Portfolio.V2.1 by Ankita Chachra

ANKITA CHACHRA

ankitachachra@hotmail.com, 917-940-7334

INTENT. EXPLORATION. DESIGN

PORTFOLIO EXCERPTS

CONTENTS

Graduate : Columbia University 2012-2013 00 Spatial Mixology 01 02 03 04 05 06 07

08 Reading Between the Lines 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 Rethinking Maplewood 19 20 21

22 Five Borough Studio 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

INTENT. EXPLORATION. DESIGN

PORTFOLIO EXCERPTS

Undergraduate : Sushant School of Art and Architecture 2006-2011 32 Inhabiting the Margins 33 34 35 36 37

38 The Missing Realm 39 40 41

42 Common Wealth Housing 43 44 45

46 Vernacular Architecture

Professional : SOM 2013-2014, DADA and Partners 2011-2012 48 Haikou, Hainan 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

58 Chongqing, Banan 59 60 61 62 63 64 65

66 Bhiwadi New Community 67 68 69

70 Weekend Retreat 71 73 74

75 Resume

01 SPATIAL MIXOLOGY Integration through peripheral investment

FALL 2012 URBAN DESIGN STUDIO, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Site:

Brooklyn, New York

Team:

Ankita Chachra Eiman Alsaka Ryan Jacobson

Context:

Images above are still-clips from a moving-image movie production. Using Softwares Aftereffects and Maya. To view the full movie please visit: https://vimeo.com/55418373

The corridor of the post industrial city leads us through different levels of lifestyle that segregate peripheral neighborhoods from the activity and opportunity that exists in the city core. Atlantic Avenue is a major arterial route which connects downtown Brooklynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Barclays Center to its outer peripheral neighborhoods. Although portions of this avenue continue to support what historically was a productive industrial corridor much of the present-day real estate is left dilapidating and under-utilized, and in many instances has no relation to its adjacent neighborhoods. The decline of the manufacturing industry has left buildings unoccupied, parking lots fenced off, and contributed to the discontinuity of East New York streets. Presently the area struggles to attract new, positive growth because of its lifeless streets and high crime rates.

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The Thesis:

What if a portion of the investment made at the city core was replicated at the peripheral neighborhood, creating an anchor opposite the Barclays Center? What if the corridor between these two developments became a series of local “social exchange” zones? Would it lead to equitable growth and better integration of activity between the core and periphery? The strategy to transform Atlantic Avenue into a socially rich corridor begins by making an investment in the periphery.

Downtown Brooklyn as the perceived Core and the transition leading outwards.

EXISTING INVESTMENT PROPOSED INVESTMENT

QUALITY OF LIFE

Between core and the periphery exist the zones of transitions.

Could there exist a multiplicity of cores along the transition that leads from core to periphery

An investment and design attention to a city’s periphery allows the future city to integrate an equal opportunity for quality of life.

Chicken shed

Fish Farm & Market Gym, Eatery & Housing

Public Programs

Housing Commercial

Recreation Parking

Chicken run

Elevated housing with activity space below

Community farm Decked Plaza Late night event space

Bird Raising

Community Learning

Urban agriculture The Food Network and Magazine branch

Diagram showing community driven Thematic Local Intervention at Nostrand Ave.

Space utilization under the structure through promotion of temporary markets

Deteriorating apartments & Small warehouse

S train right of way and Fenced-in vacant lot

Functional housing & Deteriorating Commercial floor

Functional housing & Deteriorating Industrial floor

Large warehouse parking garage

Vacant lot surrounded by 3 edges

Fast food parking lot

Corner Vacant lot

Small privately-owned fenced-in lot

Abandoned station

Conditions at the elevated railway structure

Editorializing warehouse

Underutilized warehouse with no windows

Underutilized multi story building

Taxonomy of underutilized spaces and structures and their possible uses.

4 2 5

6 7

6 3

7 2

Mixed Use Event Space and Night Life

Exploded drawing showing peripheral intervention at Brodway Junction

Institutional Commercial

Peripheral Investment

Broadway Junction - Atlantic Avenue is a public transportation hub which lies in East New York, a peripheral neighborhood of Brooklyn. Presently the area struggles to attract new, positive growth because of its lifeless streets and high crime rates. The project strives to create a multi-functional anchor that reintroduces a social mix of culture and provides a platform for economic growth; which may only be accomplished if the area’s safety is improved. The project builds upon specific design principles established in ‘Defensible Space, Crime Prevention Through Urban Design’ and ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.’ A safer East New York can be achieved through (a) introduction of a large public realm with mulit-modal pedestrian connectivity across Atlantic Avenu, (b) Adaptive re-use of existing physical infrastructure as a means to experience space, (c) Mixedincome programming and (d) Scheduled programming to cover all times of day. An investment and design attention to a city’s periphery allows the future city to integrate an equal opportunity for quality of life and be a major draw in attracting newcomers in what may continue to be, a highly competitive market.

1 Flexible programed space : Educational Pods

2 Strategic Lighting

3 Seating combined with light screens

4 Flexible programed space :Water catchment roof

5 Visual corridors achieved through building orientation

6 Commercial and residential mix building typologies

7 Increased accessibility and clear point of access 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

LOCALLY ACTIVATED NODE

CORE 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

PERIPHERAL INVESTMENT

Proposed Conceptual section from Barclayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center, the perceived core to Broadway Junction, East New York, the desolate periphery showing both intermediate locally activated zones along Ralph Ave. and Nostrand Ave and Peripheral Investment at Broadway Junction.

02 READING BETWEEN THE LINES Emergent Flexibilities

SPRING 2013 URBAN DESIGN STUDIO, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

only

15%

Site:

LEISING’S INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IN EMPLOYED BY SERVICE SECTOR

Leising, Vienna

Client:

Wien Sud Nonprofit Housing Cooperative Raiffeisen Evolution Project Development BUWOG Propert Managers

Team:

Ankita Chachra Janice Tan Ryan Jacobson

Partners:

Vienna City Planning and Urban Development

Context:

HEALTH SERVICES

IT SERVICES

CREATIVE SERVICES

This project fundamentally embraces the current mode of piecemeal and fragmented development process within Vienna’s Peri-urban areas. The City of Vienna estimates that approximately 40,000 new residents are expected within the city limits per year, most of which are likely to be accommodated within the Peri-urban areas due to availability of space. An examination of Vienna’s burgeoning services sector reveals an opportunity for Liesing’s industrial area to participate in the significant agglomeration of ECONOMIC AND LEGAL SERVICES service-sector firms occurring along the main transnational traffic axes south of Vienna. However, a breakdown of Liesing’s current economy shows that service firms occupy only 30% of its economic sectors. The extensive industrial floorplates also appear to be under-utilized, as 65% of companies within Liesing comprise of micro-businesses. On top of this, the existing industrial stock (as well as the existing agrarian land within the given site) faces additional real estate pressures exerted by an anticipated strong annual population growth within the city limits.

Cellular Game Board

The initial five sites are situated within a contextual field of fragmented urban fabric. The varied urban fabric is organized into medium-sized urban cells that relate to the human scale. The grid of urban cells is laid out in relation to existing contextual lines: linearly-striated agrarian land parcels, road networks, and pedestrian easements. This results in urban cells that range in scale from 0.2 to 0.9 hectares. The limits of the individual urban cells do not exist as a re-parcelization strategy; instead they are conceptually expressed as lines of opportunity that delimit the surface of contact from one medium-sized building block to another.

0.4 0.9

Lot line Road line Easement line

Existing agrarian lot lines

Extrapolation of Site Lines

0.5 Predetermined zone Semi-flexible zone Highly-flexible zone

Necessary roads

Differentiated zones

0.4

0.4 0.9

0.5 0.3

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Cellular game board delineating medium-sized urban cells

Starting Point Urban Cells defined by Lines of Opportunity

Point of Flexibility Cells can be amalgamated

Point of Flexibility Cells can be subdivided

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rules Of Engagementâ&#x20AC;?

Within the scope of the rules, various public space arrangements for each urban cell can be derived. This allows a greater flexibility for individual architectural expressions to be explored on the remaining build-able areas of the cell. Based on the rule system the accompanying taxonomy simulates possible configurations of the public space. This illustrates the flexibility for the future developer to organize their site in a way that best suits their development goals, while also positively contributing to the community fabric. The end goal is to build a community that excels in social interaction due to its continuous public space.

RULE 01 25% of Urban Cell Area is to be given to Public Space

RULE 02 Where the edges of the Urban Cell do not abut a road, minimum 3m wide Pedestrian Easements from the edges of the cell are to be provided

RULE 03 Building Edge should front a road by atleast 75%. Porous edge may be ecouraged.

RULE 04 Public Space is to be located fronting a Pedestrian Easement and not a road

Evolutionary Nature Of Public Space

The landscape responds to the incremental development process by offering a solution that adapts to the needs of its adjacent density. In the initial phase the perimeter landscape will act as a more private entity geared towards production. As development spreads, public spaces and their program shift use to strengthen community interaction. In order to compliment this evolution an investment and thoughtful placement of built public structures in Phase one will allow the users to recycle the infrastructure through the last phase of development (i.e. garden wall to food vendor).

RULE 05 Urban Cells forming part of the new Productive Corridor will enjoy an FAR of 3.0 and building heights of up to 11 floors. [All other developments: FAR 2.0 and building heights up to 6 floors]

RULE 06 Urban Cells should provide a doubleheight Production Zone: Flexible apartments that can be converted into live/work spaces for Micro-Business or Commerce

RULE 07 Building Frontage, to allow highest live/work spaces, commercial and community program should face the Corridor

RULE 08 Upper-level and porous links between Urban Cells should be provided, and designed such that it acts as a shared amenity or a semiprivate Social Infrastructure

EASEMENT 0 ROAD 4

EASEMENT 1 EASEMENT 2 EASEMENT 2 EASEMENT 3 EASEMENT 4 ROAD 3 ROAD 2 ROAD 2 ROAD 1 ROAD 0

Existing Site - Unaccessible Lawn

Phase 1 - Allotment Garden

Phase 2 - Communal Space

Possible permutations under the rules of engagement

Phase 3 - Civic Space

Phase 03 (Scenario 01) Parcels required to complete Corridor

Phase 04 (Scenario 01) Pedestrian Easements

Phase 04 (Scenario 01) Road Access

Phase 04 (Scenario 01) New Productive Corridor formed

Phase 03 (Scenario 02) Parcels required to complete Corridor

Phase 04 (Scenario 02) Pedestrian Easements

Phase 04 (Scenario 02) Road Access

Phase 04 (Scenario 02) New Productive Corridor formed

Phase 03 (Scenario 03) Parcels required to complete Corridor

Phase 04 (Scenario 03) Pedestrian Easements

PHASE 01

Phase 04 (Scenario 03) Road Access

Scenario 01 Scenario 02 Scenario 03

PHASE 02

Phase 04 (Scenario 03) New Productive Corridor formed

Phase 01 Illustration of Public Investment leveraged for Housing Project

Phase 04 (Simulation 01) Plan illustration of Productive Corridor with context

Built and Social- Production Corridor

Axon and the perspective highlights the angled building edges which act as a navigation and way finding strategy. These angled edges and overhead connections feature as highly concentrated social and community zones. The over-hang spaces are encouraged to be production, to relate to the socialproduction corridor in another dimension. Facades facing the social-production corridor are most activated with a porosity of Live and Work spaces. LI V E LI V E LIVE

LIVE SOCIAL ZONE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

LIVE

LIVE COMMUNITY ZONE

LIVE WORK

LIVE

SOCIAL ZONE PUBLIC/ SEMI-PUBLIC

LIVE

LIV WOER/ K WORK

WO R K LIVFLEE/XIBLE

LIVE

SOCIAL ZONE PUBLIC/SEMI-PUBLIC

LIVE

WO R K LIVE / WO R K

SOCIAL - PRODUCTION CORRIDOR

Transitional Architecture

LIVE

WORK

The first development site leverages on the potential for the existing under-utilized park to become a central community focus within the district. The site establishes a necessary critical mass to activate the public realm, and serves to anchor this portion of Corridor that connects pedestrians to the Alt Erlaa U-Bahn station. The programmatic strategy for the site recognizes that temporal uses allow space for experimentation, and can bring continued value to the site through a process of regeneration. The residential uses in the initial phases of development are thus designed with suitable spatial conditions (e.g. double-volume heights) that can be converted into live/work environments or commercial spaces in the later phases of the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development. The notion of grid and modular is also translated at the building scale, with a 6M x 6M column grind structure that allows to fit in modules ranging different sizes. The circulation is provided at the edges, which allows for new buildings be added with the shared service core.

1.5

3 3

TYPICAL : FLEXIBLE ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION ZONE 6

RE TU ING N FU UILDANSIO B XP E

3 3

D MO

AL N ERUNLATIO T X E IRC C

ULA

TYPICAL : KITCHEN + UTILITIES

IVIN

NIT S

3 6

CIRCULATION

TYPICAL : BEDROOM

TYPICAL : LIVING MODULE SOCIAL ZONE

6M x

6M G

CTU

RU D ST

DOUBLE HEIGHT LIVE MODULE

ARTELA STATION

COMMUNITY

BIKE PATH

FOOD/DINING

LIVE / WORK FLEXIBLE

UTILITIES / SERVICES

WORK

ELEVATION SYSTEM

COMMUNITY

SHARED WALKWAY

URBAN PRODUCTION

CAFE

LIVE / WORK FLEXIBLE

GREEN / RECREATION

“This project tests the limits of incremental development processes by adopting an additive form of urbanism. Provoked by the high degree of uncertainty, this proposal employs a set of design guidelines to guide future growth without losing sight of public amenities and evolving industries.”

SUPERMARKET ROOF TOP GREENS

WORK

COMMUNITY ZONE

PLAY FOOD/ DINING

WORK

CAFE FOOD/ DINING

LIVE / WORK FLEXIBLE

URBAN PRODUCTION CAFE

LIVE / WORK FLEXIBLE

03 RETHINKING MAPLEWOOD A step towards sustainable transit-oriented development

FEBRUARY 2013 RESEARCH,THE URBAN DESIGN LAB, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Site:

Maplewood Village Post Office, Township of Maplewood, New Jersey

Client:

Township of Maplewood, New Jersey

Principal Investigators:

Richard Plunz, Director Richard Gonzalez, Project Coordinator Maria-Paola Sutto

RE-THINKING MAPLEWOOD, NJ

TRANSIT, GROWTH AND DENSITY

PREPARED BY THE URBAN DESIGN LAB AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Research Staff: Ankita Chachra Andy Golubitsky Vanessa Espaillat Carolina Montilla

Context:

Maplewood, New Jersey is an example of a community that would witness such growth patterns. Due to its geographic location and supportive infrastructure such as rail lines, bus networks and education system, smart development strategies need to concur in order to foster and maintain development in a sustainable manner. Many of the North American suburban towns have begun a process of radical transformations towards sustainable, active, mixed-use communities closely linked to their urban counterparts. However, it has been recently argued, ‘that the lines between urban and suburban are blurring’ Suburban townships are reconfiguring their transit-oriented downtowns in order to attract a diverse population of young professionals, who are seeking new living opportunities such as affordable housing and supportive resources and convenient amenities. After a research period of 6 months, a 57-page detailed study of the town’s history, demographics, infrastructure, building stock and amenities was published. It presents three plans for the use of the soon to shut down Post Office building, adjacent to the railway tracks located in the downtown of Maplewood. The report provides three design scenarios that could potentially reactivate Maplewood Village. It also provides planning and design recommendations. Each scenario aims at maximizing the town’s development potential, resolve parking issues and enhancing the village’s pedestrian-friendly “social and cultural core”. Major emphasis have been paid towards providing a solution to the lack of a connection -- both visual and physical -- between the Village and Memorial Park on the other side of the train tracks.

www.urbandesignlab.columbia.edu

The report consists 7 main sections including History, Increasing Mobility, Re-Linking Infrastructure,Defining a Social Core, Expanding the Building Stock, Alternative Scenarios and Recommendations *The images are excerpts from the published report. To view the full report please visit:

http://issuu.com/urbandesignlab/docs/130312_maplewoodfinal_report_small

The Township of Maplewood is strategically located in Essex County, New Jersey. Maplewood’s train station is part the NJ Transit system on the Morristown Line and linked to the Northeast Corridor high-speed rail that connects New York and New Jersey. On an average weekday, more than 3000 passengers use the train at Maplewood’s station. The ride to Penn Station takes forty-three minutes and the bus ride to Manhattan approximately one hour and thirty-seven minutes. At the same time, Maplewood is thirty-nine minutes from Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region and only twenty-one minutes away from Newark airport, which makes it a competitive location for regional, national and even international markets.

TEB MMU

LCA

MAPPLEWOOD, NJ

ABE

EWR NYC

JFK

* Rethinking Maplewood, page 17

Mobility & Transport Infrastructure

Maplewood’s Proximity to Manhattan and Newark Airport

PHILADELPHIA

Union City

City of Orange

Weehawken

Mobility & Transport Infrastructure

Lincoln Harbor

Maplewood’s Proximity to Manhattan and Newark Airport

W 38th St.

Hoboken North

South Orange

Penn Station

Union City

City of Orange

Weehawken

Hoboken Lincoln Harbor

Maplewood

Jersey City

South Orange

Newport

Hoboken North

Manhattan Penn Station

W 38th St.

Hoboken Liberty Harbor Liberty Landing Marina

Maplewood

Jersey City

BPC/WFC Newport

Manhattan Pier 11

Liberty Harbor Liberty Landing Marina

Newark Airport

AIRPORTS

Pier 11

Newark Airport

RAILROADS

Brooklyn Brooklyn

HIGHWAYS URBAN AREAS

HIGH SPEED RAIL (2040)

BPC/WFC

43 min

Penn Station

1 hr 37 min

21 min

Proposed Travel Time: 3:23 Hrs

21 min 39 min

39 min

Newark Airport Hoboken

Penn Station Newark Airport

Penn Station 15 min

Hoboken

15 min

World Financial Center

AP LE W

O O D

AV E

RESTAURANTS

RETAIL UE ELD AVEN

SPRINGFI

Train Station

Location of the Site

Bank of America

PUBLIC SPACE

King’s

Green Spaces

linton lementary chool

Maplewood Ave.

olumbia igh chool

RO D WO O GE

ST RE

VALL

STRE

AVENUE

PARKER

RID

JITNEY

Movie Theater

aplewood iddle chool

uscan lementary chool

efferson lementary chool

Post Office

UE D AVEN

GFIEL

eth Boyden lementary chool

SPRIN

Jitney Stops Restaurants & Cafes

CULTURAL

Local Artists Galleries

“…And there is nothing that compares to Maplewood Village, our quaint, vibrant downtown shopping district. You can easily stage an “Around the World” progressive dinner there with all the different food establishments we now have.” Mayor Victor DeLuca, State of the Township Address 2012

http://www.studiotoursoma.org/about-us

HIGH DENSITY OFFICE

RESTAURANTS

RETAIL

PUBLIC SPACE

PATH

Scenario 1

HIGH DENSITY

OFFICE

RESTAURANTS

PUBLIC SPACE

PATH

Scenario 2

Legend: OFFICE

High Density Housing Low Density Housing Retail Office Mobility New Landscaping New Pedestrian Path

RESTAURANTS

PUBLIC SPACE

Scenario 3

HIGH DENSITY

RESTAURANTS

PATH

04 FIVE BOROUGH STUDIO Systems research City of New York

SUMMER 2012 URBAN DESIGN STUDIO, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Site:

New York City

Team:

Ankita Chachra Scott Archer Andrew Leung Elaheh Kerachian

Context:

The 5 Borough Studio aims to nurture a design process specific to existing urban environments; to critically consider site and program; and to interrogate the role of Urban Design as serving the public as a client. The studio provides a framework to expand design thinking using New York City and its 5 Boroughs as a laboratory. Designing for growth and change in the context of the built-out metropolis requires an array of emergent urban design tools for researching, mapping, investigating and hypothesizing the continuous transformation of the city. These explorations are framed by research and redefinition of the concept of â&#x20AC;&#x153;infrastructure,â&#x20AC;? critically investigating and assessing the many layers of public systems relevant for constructing trans-formative urban environments.

LEVEL

LEVEL 1 WASTE WATER TO REUSE TANK

LEVEL

BIO-SW

LEVEL

UN O

ATER

LEVE

OUTL

NT TME

REUSED SUPPLY

LEVEL

SLOW

CHME

CAT FF TO

TER R

WA RAIN

BIT IAN HA

EPAR ALE - R

TE W WAS

REA TO T

STORAGE AND PURIFICATION TANK LEVEL 2

LEVEL 2 MAIN SUPPLY

PROPOSED INTERVENTION FOR WATER IN NEW YORK CITY ENCOURAGING CONSERVATION AND REUSE

30 Mi

CROTON

0 10

il e

elaw

East Branch Delaware

are

ACHU SETT S

NEW YORK

ASHOKAN

law

Tun

nel

are

Tu n

RONDOUT NEVERSINK

LEAKAGE DAILY

law

36GALLONS MILLION

PENNSYLVANIA

BALANCE/ STORAGE RESERVOIRS

il e

Riv

NY Ci

108 50

il e

Diverting

Titicus

Amawalk Reservoir

BRONX

Cross River Reservoir

NEW CROTON

ity mC

H a ll)

KENSICO

q ue du

f ro

N ew Cro t o n A

CONNECTICUT

i le

Rive

YO RK JER SE Y

Muscoot Reservoir

East River

DISTRIBUTION PIPES

East Branch

Croton Falls Reservoir

MANHATTAN

Bog Brook

Kirk Lake

CITY TUNNEL 1 CITY TUNNEL 2 CITY TUNNEL 3

Middle Branch

WEST BRANCH

ty Lin

CITY TUNNELS

Lake Gleneida

Boyds Corner

QUEENS

lan

g Is

Lon

HILLVIEW

oun

JEROME PARK

291

Bronx n

AVERAGE SINGLE FAMILY WATER COST IN NYC

nh a

tta

NASSAU COUNTY

BROOKLYN STATEN ISLAND

$939 PER YEAR

162

287 Lower New York Bay

Atlanta: 12.7% New York: 7.1% Chicago: 7.3%

MASS

Esopus Creek

West D

Ne versink River

Delaware

La Gil ke ead

GALLONS USED DAILY

cso

FIRE HYDRANTS INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL USE

CATSKILL

CO N N E CT ICU T

West Branch

Rive

125 Mi

92 Mi

1.6 BILLION

son

HOUSEHOLD SUPPLY

DELAWARE

CANNONSVILLE PEPTACON

DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIRS

SOILED WATER

edu

GREY WATER

il e

Delaw are

RAIN WATER RUNOFF

Hudson

qu C a t sk i l l A

Gallons per flush

en T u nn el

Gallons per load

SCHOHAIRE

da k

Gallons per load

CATSKILL AQUEDUCT

Gallons per day

DELAWARE AQUEDUCT

241

Billion Gallons per year

CURRENT STATE OF WATER IN NEW YORK CITY: LOCATION + ACCESS

COLLECTING RESERVOIRS

Hud

Gallons per minute

Queens

Brooklyn Staten Island New York Atlantic Ocean

Bay

water complaints may-july 2012

2012

2006

2000

$2,400 $1,800 $1,200 $600

Statement: Water System

Fresh water is a limited resource. Soon, it will become a universal and global commodity, and its preservation will be an integral part of all world economies. A bottom-up conservation campaign, which introduces separation and reuse of water, commences at a household-scale, further leading to an influx where water becomes a commodity of federal equity. This separation and reuse will curb the excess water funneled into the sewage system and prevent future overflows and flooding, reducing toxicity levels of the city’s water. With the projected change in sea levels, the city’s waterfronts will have to adapt, and new land distribution could provide equitable access to all. Sustainable conservation, water quality, and physical access will all be contributors in capitalizing this global equity. Taking ‘Awareness’ towards water consumption to the next realm, a system of credits and public exposure is used. Color act as incentives towards more responsible users encouraging action to reduce consumption.

RESEARCH CATALYST NETWORK Site: New Brighton, Staten Island Team: Ankita Chachra, Aaron Foely, Andy Golubitsky Research Catalyst Network

The proposal for a network of research facilities which act as an urban generator serving the North Shore communities of Staten Island. We see the North Shore as the ideal location to implement Mayor Bloomberg and New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiative to promote the development and commercialization of green technologies. The North Shore has available land to develop, a low density of buildings, existing infrastructure and a strategic location between Manhattan and Newark Airport. The research facilities will work to resolve existing site conditions through research and education catering to issues with water, soil pollution, protection of the existing wetlands and ecosystems; and the potentially hazardous impacts on human health that are on the North Shore. These new facilities will be combined with a variety of housing typologies to accommodate both new and existing residents, new commercial industries, and new support programs for the facilities and the surrounding areas.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Introducing Research Institutions as a Urban Generator, to attract facilities and infrastructure that would benefit the community and improve living conditions, both ecologically and socially.â&#x20AC;?

Port Industries

toxicology Port Industries Health Issues Hospitals

Universities Green Industries

EXISITING CONDITIONS Water Toxicity Wetlands Brownfields Landfills

ecology

enviornmental chemistry

Green Infrastructure Recreation Employment

Environmental preservation

RESEARCH CATALYST Industrial green technology

cancer

BioMedical

public health

Waterfront Access

Public Transport

GENERATED CITY Housing Mix Education

Job Training Centers

Commercial Support

RESEARCH NETWORK GENESIS

Insertion Of Research Catalysts Into Existing Conditions Phase 1: Water And Soil Toxicity Research Existing Rail Re-Established For Commuters And Freight

Catalyst Degree Of Influence

Connecting The Site While Integrating Waterfront Access

CH RESEAR

RESEAR

Insertion Of Research Catalysts

Identify Existing Waterfront Industry

NETWORK CATALYST PHASING

H RC

A SE RE

RESEAR

H RC

A SE RE

RESEAR

Existing Industries

Existing Conditions And

Introduction Of New Support Functions Into Existing Under Utilized Fabric

CH RESEAR

Its Degree Of Influence

Research Network Genesis

Introduction Of New Support Functions

Connect Inland With New Paths To Existing Or New Support Functions

Network Catalyst

The network will be linked along the waterfront by a continuous pedestrian path and the reintroduction of the rail. The system will allow for pedestrian access along the North Shore and promote research facilities to work with the existing waterfront industries. Inland, the network will be connected by a new road system that will provide for bike and pedestrian traffic to connect the various research nodes. This network will work to improve the ecological and economic conditions of the North Shore by bringing a variety of new opportunities, amenities, and housing options for the current and future residents of the North Shore.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

CONVENTION HALL

RETAIL

RESEARCH LABORATORY

RESEARCH LABORATORY (WET)

MIXED USE HOUSING

RE-PURPOSED BUILDINGS

ATLANTIC SALT CO.

HOTEL

RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND HOUSING

PHASE 1 LAYOUT

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 ECOLOGY RESTORATIVE LANDSCAPE

PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE PATH

WATERFRONT PLAZA

STREET LEVEL RETAIL

PAVED TRANSIT PLAZA

RE PURPOSED ATLANTIC SALT BUILDING

ECOLOGY RESTORATIVE LANDSCAPE

RETAIL ACTIVATED SIDEWALK

PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE PATH

ECOLOGY RESTORATIVE LANDSCAPE

SALT

RE PURPOSED ATLANTIC SALT BUILDING

MARSHLAND

05 INHABITING THE MARGINS Understanding the ‘in-between’

JANUARY 2011 UNDERGRADUATE DESIGN THESIS

Site:

New Delhi, India

Context:

The society we inhabit has defined boundaries which shut off anything or everything outside its kind. The unnamed entity that lies between these defined boundaries are ‘Margins’. Groups thrive on familiarity while the unknown is left to be unknown. Our inhibitions prevent us from crossing the threshold of our safe and known environment. These inhibitions give the ‘margins’ its peculiar character of a neglected or at times an encroached upon space. “These neglected spaces, margins, have immense potential to be developed as an active public realm; these are charged zones as they offer a relief from Archetype Model, handmade with wood and acrylic the existing fabric”

The Thesis:

‘Inhabiting the margins’ aims to establish & explore the unsaid interdependences in a formalized manner based on functions that help creating a better ‘social condenser’, where people from both sides could converge into one mixed yet homogeneous entity. To investigate the hypothesis, a demonstration site chosen, in New Delhi, India explored the historical margin between the old city, ‘shahjahanabad’ and the Lutyen New Delhi.

Demonstration site context

Figure ground exploration 1

Figure ground exploration 2

Figure ground exploration 3

Figure ground exploration 4

Figure ground exploration 5

Figure ground exploration 6

Figure ground exploration 7

Program strategy exploration 1

Program strategy exploration 2

Program strategy exploration 3

The metaphorical wall guards the old city from growing outwards and acts as a physical and a visual barrier. The wall has a strong urban presence but can one question its social and political implications? The margin may cease to exists, if the metaphorical walls are broken down. If one were to merely rotate the same wall at different intervals,keeping intact the FAR values, functions,ownerships etc. The wall will no longer be the barrier but now serve as a connection. These connections would join and take into account similar and dissimilar anchors on to which it would hook itself. The same module picked up from the site, can be further broken down to serve an array of functions. The wall connector can be understood as an archetype which may repeat itself overtime.

ARCHETYPE

Hypothetical Rotation on the Metaphorical wall

shahjahanabad

restaurant

ARCHETYPE PLAN at level 4

+.8m

restaurant

+.7m

+.3m

utilities

+1m

covered plaza

+.5m +.3m

+.7m

+.7m +.4m

+1m

ramps to basement

+1.3m

+1m

+.3m +.4m

+.4m

+.2m

+.5m

exhibition area

water channel

water tank

+.4m

+.6m

utilities +.6m

+.6m

+.7m

water channel +1.2m

ARCHETYPE PLAN at level 3

+.4m

up cafe

+.2m

+1m

+.7m +.7m +.4m

+.3m 0m +.2m +1.2m entrance plaza

atrium

+.3m

ramp up

service core

lok nayak hospital

ARCHETYPE PLAN at concourse level

ARCHETYPE PLAN at level 0

LUTYENS DELHI

MARGIN

CONNECTOR ARCHETYPE

SHAHJAHANABAD

Based on the archetype, the connectors have been introduced across the margin. If the hypothetical opening were to be followed, the only remnants of the metaphoric wall would be its anchors or the other landmarks. The introduction of connectors may bring up, the social cause, and opening up may lead to consolidation of the built fabric. With this new surface now directly exposed to the main road, it would attract catalysts essential for its growth.

ARCHETYPE SECTION

06 THE MISSING REALM Urban Intervention along the nascent Metro Rail Corridor

AUGUST 2010 UNDERGRADUATE URBAN DESIGN STUDIO

Site:

Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Context:

Gurgaon is fast growing metropolitan area, with heterogeneous ethnicity. Each new settlement encompasses around the original city, which is expanding with a piecemeal approach at the mercy of private developers. The brief required each group of students to study Sikandarpur Metro Station, is first halt after one enters the NCR, Gurgaon, it plugs itself into a commercialized urban village of Sikandarpur and plotted residential neighborhoods. The aim was to intervene in the existing urban environment, taking into consideration the newly introduced transit, while understanding its 1:1000 handmade site model, showing intervention and context implications as a catalyst for development.

Bringing presence and face to urban villages by defining and regulating all erratic socio - cultural and commercial activities that take place on these edges and instances and in turn provide an alternative to malls as the only frequented destination by the residents of the plotted and group housings. Thus providing a common platform of exchange and interaction in the voids which at present define these districts.

Deduction of area of intervention

Crossroads as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;New Public Realmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sketch : design strategy for transit point PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

1.Identification

of the existing commercial band, along the metro track

2.Introduction of cultural and recreational, public realm in the existing commercial

3. Identification of area for intervention

3. Overlap as a celebrated transition point with existing & proposed transit networks

Existing plan demarcating strategy boundaries

Sketch : design strategy for periphery of the urban village

Sketch : design strategy for inner plaza court

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

and its extent

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

2. Mature residential neighborhoods and demarcation of its edges

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

1.10 min walking radius from the metro station and existing commercial

City plaza Public space type 1

Concourse street Public space type 2

Multi-level inner court Intimate Public space

SECTION THROUGH METRO STATION

Scope of work: After the study phase, scope of work consisted of developing structure plans, basic massing and master planning for the selected area of intervention (100 Acres), designing and detailing a selected area (50 Acres) to 1:500 detail along with street conditions and building guidelines. ILLUSTRATIVE MASTER PLAN

07 COMMON WEALTH HOUSING Housing typology explorations

JANUARY 2010 HOUSING STUDIO

Site:

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Context:

Group housing typologies were to be explored, through designing the Common Wealth Games (CWG) Village, residential facility for CWG participants. First a master plan for the 40 acre green field site adjacent to the religious monument of Akshar Dhaam, and river Yamuna, was to be developed. Followed by detailing of a 7 acre window from the designed master plan. Three typologies, designed were a. Courtyard Low-rise, b. In fill Mid-rise and c. Point-Block High-rise. The Design took inspiration from traditional settlements near the river, with the high and mid rise defining the skyline at entrance and low rise towards the inside. Community greens and facilities were also give equal importance and were designed to complement the built, such that a feeling of â&#x20AC;&#x153;mahullaâ&#x20AC;? (meaning close knit residential community) is generated, in spite of a multi-story development.

a. courtyard low-rise (G+2) no of units - 3 x 24 = 72 areas156 sqm,160 sqm, 110 sqm

c. point block high-rise (G+12) no of units - 2 x 26 = 52 areas169 sqm

b. infill midrise

(G+6) module 1- 12x2 = 24 units module 2- 12x3 = 36 units module 3- 12x1 = 12 units module 4- 12x1 = 12 units areas162 sqm,176 sqm, 146 sqm & 110sqm

SITE PLAN AND HOUSING TYPOLOGIES

OPEN SPACE LAYOUT

SITE CIRCULATION

SITE SERVICES -WATER SUPPLY -SANITATION

second floor

COURTYARD LOW-RISE : Sectional elevation 1

first floor

COURTYARD LOW-RISE : Sectional elevation 2

ground floor

COURTYARD LOW-RISE : Ground floor plan

COURTYARD LOW-RISE : South west elevation

module 4

module 3

module 2

IN-FILL MID-RISE elevation

module 2

module 1

module 2

IN FILL MID-RISE : Ground floor plan

module 1

IN-FILL MID-RISE sectional elevation

08 THE VERNACULAR

Habitable Bridge and its Approach on banks of Ganges

JANUARY 2008 UNDERGRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO

Site: Bithur, Uttar Pradesh, India Context:

A small religious town situated on the banks of river Ganges, consisting of 52 Ghats* most of which lie in ruins today. Each ghat offers a Historical or Mythological story which makes them unique. The experience offered by the streets, the Ghats, and the skyline have a sense of displacement, yet in spite of being just a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pointâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on site, one experiences a numerous instances as though present in it as whole.

Program:

A pedestrian bridge across the river and its approach with incidental functions, was to be designed along with given functions like residences, dharamshala, shops, religious shrine, bus stop along with utilities.

Theme:

Pedestrian Bridge Design using three modules types.

The experience of the site and the small town, Bithur, have been recreated with instances from the site. The fabric is designed such that it fits into the existing fabric not as an alien insertion but as its own fragment.

Hand rendered plan, ink and pencil on paper.

09 HAIKOU, HAINAN

Mixed-Use Development

November 2013 PROFESSIONAL, SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL

Site:

Haikou, Hainan

Client:

Confidential

Team:

Ankita Chachra Ellen Lou Athena Loumou

Context:

Haikou’s historic urban culture is Hainan’s irreplaceable asset. The province’s capital city has the island’s largest collection of salvageable old buildings. SOM is proposing a sensitive and sensible plan for restoring the ancient heart of Haikou – both to preserve what is priceless and to stimulate vigorous new development. It is imperative for the headquarters city of an international tourism province to selectively preserve and restore its heritage – for reasons of differentiating identity and economic development. A uniquely Haikou redevelopment of its historic core will have numerous city-building benefits. Among these benefits are new tourist attractions that create new entry-level jobs while also supporting retail and lifestyle amenities that build local quality of life. Vibrant urban quality of life attracts top talent, who will live with their families in surrounding residential neighborhoods walking distance from their work in nearby modern office towers. The mixed-use development of the new Haikou grows from the revitalization of the old Haikou core. They are both built on density – at different scales. An integrated 21st century infrastructure –adequate roadways, good public transit and state-of-the-art sustainability systems – will unify the district’s many parts into a prosperous organic whole.

RECENT CONSTRUCTION & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

PROPOSED FRAMEWORK

Haidian

River

’s Bridge People

North Heping RD

Xinhua

North

Changdi

Bo’ai

Longhua RD

East Jiefang

South

West

Jiefang

Bo’ai RD

Datong

West

Wenming

Middle Wenming RD

RD Plaza RD

East Lake

West Lake

Haifu

South

Heping

East Lake

ILLUSTRATIVE SITE PLAN

Leverage Arcade Corridors and Old City Wall

Boâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ai Road as a Transit Corridor

Strengthen Riverfront Presence with Retail and Mixed Uses

Commercial Cluster as a South Gateway

CITY-SCALE STRATEGIES

SKYLINE CONCEPT

ARCADE DISTRICT STRATEGIES

CREATE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE ALONG CITY WALL STREETS

PROTECT AND RESTORE DESIGNATED HISTORIC BUILDINGS

RECREATE ORGANIC PATTERN OF PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

RECREATE ORGANIC PATTERN OF PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION AND PROGRAM

AMPLIFIED PUBLIC SPACES

SHARED STREETSCAPE EXPERIENCE

10 CHONGQING, BANAN Mixed-Use Development

November 2013 PROFESSIONAL, SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL

Site:

Chongqing, Banan

Client:

Shui On Land

Team:

Ankita Chachra Keiko Muramaya Ellen Lou

Context: Chongqing has a significant history and culture and serves as the economic center of the upstream Yangtze basin. It is a major manufacturing center and transportation hub; a July 2012 report by the Economist Intelligence Unit described it as one of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;13 emerging mega cities. The site is situated along the Yangtze River and is proposed as a mix-use development. The complex topography presents a challenge in designing a walkable community with a human scale. The commercial and mixed use typology takes inspiration from the streets on Hong Kong.

jiangbei district

yuzhong district

shapinba district

CHONGQING

GUANYINQIAO

JIEFANGBEI

SHAPINGBA

yuzhong district

shapinba district

nanpin

NANAN district

jiulongpo district

SITE

jiulongpo district DADUKOU

banan district

yangjiapin

SITE LIJIATUO

dadukou district

NANAN district

banan district

龙洲湾 LONGZHOUWAN

lijiatuo P

B-12/03

B12-3/02

masangxi bridge

SITE

bridge

SITE

lijiatuo

lijiatuo P

B-12/03

B12-3/02

binjiang

lijiatuo

Banan

masangxi bridge 192.50

Banan binjiang rd

SITE

binjiang

bridge

Banan

lijiatuo

Banan binjiang rd

binjiang

lijiatuo

Banan

bridge

渔洞 yudong

B-12/03

B12-3/02

masangxi bridge 192.50

192.50

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

Urban form to create a unique skyline characteristic of Chongqing

290m

240m

NORTH VALLEY

260m

Neighborhood character to encourage a walkable environment

SOUTH VALLEY

194m

RIVER VIEW

Responding to original topography to minimize cut and fill

PLANNING PRINCIPLES

194m

NORTH VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS

soho office

STREET retail NH AMENITY retail Stre e

soho

Club House

F&B BAN

BIN

JIAN HK products GR OAD

HOTEL

RIVER VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS

SERVICE APARTMENTS

ESCALATOR (CIRCULATION)

COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL

“HONG KONG” STREET CIRCULATION

RETAIL CORRIDOR

HILLSIDE TREATMENT

11 BHIWADI NEW COMMUNITY Master Plan for a Township

AUGUST 2011 PROFESSIONAL

Site:

Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, India

Principal:

DADA and Partners Mukul Arora

Team :

Sheenam Mujoo Ankita Chachra Sanjeev Dasgupta

Client:

Ashiana Housing

Context:

Bhiwadi New Community, is an initiative taken by Ashiana Housing Limited, developing a township for Mid and High income groups. Situated amidst Farmlands of Rajasthan, initially an industrial area, it has become a large residential town in the last few years as a result of urban sprawl.

Program: Top: Regional Level Analysis, Middle: District Level Analysis,Bottom: Net Usable Land Area

The office was approached to develop a Master Plan for the Township, with 3 given typologies of building types. These included: Villas, G+5 Slab and Stilt +14 Towers.

Contribution:

Worked from initial design development from schematic to final design stage. Co-ordination of site drawings with clients. Contributed towards street sections and resolution of services and technical drawing. Compilation of final project report.

ILLUSTRATIVE MASTER PLAN

Edges - 2.5km of Imageable area

Connections and Access

Nodes

PLAN - 30 M R.O.W / BOULEVARD

PLAN --30 / BOULEVARD PLAN 30MMR.O.W R.O.W

CLASSIFICATION : District Wide : Boulevard TYPE : 30M/ 98’ R.O.W CARRIAGEWAY : 16.5M/ 54’ : 4 (3.25/10.5’ each) LANES : None PARKING : Additional turning lane NOTES at intersections

SECTION SECTION

BHIWADI NEW COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN SECTION

BHIWADI NEW COMMUNITY

KEY PLAN

MASTER PLAN

S TREET T YPOLOGIES 30 M R.O.W - 4 LANES WITHOUT PARKING OPTION 1

S TREET T YPOLOGIES 30 M R.O.W - 4 LANES WITHOUT PARKING

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 601 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 OPTION

CLASSIFICATION : DISTRICT WIDE ROAD

12 WEEKEND RETREAT A Suburban Vacation House

OCTOBER 2011 PROFESSIONAL

Site:

Chattarpur Farms, New Delhi, India

Principal:

DADA and Partners Mukul Arora

Team :

Ankita Chachra Sanjeev Dasgupta

Client:

Bharat Sahwney Developers

Context:

Hectic lifestyles and pressure on land with in the urban centers have led to exploitation of village farm lands which existed within the city. Chattarpur village, an example of such exploitation, houses a number weekend retreats. These can be understood as a new typology of habitat, which emphasis on well being of it inhabitants. Lavish landscaped greens, commodious spaces, emphasis on experience and serene environment, are some incorporated features.

Theme:

Revit generated view from the deck over the pool

The design is a play of solid and voids with introduction of planar surfaces in the form of roofs SITE PLAN and free standing walls.

Contribution:

Worked on the three dimensional model explorations of design. Construction drawing set, Door-Window Schedule. Co-ordination with construction contractor, the Electrical, HVAC and Plumbing consultants. Site visits and over-seeing construction work.

Site photograph as on 5th May 2012

Masonry Construction Drawing

Revit generated view from the dinning room

Revit generated view from the courtyard

Revit generated view inside the salon