel frame which extends from the building toward Berea Road provides a gradient of public space for the residents and allows visual engagement between residents and pedestrians, increasing safety by employing eyes on the street. The Building employs sustainable measures with grey water being recycled and used to irrigate the various urban farms. Furthermore the farms on the north act as shading devices reducing the solar heat gain of the building.
Public Building
Part 1
Location
Durban University of Technology, Durban. Context: - University Campus
Brief
Urban Character- As an extension of
the Berea Road urban design agriculture was used to link the various campuses of DUT. The building is located along the agricultural belt. Typology- The project seeks to reexamine the function of a library in an informal South African context. The resultant typology is a learning center which combines practical knowledge with literature in order to maximize the reach of the knowledge transfer.
Design
The building addresses the issue of food security. The learning center consists of a learning kitchen on the ground floor which is used to teach the basics of how to create a balanced diet at home with a small subsistence farm, its participative nature encourages interaction from passers-by. The seminar spaces and a library on the upper levels provide the opportunity to extend knowledge for those interested in doing so.