Internship Portfolio

Akanksha Thakur | 2023

Akanksha Thakur skills

Autocad

Architecture for me lies in crafting spaces which afford certain activities. Each space has a characteristic of its own and understanding how materials, light and volumes interact to shape the atmosphere and mood of a space has always held my interest. Currently I am trying to explore how spaces can go beyond mere functionality and influence human behavior, emotions, and experiences.

7798711351

a20akankshat@gmail.com

https://sites.google.com/sea.edu.in/craftingspaces/projects

Sketchup

Rhino

Enscape

Illustrator

Photoshop

Model Making

Sketching

Hand Drafting

workshop education

2021 - More than Human Surfaces

Rohit Mujumdar

Vastavika Bhagat

2021- Generative Drawing

Karthik Dhondeti

2022 - Drawing Ecology

Dinesh Barap

2022 - Human Ecolody

Malak Singh Gill

2022 - Network Literacy

Liubov T. Bauer

2022 - Landscape Urbanism

Rhea Shah

2023 - Printmaking

Sanjana Shelat

2023 - Making a Prototype

Milind Mahale

Dushyant Asher

2008 - 2018

Holy Cross Convent School, Nallasopara

2019 - 2020

Vartak College, Vasai

2021 onwards

School of Environment and Architecture

personal interests

Canvas painting

Wall painting

Craft Dance Travel

RECREATE COMMONS

Community gathering space

The site chosen for field study was a historic settlements, which have evolved from settled social, cultural and climatic forces over years and have a coherence in architectural form.

The design of these spaces was developed through an in-depth analysis of existing social practices within the community. The primary objective was to establish a recreational area that fosters collective engagement in various activities. Taking into consideration the local community’s inclination towards material reuse, the design incorporates found and repurposed objects, featuring a diverse range of plinths.

Moreover, recognizing that women in this community engage in saree adornment as a pastime and potential source of livelihood, the design allocates a dedicated space where women can gather, interact, and indulge in their saree adornment practice. Additionally, the design ensures that the community has a communal gathering area for festivities and celebrations.

In some areas, bamboo gaps are filled with reused CDs whereas in other bamboo weave protects from rain Skechup + Hand painting

People can hang around at night for daily chats

varying sizes and heights of plith affords different ways for seating Sketchup +

Photoshop

A common space for women to practice their daily work of adorning sarees Skechup + Hand painting

A large elevated plinth can also act as a platform where village meetings or celebrations such as weddings can be held.

Hand drawing +

02 MOBILE MUSEUM

What is a contemporary museum?

In this studio, we analyzed the historical evolution of museums and their spatial configurations.The intent was to reimagine the museum as an expansive, dynamic and mobile space? A museum which can explore its temporality and flexibility with space and time. With the primary motive of mobility the design aims to expand the knowledge about the history of Nallasopara. Starting from different schools in Nallasopara, the mobile muse-

um shifts from one school to another by locating itself into open spaces of the respective school. To facilitate learning, the design incorporates a range of mediums and methods such as audiovisual presentations, workshops, and exhibitions, enabling visitors to actively participate in the exploration of Nallasopara’s history. Through the display of history and collective working the museum can also act as an urban move to bring the communities of Nallasopara together.

Ways in which the elements in the kit are assembled Rhino

The History Exhibit Area Rhino + Enscape Museum viewed from outside Rhino + Enscape

The hexagonal units are deployed to be assembled with respect to different site conditions Rhino

The Workshop Area Rhino + Enscape

Museum extending thorugh the corridoor Rhino + Enscape

UNDERSTANDING ECOLOGY

Field Study (Group work), Udwada

During the course, we visited Udavda where we studied three lakes: Sarodhi, Orwad, and Tighra. Our group of 6 focused on the landscape around Sarodhi lake. During our site visit, while taking a stroll around the lake with one of the villlagers we learnt the different types of plants that grow around the lake and their various medicinal properties. For the villagers the lake provides a strong sense of cultural identity . This sparked our interest in understanding the lake’s interdependencies with the village and vegetation. We mapped the lake’s evolution and studied changing conditions and vegetation throughout the seasons and how it afftects the lake and village. The above drawing depicts the landscape around the lake in monsoon where a dense patch of vegetation covers the entire lake edge . The soft and abosrbing edges of the lake prevents water from floding into the locality.

Sketchup + Photoshop

04 COHABITING FOLDS

What is ‘Pandemic Type’?

In this studio we closely looked at the revised practices during the course of the pandemic and propose safe and humane extensions for physical, social and health infrastructure within localized conditions, in turn articulating what we loosely call a “pandemic type”. Project Folded Space is an attempt to converge covid relief, bus stop and space retirement for homeless. The aim was to afford different activities to happen simultaneously but at the same time should not

merge into one another. In the design, the bus stop happens at the facade facing road. The vaciination centre is thought through fold such that it creates pockets for homeless migrants to rest. To maintain a connection with the outside and ensure constant ventilation, the walls are constructed using brick jaalis. Additionally, after things get back to normal, this space will also serve as a storage area for construction materials, which are currently kept adjacent to the bus stop.

Folding walls afford different activities to happen simultaneously while ensuring they remain distinct from one another Sketchup + Enscape`

Observation 2 : Decreased bus frequency led people to prefer autos. Bus stop remained unused, later afforded shelter for homeless during covid

Observation 1 : School turned into vaccination center. Two rooms used: one for waiting, the other for vaccination. Benches in vaccination room stacked in corner for more space.

In the redesigned structure the bus stop occupies the front part facing the road whereas the vaccination center happens behind it. Folds create courtyard and resting space for homeless.

Autocad

Brick jaali walls and skylights allow for constant flow of light and ventilation. Autocad

The plinth of the vaccination area extends out to afford resting space for homeless Autocad

Plastic sheets used for protection against rain over sleeping area

Use of ramp for wheelchairs during pandemic and load and unload materials after pandemic

INHABITING THRESHOLDS Community School

The course explores the concept that the “public” is not a uniform entity, but rather a diverse collection of individuals with differing needs and behaviors. The chosen site is Cheetah Camp, a tightly-knit settlement in Trombay. People here were forcibly moved overnight from the Janata Colony slum. the settlemet has evolved from settled social forces over years The objective is to design a school that reimagines walls by thorugh a lens of light and porosity, working with shades and shadows. The design aims to create a multifunctional space with different types of fenestrations that support specific behaviors and experiences. Each classroom is designed to receive sufficient light and ventilation. The design also incorporate pockets of smaller interventions which afford community interactions

Exploring various possibilities for thresholds

Observation 1 : The common washong area is actually a narrow space but the metal grills allows the space to feel bigger. It restricts movement but offers a visual connect with the outside.

Observation 2 : The narrow space between the school and its adjacent building restricts the opening of windows. Metal jaalis running along the uppermost part of the wall provides ventilation and light

Experimenting different possibilities thorugh models

Courtyards are formed between the school and the community where the window sills extend to provide seating for a shared space. Autocad

East West oreinted classrooms allow for optimun shadowless light to filter into classrooms. The corridor partly shades the open seating on the ground floor. Autocad

The compound wall has varying height which offers seating at certain places. The open seating at ground floor has teracotta tile jalis on two of its sides Autocas

To allow refelcted light to flow into the lower classrooms, upper classrooms are made smaller and a part of roof of lower classroom is extended to twice its height. Autocad

UNDERSTANDING DETAILS

Building Making

The module aimed to bridge the gap between conceptual design and actualization, resulting in a comprehensive construction documentation set. This included specifications, quantities, estimations, and the integration of various materials and assemblies in a way that aligns with the building’s overall concept.

Taking from the existing context. The roof above classroom is made from puff panels which also provides thermal insulation. The sloping roof is supported on steel truss. To allow refelcted light to flow into the lower classrooms, upper classrooms are made smaller and a part of roof of lower classroom is extended to twice its height. It is then covered with louvers.

The steel staircase has a metal grill beneath which acts as an element of play for the children and also provide support.Wooden treads and handrail provide better thermal insulation. The overall composition of the light railing, the metal grill beneath makes this steel staircase a porous mediun between the corridor and the open classroom. For teh toilet, The arrangement of doors is such that it blocks direct view to inside. All the ventilation and plumbing services happen through duct.

REFLECTIVE SHELL System

Ontologies

The course aims to explore the relationships between systems/materials and life through the concept of space. The chosen site is a heritage site of an old stupa in Sopara, once an important trading center and port. The objective is to educate people about the history of Nalasopara. The design consists of a ramp and a shell structure. Visitors enter through the ramp.The wall on the side of stupa

has various slits to get glimpses There are seating areas in two wider pockets along the ramp. The slits and pockets create an interesting play of light. The ramp leads to the shell structure, housing a discussion area and meditation space. With a view that people enter the shell structure after learning about the history, the design provides a space for them to reflect, discuss, engage and exchange stories.

The discussion area having a circular seating arrangement is separated from the meditation area by rotating wooden panels.

The ramp running thorugh the trees leads to the shell structure

The slits along the wall of the ramp and at the top help create a play of light.

SETTLEMENT STUDIES

Pangna, Himachal Pradesh (Group work)

During this tour we studied the typology of houses and their cultural significance in Pangne Village of Himachal Pradesh. Initially, houses were constructed using wood and slate due to their easy availability. Over time, the desire for modernization led to the adoption of RCC construction techniques for “pakka makan.”the houses were places according to the cast segregations over the slope of the hill with the temple at its top. We had a greater understanding of materiality, type and the building technique of the houses.

THORUGH VOIDS

Housing Repair and Retrofit

In this course we studied the housing conditions of a shoe maker community in Kurla known as Thakkar Bappa. Often, places like this are seen through the lens of shortcomings and flaws. But through our study, we have recognized that there are many possibilities within both the people and the place. This course seeks the approach of repair and retrofit to elevate the living standards of the community’s inhabitants. In the following design a system of voids have been adopted to improve the quality of living conditions.

The internal wall layouts are reconfigured to facilitate thorough ventilation and efficient plumbing for mories. Provision of external staircases with better lighting conditions and ease of access.

Existing Fiirst Floor Plan

Modulating external walls allowing more light to reach lower floors.The polycarbonate roof introduces natural diffused light into the interiors. The meaning of window extend to afford a space to sit, store and interact.

Existing Section AA’

Existing Section BB’

RESEARCH AND MATERIALITY

In this workshop, we understood the working of shell structures by experimenting different forms with cloth. Initially, the cloth was soaked in a proportionate mixture of fevicol, white cement, starch and water. The cloth was hung in the desired shape and left to dry, after which it was inverted to create shell that could withstand a load of about 10 books purely under compression.

This project involved the use of environmentally friendly materials such as brick, mud, lime, and construction sand to construct an arch that, over time, would naturally degrade without leaving behind any non-degradable elements. Throughout the course, we learned about the properties and characteristics of these materials, exploring their structural capabilities and durability.

In this workshop , we explored with the form and structural capacity of two materails - resin and fibreglass. Our group focused on executing folds to develop steady forms. Initailly we started exploring with paper different geometries and forms that that they can offord . Later we experimented with fiber by making smaller scale models and then moved to actual 1:1 scale. Resin and hardener are applied as a mixer on the glass fiber to make it stiff.

A wrokshop conducted by Dinesh Barap, a warli painting artist. We learnt how to make natural paints. As part of the workshop, we each envisioned our unique idea of “home” and translated it into wWarli-style drawings and then combined them to form this wall mural.