Aishwarya Vyawahare, Master of Architecture'22

ARCHITECTURE

PORTFOLIO

s e l e c t e d w o r k s l spring 2 0 20 - fall 2 0 2 1

Aishwarya Vyawahare

avyawaha@buffalo.edu l +1-716-710-0973

CONTENTS

CITY ARTS Academic Project - Spring 2020 ___________________________________________01

BEST SELF Academic Project - Summer 2020 ___________________________________________12

TREE NURSERY Academic Project - Sp _______________________

pring 2021 _____________________18

A SOLVED MAZE Competition Project - Summer 2020 ___________________________________________26

QGIS Academic Project - Spring 2021 ___________________________________________30

Aerial view of the art gallery

CITY ARTS integrated design

academic project faculty - Prof. Annette LeCuyer team -M.Ahmed

An art museum is no longer a neutral depository of objects, but has taken on the role of cultural forum.

Spatially, the art gallery accommodates a wide range of evolving media and curatorial possibilities.

Experientially, it enables visitors to engage with art in a variety of ways collectively, individually and digitally. Programmatically, gallery spaces support a range of public functions including education, entertainment, restaurants and shops. Finally, urban presence also becomes a crucial factor in the design of an art institution. The urban calibration of the building -how it connects with the city and enhances the lives of both visitors and citizens – is critical in the formation of its institutional image.

Architecturally, this set of expanded demands presents major systemic and tectonic challenges.

The building designed thus supports a wide range of curatorial and programmatic capabilities.

It includes spaces to display pieces from the permanent collection; host travelling exhibitions of significant contemporary artists from around the world; and provides venues for a diverse range of public programs. Today’s artists and architects are exploring new territories in media and materials, representation and communication. The task is to speculate about the architecture that can best house this new work and enhance public cultural life in Buffalo, NY.

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Chippewa Street

Delaware Street

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site plan

concept development

concept development

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conecptual section showing strategy for using natural light into the gallery spaces

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ground plan

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exterior view of the art gallery

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floor plan

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The idea was to create a hierarchy and play of spaces within the art gallery.

Hence the tubes are staggered upon each other to create a variety of single height and double height spaces The exterior facade of the structure is kept minimal and covered to create curiosity within the visitors mind, leaving the interiors to his/her imagination. Natural light is very strategically taken into the art gallery through the light-well to lighten up the central spaces, while skylights are used to light up the double height gallery spaces.

1. cafeteria 2. kitchen 3. offices 4. loading/unloading 5. waiting area 6. gallery spaces 7. terraces 8. art collecton loading 9. visitor’s entrance

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GALLERY TYPE 1

section AA - depicting hierarchy of the gallery spaces and use of skylights

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Gallery type 1 - Double height gallery space with skylight protuding from the roof, with artificial lighting in the single height space, highlighting the art work.

conceptual section showing strategy for letting natural light into the gallery spaces

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art circulation system

public circulation system

The building occupy most prgram from staff offices to cafeteria into its ground and mezzanine floor.

Where as all the gallery and exhibition spaces are catered by the tubes above. The entry point for visitors and the art collections is designed to be separated from each other. The art collections are loaded from North entrance of the building while the visitors can enter from South entrance.

section AA - depicting the longitudinal slice of the structure while highlighting the cafeteria and the mezzanine & the play of double height gallery spaces with skylights

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Gallery type 2 - Double height space with overlooking gallery. Use of artificial light from the ceiling as well as diffused light from behind the display wall.

GALLERY TYPE 2

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exterior view of the building highlighting the use of materials - block glass for the central light well, and alternating wooden & reflective glass tubes

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mezzanine space with reading and interactive spaces

BEST SELF

therapy center

collaboration project with CJS Architects faculty - Prof. Joyce Hwang team - A Agarwal, J Brakan, B Gautam, A Lin, P Shetty

This Independent Study project provided us the opportunity to work with real-world clients and meet project goals. Our team developed a conceptual design proposal for Best Self using trauma-informed principles and incorporating Doc Wayne and other therapy programs. This project was conducted in collaboration with CJS Architects.

Spatial layout and accessibility, aesthetics for visual interest and privacy were the main considerations that formed the design concept. Having a cool color theme, and positive distraction like good lighting and the artwork helped to shift focus of the clients when felt uneasy.

To make this space more workable we considered adding double height SMART room with mezzanine level overhead and transformed the waiting area on second floor with fun curvy designs to make the space more subtle so that client feels calmer once he/ she enters the space.

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view of the entrance corridor

view of the courtyard

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1. smart room 2. waiting lobby 3. multipurpose sports court 4. rock climbing wall 5. lobby 6. art/music therapy 7. culinary therapy 8. psycho education 9. library 10. toilet 11. store 12. atrium 13. courtyard

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ground plan

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view of the multipurporse sports area showing basketball court & climbing wall

view of the multipurpose sports area highlighting the staircase to the mezzanine reading space

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1. additional therapy room 2. multipurpose room 3. exhibition and waiting room 4. janitor 5. mechanical room

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first floor plan

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Seating is designed to be flexible. Blurring lines between play and lounging.

While also being smooth and inviting. Much like what rocks are to nature.

The possible material options could be leather, plastic, milled wood, stone and fabric.

The Atrium and courtyard design were inspired by nature, the bamboo screens were placed in front of parking lots as buffer space.

Flexible seating and colorful paving’s give the overall space a cheerful look. The green space and plantations in the courtyard, adds more aesthetic value and purifies the air.

1. multipurpose sports court 2. exhibition and waiting room 3. reading and intercation space

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view highlighting the first floor with exhibition and waiting area, the multipurpose sports area & the staircase to the reading sp

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view depicting the proposed wavy seating space and the proposed bus stop with the office and the greenhouse at the back

TREE NURSERY urban design

academic project faculty - Prof. Nicholas Rajkovich team - G Harris, F Rall

The canopy coverage has been steadily disappearing on the Westside of Buffalo over the past 15 years.

Paved surfaces and fewer trees exacerbate the urban heat island effect which negatively impacts health and community resilience. Climate change also threatens the health of existing street trees. A cooperative community nursery would be ideally suited to respond to these issues, while also supporting a Just Transition. The nursery would propagate new street trees and provide opportunities to build social cohesion, resilience and green jobs within the community.

The proposed tree nursery will be a combination of a greenhouse and education hub, and scattered growing sites within ¼ mile radius. The test site at 160 Congress would be an ideal location for a greenhouse because there are no obstructions to the south, so it gets plenty of sunlight. It is also a corner site with a bus stop on a major line, which would maximize the program’s public presence.

Twelve additional lots were identified as potential growing sites, which would provide more than an acre of growing area. The nursery could start with just a few lots and expand over time, but the hub is essential for both water access and to demonstrate a committed presence in the community.

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examples of some of the maps that were prepared and used for the analysis of the project

land & ownership analysis

land vacancy analysis

street tree species analysis

street tree analysis

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3 4 5 plan of the tree nursery hub showing office space, greenhouse & rain gardens

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maps showing canopy coverage analysis in the old GDZ over the years

existing canopy coverage

proposed canopy coverage (dark green) by the 2050

1. office space 2. greenhouse 3. rain gardens 4. proposed public seating around the site 5. proposed bus-stop 6. parking and loading-unloading

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proposed bus top with green roof

proposed rain gardens

GREENHOUSE

view of the nursery hub from across the street

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BUS-STOP WITH GREEN R

ROOF

The greenhouse and office would provide a permanent space for education, community outreach and engagement. This could involve forestry job training, gardening classes for community members, and field trips for local school kids. The “Mosaic Nursery” and “Formal Garden” are two possible layouts for growing sites.

proposed office space

PROPOSED SEATING

OFFICE WITH SOLAR ROOF

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POT-IN-POT METHOD

PERMACULTURE BED

section through the ‘Mosaic Layout’ highlighting the pot-in-pot planting method to protect the trees from harsh weather conditions

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1. naive permaculture beds 2. mulch pathway 3. water collection tank 4. trees planted in 25gal pots 5. central leisure area for people

conceptual plan for the mosaic layout

The hub and nursery sites would also act as public third spaces. Rather than replicating intimidating industrial monocultures, the diverse, garden-like nurseries create a more welcoming atmosphere. Benches and other seating elements invite visitors to pause and enjoy views of nature.The native permaculture gardens add vibrancy, beauty and the opportunity to learn about native species. Spaces between the trees provide more secluded spaces for reading.

The greenhouse would be a beautiful icon of long-term investment and hope for the community. It would be an amazing educational resource that would grow native plants for the nurseries and gardens throughout the GDZ. However, greenhouses can be resource intensive to maintain. Thus, all efforts should be made to maximize efficiency and use renewable sources like solar or geothermal.

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1 1 5 1 3 1 3 plan for layout type 1 - ‘ Mosaic layout’

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SEMI-OPEN SEATING AREA

map of selected sites to be part of the tree nursery, within the 1/4 mile radius of 160

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1. naive permaculture beds 2. vegetated pathway 3. water collection tank 4. trees planted in 25gal pots 5. seatings

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visitors sit and enjoy the secluded pockets in the “Mosaic” nursery layout

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visitors sit and enjoy the secluded pockets in the “Formal” nursery layout tree nursery 25

cental courtyard area with seating area will have graffiti on walls and semi open facade which wil be interactive and aestheically pleasing to the user.

A SOLVED MAZE

urban space

competition project organizers - volume zero team - A Agarwal, P Shetty

Unlearning the conventional public toilet looks like here is an innovative, functional and a visually appealing toilet design that serves as a building icon, synchronizing with the surrounding context. Though the primary use of the designed structure should be as a public toilet, alongside this, the structure is innovatively designed as a space for community interaction, in addition to its primary function. The space is additionally visualized as a recreational/ educational/ social/ urban functional area.

The total area of the space does not exceed 100 sq.mt. and all age groups of the demographic can use the space.

The design is efficient in terms of planning, hygiene, odour-free surrounding and space usage.

The designed toilet is comfortable/convenient to use.

The design intervention aims to address the efficiency of public restrooms, their sanitary facilities, spatial distribution and mainly, privacy and comfort, which ultimately improve peoples’ lives. The design here acts as a module, which can be replicated in different areas similar to the site context chosen.

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The ideas of maze is creating spaces within the boundaries that connect with other spaces and at the same time creates buffer area between the toilet and the interactive space.

view of the toilet blocks showing openness .

MALE BLOCK

INTERACTIVE BLOCK

FEM

plan of the public toilet

TYPICAL TOILET BLOCK DETAIL

section of the public toilet

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FRAGRANT PLANTS ON TOILET ROOF

VIEWING DECK

Every typical toilet block is connected to a shaft with fragrant plantations on its roof. This system allows the foul odour to escpae through the shaft, while allowing the fragrance into the toilet block.

Fragrance into toilet

section of the typical toilet block

plan of the typical toilet block

PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED BLOCK

MALE BLOCK

view of the courtyard showing interactive spaces

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The main block is divided into 3 sub blocks dedicated to male, female and physically challenged respectively.

Exposed concrete is used to reduce the maintenance cost and blend with urban setting around.

Every sub block will have a courtyard space in between which comprises of water body, fragrant plants and trees, thus making the area cool and odour free. The place is always shaded and climatically responsive.

Voids and niches are designed to keep the area well ventilated and to have a sense of openness. Visual connectivity and privacy is maintained. People can paint at art wall and read at the library creating cohesiveness and interactive space. a solved maze 29

map showing spatial analysis of Federal Lands: Landfills in Reference to the Ecology of the U.S.

QGIS

urban design

academic project faculty - Prof. Erkin Ozay team - J Galasso, K Patel

The map we have developed touches on the problem of waste and how it is encroaching on the protected environments of the U.S. There are five main points that are highlighted by this map.

The amount of landfill facilities within the Great Lakes area is excessive and overbearing. Many of the landfills are located closer to major cities, but spread out towards the less populated areas.

There is very little protected land in the Great Lakes area, but the areas that are protected are large. The landfills are slowly encroaching on the protected areas, some are even located on them.

Many of the federally protected land crosses over with each other making it part of both categories. This map can use this information and grow through the addition of layers such as air pollution levels, power plant locations, and other federally owned properties that contribute to the pollution problem.

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AISHWARYA SURESH VYAWAHARE avyawaha@buffalo.edu

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+1-716-710-973