Tag: Public Space GM

From Mortal to Eternal: Spatializing the Ghat as a Ritual and Reflective Space

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Author: Ananya V
Site Location: Srirangapatna, Karnataka
Institute: School of Planning and Architecture, Mysore
Advisor: Ar. Srikanth K.S

Description

This thesis reimagines the sacred riverfront of Paschimavahini, one of the rare west-flowing stretches of the Kaveri. The site is historically significant as a traditional pilgrimage destination and a place where families perform post-death rituals and rites of passage connected to the cycle of life, death, and memory. It proposes an inclusive, multi-level ritual landscape that honors Hindu non-cremation death rituals such as shraddha, tarpana, pinda pradana, and asti visarjane. The project highlights the quieter yet important practices of remembrance, offering, and connection to ancestors.
The design presents the riverfront as a living ritual spine. It is not just a place for tourism or urban renewal but a sacred ecology where death, memory, and nature are intertwined. The architecture explores multi-level ritual experiences, from horizontal ghats to vertical structures like treehouse-inspired pavilions. These features symbolize the layered journey of the soul while engaging with the river’s edge, water, and vegetation in a sacred way.
In light of Paschimavahini’s cultural and spiritual significance, the proposal ensures the dignity of both human departure and natural cycles. The design emphasizes spatial fairness and inclusivity, providing equal access and respectful spaces for marginalized groups such as widows, poor families, and the elderly, who are often left out of death-related practices. Ultimately, this thesis reweaves death, nature, and memory into a sacred space. Here, ritual architecture goes beyond mere functionality to reflect tradition, ecology, and the dignity of departure.

Drawings

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Susegad: A Centre for Island Living – Revitalize Economy and Culture through Architecture in Goa

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Author: Shreeya Kamath
Site Location: Divar Island, Goa
Institute: BMS College of Architecture
Advisor: Dr. Leena Thombre

Description

This thesis proposes a community–visitor center on Divar Island (Site Location Pin: 15.53439611522159, 73.90173249052955) as a shared platform where locals and tourists come together, designed to nurture cultural exchange while protecting both heritage and ecology. The intent is not only to provide facilities but also to create an environment that celebrates coexistence. For locals, the spaces generate income, revive agriculture, and sustain artisanal practices that risk being lost. For visitors, they provide opportunities for authentic experiences—ones that are mindful, meaningful, and deeply rooted in the island’s identity. Material limitations are embraced as strengths, with locally available resources guiding construction and demonstrating the wisdom of vernacular methods. The architecture resists spectacle and excess, relying instead on its rhythm of blocks, courtyards, and pathways that weave built and unbuilt spaces together. These interstitial areas foster interaction, community gatherings, and a constant dialogue with the landscape. The design ensures that the built does not overwhelm the natural; instead, it frames it. In this way, the architecture blends modestly into Divar’s timeless setting, appearing grounded, enduring, and inseparable from its place.

Drawings

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From Abandoned Mill Ruins to Civic Catalyst: A Case of Connecting DBR Mills to Hussain Sagar Lake as an Equitable Third-Place for Hyderabad

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Author: T Tanishka
Site Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
Institute: Sri Venkateshwara College of Architecture
Advisor: Krishna Priya

Description

“Transforming abandoned mills into inclusive third places of memory, dialogue, and belonging.”
As cities become denser, faster, and increasingly privatized, the everyday citizen is left with few places to simply pause, gather, or belong. This thesis explores the necessity, relevance, and architectural possibilities of Third Spaces in contemporary Indian cities. This architectural inquiry seeks to go beyond conventional redevelopment strategies and envisions brownfield regeneration as a catalytic process, where architecture serves as a medium for, reconnecting, and re- imagining.
Once alive with the hum of looms and the pulse of workers, DBR Mills, Hyderabad now lies silent—its walls weathered, its gates locked, its presence reduced to a forgotten void in the heart of the city. Yet within its ruins rests an unrealized potential, Memory, character, and identity waiting to be reimagined. This thesis proposes re-imagining DBR Mills as a multidisciplinary hub and equitable “third place,” while connecting it to Hussain Sagar Lake where the city can pause, gather, celebrate, and belong. Rooted to where it stands and grounded in character and memory, while introducing new spatial narratives, the proposal reclaims DBR Mills as a regenerative common—open, inclusive, flexible, and ever-adaptive that caters to the ever-changing needs of the city.

Drawings

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Beyond Transactions: Reimagining Dadar Phool Market as an Olfactory Marker

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Author: Tulsi Jilla
Site Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Institute: CTES College of Architecture
Advisor: Tanvee Joshi

Description

This thesis symbolizes the idea of taking the temporary essence of flowers (their beauty, fragrance, and rituals) and embedding them into a lasting identity through architectural interventions—reimaging Dadar Phoolmarket as a permanent symbol of culture, community, commerce, and sustainability.
It envisions the market as an ecosystem—where flower trading, environmental sustainability, and cultural exchange coexist—bringing together culture, commerce, and community in a seamless flow. Olfactory design plays a key role by enhancing the user experience through curated as smellscape within the market space, transforming the movement to the market. Waste management will evolve beyond mere disposal into flower recycling industries, producing commodities, fostering new economic activities within the market’s framework.
This thesis also proposes streetscape interventions to unify the market and its surroundings, creating a pedestrian-friendly public space that addresses congestion and enhances community interaction. By leveraging the market’s cultural roots and transforming it into a self-sustaining hub, the project aims to give Dadar a distinct identity, redefining the role of markets in urban environments. This reimagined space aims for the Phoolmarket to stand as a model of sustainable urban transformation, blending tradition with modern urban sensibilities and offering a solution to the challenges faced by public markets today.

Drawings

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Re-imagining Sardar Patel Stadium: A Community Recreation and Multi-sports Hub

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Author: Patel Upal Rajendrakumar
Site Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Institute: The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU)
Advisor: Ar. Rahul Dalvi

Description

We delve into the fascinating world of adaptive reuse, where old structures find new life in innovative and functional ways. Historical structures aren’t just buildings; they’re an experience. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, despite past demolition plans, stands as a testament to ongoing preservation efforts. Organizations like the World Monuments Fund and the Getty Foundation have been actively involved in its conservation, even funding studies on the stadium’s potential for repurposing. A key proposal for its future is to conserve the site and enhance its value as a vital green space for the local community to enjoy. To maintain its World Heritage City status, Ahmedabad must continue to prioritize such conservation initiatives.
The revitalization of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium has a profound impact on the community. It transforms from a single-sport venue into a dynamic multi-sport and community recreation hub, enhancing cultural, recreational, and social engagement. This revitalization not only preserves the stadium’s historical and architectural significance but also creates a sustainable and valued public space for generations to come. It fosters a strong sense of community, promotes physical and mental well-being, and contributes significantly to the overall development of the city.

Drawings

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School of Thought: Architecting Dharavi’s Future Through Civic Design

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Author: Agatha Mary Mohan Ponraj
Site Location: Dharavi, Mumbai
Institute: Avani Institute of Design
Advisor: Ar. Niraj Pillai

Description

The origins of the project lie in observing the everyday as architectural. Drawing from Pauline Gallacher’s question in Everyday Spaces: “Is there still potential in the forming of neighborhoods for little spaces of contradiction, which stand aside from the transience of the here and now and testify to the past of a place and its future possibility?”

I grew up in Dharavi. Not in the map of it, but in the texture of it—the closeness, the choreography, the constant negotiation of space. As I entered architectural education, a dissonance appeared: the city I knew and the city the discipline wanted to draw were not the same. One was fluid, porous, shared. The other was enclosed, programmed, rendered. This thesis comes from the need to reconcile those two visions.

Cities like Dharavi are rarely short of architecture; they are full of it—walls that become blackboards, staircases that double as markets, courtyards that host festivals and funerals alike. What they lack is recognition. Conventional design frameworks call these conditions “informal,” but in reality, they are civic systems—messy, adaptive, and profoundly intelligent.

This thesis begins by taking those overlooked logics critically. It does not read incidental spaces as leftovers, but as urban instruments that shape collective life. Through mapping, observation, and critical inquiry, the project transforms these cues into architectural propositions that resist closure and invite appropriation. The aim is not to solve Dharavi, but to listen to it—and in doing so, to reframe architecture as an act of equity: a structure that acknowledges multiplicity, amplifies everyday practices, and opens itself to use far beyond what is drawn.

Drawings

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Ritual and Right: Water as a Democratic Urban Experience

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Author: Aleena Paulson
Site Location: Kochi, Kerala
Institute: SEED – APJ Abdul Kalam School of Environmental Design
Advisor: Ar. Jills Philip

Description

This architectural thesis explores the democratization of water in urban spaces by reimagining water infrastructure as an inclusive public realm. It emphasizes equitable access for all users, regardless of gender, age, or physical ability, while reviving the cultural significance of communal bathing—once central to social interaction, well-being, and collective identity. The project addresses the disappearance of shared water bodies due to urbanization and privatization, positioning water as not only a utility but also a spatial, social, and emotional connector.
The chosen site at Kakkanad, Kochi, located along the Seaport–Airport Road, provides excellent connectivity through road, metro, and Water Metro links. Its sloped terrain and natural water reserve create opportunities for layered spatial experiences, where water becomes both symbolic and functional, mediating between the dense urban fabric and the surrounding landscape.
Conceptually, the design begins with a simple mass divided into public, semi-public, and private zones. A cross-through access organizes movement, while addition and subtraction of volumes shape a dynamic composition of open and enclosed spaces. Envisioned as an “oasis in the city,” the project ensures physical, social, experiential, ecological, and urban equity through universal accessibility, inclusive water interactions, affordability, diverse modes of engagement, and preservation of natural resources.

Drawings

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Assumptions to Inclusion: Rethinking the Social Datum

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Author: Prathamesh Mahajan
Site Location: Mumbai
Institute: L.S.Raheja School of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Mridula Pillai

Description

Architecture is often described as a reflection of society. But what happens when that reflection is incomplete, shaped by assumptions of who belongs and who does not? This dissertation, Assumptions to Inclusion: Rethinking the Social Datum, explored how architecture can move beyond these presumptions to embrace equity and inclusion.

The study began with the idea of datum as a physical reference, but soon revealed its parallel in society: the social datum, invisible norms that dictate who is prioritized and who is overlooked. These norms often exclude the differently abled, neurodiverse individuals, non-normative identities, the elderly, and the economically marginalized. Seen users are typically accounted for in design, while unseen users remain unconsidered.

To confront this, the research used comics to narrate everyday struggles of diverse individuals in the city, grounding design in lived stories rather than abstractions. The chosen site, Watson’s Hotel and Kala Ghoda Chowk in Mumbai, was both symbolic and practical. Once marked by exclusion, it is reimagined as a civic space rooted in participation, memory, and belonging.

Design interventions, such as a stramp for equitable mobility, calm zones, un-gendered restrooms, and multi-sensory navigation, are not add-ons but embedded principles. Together, they form the Urban Living Room, a space that challenges assumptions and shifts the social datum toward equity.

Drawings

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Museum of Cyclone for Odisha

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Author: Jitesh Panigrahi
Site Location: Bhubhaneshwar, Odisha
Institute: Piloo Mody College of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Shankar Giri

Description

Odisha, often referred to as “India’s Best Kept Secrets,” is a land of immense cultural heritage and natural beauty, has long stood on the frontline of nature’s fury. Situated along the eastern coastline of India, the state has borne the brunt of countless cyclones, each leaving behind a trail of destruction, loss, and transformation. However, with every storm that has battered its shores, Odisha has risen stronger, turning adversity into an opportunity for progress.

The Museum of Cyclone stands as a symbol for the extraordinary strength and resilience—a space that narrates Odisha’s journey from devastation to becoming a global leader in disaster preparedness and mitigation. However, it was the Super Cyclone of 1999 that truly redefined the state’s approach to disaster management. With wind speeds exceeding 250 km/h and storm surges swallowing entire villages, the cyclone resulted in immense loss of 10,000 lives and properties, exposing the vulnerabilities. Yet, it also marked a turning point. —ushering in a new era of scientific preparedness, infrastructural fortification, and community-driven resilience.

This Museum serves 3 main purposes:
1- Memorializing the Past: Honoring those who have succumbed and survived.
2- Educating the Present: Spreading awareness about cyclone preparedness and climate change.
3- Inspiring the Future: Showcasing Odisha’s resilience, adaptive strategies and innovations.

At its core, the Museum of Cyclone is not just a place of remembrance; it is a beacon of awareness and preparedness. In an era where climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, the museum will serve as a vital educational hub, inspiring future generations to prioritize sustainability, disaster resilience, and community cooperation. By chronicling Odisha’s incredible journey of survival and innovation, the museum will ensure that the sacrifices of the past serve as lessons for the future.

Charles Correa; In his essay “The Blessings of the Sky”, he emphasises architecture’s role in celebrating the human spirit through place. Giringaput, situated on the periphery of Bhubaneswar, offers a site layered with symbolism and strategic relevance for the Museum of Cyclone. Cradled between rivers and hills, it embodies the delicate balance between nature’s power and human perseverance. As a burgeoning nexus of IT and innovation, it resonates with Odisha’s trajectory —from vulnerability to resilience. The site becomes not just a backdrop, but an active participant in the narrative—bridging memory, landscape, and a climate-conscious future.

Drawings

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Adaptive Spatial Model – A Case for Decentralising Transitional Care in Ahmedabad

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Author: Ishita Agarwal
Site Location: Ahmedabad
Institute: NMIMS Balwant Sheth School of Architecture
Advisor: Suprio Bhattacharjee

Description

The project addresses a pressing urban inequity – the absence of dedicated spaces for recovery between hospital treatment and home care. In cities like Ahmedabad, a major regional hub for healthcare that draws patients from smaller towns and rural areas, the lack of transitional care facilities amplifies existing disparities. Patients discharged after major treatments often face inaccessible or unaffordable rehabilitation options, particularly those from socio-economically weaker backgrounds. Many are left to recover in overcrowded or unsuitable environments, compromising their physical, emotional, and social well-being.

To bridge this gap, the project proposes an Adaptive Spatial Model for Transitional Care – a decentralized, modular framework that can be embedded into diverse urban contexts. By situating such centers within the city’s everyday fabric, the model ensures that quality care becomes a shared urban resource, not a privilege. Each module includes a complete set of essential programs, from rehabilitation and counselling to accommodation for patients and families, supporting holistic healing across conditions. Rooted in the principles of healing, the design integrates nature, sensory engagement, and community interaction to restore dignity and accelerate recovery. The model’s flexibility allows it to respond to varied site conditions, resource constraints, and cultural contexts, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusivity. By reimagining healthcare infrastructure as accessible civic space, the project presents a replicable vision for embedding recovery into the fabric of Indian cities – starting with Ahmedabad.

Drawings

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Art Beyond Visuals

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Author: Tanvi Loyare
Site Location: Lado Sarai, New Delhi
Institute: SMEF’s Brick School of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Ninad Rewatkar

Description

Today, the cultural and architectural spaces of our cities remain ocularcentric, leaving
this vast community excluded from one of the most fundamental human experiences
“art”. This project, a Tactile Art and Training Center, responds to this urgent need by
reimagining the museum as a place where every sense touch, sound, smell, and even
thermal shifts becomes a medium of perception. At its core lies an art gallery designed
beyond the visual domain. Here, sensory pods, each defined by distinct materials,
textures, and thermal properties, create cocoons of experience. Skylights and contrasts
of light and shadow guide those with low vision, while fragrant plants and embedded
auditory landmarks help in orientation. Complementing this, a vocational training center
empowers visually impaired artisans to create, learn, and sell their work transforming
the space into both a cultural hub and an employment opportunity.
The project gives back to the community by opening its landscaped public spaces to all,
fostering child-like wonder for younger visitors while nurturing a shared sense of
belonging across generations.By making art accessible to all while placing the visually
impaired at its center, this project is not just a museum but a model of equitable design,
a living demonstration of inclusivity that we urgently need today.

Drawings

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Humanitarian Monastery

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Author: Syeda Nabila Fatima
Site Location: Hyderabad
Institute: Poojya Dr. Shivakumar Swamiji School of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Anju Wanti

Description

The Humanitarian Monastery is conceived as a place of peace, learning, and community that transcends religion and embraces universal human values. Planned across a 10-acre site, the design approach emphasizes harmony between people, nature, and the built environment. The site layout follows a flowing, circular, and oneness, and the rhythm of life. Each pathway, landscape, and structure emerges as part of a larger ecosystem, where movement feels natural and interconnected, much like the flow of water.
The project is structured around the idea of equitability through design. Public areas are positioned near the main approach for accessibility, while contemplative and private monastic spaces are placed deeper within the site to ensure tranquility. Curved roads, gardens, and water bodies create transitional zones that balance openness with seclusion. The contours of the land are integrated into the planning, allowing the landscape to guide placement and orientation of spaces, reducing intervention and enhancing sustainability.
This thesis is not just an architectural exploration but a humanitarian vision—where planning, landscape, and design techniques unite to create a sustainable, inclusive, and spiritual environment. It demonstrates how architecture can become a medium of healing, equity, and coexistence.

Drawings

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Kasaykaar – A Journey From Ore to Finish

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Author: Yashashree Pimple
Site Location: Near Aathawada Bazar, Teli Ali Ratnagiri
Institute: Aayojan School of Architecture and Design
Advisor: Ar. Divya Makhijani

Description

In the heart of Konkan, the rhythms of rituals, marketplaces, and seasonal festivals still echo through the streets—but the Tambat coppersmiths, once central to this living heritage, face quiet decline. Their tools are outdated, their knowledge undocumented, and their presence fading from the city’s evolving fabric. Rooted in the coastal town of Ratnagiri, Kasaykaar is a cultural center designed to revive the declining legacy of local coppersmiths—artisans whose knowledge, once central to the region’s economy and rituals, is now on the verge of disappearance due to lack of documentation, generational discontinuity, and limited adaptation to modern techniques. Despite high demand, most craftsmen struggle to meet market needs owing to outdated tools, absence of design innovation, and diminishing local recognition.
The center acts as a bridge—where tradition, technology, and equity converge. Equipped with shared workshops, material labs, and collaborative studios, it empowers artisans while engaging youth in reviving the craft through modern design tools and knowledge exchange.
It also celebrates the cultural richness of the Konkan region by creating a platform for endangered practices like Konkani Ranmus, supported by local activists striving to keep these traditions alive.
Strategically located between a temple and an active marketplace, the center integrates with its surroundings—offering shaded verandahs, transitional courtyards, and public thresholds that invite spontaneous engagement.
More than a building, Kasaykaar becomes an evolving identity—an inclusive space where artisans, locals, and visitors shape culture collectively, ensuring that heritage is not preserved in silence, but practiced through living participation.

Drawings

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Land.Water.Life: Majuli’s Symphony of Survival

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Author: Abhay Rajesh
Site Location: Majuli Island, Assam
Institute: Avani Institute of Design
Advisor: Ar. Thushara K

description

In response to the annual floods and relentless soil erosion on Majuli Island, this architectural thesis explores how spatial adaptation can enhance resilience and improve the inhabitants’ lives. The “Land Water Life – Majuli’s Symphony of Survival” project focuses on creating multifunctional community spaces that dynamically respond to the island’s ever-changing landscape. The design investigates architectural strategies that facilitate living during and after floods, aiming to extend the functionality and safety of the spaces on the island.

The project delves into the intricate relationship between land, water, and community, highlighting the resilient negotiations the people of Majuli undertake to coexist with their environment. By reimagining traditional Satra spaces and integrating essential healthcare facilities, the project preserves cultural identity while improving access to critical services. This holistic approach underscores the interconnectedness of cultural preservation, environmental resilience, and community well-being.

The thesis emphasizes creating structures that not only adapt to the island’s flooding but also support the community’s socio-cultural revival. Through innovative design strategies, the project aims to serve as a beacon of resilience and empowerment, ensuring that Majuli’s way of life can endure and thrive despite the challenges posed by floods.

drawings

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Water Edges: Navigating Inequity and Dilemmas related to Urban Water

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Author: Dweep Jain
Site Location: Nashik
Institute: L.S. Raheja School of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Mridula Pillai

description

‘Water edges or boundaries’ are challenging to define due to water’s inherently fluid and dynamic form. In the rapidly urbanizing society, water in the urban realm is increasingly vulnerable. Such is the plight of the Godavari River also known as the as the Dakshin Ganga, is India’s second-longest river. The river is enshrined in scriptures as one of the four sacred rivers worthy of reverence and worship. Godavari not only harbours a strong cultural significance, being the stage for the Kumbh Mela, but also is home to delicate ecosystems. Despite people worshiping the intangible idea of the river, its tangible form has been subject to abuse in the name of development. The inequities become especially severe at the source, in Nashik, where rampant concretization, illegal encroachment etc have severely compromised the river’s health and its ecological network, creating an alarming situation in need of immediate intervention.

By conceptualizing the evolving riverscape as a “form,” this approach responds to the impending climate emergency in Nashik’s precinct. The form is designed to sustain and adapt to its ever-changing environment, creating a resilient and equitable realm. It revitalizes the riverscape, ensuring it nurtures the neighbourhoods and ecosystems that rely on it as their lifeblood. Here, the ghats and built structures are not static; they adapt dynamically to shifting climatic and cultural needs. This approach moves beyond mere preservation, establishing a sustainable and equitable framework that addresses contextual and climatic challenges, ultimately fostering a resilient and thriving precinct. Architecture, in this vision, transcends its physical form, becoming a living entity that adapts to shifting cultural needs as well as, integrates, and mitigates climate emergencies.

drawings

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Institute of Garbology

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Author: E Cynthia
Site Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Institute: CMR University School of Architecture
Advisor: Prof. Renuka

description

In the tapestry of our urban landscapes, waste has become an ever-growing shadow, woven from the threads of rapid urbanization and swelling populations. This thesis embarks on a journey to illuminate a path towards a harmonious coexistence between our cities and the environment. By embracing the philosophy of a second life for products, we transform refuse into resources, curbing the blight of landfills and the scars they leave upon our Earth. Through the lens of interdisciplinary research and collaboration, thesis seek to craft a climate-responsive paradigm, where waste management is crucial, empowering communities to actively reduce environmental impact. Waste management serves as a hidden thread in the fabric of climate response, weaving together efforts to reduce methane emissions from landfills and breathe new life into resources through recycling and reuse. This vision aspires to weave a new fabric of sustainability, where urban resilience and environmental stewardship intertwine, fostering a society deeply attuned to the delicate symphony of our planet’s needs

drawings

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Re-imagining Social Housing through everyday infrastructures

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Author: Neha Dalvi
Site Location: Mhada Transit Colony, Mumbai
Institute: School of Environment and Architecture
Advisor: Prasad Khanolkar, Milind Mahale

description

In contemporary times, the highest level of sustainable and technological advancement in residential building types is often recognised through the infrastructural amenities the building can offer; most popularly in terms of water harvesting, electricity and compost gardening for waste management. 

Infrastructures are portrayed as the most sustainable and efficient infrastructural systems due to their capacity for space optimization and efficient service management, resulting in time saving. Thus, efficiency and sustainability today have become the chief advertising attributes that promise a better living, thus becoming aspiration generators among people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

However, we fail to realize that these methods for achieving efficiency in residential building infrastructure are predominantly driven by the developers’ logic. This logic tends to perceive these systems as mere efficiency devices, often concealing them in smaller nooks and corners, which require separate maintenance and only caters to a particular class of people who have the economy to maintain it. 

When the same infrastructural systems are installed in low-income housing societies, they not only break the existing socialities amongst the inhabitants but also tend to fail due to the lack of funds for maintenance.  The thesis proposes a cooperative housing society for low-income housing that integrates both technology and sociality to create an inclusive and democratic space for living. A simple tweak that repositions these infrastructures is able to question the everyday practices of contemporary society through the lens of class, difference and caste.

drawings

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Resort in Kevadia, Gujarat

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Author: Dhrumil Patel
Site Location: Kevadia, Gujarat
Institute: Dr.D.Y.Patil School of Architecture
Advisor: Prof. R.T. Golgire

description

Introduction: The site is near Navagam village, Kevadia Colony, Narmada district of Gujarat, presents a unique opportunity for architectural exploration and innovation. With its strategic location, rich cultural heritage, and diverse natural surroundings, the area offers a canvas for sustainable design interventions. The site boasts direct access to a major highway, is a short distance from the iconic Statue of Unity (6.9 km), and enjoys a prime location along the Narmada River.

Surrounding Environment:

  • Natural Features: The Narmada River offers scenic beauty, potential for recreational activities, and may influence the microclimate.
  • Vegetation: Limited information available. However, considering the presence of botanical gardens nearby, explore incorporating native flora for ecological benefits.
  • Built Environment: The area is undergoing rapid development with tourist attractions like the Statue of Unity

Why a Resort is Needed and Design Inspiration:

Kevadia Colony is experiencing a tourism boom, and a well-designed resort can cater to this growing demand:

  • Accommodation Gap: The current infrastructure might not be sufficient to accommodate the influx of tourists.
  • Enhanced Experience: The resort can offer unique experiences that complement existing attractions, extending tourist stays and contributing to the local economy.
  • Climate Responsiveness: The design should adapt to the hot and dry climate using strategies like deep overhangs, windcatchers, courtyards, and water features for natural cooling.
  • Harmony with Nature: The resort should integrate seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, potentially incorporating native vegetation and minimizing disruption to the river ecosystem.
  • Community Integration: The resort can incorporate elements that encourage interaction with the local community, promoting cultural exchange and fostering a sense of place.

Conclusion: The site presents an exciting opportunity to design an architectural marvel that harmonizes with its climatic conditions, cultural context, and natural surroundings. By embracing the principles of climate-responsive design and sustainable development, architects can create a landmark.

drawings

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Model Handicrafts Centre: Crafting a cultural legacy

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Author: Shivani Jitendra Rampariya
Site Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Institute: Lokmanya Tilak Institute of Architecture & Design Studies, Navi Mumbai
Advisor: Prof. Harish Setty

description

Indian handicrafts, a culturally significant sector, employs millions of artisans and contributes to the economy. However, it faces challenges like changing consumer demands and competition from mechanized production. The project revitalizes Rajasthan’s unique handicrafts, preserve community values, and promote sustainable practices, attracting tourists and generating revenue.

The handicrafts centre in Jaipur aims to revive the industry by integrating sustainable architecture and community empowerment. Locally sourced materials and passive cooling strategies are used to reduce environmental impact and promote economic sustainability. It also revives an existing stepwell which is used for rainwater harvesting and has an on-site waste water treatment system for block printing workshops. The centre also focuses on community empowerment and cultural preservation, providing a space for artisans to showcase and sell their crafts. It serves as a cultural hub and tourist attraction, promoting Rajasthan’s unique handicraft traditions globally.

The project blends Rajasthani heritage with modern design principles, using local materials and architectural features. It emphasizes clean lines, open spaces, and functionality. The landscape design incorporates native plants and revives existing trees, preserving historical significance and enhancing sustainability.

drawings

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Resposive Housing through Generative Design

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Author: Tarakesh. C
Site Location: Sholinganallur, Chennai
Institute: MEASI Academy of Architecture
Advisor: Saniya Aafreen

description

As urban environments grow increasingly complex, the need for adaptable living spaces becomes crucial. The project, Responsive Housing Through Generative Design, addresses this challenge by creating dynamic housing that evolves with the changing needs of its occupants and the environment. To achieve this level of responsiveness, advanced computational tools like Grasshopper, Ladybug, and Evolutionary Solvers were adopted which allowed us to explore multiple design iterations, optimizing for environmental performance, space efficiency, and user satisfaction. The project is situated in Sholinganallur, Chennai, a thriving IT hub. The site selection is strategic, targeting first-time buyers and single dwellers who prioritize proximity to work and education. To address climate concerns without sacrificing valuable real estate, the project strategically manages the built/unbuilt ratio. This balance allows for open spaces that support biodiversity and enhance daylighting and thermal comfort, while also optimizing the use of land for development. The design offers 25 unique housing options, each with a carefully balanced mix of open and closed spaces. Residents can choose from a variety of layouts that prioritize privacy, outdoor space, and views, all while ensuring optimal environmental performance. The result is a living environment that adapts to the needs of its occupants and the site, creating a sustainable and responsive urban habitat.

drawings

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