architecture portfolio
of spaces and voids _yasir hameed
CONTENTS
Urban Design Studio: Reclaiming And Re-Use Of Derelict Sites And Cultural Heritage In Hauz Khas
Yamuna River: A Reclaimable, Neglected Resource Turned Into A Forlorn Void
Khirki Masjid: Resuscitate A Heritage Building To Create A Vital Public Space
Curriculum Vitae
Final Year Thesis: Integrating Society And Its Outcasts, Losing The Tag Of A Leprosy Colony
Batla House: From A Void To A Social Space
A Martyr Memorial And A Public Space
Finding Utopia For A Race Lost To The Sands Of Time
CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Yasir Hameed Date of Birth: 1st March 1988 Nationalty: Indian Languages Known: English, Hindi, Urdu Intrests: Architecture, Photography, Painting, Travelling, Media and Music
Education: B.Arch Batch of 2008 -13 Final Year Result Awaited Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi -25 Schooling from Aligarh Muslim University, DPS, Sharjah
Work Experience: - Worked at Erum Edifice, Pantsheel Marg (Photoshop Rendering) - Worked on the measured drawings for the conservation of Teachers Training Institute, JMI . - SPA Design Pvt. Ltd. (Stephane Paumier), New Delhi. - Local Area Plan Drawings of Khichripur, at JMI
Achievements: - Special mention in landscape design competition by LA! Journal 2009, the entry was published in subsequent issue. - Special Mention and North zone winner in ANDC, NASA, 2009. - Was selected and attended An International Workshop in Germany, 2010, at Erfurt University of Applied Sciences, Under DAAD Exchange Program. - Second Prize Winner in INSDAG 2010-11 National Students Design Competition - Two Special mentions in landscape design competition by LA! Journal 2011, the entries were published in subsequent issue. - Special mention in Khirki Masjid Adaptive Reuse Competition 2012. - Yuva Ratna Award by Birla White in National Students Design Competition 2012 . Other awards: Third prize in Movie making, and Second Prize in painting competition at Ink (Annual Architecture Students Fest) at JMI
Activities and Extracurricular - Participation in Louis I. Kahn trophy at NASA 2010,2009,2008. - Organized and participated in manifold an exhibition for arts, architecture and design held in March, 2010. - Conference by Swiss Embassy and UNESCO on “Heritage-based sustainable urban development”. - Volunteer and graphic design work for Architecture for Masses, a seminar held in March, 2011. - Co editor and graphic designer for Faculty magazine, “blueprint”. - Attended Fullbright Workshop with Distinction, on Urban Design organized by Dr. Sheila Mitra Sarkar (Professor at San Diego State University) - Founding member of “the broken coffee mug” an organisation meant to study explore and document life; worked on the documentary shifting paradigms which was also sent to SMIBE (Society for Moving Images about the Built Environment). - Organized and participated in INK a Fest for arts, architecture and design held in March, 2012. - Organized Habib Rahman Memorial Lecture Series held in October, 2012. - Elected Member (Joint Secretary) of Subject Association Of Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, which is a student body of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Software Skills: AutoDesk Revit 2011, Sketch Up pro 8.0, Vray for Sketch- up, Irender, Lumion, Kerkythea, Adobe Photoshop CS 5, Adobe Illustrator CS 5, InDesign CS5, Autodesk Autocad 2011, Microsoft Office Suite, 3ds Max (elementary), Adobe Soundbooth CS 5 (elementary), Power Director.
Unpublished Researches: - Wash paintings - The Church of Our lady of Health, Masihgarh, New Delhi - Indian Habitat - Taimoor Nagar Slum - Currently working on paper on Social Housing - Currently working on Book documenting works of Khaliq Ashfaq Khan
Contact Information Email : yasirhameed88@gmail.com Ph no : 9999282638 Address: A-69, Sector 19, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India (201301)
All the above information is true to my knowledge. All work, photography, art has been produced by me or has my involvement unless otherwise stated. References will be made upon request.
Final Year Thesis: Integrating Society And Its Outcasts, Losing The Tag Of A Leprosy Colony:
Over 4,000 people live in the Delhi leprosy complex. Though leprosy has been eliminated — not eradicated — in India, the stigma and discrimination that leprosy patients and their children face is far from eliminated. On May 23rd 2011, Justice G S Sistani of the Delhi High Court visited city’s Leprosy Colony Shahadra, where thousands of leprosy cured along with their children and other family members have been staying, to ascertain the condition there; The court had directed the civic agencies to redevelop the colony as it is in a dilapidated condition posing a threat to the lives of residents. Time Frame: 6 Months Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 ,Indesign CS5, Illustrator CS5, Google Sketchup 8 Revit 2011 and Autocad 2011.
Introduction to Leprosy Colony,
_The Site
Leprosy is considered one of the oldest diseases of mankind, and it is likely to originate from India (Bombay Leprosy Project, 2011). The infection emerges from a bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae, which in many ways is similar to the tuberculosis bacteria. The bacterium lives and grows in the skin and peripheral nerves where it causes damage with numbness as a common symptom. One of the most common misconceptions concerning leprosy is that the disease causes limbs to rot off. This is however not the case. Instead, the vast majority of physical defects are a result of wounds caused by numbness, which later lead to infection and finally amputation.
_what is a leprosy colony? Expelling individuals affected by leprosy from the society, or confine those in restricted areas have been common practice in most cultures throughout history. The majority sought their entrance to leprosy asylums voluntarily, but some were also placed in asylums under the Lepers Act of 1898. However there were always more people in need of asylum than there was availability. The leprosy asylums in India underwent major changes since the first colonies in the 1870s, and by the 1940s they could be divided into three forms; “the well organized sanatorium for active and infective cases, with proper staff, buildings, and equipment; the asylum for crippled, deformed, and disabled cases; and the agricultural colony in which patients could maintain themselves”. The asylums aimed to be at the right balance between remoteness and accessibility, mostly some distance from the city and next to a thoroughfare. A road nearby was an income opportunity for the lepers by begging. They varied often in size and organization as well as in their built structure, with strong influences from local materials and local buildings, however the general practice were to erect a surrounding wall.
_population
Shanghai Mumbai Delhi Bangalore New York City
_area
_population densities
The Site and the Precincts Location The Leprosy colony in question is located in Eastern Delhi, near the Tahirpur Gaon. It is well-connected to the rest of the city through road network and the closest metro station is Dilshad Garden Metro Station which is approximately at a 5 minutes drive. It lies in Zone E in the MPD 2021.
_scope of project In situ Redevelopment
Rehabilitation Housing _Active Patients _Passive patients _Slum dwellers
_objective of redesign The object is to empower the community to determine the redesign of their settlement that fulfil their needs, reach their full potential and live with dignity and free of stigma. The redesigned community will clearly portray the strength and determination of the stigmatized community. There will be both symbolic and institutional identifiers that will enhance the imageability of the community showing that the families are empowered, educated, employed and strong advocates of their rights. (Lynch 1960)
_Leprosy colony
_what is leprosy?
Shanghai Mumbai Delhi Bangalore New York City
_New Delhi 9340 PPSqKm
Shahadra, New Delhi
Community Based Rehabilitation:
Urban Agriculture for Supplementing in terms of food production
13oc - 33oc,Average Temperature 7.5Hrs AVERAGE DAILY SUNSHINE 714mm AVERAGE RAINFALL SOIL: SAND,SILT AND CLAY WITH KANKAR
Source: Google Earth Images
5 MINS FROM DILSHAD GARDEN METRO STATION LOCALLY KNOWN AS, ‘KODI COLONY’ LOCATED IN SHAHADRA, NEAR TAHIRPUR GAON LANDMARK: GTB HOSPITAL EAST DELHI, _Health: Health Care facilities for prevention, cure, and post disease assistance and self care. ‘ZONE E’ IN MPD2021 _Education: Educational facility of up to Primary level. _Livlihood: Skill development centres, vocational training centres, opportunity for self employment and wage employment , Financial assistance and social protection. _Social: Public spaces for social interaction, spaces for culture,religion and arts, recreational spaces.
_Empowerment: Advocacy of socially backward groups to fight social stigma and create social equity.
PER 1000 MALES 26,683PPSqKm
3200
842 FEMALES PER 1000 MALES
_exploring the site
_the land usage
The immediate precincts to the site are similar to any other part of the city. Adjacent neighbourhoods like Sunder Nagar and the DDA Flats are either planned residential colonies or are dense organic settlements like the Tahirpur Village, which is an Urban Village or Rajiv Nagar which is a JJC Colony; or they lie some where in-between as is the case with New Seemapuri.
Understanding the Urban Precinct - Delhi 300
East Delhi
Leprosy Colony
East Delhi
Leprosy colony
East Delhi
Leprosy colony
1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
Others Passive Patients
3200 663 FEMALES PER 1000 MALES
17,948 PPSqKm
Active Patients
60% LITERACY 26,683PPSqKm
842 FEMALES PER 1000 MALES
Sex Ratio
Area Comparison 88.75 LITERACY
Literacy
3500
Distribution of population
Others
Tamil
Above 60
Unemployed
Christian
Malayalam
40 to 60
Employed
Muslim
Bangla
31 to 45
Hindu
Urdu
16 to 30
Hindi
0 to 15
Religion
Languages
Age
Employment
Painters
6 to 10
JJC
NO
Carpenter
1 to 5
Semi Pucca
YES
Pucca House
Rickshaw Pullers Tailors With NGOs Self Employed Unemployed/Mainly dependent on Strifunds
Typical family Size
Housing Typology
Individual Toilet
Delhi is located at 28.61°N 77.23°E, and lies in Northern India. It borders the Indian states of Haryana on the north, west and south and Uttar Pradesh (UP) to the east. During the British Raj, Delhi was part of the province of Punjab and is still historically and culturally connected to the Punjab region
The MCD school across the road and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality hospital form key landmarks as well are important facilities that would augment the social growth in the said colony. The District park is another aspect that increases the marketability of the site.
According to the 2011 census of India, the population of Delhi is 16,753,235. The corresponding population density was 11,297 persons per Sq.Km. With a sex ratio of 866 women per 1000 men, and a literacy rate of 86.34%. In 2004, the birth rate, death rate and infant mortality rate per 1000 population were 20.03, 5.59 and 13.08, respectively. In 2001, the population of Delhi increased by 285,000 as a result of migration and by 215,000 as a result of natural population growth – this made Delhi one of the fastest growing cities in the world. By 2015, Delhi is expected to be the third-largest conurbation in the world after Tokyo and Mumbai.
Employment
I Block Sunder Nagri
Walk
The colony forms a miniscule part of the whole metropolitan area, and yet it forms a considerable Prefered means of transport part at the districtIncome level - and can play an important role towards show-casing sustainability and social inclusivity The density of Leprosy colony is significantly lower than the rest of the city, emphasizing the potential of the site towards redensification. Lower density and availability of a work-force and resources , allow a scope experimentation in terms of self-sustenance and various neighborhood models. Another aspect noticeable is the lower literacy rate amongst the residents of leprosy colony. It emphasizes the need for vocational training amongst the residents and the necessity to encourage the community into participatory activities.
H Block Sunder Nagri
Rajiv Nagar
SDM Court
By virtue of its location in Delhi, and the ease in its accessibility via road and public transport (metro) as well as its proximity to social necessities like te school, hospital and parks, the site makes for an ideal site for a residential settlement.
DDA Flats Pocket A MCD School Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital Tahirpur Village
M
Other
24
Bus/mrt
Upto Rs 5000
_R OW
_R OW
More than Rs 5000
Greens
24
M
Residential District Park
Dilshad Colony
New Seemapuri
Social Infrastructure
Commercial
Mixed Landuse
Govt Owned
Any attempt towards redensification or reintegration of the this area as a redeveloped residential colony becomes economically viable as well as is tandem with the need of the hour as per the urban context.
_site morphology
_street profile and activity
03 ES
_TRE
02
05
04
In recognizing the main vehicular arteries that cater to site and by identifying the cluster of foliage and green patch that should be retained, a basic palette for the architect has been set. Any intervention made would be towards improving the lifestyle as well as social inclusively
06 07
_06 D
S AN
_OWNERSHIP DISPUTED.
645 755
1 90 140
230
_KASTURBA GRAM KUSHT ASHRAM
80
D LA
_DISTRICT PARK
X
_SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE OTHERS: CLINIC
6
_OWNERSHIP LAND DONATED FROM DEPT. OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO HANUMAN MANDIR. ON A 99 YEAR LEASE DESCRIPTION: This land was provided by Dept. Of Social Hanuman Mandir to run a leprosy home.
35 265
300
X
10
_MOTHER TERESA’S HOME
150
_small scale commercial activity
_playing Source: TSS Urban Design
268
_SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
_SERVICES WATER TANK AND SEWAGE PUMPING STATION _OWNERSHIP LAND DONATED FROM MCD TO ANANDGRAM SOCIETY. PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
2 1 1
1200
1 2
_resting and socializing
_ANANDGRAM KUSHT ROG SOCIETY OTHERS: 1 PRIMARY SCHOOL
539 641
60 90 702
2631
E
E SIT
_TH
E ‘D
_TH
S’ W ICT
ISTR
1
_OWNERSHIP LAND DONATED FROM DEPT. OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY. ON A 99 YEAR LEASE DESCRIPTION: This land was provided by Dept. Of Social Welfare to Missionaries of Charity to run a leprosy home and provide free health care to all leprosy patients. A large piece of land is used for agriculture
_VILLAGE OF HOPE
IN
ITH
_SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE CHURCH, LEPROSY NURSING HOME, CLINIC
_SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE OTHERS: MCD DISPENSARY, HOPE FOUNDATION HQ, COMPUTER AND LIFE SKILLS CENTRE. _SERVICES WATER TANK AND SEWAGE PUMPING STATION _OWNERSHIP LAND DONATED FROM DEPT. OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO HOPE FOUNDATION. PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. DESCRIPTION: This land was provided by Dept. Of Social Welfare to Hope Foundation to resettle Leprosy Patients living in JJCs on the site. The colony has a Wax workshop and various other small scale cottage industries like ‘agarbatti making’ etc. The Hope foundation works at ground level with leprosy patients towards a goal of socioeconomic rehabilitation.
1138 1493
_
ILT
NBU
ND U
TA BUIL
_Key Plan
_DDA LAND
_SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE NURSING HOME,DRESSING UNIT, CLINIC _OWNERSHIP DECOMMISSIONED MILITARY BARRACKS WERE CONVERTED INTO A LEPROSY HOME IN 1955. MCD OWNED DESCRIPTION: The land and exhisting structures were abandoned military structure that were refurbished to be used as a leprosy home. A large peice of land is used for farming and a pond for pisciculture
01
_Secondary Street
_fishing pond
_MCD LEPROSY HOME
10
ORK ETW
AD N _RO
_ED
_Tertiary Street
,N
GES
After the ressetlement of the leprosy patients in village of hope,this area was slowly encroached by others. The residents of the area have next to none interaction with the leprosy patients living in the neighbourhood. Most residents have small businesses on the main road or work odd jobs in Delhi. Almost all are migrants from U.P., Bihar, and Bengal.
ATH S, P E D O
_04
A NDM
S AN
XI S,A
_ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT
1 2
1400 180 ap.
EEN
_GR
RKS
S PACE
NS OPE
_05
A layered analysis of the existing foliage on the site, identification of the old trees and the ones that should be retained, pockets of green that exists even within the largely organic settlement; and juxtaposing them with the layered road networking and the built mass, allows one to identify key aspects of the site.
DESCRIPTION: This land was provided by MCD to various NGOs to resettle Leprosy Patients living in JJCs The colony owns in 1960. the shops facing the main road, which the have rented out and the rent from which is equally distributed as among families and for society’s maintenance
_03
_02
_01
_Service Lane
_Primary Road
_assessing needs to concept
In order to change these systems of treatment, it will be necessary to integrate existing community programmes with organization serving the general population, to create new integrated programmes and institutions, and to transform existing leprosy organization. As much attention will have to be given to the social, economic, psychological and spiritual needs of people affected by leprosy as is now given to their physical problems and to protecting the community from the spread of the disease and associated stigma.
The population consists of a diverse crowd, hailing from different religions, ethnicities and regions. Many of them donot suffer from leprosy, some suffered from it and have been cured and are capable of living independent lives and a few who found help at a very later stage and thus are dependent on the various agencies (NGOs) and help-groups that functton within the confines of the colony. It is evident that while most of the population is capable of working, skilled labour is quit lacking. The average income of less than 5000 Rs per month allows for basic subsistence only. There is need for vocational training and skill enhancement that would lead to augmentation of the individual income. Interventions like the fish pond, urban farming, local trading etc that would lead the settlement towards supplementing this resource pool.
Site section
Towards Social integration Segregated systems that have characterized our treatment of leprosy are now mostly ineffective, inefficient and stigmatizing. Instead of helping to maintain people affected by the disease in their families and communities, they have dislocated them. Instead of encouraging the integration of people affected by the disease with others having similar needs and interests, they have separated them in specialised organizations and programmes. Instead of promoting increased self-sufficiency, they have encouraged unnecessary dependency. Such segregated systems are expensive to maintain and reinforce the image of leprosy as a highly contagious condition, ‘a disease apart’. They stigmatise people and hinder control programmes that depend on voluntary cooperation. They complicate the recruitment of professional workers and provide excuses for community institutions to discriminate against people affected by leprosy.
Any redevelopment of the present ‘leprosy colony’ would have to take into consideration that the need for such a segregation now is moot.. In fact it even fosters discrimination, since the society in general is allowed to stay in complacent ignorance and no attempt is made to change the status quo. This project is an attempt to break the mould of stigma and initializing a rehabilitation of those who have become social pariah due to their association with leprosy. Another major factor that is bound to have an impact is the urban context of the site. Since it sits in Delhi, which is a metropolitan grappling with intense shortage of housing, this scheme proposes the course of redensification of the site. This will not only respond to the needs of the city, it will also inject new people into the colony allowing it to shed its image and work towards a cohesive neighbourhood. In response to the socio economic fabric of the residents, one would need to create ways such that they might gain appropriate skills so as to improve their income and therefore their standard of living; or supplement what is available to them by growing or producing what they need in situ.
_thought process
_evolution of design
_masterplan
1
3
5
4
2
6
5
4
3
6
2 1
_proposed land usage
_proposed site section
_landscaping
Source: Green Streets
Integrating the landscape and agriculture in plantation the plantation scheme, will supplement basic needs and be a much better economic decision than a plantation scheme only for decorative purposes.
_water cycle and services
_Street Sections
_Housing The existing housing on the site does not cater enough floor space to family members, and the land value fails to be realized due to presence of only low rise housing, partially planned, and the rest is organic in nature. The new proposal accommodates the existing population, as well as the new influx population (as part of the social integration), that is affordable as it caters to a much larger density than the existing, provides more floor space, with better infrastructure, and a sense of community living via, more open spaces, a better circulation network, and easier accessibility to homes. Certain measures in policy can be undertaken to ensure that the families with differently abled are given first preference to the homes on ground floor. To maintain the affordibilaty and ensure a good return on investment and realization of potential, the units facing the primary streets are of mixed used types with shops on the ground floor. The proposed housing contains a larger variety of same category (affordibilaty bracket) housing within the typical Unit repeated on site to cater different types of families; as families may be small, or large family and sometimes an extended family may be there too. Identities Various ‘Identities’ of the same typology created by minor changes to the facade i.e. shape of balconies, planters and exteriors finish, adding cutouts to parapets etc. This practice over the typical facade routine, can invoke a much greater sense of the place, and result in more memorable and visually appealing buildings and over all neighbourhood appeal.
_Housing
On mixing different income groups: Integrate social and affordable housing The requirement to accommodate social and affordable housing within schemes is dealt with in a number of ways, depending on the power of the planning system or, in some cases, on the attitude of the developer. Where planning systems are weak and developers are aiming to merely maximise their profits, social housing will be grouped together in a less attractive corner of the scheme away from the market housing .
Elevation A
Elevation B
Section A
This typically results in social stigmatization. Where the social housing is dealt with in a more progressive way it will be ‘pepper potted’ through the scheme so that no distinctive ‘affordable’ area can be recognized; whilst typically the kerb appeal of the social housing will be such that it should be indistinguishable from other homes . - Mike Biddulph,2007,(RESIDENTIAL LAYOUT)
Plan Even Floors
Plan Odd Floors Section B
Section C
Plan Ground Floors
_Housing
Isometric LIG Isometric EWS
Typical Plan MIG Tower
Isometric MIG UnIt
Isometric Extended EWS
Isometric Corner LIG
Isometric Corner EWS Elevation A
Section A
_Work Centre for Differently-Abled
Emulating a similar yet improved model, while instilling the overall concept behind the scheme, based on social integration, a Work Centre of Differently-abled seemed more coherent than a work centre for Leprosy cured. The building is the social centre of the neighborhood such that the redesigned community will clearly portray the strength and determination of the stigmatized community. It will be both a symbolic and an institutional identifier that will enhance the imageability of the community showing that the families are empowered, educated, employed and strong advocates of their rights. (Lynch 1960). The Program of the building is based on various activities that are usually part of employment therapy programs, but never usually in a single work centre. The produce can be sold both Directly and indirectly Via various organizations that trade the produce in particular for e.g. Khadi, Dastkar, Gandhi Ashram etc.
Introduction In a country where leprosy is most common, it cannot afford to squander its scanty resources in ways to keep them separate and noncontributing to the economy. Providing effective ways to stopping the spread of the disease and enabling the people affected by it to continue to work and to contribute to society. The need of the building is based on the success of occupational therapy models in various parts of the world, including the Gandhi Jee Prem Nivas Leprosy Centre. A major contributor to social stigma is the economic backwardness associated with leprosy, as a step towards economic rehabilitation employment opportunity generation is key.
“The dignity you get here you don’t get outside. You can earn more on the outside. Begging, you can get [between $5 to $8] a day. But, when you come here, walking in the morning, people say, ‘Where are you going?’ and they say, ‘I’m going to work.’ At night, when they’re walking home, they say, ‘I’m coming home from work.’ It is said with pride (CRS dispatch Filed By Caroline Brennan about Gandhi Jee Prem Nivas Leprosy Centre; where Leprosy Cured and Patients are provided various work opportunities like Handloom work, agricultural etc.)
_Work Centre for Differently-Abled
Architecture and Planning: The spacial arrangement of the functions is based on the abilities of employees, Weight and nature, of produce and raw materials. The building footprint is derived via the attempt to conserve the existing trees on site. Importance is given to accessibility in efforts to make it barrier free along with creating a healthy work environment by providing adequate lighting, ventilation and services for employees. Placement and description of functions: - The reception is located at the closest to main entry, which leads up to main circulation which can also be used as an exhibition space. - The Employment centre: will be a resource centre for people with disabilities to search for employment etc. - Wood workshop: provided with a service entry, located on ground floor due to heavy and bulk raw material and produce. - Pottery and terracotta workshop: placement allows easy access to courtyard as well as space behind building, as well as direct service entry/exit for material and finished goods. - Chalk, agarbatti making, straw craft, and bamboo works also require certain amounts of open spaces thus placed on ground. These activities are easily performed by visually impaired thus ground floor suits it further.
- The entire first floor is dedicated to production of cloth and finished cloth goods. The raw material and produce both are easy to handle, thus placement on ground is not an important necessity. - The entire second floor is dedicated to production of paper and paper based products. The process requires a space with access to roof for drying of paper thus placement on second floor suits it.
_Work Centre for Differently-Abled
Section BB’
Section AA’
Blowup AA’
West Elevation
East Elevation
Blowup BB’
_Urban Agriculture The current scenario in which we face issues of climate crisis, crop failures, depletion of natural water resources, hunger, price rise and a large growing population, especially in urban areas leave us no choice but to use all our available resources in the most economical manner and push production of food to the maximum. In fact urban rural regions are integrated socioeconomic mechanism that works holistically, to produce raw materials, train pool of skilled workers and managers and bring together cluster of economic inputs which create what we know as wealth if they are integrated each catalyses and enriches the other. - Beninnger,C. Charles,2011, “Letters to a Young Architect� Creation of ecologically derived human support systems i.e renewable energy,agriculture, aquaculture, housing and landscapes will bridge a gap between production and demand. It will also reduce dependency of fresh water resources, utilization of storm water run off and stop urban flooding and will increase waste water utilization saving the city a lot of money on expensive water treatment technologies. Creating landscapes that reflect a rural character will also enhance the imagibilaty of the city.
Bio conversion Living machines are engineered biological systems that treat and upcycle organic waste into value-added products, such as food, fuel, biomaterials, and ecosystem services like waste water treatment. Upcycling biomass waste into value added agricultural produce. Projections for 45 Sq.M living macgine 36 kgs of oyster mushrooms weekly 30 heads of lettuce weekly 55 kgs of Tilapa Fish annually .5 ton of vermi compost a month Source: ArkFab LivingMachines Proposal Jan2011
_Views
View showing mixing of agriculture, housing and recreation
View showing housing at eye level.
_Views
View showing work centre, green houses and secondary street at eye level
View showing fishing pond and housing at eye level.
Urban Design Studio: Reclaiming And Re-Use Of Derelict Sites And Cultural Heritage In Hauz Khas, New Delhi The Design brief was based around identification of voids in the built fabric and create a public space in these voids. A portion of the studio exercise was used in the LA! Journal Annual Design Competition 2012 which received a Special Mention Design Team: Yasir Hameed, Anandit Sachdev, Amir Equbal, Wafa Rizvi, Rahema Shah, Taru Time Frame: 2 Months Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 , Ilustrater CS5, Google Sketchup 8, and Autocad 2011.
_introduction
_The Image
Introduction Hauz Khas Complex in Hauz Khas, South Delhi houses a water tank, an Islamic seminary, a mosque, a tomb and pavilions built around an urbanized village with medieval history traced to the 13th century of Delhi Sultanate reign. The History It was part of Siri, the second medieval city of India of the Delhi Sultanate of Allauddin Khilji Dynasty (1296–1316). The tank was de–silted during the reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351–88). Several buildings (Mosque and madrasa) and tombs were built overlooking the water tank or lake. Firuz Shah’s tomb pivots the L–shaped building complex which overlooks the tank. In the 1980s, Hauz Khas Village, studded with domed tombs of Muslim royalty from the 14th to 16th centuries, was developed as an upper class residential cum commercial area in the metropolis of South Delhi, India. The village is at a prime location of the city, yet one can find a disconnect between the public transportation. The linkage from the bus and metro stations to the village is missing. The distance of approximately 3 kms has to be covered by either and auto rickshaw or by foot; which proves to be expensivce and tiresome respectively. Image source: Google Earth
_The Voids
Void 1
A chai (tea) shop is present perpendicular to the entry of the void. Hence, two kota stone slabs have been placed on bricks to provide for a make shift seating space.
Panorama of the south western wall A piau (place to drink water from) can also be seen on the site and is used by the labour working in the neighborhood. The space is often visited by smokers. People seldom use this space for sitting and chatting over a cup of tea. One can see people talking over phone here.
1
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2
Current use of space does not take advantage of the stunning views and topography.
The ever increasing concrete jungle surrounds us. It is the vastness of these structures and spaces created by them, that makes us realize the importance of open spaces. Sadly, the open spaces available in these concrete surroundings are the urban voids; left untreated and dilapidated. Such urban voids, can be spotted in the Hauz Khas village, with some minor interventions these voids can be transformed into successful social spaces.
The backyard of the people who have lived here for generations, galleries of remembrance for those find solace in the past, a haven for the quintessential maverick, the high street of art and fashion courtesy of a silent renaissance – the urban voids of Hauz Khas have been staked by many and yet claimed by none. A brambled wire stands at the interface of the village and the madrasa, seeking to separate the glory of the past from the ignominy of the present with its sheer ugliness. This proposal is an attempt to integrate visually the present day village to the heritage complex, transforming the various urban void into a space – a congregation street and a vantage point with seating and clear view of the lake.
The back-alleys of Hauz Khas village speak of layers of history. Their remembrance of the urban chronology of the villages mourns its ambient decay and it is the romance of this medieval reflection that has brought the quirky and artsy populace of the city to its bosom.
Poor edge condition reduces circulation and creates clutter and narrow alleys. Void 2
Location of voids 1. Unused Plinth 2. Neglected temple and adjoining park 3. Node on Entry to village 4. The main street
The temple and space around it is under utilized due to the fencing around it, its potential may be realized more if it is connected with the circulation path adjacent.
_The Intervention
The present edge condition is not very suitable. A wire mesh is installed on the edge separating the village and the deer park (as seen in figure 1). Various hoardings and banners have been put up on this mesh, which gives the whole edge a very shabby look.
Due to less ground area available, a need was felt to go vertically up. Doing so, one would also get the advantage of the view offered by the site of the Hauz Khas tank. Therefore, more space was created using the available less space, by creating a staircase, with its landings acting as viewing decks. The stairway offers a view from the top, which acts as an element of surprise.
The mesh doesn’t provide security. It only creates an uncomfortable enclosure. A basic change in design, which is, to do away with the mesh, will improve the aesthetics of the space, and provide a decent seating space if an embankment is constructed along this edge. The highest landing gives a view of the Hauz Khas tank and the Deer Park. The whole structure, thus, leads the viewer to the top where the view creates an element of surprise.
_Views
Batla House: From A Void To A Social Space Initial research was done as part of urban design workshop conducted by Dr. Sheila Mitra Sarkar, and A portion of the study coupled with a design intervention was used in the LA! Journal Annual Design Competition 2012 which received a Special Mention Design Team: Yasir Hameed, Imran Khan, Bhrigu Kalia, Taru Time Frame: 2 weeks Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 , Google Sketchup 8 ,Autocad 2011.
_Introduction
_The Intervention
As one walks deeper into Batla House, one enters an unacknowledged paradigm of Delhi – the face where need and opportunity has bred unauthorized and therefore un-regulated construction. In the looming visage of this concrete jungle, dank walls seem to close in, locking out sunlight and fresh air. Boxes over boxes placed haphazardly with barely enough space to breathe – it makes for an enclosure that stifles it inhabitants. For women and children who spend a major chunk of their lives confined in such conditions, a piece of open sky and a patch of green earth is luxury. Ironically, a space exists at the edge of this settlement, straddling the canal and the river. As of now it is an ill-maintained area with little community activity. A minor landscaping intervention though would provide the community here the much-needed public space. A space where children can play and families can spend evenings, where Yamuna gets integrated back into the lives of a community that essentially lives with its back to the river, a space where the enclosure cracks a little to allow sunlight to seep in to the lives of the inhabitants of Batla House.
The urban sprawl today at Batla House
Image Source: Google Earth
these streets... The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness, I fight with my brain to believe my eyes, And it’s harder than you think, To believe this sadness, That creeps up my spine, And haunts me through the night, Where’d the days go? When all we did was play, And the stress that we were under wasn’t stress at all, Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall. -Paulo Nutini
The greenway is nothing but an initiative to reclaim the sidewalk as a public space; the greenway here can be used in numerous public activity settings and can serve a lot of functions to a lot of people. Emphasis on using the space as outdoor living rooms, leisure area, area to congregate and further more as a area suitable for the growth of children, for them to dig the dirt and feel the earth, away from their completely built up habitat. Encouraging small scale informal commercial activities, like bhel puri walas, bhutta walas, mehendi walas and many such more things which are a part of the unique culture. The community area is landscaped using native species of plants to minimize the wastage of water. Simple and easy to maintain schemes for plantation are proposed. Reuse and recycling waste materials and other easily available junk to furnish the area are used. The traditional red brick which is easily available and usable, porous material is proposed for the pavement. Reduces storm water runoff. The simplicity is maintained in every aspect of this initiative.
Yamuna River: A Reclaimable, Neglected Resource Turned Into A Forlorn Void Entry for the Urban SOS competition. Design Team: Yasir Hameed, Anandit Sachdev, Bhrigu Kalia, Taru, Archana Rani Time Frame: 1 week Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5
A Martyr Memorial And A Public Space Competition Entry for INSDAG annual National Students Architectural Design Competition, which won the second prize. Design Team: Yasir Hameed, Anandit Sachdev, S.M.M. Haque, Wafa Rizvi Time Frame: 2 weeks Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 , Google Sketchup 8 ,Revit 2011
“Shaheedon ki chitaon par lagenge har baras mele watan pe marne walon ka yahi baki nishan hoga” The spark inside, doesn’t die down easily. Instead it grows into a flame that only a few bear in their hearts. It must have not been easy to do what was right; must have required an inner strength, unparalleled conviction to sacrifice one’s own being to the altar of all that is worth protecting – truth, freedom, love… It must have required much more than mere knowledge of the danger – a core of steel tempered with fire, strengthened by sheer single-mindedness What does it take to make a martyr? A single flame in the dark the one which summons an inferno, a harbinger, the keeper… the martyr each of them embodying this one value. A martyr memorial should be about the martyrs – not just about remembrance but also about inspiration… celebration. It is meant to remind us of the looming darkness that would prevail if not for that flame, it should embody the sacrifices made and emphasize that the flame is to be kept alive. A space to remember, A space to relearn, A space to celebrate, A space to emulate… This memorial comprises of distinct zones that each fulfill the requisitions cited. An interpretation centre to learn about and therefore understand the challenges, a memorial wall and a wall of remembrance to commemorate their sacrifices, a public square and Open air theatre to celebrate the gift of life and happiness that they have left us, a graffiti tunnel and a ‘space for peaceful protests’ such that the mission to make the world a better place continues and the values that they fought for are preserved and cherished at the heart of who we are.
Khirki Masjid: Resuscitate A Heritage Building To Create A Vital Public Space The competition entry for “the adaptive Reuse of Khirki Masjid in Delhi�, which is a neglected monument inn Delhi Design Team: Yasir Hameed, Anandit Sachdev, Imran Khan, Bhrigu Kalia, Taru Time Frame: 2 days Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 , Google Sketchup 8
Finding Utopia For A Race Lost To The Sands Of Time The competition entry for Annual NASA Design Competition on the theme “finding utopia”. Design Team: Yasir Hameed, Satish Saklani, S.M.M. Haque, Taru Time Frame: 1 Week Softwares Used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 , Google Sketchup 8
Painting Source: Susan Lyon,Scott Burdick, S.H.Siddiqui
_Physical Models
_Photography and Watercolours