Aditya Vinod Portfolio 2019

ADITYA VINOD PORT FO LIO

B.ARCH, M.Res

2017 - 2019

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ARCHITECTURE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL HOSPITALITY BUILDING ANALYSIS

WRITTING AND PUBLISHING SKETCHING PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN

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URBAN DESIGN SPATIAL DESIGN PLACEMAKING MASTERPLANNING SPATIAL MODELLING RESEARCH URBAN SPACES & ISSUES HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN SPATIAL DATA SCIENCE

ADITYA VINOD MRes. Space Syntax: Architecture and Cities The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London London, UK email id: aradityavinod@gmail.com ph: +44 7468316413 blog: https://urbananalogy.wordpress.com/ LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/adityavinod

INTRODUCTION Here presented is a brief portfolio of my work in architecture and urbanism.

Throughout my career I have strengthened my skill sets and developed my professional expertise in the area of spatial design, strategic urban design, architecture design and construction and project management.

During my Masters Degree in ‘Space Syntax: Architecture and Cities’ at The Bartlett School of Architecture, I undertook severals months of intensive research on urban areas in London exploring its physical space and associated communities. My research help identify the nature of socio-spatial relations and provide an evidencebased reasoning for urban issues.

RESEARCH INTERESTS Spatial cultures, urban spaces, placemaking & community building.

WORK PRINCIPLE Developing relations through informed decisions.

CONTENTS THIS PORTFOLIO IS TO BE VIEWED IN TWO PAGE VIEW SHOWING COVER PAGE.

THESIS RESERACH

PROJECT 01

PROJECT 02

Spatial modelling

Masterplanning for Country estate development

PLACE MAKING

AREA ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY

PROJECT 03

PROJECT 04

PROJECT 05

Spatial Cultures of Soho

Gay Men and Gay spaces

Chancery Lane: Defacto.

PROJECT 06

PROJECT 07

PROJECT 08

Residence design

Resort design

Restaurant design

Project 01 Spatial modelling Space syntax spatial models are widely used in urban design research and placemaking studies to understand movement potential and socio-spatial economics. Therefore, modelling of network with least angular cost is of utmost importance and requires an thorough understanding of theory behind such models.

SPATIAL MODELLING AT CITY-WIDE SCALE

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Data

Plugins & tools

Identify and fix errors

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Simplify & clean network

Source: Open street map London

SPATIAL MODEL

50000m

Network Analysis of London

London

Project 02 Masterplanning A green estate development in Bangalore, I had the opportunity to work on this project from design development until the early stages of execution. Spanning over 40 acres, it comprised of a clubhouse, entertainment venue, amenities, three types of signature villas, reflexology park and a massive private lake.

Project 03 Masters degree: Space Syntax-Architecture and Cities Thesis: Spatial Cultures of Soho Exploring culture and placemaking in spatialised ways Keywords: Neighbourhood, community, culture, placemaking, gentrification, identity, placeness, gender, spatiality

Space as affording social interaction is highly debated subject among social and spatial researchers. This dissertation aims to shed light on culture in spatialised ways. Undertaking an in-depth analysis of the urban space of Soho supported by investigations on the conceptual and physical notions of space, the research examines the shifting identity of the area from immigrant quarter to the present day gay village in light of its evolving spatiality and socio-spatial logic. Utilising space syntax theories and methodology, the dissertation narrates this evolution in spatial configuration and implications it may have had on the social morphology of the neighbourhood.

Soho

Soho & Surrounding Areas

A social and spatial comparative study that could help define Soho

WHAT MAKES SOHO UNIQUE? Can spatial analysis address the evolution of Soho’s cultural identity? Is Soho unique, in some spatial sense, supporting the evolution in its identity and affording appropriation and re-appropriation of its various cultures over time?

Soho: An Urban Village

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Combining the perspective of space as understood in multiple epistemic disciplines, the relationship between Soho’s spatial, social, cultural/conceptual and temporal notions of space are discussed. The approach used combines analytical methods, such as network analysis, historical morphology analysis and distribution of land uses over time, with empirical methods, such as observations, auto-ethnography, literature, and photographs.

Data sets used are street network graphs, historical maps and street directories, as well as a list of literature, and data collected by the author through surveys.

Soho’s cosmopolitanism and its ability to reinvent over time, when viewed through the prism of spatial cultures, help engage in discussion on making of community life. Social research often tends to overlook the displacement of cultures and the role the physical environment plays in enabling this manifestation. Mapping these activities and the spatiality of such processes enable to review the cultures of Soho as a spatial culture maintaining a time-space relationship contributing to the evolution of the identity of this place.

There are functional and symbolic representations through which the identity of this area has evolved. When discussions on gentrification are postulated, there is an inability to exercise direct relationship of these areas discussed as gentrified, and their role in the urban environment as a constantly changing space. The research aims to address it, assessing space in itself as affording changeability over time.

Art by David Shenton.

SOHO : EVOLUTION OF THE PHYSICAL SPACE Plot morphology

Open spaces morphology

Year 1890

Year 1960

Year 2018

Street morphology

Constitutedness

Year 1890

Year 1960

Year 2018

SOHO AND SURROUNDING REGIONS

The physical parameters of Soho were tested against similar of surrounding neighbourhoods.

Bloomsbury Fitzrovia

Marylebone

Soho

Covent Garden

Mayfair

Betweenness centrality and Closeness centrality

Figure 1. NACH R400

Figure 3. NACH R800

Figure 2. NAIN R400

Figure 4. NAIN R800

Some research outcomes:

MORPHOLOGY AND SYNTACTIC FINDINGS

SOHO AS A SETTLEMENT NETWORK OF FEEDER STREETS.

Soho is unique from its surrounding areas such as Fitzrovia, Marylebone, Covent Garden, St James, Mayfair, and Bloomsbury in some of its morphological aspects as well as syntactical values.

The aggregate of smaller plots in Soho are significantly higher in comparison with its neighbouring regions and spread across the whole region. Jane Jacobs (1961) has pointed out the importance of smaller plots in fostering diversity. Her notion of the ‘intricate ballet of sidewalks’ that sustain everyday noise strikes significant even to this day as a necessary factor for social cohesion.

Smaller plots as contributing to foster social ecology and sustaining diversity has been discussed in many studies. Morphological diversity, Vaughan et al., (2015) suggest, has potential for propagating patterns of co-presence and encounter over time.

Through a historical assessment, Vaughan et al., (2015, p. 99:17) points out that these smaller plots, buildings or building frontage cannot be assumed as the places of resilience but places where uses ‘come and go [...] according to the changing scales of movement in and around it’ (Vaughan et al., 2015, p. 99:17). They afford this changeability. As plots consolidate to become larger plots they lose this ability to adapt to changes due to constrains brought upon by the actual physical space which cannot afford multiple smaller uses. In Soho, the morphology of plots has significantly changed along the edges were high streets afford high through and to-movements. But the internal streets have a fair share of juxtaposition of small and bigger plots. It is also interesting to note that over the years the landuses that relate to music, immigrant businesses (such as Italian restaurants, Jewish tailors, Queer venues, fashion), these ‘niche markets’ appropriate streets with higher number of smaller plots. The changes in identity of Soho can be traced backed to these landuses and functions that are agglomerate in and around certain specific streets or street segments.

Inferences from above findings suggest that the proximity of Soho to Oxford Street has resulted in a ‘network of feeder streets’ coming off into Soho. These streets have been crucial for the growth and development of Soho’s space and community as it capacitate or affords socio-economic functions. Oxford street has been vital for the growth and development of this region unlike it to other study regions. In a two test analysis of internal and external streets of the study regions, this was proved. Refer section 5.1.2.

These streets function as a network of high streets within Soho.

The overall average value of integration and choice for Soho region was significantly higher than that of the surrounding regions.

These differences have been proven in syntactic measure. ` A

PLACE

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REPRODUCTION The network of Soho affords both microeconomic as well as socio-cultural activities. That is, this network of feeder streets opportune many kinds of functions. As noted by Speiser (2017), Soho’s immigrant communities were agglomerated along certain streets. They neither had to visit other streets, nor did they suffer for lingering onto their settlements. Its communities prosper, benefiting from its location in the urban grid. currently, has the highest number of gay and queer venues in London. Such types of landuses have also spread to adjoining streets such as Brewer, Wardour and Rupert Street, immediately connected to Old Compton Street.

WHY SOHO IS NOT THE CHINA TOWN BUT THE GAY VILLAGE OF LONDON. China Town is the region in the south of Soho along Gerard Street.

It has been split from Soho’s main area by Shaftesbury Avenue constructed in 1886. China Town came to existence only since the 1960’s when the Chinese settlers set up restaurants, stalls and businesses in the region.

Gay identity of Soho is largely from the queer venues in the region. There are approximately 40 queer venues in Soho (significantly large concentration compared to rest of London) of which 22 of them are concentrated along Old Compton Street. The position and role of Old Compton Street in establishing this identity has been discussed in the previous report (Vinod, 2018).

Viewing this through the layer of syntactic understanding of space as demonstrated in the research can answer some questions regarding identity and evolution of spaces. The identity of China Town since the appropriation by Chinese settlers remain undeterred. If all other external influences such as policy, or decision makers interferences are considered neutral, it could be suggested that the network has strongly influenced this areas generation as a Chinese communal space. The reason for activities of China Town to not spread to Soho’s main area is also due to reduced control its streets offer. It was large area functioning as an active background space.

Project 04 Chancery lane: Area Enhancement Strategy

Reviewing the Area Enhancement Strategy (City of London, 2009) proposed by the City Council, City of London based on evidence-based analytical research process. Images on the right are the outputs of visibility graph analysis (VGA) performed using Depthmap (open source) to check the visual connect between spaces. The site was surveyed, its physical and social factors were investigated and it was found that the area wasn’t performing as a attractor even though it had significant cultural value. The methods followed helped identify key areas for intervention which will be the most impactful. A proposal was made which made use of the network of open spaces to enhance the site.

Problem Definition

Review enhancement strategy

Investigate social, physical and spatial parameters

Strategic planning solutions

Option testing

Proposal

Strategic interventions 1. Pedestrianize streets between South Hampton Building Street and Carey Street, Breams Building Street 2. Shared space for vehicular and pedestrian use at Piazza area on New Fetter lane,

Carley Street and

Chancery Lane Junction, South Hampton Building and Chancery Lane Junction,

3. Open barriers of Maughan’s Library to provide access to its open court and to effectively connect Chancery Lane to Fetter Lane.

4. Wayfinding strategy to direct people towards the rich heritage hidden within the area.

Project 05 Gay men and gay spaces A space syntax analysis of the queer mysteries of Soho.

The study investigates to what extend do ideas like gay villages represent the material (physical) embodiment of the gay (Queer) cultural identity.

Throughout history, Soho has undergone a dynamic transformation in its physical as well as conceptual space. In the 18th century as a place of immigrants to its present popularity as the gay village of London, the research highlights the spatiality o`s Old Compton for LGBTQI+ venues, Carnaby for fashion, Berwick street and its Jewish community, the

PLACEMAKING ANALYTICS STATISTICS SOCIAL VALUE

spread of production houses along Wardour street and much more. The transformation of its social identity and the ability of space in affording cultural manifestation throughout history is the theme of the research in its broader context.

Why did you move to London?....

But why Soho???

Girl, Brazil is too ‘closed’ for me, you know what I mean. I need something more free and otpen.

I like Brazil but I like here better.

Where else would I be? Its Soho!

Mapping Survey Historical evolution Interviews Landuse Character study Statistics Autoethnography Network Analysis

A diachronic assessment of space culture and commnity of an urban village

Appreciation The project was presented at the Conference ‘Cross-Disciplicnary conversations on sexualities, queerness and space’

More information:

‘Gay men and gay spaces’ on Issuu

Gay-friendly venues

Loss of LGBTQI+ Nightlife spaces

‘What is really going on, is that the gay scene is adapting to meet the needs of a generation who are more ‘out’ than their predecessors—an increasingly confident generation of lesbians and gay men whose sense of Pride means that they want to be visible and not ignored.’

Short 1993:16 as cited in Bell and Valentine (1995)

Project 06 Resort design

The project sits on the

foothills

of Madikeri, Coorg. On the periphery runs a perennial stream. The resort accommodates small and large gatherings such as events for companies, adventure sports, and has a club house, administration block, hotels, themed cottages (5 types), leisure centre. The project has been designed and planned by the author under the guidance of the Principal Architect.

ADMINISTRATION, SUITES AND RESTAURANT

Project 07 Residence design A residential dwelling for a family in tropical region of Southern India, the designed provided ample garden space by reducing the building ground coverage area. The ground floor was a marriage between outdoor and indoors.

Project 08 Restaurant design

A design to accommodate multiple

functions in an art themed restaurant. A place for nature enthusiast, artists, students, story tellers, that encourages interaction beyond the fine dine experience. The design took inspiration from the Indian practice of story telling where the elders narrate ‘puranas’ to children as they gather

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around a Peepal tree.

The construction used earthy materials throughout. The green roofs were supported by timbre trusses, walls were cast at site with mud-blocks, and cooling systems were implemented through water bodies, air holes and plants for shading. Use of concrete was minimal and limited to foundation.