Followings are the design projects i did during my M.Arch (Theory and Design) course in CEPT University, Ahmedabad. In all these projects the farmost important concern was the theoritical (the conceptual) clarity with wich the design problem is handled.
Garden of Exile @ Nashik
This project titled ‘Unfolding Ramayan’ is the design of a public space, in the rocky riverbed site called ‘Tapovan’; in the outskirts of the pilgrim city, Nashik. The central concern of the project is the design’s response to the local legend that is strongly related to the site, (which is part of the epic ‘Ramayan’) ........... According to the theme I chose, the design attempts to give, the visitor of this public space, an ‘Experience of Exile’. An experience, (which according to the legend) lord Rama himself have gone through, in this very site of Tapovan
In order to transform the idea of ‘Experience Of Exile’ in to a workable design idea, it has been abstracted to an experience of a transition from order to disorder; a transition from a habitualized to an un-habitualized environment; from known to unknown; from ease to difficulty. Such a transition is incorporated in the spatial sequence and experiential progression ............ The spaces in the project are formed out of a basic module of 16 square piers arranged in a form of square. These modules are combined to form spaces, which exhibits a quality of order in its arrangement. The same module is gradually modified and transforms into a totally disordered space. This transition from order to disorder is also matched with, the transition in functions of space from formal to informal. In this way the design attempts to express one of the aspects of Exile, (though not all its characteristic aspects).
Lake-front Development @ Bhopal
A urban-design project that reconciles between development and conservation
The objective of the project is to transform the lakefront, in to the city’s new identity; in to a national tourist destination; in to a public space that could engage all range of activities and people. Yet, the most important concern is to have least impact on the rich natural ecosystem of the site.
The first idea is to connect the upper and lower lake road, in a way that the lakefront will be more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, bikers, and drivers. The next idea is to zone all the proposed activities along the circulation veins, and to reduce the footprint on the green area to zero. And other idea is to reduce actual construction by revitalizing the existing building along the roads and converting them in to accommodate various facilities. The space and activities are proposed in a way that would be complimented by the presence of the lake, and also themselves would compliment the site and the city at large.
1km Knowledge University @ Ahmedabad
A hypothetical project concerning, a modern insert in a historic urban fabric
A university is a place of genesis of knowledge and mainly a place of exchange and dissemination of knowledge. The university is inserted, deep in the interiors of the dense urban fabric of the Ahmedabad’s old core, in a “humble” way, yet making its significant presence. The ‘Contextualized concept’ - the concept of 1 km stretch and its linearity is contextualized as a “larger pol” in the city comprising many smaller pols within, (where the term ‘pol’ represents the traditional setting of a modular gated community mostly).
The university uses the metaphor of 'The Root of a Tree', which penetrates through the earth but invisible from the surface. Similarly, the university will not be much seen from the main roads of the old city of Ahmedabad, but yet will be a hidden force, which would transform the city in to a knowledge city; the city for which this university acts as the spine. The view of the university will be a surprise for the people approaching it from outside, rooted deep inside the existing pols. The university will have built spaces that are designed deliberately; also it will have spaces and activities that will evolve over period of time. The activities will be both formal and informal incorporating local people, residential & visiting students, general public, and others. This urban insert, other than its intended activity will provide solution for some of many existing functional urban problems of the city, like the vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The project in its architectural language tries to have a dialogue with the existing traditional architecture.
