Author: Jerin J Panakkel Site Location: Attapadi, Kerala Institute: College of Architecture Trivandrum (CAT) Advisor: Prof. Niby Thomas Varghese
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At the time of the formation of Kerala State, Attappady was a healthy rich land. Then ninety percent of the population was Adivasis. Their self-sufficient subsistence economy, life support natural systems, as well as ecologically harmonious lifestyle, were destroyed in a very short time. Their cultural, as well as unique agricultural foundations, were destroyed and devalued. The tribal community itself has been undergoing drastic changes. The best way to resolve this issue is to create change in the community for all three generations at the same time. Pratheeksha Bhavan is trying to address the issue that the community faces in a 3 steeped manner consisting of all the 3 generations of people who are part of the community. The project tries to solve this issue in the community under the St Thomas ashram at Attapadi. The project consists of a kindergarten, High school, vocational training institute with bamboo training workshops, community center with a medical dispensary for tribal medicine and preparation. Education stands as the best way to address their issues, the right kind of education is needed to understand their cultural importance and also to understand, and experience modernity.
Author: Shreyas Varun K Site Location: Bengaluru Institute: Nitte School of Architecture and Planning, Bengaluru Advisor: Prof. Ar.Yuvaraj Perumal
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As Bangalore is the developing city in India and a metropolitan hub, which intakes thousands of people in search of opportunities every year. Which made me think about the development and connectivity of the spaces through transit. From the statistics of buses fleet into & within the city could cause a major source for traffic. With this the taught process of decentralizing transit hub has arrived. Based on the analysis, one of the best possible way to reduce traffic in the city is by restricting the inter-city & inter-state buses to the city center. And by having proposals of bus terminals in the periphery of the city ORR with collaboration of both public & private agencies. Multimodal Transit Facility gathers many modes of transportation together and is strategically located so that the commuter has different transit alternatives to reach the destination. It describes an approach to planning, building, and operating the transportation system, emphasizes optimal utilization of transportation resources and connections between modes. One of the objectives of an Multimodal transit hub is to minimize the cost and inconvenience of changing transit systems by a commuter. The benefits derived from effective intermodal co-ordination:
Lowering transportation costs by allowing each mode to be used for the portion of the trip for which it is best suited.
Increasing economic productivity and efficiency, thereby enhancing the Nation’s global competitiveness.
Reducing the burden on overstressed infrastructure components by shifting use to infrastructure with excess capacity.
Generating higher returns from public and private infrastructure investments.
Improving mobility for the elderly, disabled, isolated, and economically disadvantaged.
Reducing energy consumption and contributing to improved air quality and environmental conditions.
It introduces Single ticket travel which in turn enables easy movement from one mode to another.
Reducing Land take for road operations and common amenities & maximizing opportunities for shared facilities and synergies.
Minimizing potential phasing impacts by reducing the number of components that need to be accommodated and avoiding duplication of facilities.
Author: Shah Ronak Vipul Amita Site Location: Bandra Kurla Complex, MMRDA Ground, Mumbai. Institute: Aditya College of Architecture Advisor: Ar. Rita Nayak
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The thesis project emerges from the need for an urban environment that is oriented on the user, with the need for active and meaningful public places at the heart of this research. The key issues in responsible urban design have evolved as walkability, safety, and sustainability. Given the current rate and size of growth in Indian cities, there is an urgent need to incorporate features that favour the car over the pedestrian, as well as to favour mono-use buildings over eye-catching and dynamic mixed-use structures.
The character of a city’s public areas can be used to measure its success. However, based on observations of the cities we live in today, it can be stated that not all public places are effective – many variables influence how these areas work. Sensitive design is vital, but the ability of a good public space to adapt and profit on its constructed surrounds – its design and functions – is also important. The goal of the thesis is thus to investigate how architecture may contribute to the creation and maintenance of an active public realm supported by the built environment.
Aside from public engagement, the design dissertation promotes interaction inside the built environment. Because of the position in the IT industry, there is a lot of space allocated to offices, therefore it is necessary to analyse these areas plus keeping in mind the impact of multi transit hub at one area. To remain relevant in the wider urban environment, office spaces must react to current demands, which are based on flexibility and adaptability to encourage collaboration and creativity.
Author: Juzer Ali Johar Ali Site Location: Gandhinagar, Gujarat Institute: Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Architecture, Pune Advisor: Prof. Mukta Latkar Talwalkar
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In modern times children are getting into mobile and iPad more, whereas to create space for kids to play and explore without gadgets. A place where kids and adults are engaged in activities, & play some games. Young children do not get enough opportunities to explore without interference or interruption. We need to correct that unfortunate trend, giving them space and materials to let their instincts as learners take over as they physically explore their world. It’s what they do naturally and unfortunately what is being inhibited with increasing frequency.
The museum aims to be a place to collect and present old and new toys in some creative and contemporary ways but still keep the unique traditional toys.
Moreover, this project is also designed to be the place where kids enjoy modern toys and the parents enjoy toys from their era and simultaneously to provide interactive areas for children as well as parents.
The purpose of Toy Museum is to present the design which helps create imagine and let the visitors relaxed. Additionally, the project also seeks to bring people together to talk and share ideas by showcasing a number of toys from different eras ranging from past to present. It is a city level museum, considering footfall of 500-600 people. Finally, the museum also predicts the future of toy industry.
Author: Vaishnavie Ravi Site Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu Institute: MEASI Academy of Architecture, Chennai Advisor: Ar. A. D. Devaanand
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WATER AND LAND EDGE, is a dialogue between oppositional environs, or simply the feeling of being against a great precipice constantly in motion, that brings a magical attraction to waterfronts. The fishing Communities across India are fighting to protect lands as SEA LEVEL RISES, and the risk of future developments by the government at the coast, putting the fishermen’s livelihood at stake. The Marine ecosystems are compromised for the sake of land expansion.
The site, Foreshore estate is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is situated along the southern stretch of Marina Beach. It is located by the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Adyar Creek on the other. The government is anticipating the estate to be a tourist attraction essentially becoming an economic source but this is often at the expense of the fishermen ls community.
Development and Progress can’t be traded-off at the expense of the authentic settlements of the place. This thesis is mainstreamed on the redevelopment and the revamping of coastlines without revoking their communities. An idea of bridging that might sustain the locals and also heave in visitors who want to explore the city’s rich heritage. It also engages in the social, economic, and infrastructural compositions to ultimately bridge the gaps in the social context.
The intention of the Social infrastructure is to create a community gaining set out, rather than just being an economic source. This forum will work as a point of convergence for a vast spectrum of people and at the same time fortify the existing coastal domains. A prototype landscape which enriches the visitor experience , forging stewards of the resilient ecological systems where land meets water.
Author: Vaibhav Dalvi Site Location: Khonoma, Nagaland Institute: V.I.T.’s Padmabhushan Dr. Vasantdada Patil College of Architecture (PVPCOA), Pune, Maharashtra Advisor: Ar. Niranjan Garde
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Why weaving the future of Khonoma?
Khonoma is known as Asia’s first green village, situated near the Indo-Myanmar border, in the Indian state of Nagaland. The rich architecture and culture of the place are still seen through the community that is still living there. Throughout the period of my internship, I visited the village and met the people around the place, many times. Generations of youth are leaving villages to earn a living or work, leaving their elders behind.
Each visit to Khonoma brought a new story, and with every story, the concern to conserve the culture, material, and architecture of the space became much stronger.
Bamboo – To conserve and create
Nagaland and especially Khonoma is blessed with a natural assets like Bamboo. It sits comfortable and cozy around the green backdrop of a rich bamboo plantation. While documenting the community, for new structures coming up, bamboo is only used for aesthetic purposes, while concrete and bricks are used for structural purposes. The knowledge of using bamboo in structures is fading away with time. Adapting to new technology, the community is neglecting bamboo’s natural response to its microclimate, while bricks and concrete create damp conditions. Present-day, flat roof constructions are creating leakage problems, which is not an ideal response to the amount of rainfall the area witnesses.
The concerns I had regarding Khonoma’s return to bamboo increased after seeing this scenario, which is the reason I proposed the insert bamboo workshops.
The aim of the insert is to encourage locals to identify the potential of bamboo and practice their weaving skills. It will stand testimony to the traditional building technology and form.
Climate, Analysis, and Implementation.
Form follows function, but here, form follows climate.
The (Morungs) – a place to stay for boy soldiers – and their traditional houses were a great example of how space syntax responded to the planning and construction of the structure. Considering the building material they used to build modular houses with the common measurement that was finalized by anthropometry.
Space was usually divided into the entrance porch that held a weaving area and fireplace, followed by a central living space that culminates into a kitchen and storage. A simple linear flow of spaces was enclosed by timber room and bamboo beams and columns.
Taking cues from their traditional building techniques and planning and designed a module that replaced timber roofing with bamboo.
Khonoma is an earthquake-prone zone, taking this into consideration, I designed the body of the house with wattle and dob construction with bamboo as reinforcement. It ensured the home’s stability and sustainability.
As the village sits on a hilltop, the irony of heavy rainfall and scarcity of water is emphasized. Using a solid stone and waterproofing the footing underneath the structure, will act as a water tank, which could be a wise solution to the problem. The water tanks will hold water throughout the entire seven-month rainy season and be useful to them for the remaining three months.
Standing on the solid stone footing structure goes ground plus one storey high. The vertical division of spaces is such that where the entire ground floor is given to workshops that have natural spillover space from the surrounding plinth. And the upper floor is dedicated to the research and learning areas, with a separate entry and narrow passages which are internally linked. Structures stand-alone since connecting pathways could be detrimental during an earthquake.
Overall planning and Placement of the design –
The village has planned pathways from every house that culminates in the farmland. To follow that rhythm every designed structure also has a staircase that opens up on the ground and leads to the farmlands without disturbing the previous planning of the community. Planning follows the contour line and hence the clusters simply sit together the way the site allows. The left side of the site holds all the living spaces and dormitories while the right side of the site holds all the workshop areas. The centrally placed school acts as a nucleus of the insert, where every child learns about their culture and community just by being present in that structure.
The insert ultimately merges with the surroundings and becomes one entity for the community, in its true sense. It captures the spirit of the place. Materials like stone, bamboo, and mud teach everyone to be humble with the design yet creative with the approach. The building techniques connect one back to the roots, from where they evolved specifically to the space and people.
The insert is something which is of the people, for the people, and by the people!
Author: Shangary S Site Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu Institute: C.A.R.E School of Architecture (CARE) Advisor: Balaji Rajasekaran
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Flooding has become one of the seasons for the last few years. During that period the livelihood, health, wealth, work, and routine of the people get affected completely. It takes time to become physically, financially and mentally normal again., My thesis is an attempt to re-imagine the public infrastructure to be more efficient during normal days and serve better to the local community during a kinetic situation like flooding. Through this, the public infrastructure helps the community by rescuing and accommodating for a period of time till the situation becomes normal. For People to continue making a living after a flood with adequate access to food, water and energy – the things that enable communities to think beyond immediate survival. My thesis also explores responding to people’s day-to-day changing activities which varies in different climatic seasons. The module/pods act as markets, eateries, shops etc., On normal days and during a flood, it rescues people. The pods can also be reconfigurable to a living unit during a flood. The land use, ground cover and density keep changing based on the people’s activity at a particular time and the play of pods responds to the duration of activity & people and based on the climatic season.
Author: Shivam Singh Site Location: Dausa, Rajasthan Institute: Chandigarh College of Architecture Advisor: Prof. Sujay Sengupta
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A nation’s cultural heritage and natural history are precious and unique. The value of cultural heritage isn’t in cultural manifestation itself. But in the wealth of experience and skills passed down from generation to generation. Abhaneri village near Jaipur has a great diversity of craftsmanship and broad culture which is disappearing as the country is heading towards development. The purpose is to provide a platform for the people to show their skills and spread their knowledge of culture and craftsmanship. A museum that will preserve the remains of Harshad Mata temple which is presently kept inside Chand Baori and other historical elements that represent the people and their culture. Rejuvenation of water level in Abhaneri village by our site.
Author: Pradnya Mahajan Site Location: Pune, Maharashtra Institute: Singhad College of Architecture Advisor: Ar. Kavita Patil
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The proposal focuses on resolving the crisis in Khadi weaving industry by providing empowerment sources to the weavers to generate economical opportunities. Site is located in Jalgaon, comes under one of the extreme hot and dry climatic region of Khandesh in Maharashtra. It will be an Iconic Identity of the city with exploration of various passive strategies to deal with the climatic conditions of the place. It aims to analyze the weavers issues and providing a robust platform to Khadi weavers who weave for their livelihood in rural area. Project is envisioned as khadi weaving village with extensive facilities for promoting khadi as empowerment source for weavers and adopting these Khadi fabric crafts to preserve Rich Textile Heritage of India. the proposal comes with number of innovative strategies exploring the applications of traditional building practices and climate responsive strategies gives the thought to climate responsiveness in hot and dry region.
Spatial planning thought is given to spaces and clusters that goes and accessed by central axis and spaces that are grouped by proximity reflecting path space relationship by adding functional spaces between built forms. Integrating the flexible paths that leads to floating platforms for creating Microclimatic spaces merged with nature surrounded by the spaces based on Village layout concept.
Author: Abhishek Hegde Site Location: Panvel, Maharashtra Institute: Pillai College Of Architecture, Navi Mumbai (PiCA) Advisor: Prof. Swapna Ghatge
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The primary goal of this dissertation is to comprehend river deterioration awareness.
Water is continuously changing states, traversing borders, and feeding (and killing) life. This project also conducts a poll to determine the level of knowledge among those who use rivers and inadvertently degrade them.
By recreating the Babughat, the project aims to establish a link between permanence and ephemerality, re-allocating activities and enhancing the ephemeral nature of space on the ghats of Kolkata. On the other hand, as an extension to this ephemeral nature, creating permanence with enhanced temporality.
In addition to that, the project also focusses on incorporating the element of belief that the people of Kolkata majorly have by attempting to uplift the Kumortuli’s idol making community and develop a very interesting relationship between users and their beliefs. Kolkata being the cultural capital of India, to depict and experience culture, one major principle of landscape urbanism is taken into consideration, where the cultural corridor enables every user to witness the traditionality and get themselves well versed with the vibrancy that every placemaking element has to offer.
Author: Abdullah Zubair Site Location: Delhi Institute: Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Design,Integral University Lucknow (AKTU) Advisor: Dr. Meeta Tandon
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The design aims to create an integrated society with different nature of buildings within self-sustaining society to fuolfill the basic necessities of people of economic weaker section, the design not only focuses on housing but it creates opportunity for the people of society to enhance their living standards by developing their skills and establish a good future for them and their coming generations. The design is made using refurbished shipping containers as building material and is similar to light house project (PMAY) to accept globally as housing choice to overcome poverty and urban challenges while going green and sustainable
Author: Yadnesh Jeevan Pitale Site Location: Manori, Mumbai Institute: Smt. K. L. Tiwari college of Architecture Advisor: Prof Manoj Parelkar
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Co-operation is an act of an individual that makes him/her part of a group or community. This act of co-operation varies with the context and activities. This scale of Cooperation can also vary. Koli community is one of such Community who cooperates among each other developing complex network of Solidarity. This network further results into unique culture and tradition. Going ahead with this community identity many Koliwadas set up cooperatives in their own villages to facilitate fishing. The community which having inherent cooperation culture is an ideal ease to run such co-operatives society to help each member of community. But interestingly in Versova Koliwada where such cooperatives significantly work, co-operation among its members and that community is seem to be reducing. The spatial configuration that flourishes communal relationship is seem to be diminishing with ‘progress’ of co-operative society. Hence, the inference collected study of Versova Koliwada was critically analyzed and applied to the Manori Koliwada where co-operation among Kolis still exist and flourishing through traditional pattern in fishing, in order with case of Versova should not be repeated.
Author: Somesh Nadkarni Site Location: Mumbai Institute: School of Environment and Architecture (SEA) Advisor: Rupali Gupte & Apirva Talpade
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The thesis explored the different spatialities of Social Security that emerge in informal neighbourhoods in Mumbai. It was a comparative analysis that intended to study how security in a neighbourhood changes when the existing spaces get institutionalised. Therefore, I looked at new ways of rethinking this spatiality that promotes the growth of security while also asking what an inhabitation in the forest might be like, instead of insecurities caused by displacement.
The design creates this sense of security through particular spatial configurations where the home is a set of interconnected, porous and dense spaces; where the neighbourhood becomes one home. Through the concept of collective memory, the intervention is created around the Nodes of Social Security by which the inhabitants navigate around the neighbourhood. The design creates opportunities for the forest to merge with the home and sustain itself eventually, thereby also retaining the resident’s agency and practices. I am arguing that instead of such Rehabilitation schemes that displace people, an intervention like this could be a speculative future for the residents by the PIL (Public Interest Litigation Act).
Author: Shruti Shrivastava Site Location: Pune Institute: Dr. B.N. College of Architecture Advisor: Dr. Chetan Sahasrabuddhe
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Livability could be defined as the degree to which a community is suitable for living, which is rather subjective. However, certain components and qualities are universally acknowledged as vital for making the community more livable. Better homes, streets, roads, infrastructural amenities, and other visible aspects are necessary for a livable society, but intangible factors such as a sense of security, happiness, satisfaction, a sense of community, togetherness, and family are also crucial. All of the characteristics that informal communities like Shinde Vasti-Pune already have. Together in a typical scenario, a slum redevelopment project compromises the intangible qualities of such communities all the while providing poor quality infrastructure and poor homes in the name of development, thereby losing the positive aspects of community and climate; however, does this have to be the case? This plan aspires to develop this informal community by conserving and enhancing the key elements, both tangible and intangible while putting Community and Climate at the forefront.
Author: Ruchira Rathod Site Location: Mumbai Institute: Rachna Sansad’s Academy of Architecture (AOA) Advisor: Swati Chokshi
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Cities have become our new homes for the majority of us. Previously, due to migrations, there was a concept of ‘hometown.’ This loss of ‘hometown’ has lost fewer of us who live in the city a much-needed respite. A getaway that allows us to unwind and break free from our daily routines. Nowadays, taking a “break” is associated with using social media rather than participating in group activities. When it comes to defining the term “break,” biases in components like gender, age, and space were seen. Definitions are strongly impacted by the respondent’s age group. The purpose of this study is to determine the definition of a break for various age groups living in the city. And how can a location give a refuge that caters to the concept of a ’retreat’? Finding a place within the city limits where users may recharge themselves. The chosen site is located in Mumbai, at Mulund Octroi Naka which has a strong contextual demand. The concept was derived from site prompts, with safety being the primary concern that needed to be addressed. Porosity was implemented through a scattering of built masses, greens, hubs, and organic waterbodies. the elements of porosity were introduced as a module of built function.
Author: Mayuresh Pradhan Site Location: Mumbai Institute: Lokmanya Tilak institute of Architecture and Design Studies, Navi Mumbai Advisor: Prof. Harish Shetty
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The project began as a quest to understand if one could navigate through a structure like one navigates through a story? This simple quest led to further investigations of what is a public space at its core. The structure attempts to juxtapose various narratives along with the primary program which was essentially ‘A Film Archive and a Museum’. While the three floating blocks cater to the primary programs, the ground becomes an open public space, which is merely a passage between the abutting primary roads on both sides of the site. Here one has elongated that passage and tried to orchestrate a narrative within the ‘Urban Passage’ where the essential programs intertwined with the temporary events but at the same time secluded. This creates a micro climate, within the structure that doesn’t completely rely on active techniques of lighting and ventilation. And is rather a garden within which a structure is curated.
Author: Harikiran V Alva Site Location: Neelavara, Karnataka Institute: Nitte Institute of Architecture Advisor: Palaksha Shetty
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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.
Author: Devayani M Site Location: Sundarbans Institute: R V College of Architecture Advisor: Anup Naik, Mehul Patel, Nagaraj Vastarey, U Seema Maiya
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This project investigates the need to design a climate resilient and responsive form for the coastal communities in the Sundarbans with the aim of adapting to the devastating effects of climate change.
The site is located in Gosaba Island in Sundarbans which falls under the moderate to high risk zone. This island is constantly threatened by coastal erosion, environmental degradation and salt water inundation due to flooding thereby causing loss of livelihood.
The master-plan is developed to be implemented in a phased manner over the next 30 years. The plan envisages responding to the identified natural conditions of the site and developing the design that proposes to selectively allow water flow through the site to create wetlands, and a natural mangrove buffer zone to mitigate the effects of floods and storm surges. The aim of the project is to create a prototype built form that is inspired by the local livelihood practices, skills and local typologies of construction. The design focuses on creating modular flood and storm resilient structures using bamboo as the primary building material. The buildings are raised on stilts and strategically located around the landscape and connected by elevated walkways to protect from the floods and harsh winds. The structure has modular components that can be easily customised to needs of the user.
The project is a response to the impending disaster that the people of Sundarbans have to face. Through symbiotically fusing the built environment within a natural ecology, the architecture is designed to positively sustain the landscape and its people.
Author: Brendon Joseph Dlima Site Location: Mumbai Institute: L.S. Raheja School of Architecture Advisor: Ar. Mridula Pillai
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Mumbai undergoes a crisis from June to September annually. The city’s fast paced development has been at the cost of it’s vital blue-green infrastructure, causing its vast population to suffer a submergence during the monsoon months, due to increased rainfall and a rise in sea level, both attributed to Climate Change. The dissertation investigates whether an architect can make Mumbai resilient to floods and whether Mumbai can become a flood resilient city by learning to use the rainwater it receives.
The Oshiwara River Province was taken as a site to re-design for flood resilience. A masterplan of the Oshiwara River Province was designed to reduce and manage runoff. The most vulnerable building typologies along the river which were informal settlements and cow sheds were re-designed thereby providing more room to the river. The building typologies which were not as vulnerable were retrofitted for resilience.
Mumbai can thus become resilient to floods by learning how to use the rainwater it receives and by giving the blue green infrastructure the importance it deserves. Through this approach we will be able to eventually achieve ‘Flood Resilience in Mumbai’
Author: Prachi Kadam Site Location: Girangaon, Lalbaug, Mumbai Institute: LS Raheja College of Architecture, Mumbai Advisor: Ar. Mridula Pillai Gudekar
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Cultural trauma occurs when the locals feel their place is threatened by an event that leads to irreversible damage and changes the space that was once theirs in turn redefining its identity. One such event which lead to a cultural wounding in India was the mill owners strike of 1982 which changed the place identity of the mill abode of Girangaon from its rich girni culture to a pure consumer culture.
In order to counteract the trauma of urban violence, a common trend of redevelopment, this project was conceptualized keeping in mind the true impermanent nature of the site. It attempts to heal the cultural trauma by “designing for informality” and by working out simple solutions to the existing adversities on site.
