Portfolio - Amar Rihal

AMAR RIHAL

PORTFOLIO

PROJECTS

2016 - 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01

STREETSVILLE EYECARE

4

02 SEM HOME

12

03 VILLAGE 2.0

18

04 AMAZEBALLS!

22

05 ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

26

4

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

5

STREETSVILLE EYECARE Place: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Year: 2023 Type: Personal | Commercial Clinic Climate: Continental Software: Sketchup/AutoCAD/VRay/MattoBoard/Illustrator/Photoshop This project objective was to reinvigorate a 50-year-old optical clinic in the heart of Streetsville, Mississauga, a historic and vibrant community. As the oldest active optical in the village renowned for its client experience and care, Streetsville Eyecare is an element of the community’s cultural identity. Having been born and raised in Streetsville, my upbringing was closely intertwined with this store. Consequently, I felt an inherent responsibility to not design the new space, but also to personally undertake its construction. I built and installed the reception desk, displays, accent wall, tiles, millwork, and so on. The store is nearing completion as I need to remodel the bathroom, labratory, and install the ceiling baffles in the coming months.

The new space embodies the client care philosophies and selfless behavior of the owner/operator, my mother, Dil Kalsi, who has been serving the neighborhood with passion and professionalism for decades. The design inspiration focuses on the intersections between the physics of light and optics with space including the geometry of light refraction, reflections, shadows, and colours. The result is an experiential ambiance reflecting the essence of optics in conjunction with the scientific, client-first approach to vision care administered by Dil Kalsi. As Streetsville experiences rapid developmental and demographic growth, Streetsville Eyecare adapted aesthetically and functionally to continue servicing the evolving community.

6

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

7

Existing Store Interior

Store Location at 128 Queen Street South, Mississauga, ON

Existing Store Interior

Existing Floor Plan

Existing Store View Facing Northwest Proposed Store Interior

Proposed Floor Plan

9

iotic Sem

Literal e Messag

Symbolic message

s

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

8

sign

Interpretation

signifier

Anchorage

connotes societ a conte l xt

me

Visual Cue

ani

ng

Den

ote

s

10

11

Gesamtkunstwerk [Ge’zamt, Kunst, Verk} ‘Total Work of Art’

- Richard Wagner & Frank Lloyd Wright The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. (2019). THE 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT [Review of THE 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT]. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, 1–382. https://franklloydwright.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/The-20thCentury-Architecture-of-Frank-Lloyd-Wright-2019_reduced.pdf

13

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

12

SEM HOMES Place: Global | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Year: 2022 Type: Personal | Residential Climate: Polar/Continental/Dry/Mild/Tropical Software: Revit, AutoCAD, TwinMotion/Illustrator/Photoshop Sustainable Eco - Modular (SEM) homes is a project I have been working on since 2021 to combat global housing inadequacies. In recent years, the Canadian economy has slowed due to the pandemic. High mortgage rates have increased forcing many Canadians into economic turmoil and making access to home ownership more challening. The objective for the SEM units is to provide access to affordable single-family detached homes all Canadians amidst the housing crisis.

The design consists of three forty foot steel containers joined together form a 960 sqft home. As a child, I gravitated towards building blocks and legos (TM) as a creative outlet. With this concept, I applied the use of rectangular masses to increase the usable interior space for individual customization. Drawing from principles of ‘The International Style’ coined by Le Corbusier and Mies Van der Rohe, the rectilinear forms and steel construction of SEM units are adaptable to any most environtments. The design is simple and affordable enough where local materials and labour can be sourced and constructed in compliance with local building codes.

There are multiple upgrades to enhance aesthetics and functions incuding cladding, interior layouts, foundation adjustments, and sustainabile technology. SEM homes are designed to be passive by harnessing solar power, using passive window technology, and using rainwater harvesting systems. These units can be self sufficient with larger water tanks and wind power additions. As zoning codes change, I will build these homes on land my family owns in Shelbourne, Ontario to make sustainable living a conventional reality.

15

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

14

SEM HOME Model Perspective View

Proposed SEM 5 Container Model

SEM HOME Left Elevation

SEM HOME Right Elevation

The aim for these model studies were to determine the relationship between masses and a proposed environment. Using the initial building block iinspiration for the design, I studied lighting effects and the usage of space. Future studies will examine topographical manipulations and how different foundations will work in different environments.

The massing model in the image above explores the idea of adding steel containers to the existing structure. The avalibility for a balcony adds value forthe homeowner if the unit is in restricted lot. Using wall to wall windows, there is an oppurtunity to add significant natural light and thermal heating depending on how the units position interacts with the solar cycle.

SEM HOME Rear Elevation

I am currently exploring low-rise container structures with an engineer to determine the sustainability, function, and project costs. The addition of a car port with a pergola or canopy to cover the raised deck will further appeal to new home owners. The goal is to provide a 3 unit SEM HOME for a couple or small family with the oppurtunity to add containers in the future to accomidate growing families. Therefore, the accessibilty to larger single family detached homes will increase as homeowners can add sqft to fit their lifestyle. Mid-rise and high-rise residential units are solutions for mass housing in urban environments. However, Canada has more than enough land to build on so these units will provide larger detached housing for a fraction of the current market costs.

17

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

16

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM

COLD CLIMATE VENTILATED FACADE/RAIN SCREEN SYSTEM Steel Stud Steel Container WallL Insulation Interior & Exterior (W/ Blueskin) Vertical Aluminum T-Bar Sintered Stone Panel Aluminum Fixing Profile W/ 45 Degree Grooves Horizontal Aluminum U-Channel

RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM

Steel Fastener T-Bar to Facade Fixing Bracket Aluminum Mounting System To Stud Anchor Bolt

Debris Filter IBC 1000L Water Storage

Solor Powered Water Heater Tank Shut off Valves

City/Well Water

Benefits of ventilated facades include thermal regulation, energy optimization, noise pollution reduction, and moisture control.

Drawing1.dwg, 2024-01-31 9:07:12 PM, AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3

Passive Cooling in the Summer

Passive Heating in the Winter

Solar Powered Electric Pump Rain Water

Microbial Filter

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

18

19

417 HIGHWAY

CARLING ST.

5.

VILLAGE 2.0 Place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Year: 2020 Type: Academic | Mixed-Use Residential Climate: Continental Software: Revit/AutoCAD/Illustrator/Photoshop Village 2.0 was a fourth year Design Economics Studio project I worked on with Arslan Abbas, Arielle Lavine, and Charlotte Keskinen Keith. The objective was to analyze the development feasability of fourth-year design studio projects. With the Canadian Tire plaza on the existing site ordered for demolition, our task was to develop a mid-rise mixed-use housing building that complies with local zoning ordinances and community development. The project was determined hypothetically as feasable, profitable, and a candidate for LEED Gold certification. I contributed to the development brief, financial analysis, revenue summary, site analysis, zoning plan, marketing floor plans, zoning plan, massing diagrams, go/no-go criteria, and LEED Summary.

Village 2.0 reintroduces a style of community-oriented living in an urban setting. The objective was to reactivate the community at the intersection of Carling St. and the Queensway on a 16-acre site to bridge the surrounding neighbourhoods and stimulate the local economy. Our proposal for a housing development at the 1660 Carling Ave tackles issues of loneliness and the growing demands for affordable and sustainable housing.

Based on medieval village typologies, farming towns, an modern examples of co-living around the world, our development aims to provide housing for a person from any background, social circle, or financial bracket. Our village model works by organizing space into enclosed courtyards which support community programming, food and energy production, and water retention. Surrounding the courtyard is a housing superblock offering a range of unit types including 3-bedroom townhouses, 1-2 bedroom co-op apartments, and 1-2 bedroom matched apartments.

20

21

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

BENEFITS OF THE SITE

Proposed Building Local Economy Connects to Local Economy Connects to Urban Scale Connects to Local Community Connects to Local Transit Connects to Local Ecology

RELIGION COMMUNITY CENTRE

FITNESS

FOOD

SCHOOL

RELIGION

RELIGION SCHOOL

Residential market units consiting of one and two bedroom units with amenity spaces. There is access to the greenhouses from this level.

KEY DESTINATIONS

FOOD

FITNESS

Level 7:

Allotted Site Proposed Building Community Centre Food School Fitness Park Grocery Religous Building

Level 7: Residential market units consiting of one and two bedroom units with amenity spaces. There is access to the greenhouses from this level.

COMMUNITY CENTRE

We focused on the mixed-use building and not the town homes for this project. The total budget was $45 million for the development and the profit after 30 months was $2.3 million. This project taught us contract managment and in- depth financial literacy when designing any project. Project managment is key during the design and build project to ensure the design intent is upheld along with feasability.

TRANSIT

Levels 4-6:

Allotted Site Proposed Building Low Traffic Bus Route Low Traffic Bus Stops

Residential market units consiting of one and two bedroom units with amenity spaces.

URBAN DENSITY

Allotted Site Proposed Building Over 120 PPA 80 -120 PPA

20 - 80 PPA

Levels 2-3: Coop Housing Units consisting of one and two bedroom units with amenity spaces.

Less than 20 - 80 PPA

COMMUNITY DESIGN PLAN

Allotted Site Proposed Building Economic Development Zone Urban Density:

1-3 Storey Residential

Ground level: Contains commercial units, residential enterances, and a parking lot.

23

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

22

AMAZEBALLS! Place: Global | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Year: 2020 Type: Academic | Product Design Climate: N/A Software: Figma/Blender/Illustrator/Photoshop/DaVinci Resolve Amazeballs was the final project of a toy design studio I completed in my industrial design minor with my group members Ryan Parr and Cora Vasut. I contributed to the concept ideation phase, model making, UI design, psychoanalysis of the target demographic, whitespace analysis and commercial graphic design for this project.

The objective of this project was to create an interactive toy that connects two or more users together. There is an app two users download and they use a QR code mat with RC balls to play with and against each other in a maze with a series of puzzles and challenges.

The idea came from studying the psychology of 5-7 year old boys. Their attention spans are short, are very impressionale, social, and curious. Socialogical factors dictate the colours and activities attributed to boys. The game promotes collaboration and competitiveness to physically and subconciously stimulate male children.

Amazeballs is an outlet to to foster connections between peers in a healthy manner.

25

24

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

wHITE sPACE aNALYSIS

uI cONCEPTS

cOMMERCIAL/GAMEPLAY iDEATION GOT IT!

PEW! PEW!

WATCH IT!

OUCH!

26

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

27

Amar Rihal “Intersections Between Norman and French Gothic Styles”, graphite on paper, 2018, Ottawa, ON. ARTH 2202: Medieval Art & Architecture, Professor Peter Coffman, Carleton University. Climate: Continental.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS Place: Ottawa, ON | Mississauga, ON Year: 2016-2020 Type: Academic | Personal The following projects are a mix of personal and academic work. Hand sketching is growing more scarce in modern architectural practice as professionals tend to rely on the power of computer software, myself included. Through sketching, one becomes immersed within their designs. Sketching is a form of Ideation and discovery to lead one to solve aesthetic and contextual concerns. Moreover, the ability to translate subconcious ideas or personal iterations of existing subjects enables one to enhance their creative journey and thought processes.

Amar Rihal “Pier on the Main Facade of the Government Conference Centre”, field sketch, graphite on paper, 2020, Ottawa, ON. Climate: Continental.

28

AMAR RIHAL | PORTFOLIO

29

Amar Rihal “Lurking”, acrylic on canvas/pastel on canvas, 2016, Mississauga, ON. Amar Rihal “Touch of Death”, graphite on paper, 2020, Ottawa, ON. ARCN 1005: Introduction to Drawing, Professor Adriana Ross, Carleton University.

Amar Rihal “Overlaps of Terra Cotta Roof Tiles”, graphite on paper, 2019, Ottawa, ON. ARCC 4206: Recycling Architecture in Canada and Abroad, Professor Sheryl Boyle.

Carleton University. Climate: Mild/Dry/Tropical.

Amar Rihal “Negative Studies of a Neo-Classical Column”, graphite on paper, 2018, Mississauga, ON.