(Jan 2022 - present)
Pratt Institute School of Architecture (New York, NY)
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spearheaded & mentored the student council’s organizations + events
- liason between students and the dean & department chairs
Architectural Intern
Shelton Mindel, LLC (New York, NY)
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architectural designer
PROFILE
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abajaj14@pratt.edu
917-388-6542
Brooklyn, New York, 11216
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Pratt Institute
Brooklyn, New York City
(2018 - 2023)
B.ARCH/ minor in psychology Rome Honors Program (2022)
Architectural Association + Visiting School, New York
The Heritage School +
Kolkata, India
I.SC (2018) : 86.5%
ISCE (2016) : 95.6%
+ Rhinoceros 3D
+ Enscape
+ Revit
+ Vray
+ Adobe Suite
+ Grasshopper
+ AutoCAD
+ SketchUP
(2005 - 2018)
+ P5.js + PowerBI + Matterport
Maya + Microsoft Suite + Graphic Design
Advertising
Leadership
+ English (fluent)
+ Hindi (fluent)
+ Bengali (spoken)
+ Italian (beginner)
+ Madame Architect Next Gen September 2022
(Aug - Dec 2022)
worked on design development, construction documents, post production & material sampling
- constructed catalougues for Galerie 56
(SU 2022)
Created User Experience content for Yeshiva University + Matterport
Built an internal Revit user manual with the NEXT Team
- Created WELL licensing support documentation for team Beyond
Pratt Futures Board Chair
(Feb 2022 - present)
Pratt Institute School of Architecture (New York, NY)
facilitated events & workshops on labour, decolonizing design, student voice, architecture journalism & alumni voice with student groups, the architecture lobby, architect’s newspaper & the AHRA conference
- (https://www.instagram.com/prattfutures/?hl=en)
(Jan 2022 - May 2022)
Pratt Institute Rome Program (Work Study) (Roma, Lazio)
Increased efficiency by mobilizing technical data + creating resources + field assist
- Liason between the study abroad program chair, professors & students
( Sept 2019 - May 2021)
Pratt Institute Equestrian Team (contract) (New York, NY)
Designed a social media strategy + managed instagram with increased outreach
( Aug 2019 - May 2020)
Community Engagement Board, Pratt Institute (New York, NY)
Architected service weekends in NYC and a service spring break in Washington DC
Collaborated with co-chairs for planning & execution of service days and pop ups in NYC
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Alternative Break Chair
( Aug 2019 - May 2020)
Community Engagement Board, Pratt Institute (New York, NY)
Architected service weekends in NYC and a service spring break in Washington DCCollaborated with co-chairs for planning & execution of service days and pop ups in NYC -
The
( 2021 - present)
in collaboration with Denica Zenga fundraiser gallery with works by students at Pratt and Parsonsraised over 300� for the India, Palestine and Myarmar crisis in 2021.
( June 2021)
designed an experimental room for children using sand in different forms to stimulate self & assited learning
Student Athelete - Equestrian
( Sept 2019 - Sept 2021)
Pratt Institute Equestrian Team competed only one semester, pre covid & won four ribbons as an introductory rider.
Training with Professor Mattia Caselagno + -
( Aug 2021 - Dec 2021)
Coding for Interactive Installations
p5.js + Posenet + Projection Mapping + Blob Tracking
Concert Hall Workshop + Competition Finalist +
Fluidity in Motion with Mariana Carbugueria & Chantal Matar
Designed a concert hall using Maya and Houdini
work selected as a finalist for the competion -
IAYP Duke of Edinburgh Unit Leader + -
( 2016 - 2018)
The Heritage School
Established, recruited and designed a strategy plan for increased engagement with ISC students
Mentored students enrolled for successful award completion. -
Nominee - 2 Student Leadership Awards +
Seraphin Bernard Award & Thomas Schutte Leadership Award
Pratt Institute (results in April 2023)
President’s List +
(FA 2020)
Pratt Institute School of Architecture
Dean’s List +
(2018 - 2022)
Pratt Institute School of Architecture
Archived Drawing +
(SP 2019)
Pratt SoA | Representation 2 - Professor Enrique Limon
(2021) (2023)
How can architecture bring community togeter in a crisis? /a cultural center in averne, far rockaway, ny
in partnership with Claudia Dilday
scan QR code for an audio presentation
Designed in the flood prone and culturally rich region of averne, far rockaway, the caopy shelter serves as a community space for the rise group by providing a self hriving system of food, growth, individual zones for lockdown and an opportunity to explore culture and education.
4 horizontal levels, 2 vertical connections, one design
With a north-south axis on the site mounds and an east-west axis on the upper level, circulation and interaction is multilevel and fluid.
The wall section illustrates rainwater harvesting on the roof, the chase walls, the mechanical space on the mezzanine level, and the hydroponic space in between.
The diagram below marks the three different quarantine zones, possible due to a distributed mechanical grid.
what happens if you want to remove all formatting from text, returning it to the default Normal style? The shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N will apply the Normal style, which you would think would have the effect of removing direct formatting, but sometimes it does not; some direct font
LV4: roof
what happens if you want to remove all formatting from text, returning it to the default Normal style? The short cut Ctrl+Shift+N will apply the Normal style, which you would think would have the effect of removing direct formatting, but sometimes it does not; some direct font formatting may remain. For this reason, Word 2002 and 2003 have added a Clear Formatting item to the Styles list and Styles and Formatting task pane (in Word 2007
L4: the roof: designed to collect rainwater and to allow light maximisation
L3: The upper level: private programs and distributed mechanical grid for safe quarantine.
L2: the interstitial level : mechanical rooms and the entrance in a flood situation
L1: split level site mounds: to store rainwater below and hold more public programs.
Vertical 1: hydropnic growth
vertical 2: service chase walls
LV3: upper floor
LV2: mezzanine
scan QR code for an audio presentation
How can architecture embed the communte to work in a building?
/a live - work artist housing complex
/784 Myrtle Avenue, Bed Stuy, Brooklyn
in partnership with Jibraan Zobairi
The notion of work-life balance applies not only to the way we organize and structure our time but also to the way we organize and structure the spaces we inhabit.
Located in the artist community of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, research started with a focus on the health and safety of the neighbourhood. Relative to other areas of the city, bed stuy’s standard of health was found to be low.
Thus, this project approaches the work-live typology by separating programs of “work” and “live” to define the “commute” and the importance it plays in a healthy live-work environment and lifestyle.
resident’s daily commute:
live level
roof level
live level live level work level work level
ground level
The plans, sections on this page illustrate the everyday circulation/commute - from the live level, to the work level and the break visit to the rooftop or a visit to the ground floor to interact with the local community. The moodboard is an example of the interiors for one studio.
The circulation between the levels, encourages the occupant to follow a dedicated circulation path of choice, by engaging auditory, visual, and tactile sensory experiences in order to transition the occupant from a “live” state of mind to a “work” state of mind.
The north facade, with the design of a facade staircase, engages auditory and visual senses through a connection to the city outside, to see and hear people walking, playing basketball, and cars going by.
The south facade, engages visual and tactile senses through a more intimate experience. You can feel the sun’s heat warming you up for a big day of work while getting a visual sense of nature through a view of the backyard.
The storyboard illustrates a typical day in the life of a resident and the visitor. The ground floor, as a continuation of the street housing public programs like a gallery, meeting rooms and a gym for the visitor and resident to meet.
The building also encourages occupants to have a more intimate experience with nature and non-human occupants with “pockets” of outdoor space that feature specific vegetation (milkweed) to attract monarch butterflies, (migratory species foung in new york).
Sustainable features in the building includes a green roof, permeable pavers on the rood for rainwater harvesting, solar film is installed on top of the louvres and an open plan with core stairs allowing stack and cross ventilation.
The technical drawings illustrate a simplified version of the door, windows, stairs, a typical bath, a typical floor, and an elevation.
How can fabrication be used to design for flora and fauna? /a terrapin habitat and exhibition at Haverstraw, NY
humans in Haverstraw, New York
CODY DAVIS
possibilities of implementing digital tools to develop a system which then can be aggregated and de six axis industrial robotic arm and clay extruders we achieve a system that self aggregates and inter study was developed to be deplyed at Haverstraw, which is also known for it’s rich brick history and river coastline. With Terra we question the future of brick making, mass customization, and a space for area. Through the use of a tesselation study, we developed a system that iterlocks and self aggrespherical shapes. To support the system we developed a space frame sub-structure by first introgeometries that circumscribe the tessalation. Looking at the individual brick, we create apertures for butterflies to engage with. The conical geomtry of the bricks allow for the placement of soil and the growth redirect light to the interior. We’re excited to see what possibilities the tesselation and structure can
TERRA is a project that explores the possibilities of implementing digital tools to develop a system which then can be aggregated and deployed at the site.
TERRA: A hub for terrapins and humans in Haverstraw, New York
posibilidades de implementar herramientas digitales para desarrollar un sistema que luego se puede Mediante el uso de un brazo industrial robótico de seis ejes y extrusoras de arcilla logramos un sistema que una envoltura esférica. El estudio se desarrolló para ser implementado en Haverstraw, que también ladrillos y la presencia de Terraapains a lo largo de la costa del río. Con Terra cuestionamos el futuro de la customizacion masiva y un espacio para experimentar la fauna y la flora de la zona. Mediante el uso de un estudio que se enclava y se autoagrega sin el uso de mortero para formar formas esféricas. Para apoyar el subestructura de marco espacial introduciendo primero un poliedro y geometrías hexagonales que circunscriben individual, creamos aberturas para que las tortugas de agua pasen o aniden y para que las mariposas interladrillos permite la colocación de tierra y el crecimiento de plantas como la raíz de serpiente virginia y rediemocionados de ver qué posibilidades pueden ofrecer la teselación y la estructura con estudios continuos.
ANDRES RONCAL, AASHNA BAJAJ, CODY DAVIS
Through the use of six axis industrial robotic arm and clay extruders we achieve a system that self aggregates and interlocks to create spherical envelope.
With Terra we question the future of brick making, mass customization, and offer a space to experience the fauna and flora of the area.
in partnership with Andres Roncal
TERRA is a project that explores the possibilities of implementing digital tools to develop a system ployed at the site. through the use of six axis industrial robotic arm and clay extruders we achieve a locks to create spherical envelope. The study was developed to be deplyed at Haverstraw, which is prescense of Terraapains along the river coastline. With Terra we question the future of brick making, to experience the fauna and flora of the area. Through the use of a tesselation study, we developed gates without the use of mortar to form spherical shapes. To support the system we developed a space ducing a Polyhedron and hexagonal geometries that circumscribe the tessalation. Looking at the individual terrapins to pass or nest and for butterflies to engage with. The conical geomtry of the bricks allow of plants like the virginia snakeroot and redirect light to the interior. We’re excited to see what possibilities offer with continued studies.
TERRA es un proyecto que explora las posibilidades de implementar herramientas digitales para desarrollar agregar e implementar en el lote. Mediante el uso de un brazo industrial robótico de seis ejes y extrusoras
Looking at the individual brick, we create apertures for terrapins to pass or nest and for butterflies to engage with. The conical geomtry of the bricks allow for the placement of soil and the growth of plants like the virginia snakeroot and redirect light to the interior.
Through the use of a tesselation study, we developed a system that iterlocks and self aggregates without the use of mortar to formspherical shapes. To support the system we developed a space frame sub-structure by first introducing a Polyhedron and hexagonal geomtries that circumscribe the tessalation. After numerours experiments, the volume was found to naturally curve into a dome - hence, the volume of our selected prgram, the classroom imitates a turtle shell from the inside, offering a completely different experience on the outside.
The work on this page illustrates the different conditions designed in haverstraw: terra on land,in water, for structure, and for the non- human and human inhabitants.
How can architecture bring communities together to reimagine ‘play’ /an intervention to bring people to Governor’s Island, New york.
for Architectural Association Visiting School, New York
This project aims to increase engagement among New Yorkers on Governor’s Island by reimagining play through interactive installations. While activities such as glamping, research, and festivals currently attract visitors to the island, there is a need for additional engagement opportunities, that can become a part of the Island’s experience.
Utilizing the starting point of Mid-journey, playful images were developed and used to create a block prototype. Drawing inspiration from the play styles established by Stuart Brown MD, the block was organized into 4 distinct types - activity, mirror, creativity, and light cubes - based on 8 play categories for adults and children: joker, kinesthetic, explorer, competitor, director, creator, storyteller, and collector. This gives us a vocabulary to understand play.
Participants can use a digital interface to build their own structures using these blocks, facilitating engagement on the Island and offline. These structures can be brought to life on Governor’s Island at various scales through simple installations, that encourage communities to come together in a space and play.
This page shows the experience created when each block is aggregated with itself - creating interesting playfields such as a climbing wall, a creative blackboard, a light threshold and a mirror maze
This aggregation of the project envisions the immersive experience that can be created by combining all four block categories.
Governor’s Island currently lacks sufficient outdoor shading, making it an uncomfortable destination for visitors on hot days. This large scale version of the ‘Build your own Playground’ installation seeks to reimagine shade as an interactive feature that can be built by visitors through digital contributions and experienced on the Island.
The integration of color, light, texture, and materiality creates a captivating interior environment that promises an exciting and engaging experience for visitors.
How can food be celebrated for astronauts on mars? /reacreating earth’s food palette and environmen
in partnership with Rithika Vedapuri
Food serves as a central element for culture and conversation on Earth, bringing people together in meaningful ways. However, the experience of food is quite different for astronauts in space. Due to the effects of reduced gravity on their body fluids, their sense of taste is altered, leaving many foods tasting bland and affecting their body’s absorption of necessary nutrients.
“From the early 1960s, astronauts found that their taste buds did not seem to be as effective when they were in space”
The Spice Garden project seeks to address this problem and celebrate the experience of food in space. By incorporatingspices into the astronauts’ diet, the project enhances the flavor of their food while also providing essential antioxidants and other health benefits that strengthen the immune system.
scan for complete research
Located at the Jezero Crater, a site chosen by NASA, the spice garden is imagined as a prosthetic to an existing martian facility - at the center of a habitat torus, the Garden on Mars focuses on five specific spices that are most suitable for Martian growing conditions. After extensive research into the origins, foods, and flavor profiles created by different spices, the project has chosen to grow chili and ginger from Asia, sumac from the Middle East, and basil and oregano from the West. Each of these species thrives in different climate conditions, offering a unique opportunity to simulate
Asia : Chilli + Ginger : warm + humid climate + well-drained soil
West : Basil + Oregano : warm + dry climate + well-drained soil
Middle East : Sumac : warm climate + well-drained soil
/a van cortlandt museum extension /model making
The Hovering Lightwell is a Library Extension to the existing Van Cortlandt Museum located in the Bronx, New York.
The design demonstrates model making techniques.
an ode to india , designed for the helping hand fundraiser (www.thehelpinghand.art) shekhawati
a woman’s journey, through the different threshold’s of life to success, symbolised through the transition of a village girl making her way into the city.
Born and brought up in India, I moved to New York as a teenager. To a city that showed me how different the world was, economically and culturally.
My experience has inspired thought and interests towards exploring architecture through the visions of culture and psychology. Vitruvius offered us all a definition of architecture - “firmitas, utilitas, and venustas” or “commodity, firmness and delight”.
I believe that a fourth word - ‘dignitas’ should be added to this definition. When designing a new space, we should ask ourselves - how does this offer dignity to its user? Does that space fulfill psychological needs in addition to the physiological ones?