Akanksha Bhardwaj_Portfolio

PORTFOLIO

AKANKSHA BHARDWAJ

Selected works B.Arch 2019-24

Architecture | Design | Research

ABOUT ME

Hello, I am Akanksha.

The constant lifestyle of seeing new places deepened my curiosty of how the essence of a city’s culture can be captured in a single building. One memorable experience was wandering in Vadodara. Before even knowing the right terminologies, I knew I want to design something that sustains, and sustain the ones that already exist;

To innovate, not alienate.

Participating in competitions with societal impact fueled my growth and refined my interests. I’m confident about my skills in drafting and rendering softwares. My design philosophy centers on empathy,

blending context, culture, and community.

Beyond buildings, I explore landscape, conservation, graphic design, and urban interventions, aiming to create spaces that resonate with people. I am dedicated to finding a firm that embodies honesty and integrity in its work, focusing on real benefits for people and the environment.

This portfolio is a collection of selected works from my archive of architectural experience of five years. Thank you for taking the time to explore my work.

CURRICULUM VITAE

D.O.B.: 10-01-2002

Email id: akankshabhardwaj162@gmail.com

Phone no.: +91 8800258619

AKANKSHA BHARDWAJ

EDUCATION

Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Boisar, Maharashtra 2008-13

G reenfields Public School, Delhi 2013-19 CBSE (10TH: 9.8 CGPA, 12TH: 70.2%)

A mity School of Architecture and Planning, Amity University, Noida 2019- 2024 (B. ARCH: 7.93 CGPA)

EXPERIENCE

6-months internship at Aishwarya Tipnis Architects (December 2022 - June 2023)

• GFCs, as-built and risk management drawings for a residential school project

• Conservation management reports for 2 Haveli projects

• Book design, research and reprographics for SIDBI and Tourism Dept., Govt. of J & K

• Concept drawings & On-site measurements for Design & Technology center and Food & Nutrition Lab in a school building

• Documentation and Research for 2 residential & 2 institutional projects

• Market research, soft furnishings/hardware inventories for a London residence

• Layout redesign, proofreading for 15 Material Manuals about defect and treatment methods

• Industry & vendor management, graphics, typesetting, signage and reprographics

ADDITIONAL ELECTIVE

User Interface Design, facilitated by SWAYAM NPTEL, IIT Roorkee, secured 82% (top 2%)

CO-CURRICULAR

President, Placement Support Committee Secretary, Exhibition Club Core Member & Social Media Head, Cultural Society

College Ambassador, India Art, Architecture & Design Student Biennale- Samunnati ‘23

COMPETITIONS

Annual NASA Design Competition, Top 24, Post- Pandemic Bus Terminal Design (2020-21)

Louis I. Kahn Trophy, Participation, Detailed Documentation: Connection between the vernacular and the modern (2020-21)

Annual NASA Design Competition, Top 24, Migrant Workers’ Mobile Housing Design (2021-22)

Industrial Design Trophy, Participation, Documentation & Product Design: Craft and Community (2021-22)

Laurie Baker Trophy, Participation, Cohousing Design (2021-22)

Writing Nasa Trophy, Participation, “Role of the Architectural Fraternity in Promoting Social Equity” (2022-23)

CBRI: Bhartiya Pramparik Awas Uthan Award, Documentation, Analysis & Design Proposal for Traditional houses (Ongoing)

SOFTWARE SKILLS

Drafting

3D Modelling 3D Rendering Presentation

Others AutoCAD, Revit Revit,SketchUp Lumion, Enscape Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook, Illustrator, InDesign eQUEST, Filmora, Clipchamp

RESEARCH

India’s Industrial Heritage: Adaptive Reuse Strategies for Mill Factories

Migrant Worker Housing in India: A search for design problems & recommendations Impact of built heritage in shaping a city’s identity: Indo-Saracenic architecture of Vadodara

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT FILM)

Guides of Last Rites: A Glimpse into Management of Shamshan Ghats

A THESIS PROJECT AISHWARYA TIPNIS ARCHITECTS

URBAN DESIGN

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN TROPHY

CAMEL GIRTH: PLY-SPLIT BRAIDING

25-28

MISCELLANEOUS WORKS

ILLUSTRATIONS, RENDERS, PHOTOGRAPHY

29-32

01 | SOCIOCULTURAL CENTER, AJMER

Reviving the City Narrative

THESIS PROJECT IN ARCHITECTURE

December 2023-May 2024

Faculty guide:

Prof.(Dr) Rommel Mehta

This thesis project highlights the link of cultural heritage with placemaking in architecture. The project aims to design a Sociocultural Center that brings together the local community, tourists, artists, artisans, learners and educators.

To restore and explore the potential of Ajmer as a tourist destination, ADA (Ajmer Development Authority), in coherence with City Development and Tourism Department proposes Tourist Facility as per Ajmer Master Development Plan 2033. This thesis project is envisioned aligning with the proposal, alongwith the Smart Cities Mission , AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) and HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) initiatives.

01 | SOCIOCULTURAL CENTER, AJMER

The City Link

Ajmer,

A city steeped in history, vibrant with culture, and home to the iconic Anasagar Lake. It’s a place where stories whisper from ancient walls, and colorful fabrics paint the streets with tales of a rich past. But beneath the bustling surface, a whisper of another story hangs in the air - a story of a fading legacy, a lake yearning for its former glory.

SPIRITUALITY

SOCIAL STRATUM DEVOTION

SITE THE JUNCTION

CULTURE GEOGRAPHY

BRIDGING THE CULTURAL AND COMMUNAL GAPS

THE ARAVALI HILLS & ANASAGAR LAKE

RESTORATION OF PUBLICNESS

In an attempt to bring back the city to its deserving pedestal, this thesis project titled Sociocultural center is designed to revive the forgotten narrative of the city Ajmer.

The spatial program primarily involves a museum building, performing arts center, tourist information center, short term accomodation and artisan’s residence.

Decoding design

SITE PLAN (GROUND FLOOR LEVEL)

SITE PLAN: GROUND FLOOR LEVEL

MUSEUM BLOCK

ANASAGAR LAKE

ARTISAN’S

The Museum space is envisoned as an instructive recreation, that feels familiar to the people of Ajmer. A ramped access to the first floor offers a panoramic view of the city, from residential areas to the Aravalli hills and the lake, through arched openings, creating a “live gallery.” The central courtyard provides a relaxing space and an optional exit for visitors. Museum halls are tailored for permanent and temporary exhibits, with careful consideration of height, viewing angles, clear distances, and lighting needs.

Museum Block: Ground Floor Plan

Central Court: Isometric sectional view

01 | SOCIOCULTURAL CENTER, AJMER

Elevated space with a cafeteria on the ground floor and studios above, ensuring that the views of the lake remain unobstructed.

Performing Arts Center: Ground Floor Plan

Auditorium: Ground Floor Plan

Planning grid section

Barrier free shaded access that opens to the grand space towards the lake, massing inspired from forts and gates of Ajmer.

This project tackles urban regeneration, aiming to revive public spaces, ecological health, and the city’s identity. Research exposed social issues, but a key question emerged: Can architecture truly be the sole solution?

In the face of invasive Jalkumbhi threatening Ana Sagar Lake, the focus became the creation of vibrant community spaces. These spaces would serve as a catalyst – where people of Ajmer can come together, engage, relearn their city narrative and enjoy, chart a path towards a more sustainable future.

Central OAT catering to the students for practice.

Green buffer with lily pond and sitting zones

Massing responding to site profile and climate conditions

“GATES OF AJMER” Symmetry & Geometry

02 | IN-SITU SLUM REDEVELOPMENT

FOR URBAN REGENERATION

URBAN DESIGN

July 2023-November 2023

Faculty guides:

Ar. Sambuddha Sen

Dr. Ritabrata Ghosh

Ar. Preeti Mishra

Studio Focus: Principle of Rehabilitation and Augmentation of Housing with Other Housing Typologies and Mixed use: IN-SITU Slum Rehabilitation (ISSR)

The project aims to integrate a new development into the existing urban fabric by understanding the district and city context, establishing connections with surrounding neighborhoods, and adhering to the Delhi Master Plan and building codes. It seeks to create a model for humane, sustainable development through high-density mixed-use design, slum redevelopment, and affordable housing.

Key objectives include enhancing infrastructure, ensuring social equity, and fostering community growth, with a focus on creating Smart Urban Centers.

The studio work was conducted in groups of 4.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD CITY?

WHAT DO THE CURRENT RESIDENTS NEED?

HOW TO ENSURE INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY?

HOW CAN WE PRESERVE THE SOCIAL FABRIC IN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT?

Slum Street Section

URBAN DESIGN

SURAJ PARK, ROHINI

Proposed Site Plan

Street Section from slum to the urban village

“A

design flaw or a design adapted based on the requirements and need of the slum dwellers?”

“There own idea of community space.”

SLUM DWELLERS

LOCAL INHABITANTS TRANSIT COMMUTERS

COMMERCIAL STAFF AND VISITORS

RESIDENTSREMUNERATIVE

PRIMARYSCHOOLPARKING IPT PLACERELIGIOUSCOMMUNITY CENTER CLINICMOHALLA HOUSING

LOCALURBANPLAZA MARKETS 2BHK + STUDY OFFICES RETAIL SOCIAL SPACES GREEN AND OPEN

CLUB/LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Defining possible connections between functions through logical Space Syntax Algorithm

For the purpose of programmatic distribution, the major agents identified are Slum Dwellers, Local inhabitants, transit commuters, commercial staff and visitors, and the residents of remunerative component.

02 | IN-SITU SLUM REDEVELOPMENT

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

SOCIO-CULTURAL AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

BUILT- OPEN

BUILDING HEIGHTS

LEGEND:

URBAN GRAIN

LEGEND:

SCHOOLS

RAILWAY STATIONS

METRO

COMMUNITY SPACES

SHOPPING COMPLEX

PUBLIC TOILETS

POLICE STATION

ESS

STP

OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

YAMUNA CANAL

VOTER’S CENTER

TEMPLES

CREMATION GROUND

TPDDL OFFICE

URBAN OPEN SPACES

LEGEND:

LEGEND:

URBAN DESIGN

BUILDING TYPOLOGY

CIRCULATION

GENERATORS

VEHICULAR

PEDESTRIAN

LEGEND:

JHUGGI

ROW HOUSES

URBAN VILLAGE

HOUSING

COMMERCIAL

LEGEND:

POLICE STATION

INDUSTRIAL

COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL

ROAD TRAFFIC INTENSITY

CONFLICT ZONES

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT

INDUSTRIAL GENERATOR

LINEAR ACTIVITY AREAS

METRO

EDUCATIONAL GENERATOR

RAILWAY STATION

02 | IN-SITU SLUM REDEVELOPMENT

DESIGN PROPOSAL

RESPONSE TO THE CITY

“Becoming present, visible, to each other can alter the character of powerlessness”

URBAN DESIGN

RESPONSE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Revitalising existing Urban space and Public Domain through commerce and civic activties

RESPONSE TO THE SITE AND THE PEOPLE

CIRCULATION

Strengthening the transit links for enhanced mobility, and retrofitting existing street patterns.

COMMERCE

Enhancing the local economy, tourism and public interaction through retail and local markets.

CONNECTIONS

System of connecting bridges for retaining the strong knit bond through communal junctions and easy accessiblity.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

Weaving the green urban spaces as neighborhood parks to renew the decaying fabric.

SITE AXONOMETRIC VIEW

Section from metro to remunerative building on site

Section through residential component on site

Section through residential and remunerative components on site

URBAN DESIGN

TWO-UNIT PLANS

TOWER A1, A2

TOWER BB

TOWER C

03 | INTERNSHIP

WOODSTOCK SCHOOL, MUSSOORIE: GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS

Sample attached:

Upright

150mmx30mm

AISHWARYA TIPNIS ARCHITECTS

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT REPORT: AGRA HAVELI Sample attached:

KOLKATA HAVELI: Presentation Drawings

UNISON WORLD SCHOOL, DEHRADUN: Concept drawings & On-site measurements for Design & Technology center and Food & Nutrition Lab VERDUN HOUSE, MUSSOORIE: Documentation

Sample attached:

AISHWARYA TIPNIS ARCHITECTS

LONDON HOUSE: Market research, soft furnishings/hardware inventories

Sample attached:

KASHMIR COFFEE TABLE BOOK FOR SIDBI AND GOVT. OF J&K

Camel girth is one of the unique textile and folk crafts that is practised by almost every camel owner for their individual purposes. It is a trapping to keep the saddle in place, made from goat hair (and cotton cord; sometimes) using ply-split braiding technique.

A well-known folk song “gorbandh nakhralo” describes the varied locale which reveals the pride of the maker and the beauty of his ornamented camel:

I fetched thread in seven colours, I wove it taking the threads of gorbandh over my shoulder.

CAMEL GIRTH: PLY SPLIT

MATERIALS

DESIGN TROPHY

TECHNIQUES

SINGLE COURSE OBLIUE TWINING (SCOT) (where a spliter cord passes through two or more successive cords that it crosses in sequence)

PLAIN OBLIQUE TWINING (POT) (where each cord alternately splits and is split by each successive cord it crosses)

TWO LAYER OBLIQUE TWINING (TLOI) (single ply has two different color which are then alternatively crossed through the plys depending on the desired design)

CAMEL GIRTH: PLY SPLIT

COHOUSING DESIGN, KOTA: DOCUMENTATION AND RESEARCH MATERIALS

TECHNIQUES

Biogas Filler slab

Inverted arch foundation

Soak pit

Rattrap bond

Arched openings

Jaali Kota stone

Terracotta brick Marble powder for binding Marble

Sheesham acacia & babool wood

Stone foundation

ILLUSTRATIONS, RENDERS, PHOTOGRAPHY

POST PANDEMIC BUS TERMINUS: POSTER

“. . . Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”

AKANKSHA BHARDWAJ