Public Library Complex & Digital Hub, Rohini, New Delhi

Author: Shivam Rawat
Site Location: Delhi
Institute: University School of Planning and Architecture, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (USAP)
Advisor: Dr. Neeraja Lugani Sethi

description

In today’s time with the emergence of the Internet and digitalization of the books and information, this has enormously influenced the manner in which we consume information. With the developments of new methods and types of media, the traditional role of a public library is to question. The significance of the physical collection within a certain environment versus a quick Internet search at any given point of time within any environment, questions the sustainability of a public library and the resources it offers.

This project proposes a new typology for a public space – re-imagining the existing image of Public Libraries in the social realm and mixing it with collaborative co working spaces help to develop active and lively spaces in the community making it a 24×7 lively space.

The infinite loop gives a seamless experience to the user by interconnection of varied spaces, blurring the difference between the exterior and interior surroundings.
The design is developed on the basis of the Activity Analysis Mapping which was conducted on the site and ensuring that the most interesting and dominant footfall section of the Site catches onto the most interesting functions and views and increase the utilization of this project.

drawings

supporting video

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Centre for Knowledge and Excellence, Bangalore

Author: Raghav Krishnappa Ramesh
Site Location: Bangalore
Institute: School of Planning and Architecture (SPA Delhi), New Delhi
Advisor: Prof Tanuja BK, Prof Vikas Kanojia

description

The design seeks an inquiry into the idea of production of space and nature while exploring the theory of “Uneven development” in the city of Bangalore. In theory, rapid urbanisation and road networking alter the dynamics of the ecosystem, and the negative impacts are felt by the urban poor and the larger ecological gestalt. This mode of development does little to help a large number of blue-collar/informal labourers who depend on local means of production. What began as an antithesis to the idea of “uneven development” transitioned into understanding the value of a “geographical void”. Can these voids be revitalized to serve as a more significant catalyst to stitch the broken urban fabric of the city? To revitalize the depleting lakes of the city, the first step lies in addressing the issue at the source: the stormwater drains. A major part of the design seeks to revitalize the adjoining stormwater drain by proposing a number of recycling workshops and organic urban farms. The Center for knowledge and Excellence is designed as an Integrated Public Amenity, one which provides equal learning opportunities for varied user groups. The Public library component of the design is placed in correlation with the neighbouring school premises to increase the targeted footfall. Other community-based functions like seminar halls and Open source classrooms are placed toward the community park to encourage users from the neighbourhood to use the centre. The design makes use of contemporary and local materials like exposed concrete, brick cladding and chappadi stone. Given the modest climate of Bangalore, the centre makes use of open courtyards to create smaller microclimates which helps cool the building naturally. Overall, the design seeks to create a solution which can give back to the city as much as it claims as its birthright. The thesis aims at uncovering an alternative approach to the theory of the production of space and nature while reinventing the conventional idea of an Urban Hub.

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Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development

Author: Mansi Dharmendra Kabrawala
Site Location: Surat
Institute: Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology (SCET)
Advisor: Ar. Snehal Shah

description

India is a major emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The country is experiencing significant climate changes and a variety of impacts such as water scarcity, heat waves, drought, etc. Countries across the world have realised the urgency of sustainable urban practice. Accordingly, we need a new approach to architectural design – the one simultaneously addressing the complex environmental issues and other that meet the needs of contemporary societies and economies. Therefore, the question here arises, how to see this challenging moment as an opportunity to look at innovations that is relevant to a society?

Since cities strive for economic development, environmental development is always overlooked by all the sectors of the industry. Time and again, Designers are one of the responsible creators where each design action can affect lives of the users. With an

increased awareness that comes with these emerging issues, today’s globalized society needs to find an effective design solution that would bring out innovative ways to merge the present with future, that creates a better world for all!

The thesis addresses to the major challenges of our time and in the future through Climate Responsive Design Approach.

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AI + X Research Centre

Author: Amay Raskar
Site Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Institute: SMEF’s Brick School of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Ninad Rewatkar

description

In this constant growth of technologies, AI has come up on top as a major factor in the growth and development of a country if used in an appropriate way.

Ai is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviour in computers. So like The basics of technology roots out from wars and the military. From refrigerators to mobile phones to electronic computers.

AI has also bled in the everyday life since Alan Turing to today’s Google and siri. But apart from that, there have been recent advancements in the healthcare agriculture education and smart cities and smart transportation. Inferences being application use of AI in Sustainability, architecture, construction, environmental implication, water consumption, light control, improved agricultural practices etc. India After a lot of attempt in trying to establish private connections, the development and growth was not enough and most importantly it was not enough for the aiming to be the AI garage for 40 percent of the world i.e be a global provider of solutions to the rest of the world, as india has its diverse issues and unique scenario a push towards this direction would get us closer to this goal. It has proposed for the creation of CORE, ICTAI and CSTS, with core focus on healthcare, agriculture, education, smart city and smart transportation.

With this the proposal of CORE ICTAI and CSTS I tried to wrap my thesis project around the same proposal.

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The Space Syntax to Co-Creation,Collaboration & Cross-Disciplinary Approaches : C-Cube Design & Technology Innovation Hub.

Author: Keerthikashree M
Site Location: Chennai
Institute: BMS College of Architecture, Bengaluru
Advisor: Ar Shanthala V

description

INNOVATOPOLIS is a Hybrid Ecosystem that stimulates Co-Creation, Collaboration & Cross-Disciplinary approaches to nurture research, innovation and entrepreneurship. It is a Design & technology Innovation hub, in a tier 1 city which will act as a connector, providing an intellectually challenging environment for professionals, academia from multiple disciplines and the public.


The architecture of this typology is collaborative, flexible, adaptable, and reconfigurable. It will help, support, and streamline the development of design, products & the growth of young professionals in bringing new ideas & solutions into reality. The key design aspects of this project was spatial integration and segregation of spaces, configurations for the built environment based on activity patterns of users, flexibility and reconfigurability, integration of built with nature.


As the project sits in the hot climatic conditions, Passive cooling systems, cross ventilation, sun shading devices, solar income, rain water harvesting etc are used and the skin of the building is designed to battle the harsh climate. Vegetation and Landscaping plays a major role in achieving comfortable open and semi open spaces. Terracotta, a traditional and local material has been used predominantly for facade & roofing, for a sustainable built environment.

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Rethinking Habitat for Cattle

Author: Harikiran V Alva
Site Location: Neelavara, Karnataka
Institute: Nitte Institute of Architecture
Advisor: Palaksha Shetty

description

Cattle are one of the earliest domesticated animals by humans. Once often left to wander about in the open gradually started settling in alongside human settlements. Thus began the journey in the change in raising of cattle. To conserve them, many organizations are currently providing food and shelters designed based on human perception—the thesis questions the conventional design approach, which is majorly human-centric.

The primary approach of man towards nature was passive, which gradually changed due to man’s excessive desire. Man’s sensitive wisdom towards nature slowly started shifting towards material prosperity, money based in the present era, which affected not only humans and their habitat but also other living creatures, and created a gap between man and nature. In Asian countries like India, where anything that sustains a person’s livelihood is valued, cattle have been considered sacred due to their contributions to humanity. Humans used them for their daily needs and were respected as one among them.

The Design Proposal will be to create a Sustainable Village for Cattles, and its caretakers will be based on understanding cattle’s perception of space and its natural behavior. Spaces designed are based on various methods of understanding a cow and its natural wandering and creating a healthy habitat to live its intrinsic lifestyle.

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A Net Zero Design Intervention for Sustainability Research Institute at M.S.University of Baroda

Author: Ansh Shah
Site Location: Vadodara
Institute: SEDA, Navrachna University
Advisor: Shantanu Jana

description

The chosen site for the proposal is adjacent to the historic D.N.Hall and the modernist KAAF building. We strive to continue the legacy of coming up with periodic design decisions by adding a contemporary touch to the campus. We envisage to create an extension that would teach-


Students: to go through a learning journey that includes everything from collaborating on design decisions to technology selection and system monitoring.
Faculty: They can participate in continuous research initiatives that improve their expertise and academic credentials as early adopters of intriguing new technologies.
Local Schools: Obtain a greater understanding of what is achievable and motivation for future generations to work toward a more energy-efficient society.
The Larger Community: The building embodies sustainable development principles and serves as a model of sustainability for universities and professionals nationwide.


Since the building will be part of an academic curriculum, it will feature experimental aspects that will be evaluated. The proposal will serve as a prototype for monitoring the zero net energy results across time. This information shall also aid in the development of a precise design plan for transforming the M.S.U. campus into a zero net energy campus in future.

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Centre for Arts and Sciences Originated in India University

Author: Vivek Eadara
Site Location: Hyderabad
Institute: Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad
Advisor: M. Vinod Ganesh

description

This project is a pursuit of seeding our arts and sciences into modern Indian societies, as a cultural phenomena.

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An Archaeological Experiential Museum, Vadnagar

Author: Ravi Modi
Site Location: Vadnagar, Mehsana district, Gujarat
Institute: MS University, Baroda
Advisor: Prof. Percy Adil Pithawala, Ar. Ashish Amin, Ar. Niketa Moghe, Ar. Mitesh Panchal

description

The objective of this thesis is to raise awareness about the rich history of Vadnagar and evoke a sense of pride and belonging amongst the younger generation through cultural heritage. The challenge is to provide a solution for new intervention without disturbing the foundations of the existing and future ruins which remain yet to be excavated.

Hence the project has tried evolving to an appropriate system of construction which provides inherent flexibility for ease of construction and adaptability to emerging conditions at site during assembly and erection.

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Anantshodha: An Interpretation and Research Centre for Western Chalukyan Temples

Author: Parwati Patil
Site Location: Lakundi, Gadag district, Karnataka
Institute: Goa College of Architecture, Panaji
Advisor: Ar. Sidhi Tendulkar

description

The Interpretation and Research Centre for Western Chalukyan Temples is located in Lakundi, a village in Gadag District of Karnataka. Anantshodha thus, befits a center that aims to build awareness and promote knowledge of the Western Chalukyan temples while also acting as a means to preserve these temples through documentation and research.

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Lokmanch: A Citizen Narrative of Democratic India

Author: Harshit Narnoli
Site Location: Central Vista, New Delhi
Institute: University School of Arch and Planning, GGSIPU, New Delhi
Advisor: Prof. Baljeet Khurana

description

The thesis questions and tries to establish the sensitivity of the relationship between the state and civilians with architecture as the medium. The project was an attempt to envision a contemporary institution within the rich contextual and cultural heritage of India that focuses on the idea of democracy.

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Socializing Centre and Pavilion Design

Author: Rohan Milind Jaitpal
Site Location: Kharghar, Navi Mumbai
Institute: Dr. Baliram Hiray College of Architecture, Mumbai
Advisor: Ar. Shalini Shrimali

description

This project’s aim was to create an environment with a little bit of isolation from the remaining area but an environment which is soothing and beautiful. The courtyards act as light wells bringing in the diffused light throughout. The greenery and the water body surrounding it completely elevate the experience of any user.

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Architecture in the Emerging Urban Domain

Author: Arya Gupta
Site Location: Western Express Highway Station, Mumbai
Institute: Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, Mumbai
Advisor: Dr. Kaiwan Mehta.

description

This thesis project firstly aims at exploring this emerging Urban Domain. It aims to analyse the roots of, and understand, today’s societal lifestyle and psyche that invariably shapes this urban domain. Architecture is looked at through the ideas of a system, a typology and form, after which then project aimed to investigate how these ideas would be adapted to this emerging urban domain.

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Relooking Urban Responses in Government Campus

Author: Nihar Vijay Lalani
Site Location: Rajkot, Gujarat
Institute: Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot
Advisor: Ar. Rupesh Patel

description

This project aims to understand & demonstrate an appropriate built environment for a government building and its campus and the way it could respond to public spaces and urban issues.

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Cyclic Architecture

Author: Rahul Kustagi
Site Location: Minerva Mills, Bangalore
Institute: Wadiyar Centre for Architecture, Mysore
Advisor: Ar. Kukke Subramanya

description

The permanence of change.
In the 20th century due to rapid urbanisation, there are very few public spaces for the people in the city to slow down from their fast-paced urban lives.

The evolution of the cities lead to loss in relevance of the industries that initiated the city’s growth in the first place. These urban lands lie vacant due to lack of vision, and get labelled as urban voids. The voids have a distinctive landscape that have capabilities to absorb large public activities. The need of the hour is to create accessible public spaces and these voids can be the catalyst of change.

Climate change and pollution are global problems and cities contribute considerably, and the process of building is inevitable. The question becomes, rather do we need to rebuild from scratch every time we build? Or make sustainable what already exists? Why demolish when the built could be reintegrated into the fabric of relevance by re-examining the overlaps and divergences between, “necessity”, “program” and “function” of the already built? The ability to adapt to evolving programs, uses and culture is a great strength of a building. One can’t predict the future, but there is a possibility to design for change.

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