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P O R T F O L I O AKHIL BHASKARAN ADS3 H E R I O T- W A T T U N I V E R S I T Y 2020
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S PAT I A L F I E L D
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SOFTSCAPES 2.0
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• P R E C E N D E N T S T U D I E S
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• M A C R O A N A LY S I S
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• M I C R O A N A LY S I S
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• P L U S F U N C T I O N
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• D E S I G N S Y N T H E S I S
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• D R A W I N G P A C K A G E
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• V I S U A L I Z A T I O N S
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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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SPATIAL FIELD - A Design exercise based on Rumi’s quote, “ out beyond ideas of wrongdoning and the rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there...” - In this context the poet was tired of the restrictions caused by the applied science and understandings and wants to escape into another dimension where the poet would be viewer itself meets a beloved person. In this world, the concept of worldly divisions and resonings and is locked away into the viewer’s disposition. - This dimension confers a surrealistic spatial field with the beach where the concept of gravity does not constrain the field.
4 SKETCH 1 : The design process of this surrealistic spatial field according to Rumi’s quote, started with the way of looking at the beach as a spatial field where the space is not constraint by the concept of gravity. Naturally the field on either sides depicts the harsh phases of life, with the storm hitting the sea. Futhermore, as illustrated the sign of a person symbolising the concept of albatross, who has visited this dimension of the world to save the spatial field from the harsh phase of life.
SKETCH 2 : This spatial field revolves around the same concept of the restrictiveness of gravity and is looked into of more as a tranquil beach, with a very calm weather. As the viewer, considering the poet is appreciating the beach at a distance with the hope of reconciliation with the beloved one at one point of life in space and time to meet at this very spot.
SKETCH 1
SKETCH 2 SKETCH 3: This version of the sketch explains the spatial field more in terms of architectural space, with the architectural element being the road itself without any constriction of gravity. The viewer is holding a bottle of drink awaiting for his eternal love, to cherish this very existence and space with her. The visual element of the converging road into space without any constraints of gravity shows the pathway for the lover to come join his moment of tranquility without any regrets or sorrowness with the road leading to the bright future ahead. The bottle of was then replaced by a caternary arch to add to the architectural elements set within the spatial field. It was also done deliberatley to show the essence of the viewer holding a ribs structure awaiting for the beloved one.
SKETCH 3
DESIGN PROCESS
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FINAL ILLUSTRATION : The final illustration is based on Rumi’s quote responding to the design bried of the exercise. This illustration depicts the first person view of the viewer holding the rib’s structure at the ingress of the road awaiting for the loved one in hope that one day she might join him in his unique dimension where the applied concept of gravity is inapplicable.
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SOFTSCAPES 2.0 --- EXO - RIB ---
Designing a public cafe with integrated functions within Mushrif park, home to enthusiastic cyclists, with the main priority given to bluring the boundries and creating an essence of softscapes. This results not only in very highly interactive space but also extremely responsive to the surrounding landscape. Exo-Rib uses the exposed ribs to create a sense of porousness and spatial transitions thereby responding to the given sofscape brief. This is followed by the innovative structure of the strips of ribs enveloping to create an essense of softscapes. The project also ropes in a horticultural center as ‘plus function’ to engage the visitors the cafe and mushrif park into planting and gardening which ensures the interactivity of cyclists and customers of different demographic.
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CASE STUDIES > COFFEE AND BIKES • • • • • • • • • •
Architect’s: Biq Architecten + BureauVanEig Location: Deflt, The Nederlands Status: completed in 2018 Plus function: parking Facility on the upper level
Essentially it was a formally bicycle shed which was turned into a pavilion like structure for students at Tu delft to come visit hangout to include livability and expand social cohesion of the surroundings. Versatility is an important aspect of the design. The grass slope the building stands on, partially hides the bikes from view and fits the building into its surroundings, making it attractive and accessible on all sides. It also hides the bicycles at ground level from view while the cyclist can still look outside freely. The main challenge was the convert this storage unit of the bicycles to an attractive hangout spot. This was achieved by positioning the relatively small coffee bar and workshop into an elongated and transparent volume on a green slope
INFERENCE As depicted from the inference sketch of the front sectional view, there is a good outstretch of the outdoor spaces which looks into the visual corridor of the university for the public eye. Even at the indoor spaces there due to the added glazing there is a good view of the the entire university of tu/delft. The key argument from this case study is the accessibilty of the cycles from the cafe as illustrated in the arugment sketch of the long section.
ARGUMENT
Primary entrance Outdoor space Cafe spaces Workshop Storage unit
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CASE STUDIES > VELODROME CAFE
Indoor Spaces
private spacesm
• Architect’s: NL Architects • • • Location: Hainan province southern china • • • Status: Unrealized proposals The curving overhang, designed to accommodate Hainan’s tropical climate, struck them as an opportunity for experimentation. The velodrome is supported by a structural system anchored below the central staircase that provides access to the track above. A curtain wall of glass hangs down from the cantilevered edges of the velodrome itself, which shade the café and bike rental operation inside.
The key argument in this case study was the weight of the roof. SInce there is an active function of the roof, the weight distributed as illustrated in fig 1 is transfered onto the glazing below with some framework. So the question arises with the capacity of the cyclists that can be accomodated within the active roof. Also after understanding the access to the roof, primarily there is just one access to the velodrome and that’s through the interior space allocated by the usage of stairs.
ARGUMENT : fig 1
The proposal done aims to show the connection of the roof with the ground which helps with the distribution of the load, hence more cyclists can be accomodated as demonstrated by fig 2. This connection also helps with the accessibilty of the roof from the exterior itself.
PROPOSAL : fig 2
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SITE ANALYSIS > MACRO ANALYSIS The site located within mushrif park is located around 22 kms from central dubai. It is a 5.25 sqkm park with various of demographic visiting the park including young adults to children to elderly people as well. Mushrif is located within a very industrial land where the area is currently developing with heavy construction. There fore the choice of the plus function should be of something which extremely ecosensitive. Hence a proposal of something green. Primarily its a 22 min drive from central dubai and there is two primary enterances to mushrif park. Typically there are two entrance to the mushrif park, surrounded by 5 km two way cycle track with a side by road for the vehicular access.
Beanzo Cafe Dubai
Royal Equestrian Resort
DEMOGRAPHIC : The demographic to park varies from the young children to even adults to elderly people for some good family time to the park. This analyis of the demographic is crucial with the choice of the plus function as to create as much as interaction as possible within the the demographic.
Katrina Sweets & Confectionery
Shorooq Mirdif Dubai Properties
Aventura Parks
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IN SITE VEGETATION:
VISUAL CORRIDORS:
HEAT GAIN:
The site allocated has alot of textures and vegetation within the periphery. This will inform more about the crop usuage for the horticultural center and the vegation provided to the public.
The thick ghaf trees places at the periphery of the site can add to visual corridors of the outdoor spaces.
The site is also extremely open to the eastern sun and gets alot of insite heat. The insite temperature can even go up to 52.8 degrees celcius, especially during the time of August.
The crops presented insite will also tell about the water requirements of the flora and fauna.
Also due to a lot of heat within the site, the outdoor spaces can be well shaded by these ghaf trees which can be placed towards them as they are usually, around 5M tall.
Therefore, this poses the question for a shaded roof, providing good shade for the outdoor spaces.
SITE ALLOTED: The 1500sqm land alloted is an open barren leveled land with no insite contours. The legibility of the site can be explained in terms of accessiblity of the site. Primariy there is a cycle track and road access to the site. There are no close water bodies are the close proximity of the site.
SITE ANALYSIS > MICRO ANALYSIS
11 ACCESS TO THE SITE: 4M TWO WAY BICYCLE TRACK
VEHICULAR ACESS
WIND ANALYSIS: The north western winds entering the site coming from the ocean and the South western winds prevailing due to the seasonal changes can be used to ventilate the outdoor spaces.
DESIGN STRATEGIES: So the key findings of the site can be summarized as the usuage of visual corridors, the in-site heat, and the insite vegetation. These key findings should lead to some design strategies These design strategies shall include the atmost need of a proposal which is highly eco friendly as the site is extremely ecosensitive. The locking of the visual corridors for the the outdoor spaces. Furthermore the usuage of the gharf trees to provide shade to this outdoor spacing can help provide a passive design
SITE ANALYSIS > MICRO ANALYSIS
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PLUS FUNCTION > HORTICULTURAL CENTER As talked about earlier in the macro analysis, mushrif park is located in a very industrial area, Hence the need of proposing a very eco-friendly plus function is extremely crucial.
The choice of the plus function was an interactive horticultural center which consists of a semi open space to blur the functions of the outside to the inside.The center is home to distinct flora and fauna which can be sold to the public as well.
DEMOGRAPHIC: This shall also promote a lot of interaction between cyclists and customers of various demographic. From young children to young adults having to interact with the elderly with correspondence to the provide an ecofriendly environment
SPATIAL ALLOTMENTS: The open horticultural center requires a min of 60 sqm to produce enough flora and fauna that would sell to the public as well as get used as fresh groceries within the cafe spaces. ENVIRONMENT
ECONOMY
Additioinally other spatial requirements would Consist of a good tool room and laboratary spaces to experiment on with various crops
SUSTAINABILITY The proposal of a green plus function not only adds to the environment but, the plants can also be used as fresh groceries in the cafe which are grown in house. SOCIETY
This will not only save the environment in terms of green house gas but also give a good economy to the cafe.
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The site having an area of 1500 sqm is surrounded with thick vegetation and requires to propose a ecosensitive project.
The forms are subdivided to blur the functionalities and to bring out an indoor-outdoor relationship.
Form taking its shape to produce better shadows to control the heat
The space confinded by the 3 forms can act as an activity hub for various demographic
The cantilevered structures a good shade for the activity hub.
The design is developed further by adding a ramp which takes the public to a green roof/ relaxing spot.
The activity hub helping to create an impact and experience for the public.
VERSION 1:
The blue curve marks the access from the primary cycle track.
DESGIN SYNTHESIS > SPATIAL FORM
Now version 1 was not taking into account as it did not meet the project lens of softscapes and innovative structure.
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VERSION 2:
Intially the built the 3 builtforms had been structured under the Northsouthern axis but however the north western winds were being blocked by the builtform at the back. This means that the negative spaces were not being ventilated.
The placement of the ribs initially came to play to create a sense of spatial transitions and give structure to the cantivelered structure. Hence taking inspirations from exoskeleton systems, the structural element becomes the form the built mass.
The axis of the built form was shifted slightly in order to place the workshop at the ingress of the site. This makes the entry to the workshop for the cyclist much easier for a cyclist who has defect in his/her cycle.
The masses from version 1 didnt have much structure, and this meant that the project lens innovative structure was not met.
Hence this responds to softscapes as well as innovative system.
The change the slight rotation of the axis of the project also allowed the ventilation of the negative spaces places.
Also the access to the site from the two way cycle track were leading to an open negative space.
DESGIN SYNTHESIS > SPATIAL FORM
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FINAL ITERATION: The final iteration of the project with the grouped elements of the cafe and horticulture results us in a well shaded negative spaces which resonded the site analysis and the design strategies.
Version 2 hadnt cite well within the setback. This meant that the project services such as pipelines and electric lines couldnt be accommadated within the 5M setback. Hence some grouping of forms had to be excuted in order to accomodated the project within the site setback.
WATER HARVESTING: Usage of slopped roofs allows to conserve water when in times of rainfall to get enough water for the plants due to the scaricity of water.
So naturally the workshop and retail had already been integrated together so the horticultual center and cafe was the option to consider to group. This also allows easy transition of groceries from the horticultural centter to the cafe. The heights of the builtforms at the back has also been raised in order to create a visual effect of an end user entering the site from the main cycle track.
VISUAL CORRIDORS OF THE OUTDOOR SPACES: The the outdoor dining gets a good view of the ghaf trees and the vegetation placed at the periphery of the site, and this responds back to the design strategies from the micro analysis.
The acces of design is structured to have the end user to enter the workshop to make the design friendly towards those cyclists who have a defect in their cycles.
DESGIN SYNTHESIS > SPATIAL FORM
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DESGIN SYNTHESIS > ZONING 2D ZONING :
3D INTERIOR MASSING STUDIES : Outer dining space Interior dining space
Cultivately space
Parking space
N Barista space
Retail space
FINAL ZONING Built up spaces Outdoor spaces
Workshop space
Primary entrance Light vegetation Thick vegetation
N The softscapes applies not only to the exterior with the whole ribs strucuture , but also is applicable to the interior spaces. Within the cafe, the essence of softscapes is applied in a way where an open plan is designed to ensure maxiumum interactivity between different demographic. The open barista table ensures there is alot of interaction and experience created between the cafe owners and the customers. the parking is placed directly in front of the cafe as it is resonding to the inferences taken from the case study of Coffee and bikes where the accessibilty of the bikes from the cafe was questioned. The services spaces with the cafe are placed towards the south eastern side to block the eastern side and to passively cool down the builtform. The usage of the glazing in front of the cafe and the horticultural center allows to create a visual experience of the end user of the exo-skeleton system adapted within the proeject.
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DESGIN SYNTHESIS > MASS MODELLING THE MASS MODEL MAKING COMMENCED WENT ALIGNING THE RIBS FOLLOWING DIFFERENT ITERATIONS
VERSION 1
VERSION 2
VERSION 3
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DESGIN SYNTHESIS > DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
LANDSCAPE DESIGN:
BUBBLE DIAGRAMS : SUN RAYS main entrance Cafe
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OUTDOOR SITING
106 sqm 120 sqm
85 sqm Workshop Integrated Retail
OUTDOOR SITING
Horticultural center
SUN RAYS Workshop
services 31 sqm 31 sqm
Cafe indoors
33 sqm
Retail
60 sqm
cultivating center
15 sqm
MATERIALITY :
paddle plants added next to the sitting area as it will help show some color gradient and the water needs for the plant is low.
Portugual Laurel used for passive cooling of the the built forms by planting thick vegetation of it. This vegatation has been used as the water needs required is extremely low and low maintence as well.
Lavender planted in the enterance of the site. It will help pop some color and texture and attract users to the site The usuage of ptfe is applied becuase of its extreme resistanence to long term exposure to weather and uv radiation. It also have low maintainence required with added durability and strenth
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FINAL DESIGN
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Interior Cafe
Workshop space
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Retail spaces
Workshop
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EXPLODED DIAGRAMS
HORTICULTURAL CENTER
CAFE
HORTICULTURAL CENTER CAFE SPACES
Re-purporsed steel can be used as the materiality of the ribs strucutre. The added layer of skylight within the roof is a single coated layer of etfe . WORKSHOP SPACES
RETAIL SPACES
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VISUALIZATIONS
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FINAL PHYSICAL MODEL SCALE 1:100
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THANK YOU