Architecture Portfolio 2023 (AJ)

ANANTH JAYARAJ

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO SELECTED WORKS

ANANTH JAYARAJ

ananthj@vt.edu

(540) 385-9801

Blacksburg, VA

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Architecture, Minor: Landscape Architecture

Expected Graduation: May 2023

Virginia Tech,Blacksburg, VA

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Intern at GuernseyTingle

Williamsburg, VA

June 2021 - August 2021

June 2022 - August 2022

EAEC Consortium Mentorship

Taubman College at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

October 2021 - December 2021

CONTENTS

REFRAMING THE PAST | 4

MUSEUM AND COLUMBARIA IN HART ISLAND, NY

ARCH 4016 | ACADEMIC WORK | SPRING 2022

RECONCILIATION AND NEGATION | 14

AMBULATORY CARE FACILITY IN BLACKSBURG, VA

ARCH 4015 | ACADEMIC WORK | FALL 2022

OPEN TO CLOSE | 18

RARE BOOKS ARCHIVE, BLACKSBURG, VA

ARCH 2016 | ACADEMIC WORK | SPRING 2020

SELECTED WORKS | 24

GUERNSEYTINGLE, WILLIAMSBURG, VA

INTERNSHIP | PROFESSIONAL WORK | FALL 2022

REFRAMING THE PAST

MUSEUM AND COLUMBARIA IN HART ISLAND, NY COURSE ARCH 4016

SEMESTER SPRING 2022

INSTRUCTOR M. SHUGARS

Hart island currently exists as a massive, unmarked burial site for the indigent dead, consisting of 70-foot-long trenches where the unclaimed remain New York citizens are stacked three caskets high, with each trench holding about 150 adults. Due to the intensive consumption of land from this process, a new trench must be dug every few months. This creates several issues, ranging from the mistreatment of the destitute by neglecting their remains within anonymous trenches, and the steady decline of available spaces which may result in the city council removing the existing historical buildings for more burial space.

In order to address this issue, the two key narratives that we use to improve the Island’s reputation and function is the Acknowledgment of Hart Island’s historical structures, and the poor conditions within which the dead are laid to rest.

The second narrative is the Reintegration of Hart Island’s role as a cemetery for the city. The site would be opened to the public as an attempt to dispel the taboo nature of Hart Island being a grave for the “disrespected”. Alternatives to burials such as the interment of cremated remains can also be introduced as a solution for the limited burial space within the city and island.

We create the conduits for these narratives with programs such as a Ferry terminal, the visitor’s first interaction with the island, a museum where the history of Hart Island is shown through exhibits and the visitor’s interaction with views framed by the structure, and a columbarium located bear the trenches, which holds the identification of the deceased as a means of restoring their dignity, and providing storage spaces for cremated ruins, which could support the lack of burial space within the island.

Story board showing the linear narration of a visitor’s experience

Site models, showing the locations of the program, as well as topography and existing infrastructure.

Floorplan for the Ferry Terminal

Section for the Ferry Terminal

Floorplan for the Museum

Section for the Museum

HART ISLAND, NY

The ferry terminal will be the first interaction that a visitor will have with Hart Island. As such, it is equipped with a reception lounge as a space for general enquiries, wayfinding, learning the history of Hart Island or contacting the employees whose offices are situated within. Other amenities include public and employee restrooms and vending machines for refreshments. A Trombe wall is located at the entryway to provide an energy efficient means of heating the building during winter and as a reflection of the materials found on the historical structures within the Island.

Axonometric shwoing the structure and material of the Ferry Terminal

An Elevation, Perspective and Interior rendering of the Ferry Terminal, providing insight into the program’s experience.

The museum’s primary function is to provide visitors with information about the island’s past and present conditions. To this end, it is placed at the center of the island, with two rooms oriented to frame the views towards the north, where the mass graves lie, and to the south, where the historical buildings are placed. Visitors also have the option of interacting with the views by entering them via sliding glass doors. This creates a gradation of immersion and seclusion, with the outer benches providing the most interaction within the island’s views and the inner benches providing isolated refuge. Exhibits are placed in the hallway between these rooms in order to provide context for the views and the history of the island. The stud wall structure of the building is exposed within the interior and mimicked in the exterior with wooden fins to replicate the aging/ visual language of the historical structures.

Axonometric shwoing the structure and material of the Museum

An Elevation, Perspective and Interior rendering of the Museum, providing insight into the program’s experience.

Combining a columbarium and a memorial, Hart Island introduces the path to the cremated remains of the deceased and opens the possibility for usage by the public while constructing a memorial to honor those who are laid to rest within the Island.

Each columbarium walls are a quarter circle with a 10 feet radius, 5’ 7” height, and 1’ thickness. Each row consists of 17 shelves in each row, 7 rows in total which is 119 shelves. The walls will be facing each other and built as a module, which can be replicated across the field if the Island wishes to expand this service. On the back of the columbarium wall, the history of Hart Island is displayed in the format of a story, from Hart Island’s inception to its present condition, with future walls detailing the future of Hart Island.

Render of Hart Island’s proposed columbarium,which will hopefully remove the stigma surrounding it’s deceased denizens

Another rendering of the Columbarium, showing the grave markers which help identify the departed, regardless of their status in life

RECONCILIATION AND NEGATION

AMBULATORY CARE FACILITY IN BLACKSBURG, VA

COURSE ARCH 4015

SEMESTER FALL 2022

INSTRUCTOR J. JONES

The project consists of an ambulatory clinic, located near the Huckleberry trail and Blacksburg Fire station. The site on which the project is situated, is a vast and sloped landscape, with a dense set of trees located at its deepest trough. Along the east of the site runs Prices Fork Road, which is used as the main entry and exit point to the project.

The First Iteration of the project revolved around understanding the shape of the building and the general placement of Its programmatic elements. Noticing how the trees were located in a dense cluster at the lowest point of the site, a natural hierarchy of weight could be observed being followed in this environment. Another display of this hierarchy was about how the higher parts of the site were bare, with just grass growing on its surface.

To enforce this hierarchy, I chose concrete and glass (two materials with differing properties) to create my building, with an emphasis on their order of placement. A wall with glass sitting on top of concrete would give the visuals of a wall which Is half-empty, whereas a wall with concrete sitting atop glass would seem as if the concrete is floating above nothing. This contrast in weight is the first hierarchy I used to define the architectural elements of my building.

A concept diagram of the final iteration of the design

The set of diagrams above catalogue the iteration process, from two walls with contrasting weight distributions (top heavy and bottom heavy) reflecting the depression in the landscape

The rendering above shows the building in the context of it’s surroundings, with a depression between its wings.

These pictures show the shadows that effect the building’s faces during different times of the day. BLACKSBURG, VA

Floorplans for the clinic, The first floor accomodates patients, and the second floor hosts medical services.

An axonometric detailing the structure of the site, as well as it’s relation to the environment around it.

The renders above show the entrance of the facility, and the second render shows the interior hallway.

A render of the building’s section, with details of the connections between the floor, wall and roof.

OPEN TO CLOSE

RARE BOOKS ARCHIVE AND READING SPACE IN BLACKSBURG, VA COURSE ARCH 2016

SEMESTER SPRING 2020 INSTRUCTOR M. CORTES

The project consists of a rare books archive and reading space, which would house Virginia Tech’s collection of historical documents and rare texts. Located near the Moss Arts center in downtown Blacksburg, the archive is in close proximity with the University library.

The First Iteration of this project in my second year attempted to utilize the transitional experience from an open space (with it’s variable definitions) to a closed space. Revisiting this project within my final year, I have further emphasized these qualities within the design throgh the placement of program, material choices and orientation. The first “Open to close” experience is noticed when one enters the building. the entrance can be considered as “open”; with glass walls and doors, which recedes into a curtain wall with louvers, and ends in a concrete wall observed to be “close”.

Another designed “moment” is the archive itself. nested within the center of the building, this “tower” begins open in the undergorund, and transitions into close as it reachers it’s zenith thirty feet above the ground. This is juxtaposed with the reading space surrounding it which begins closed, and opens up in it’s second story. The contrast aids the programmatic requirement for the archive to be protected from the elements and natural light.

Illustrations of the earlier iteration of the archive and reading space. The glass facade transitioning into a closed wall served as the inspiration of the “open to close” system.

This axonometric of the archive shows it’s relationship to the site of downtown Blacksburg.

The underground and first floorplans of the archive illustrate how the program is placed at the preiphery of the building, secluding the books from the elements.

The section of the archive show the open conditions, whereas th reading space begins within a closed condition

The second and third floorplans of the reading space reduces it’s programmatic density as it ascends and the archive begins to transition into a closed space. The section of the archive show the open conditions, whereas th reading space begins within a closed condition

This exploded axonometric reveals the material choices of glass as open, wood louvers and walls as a transitionary element, and concrete as closed. These materials are used with respect to their pogrammatic reuirements (the archive being a closed space which is isolated from the outside, and the reading area acting as an open space utilizing natural light.

These interior views show the particular transitions occuring from open to close.

GUERNSEYTINGLE SELECTED WORKS

SPLASH PARK + PLAYGROUND, HAMPTON VA

DURATION JUNE 2021 - AUGUST 2021

SUPERVISOR C. CROMER

This section of the portfolio shows my contributions to some of the projects from Guernsetingle. An award winning architecture and interior design firm based in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The firm’s work consists of several different constructions ranging from residential complexes and suburban housing to commerical buildings (Firestations, Police stations, Aquatic centers, and more). Within my four months of internship there, I have worked on residential and commercial projects during the schematic design, design development and construction documentation phases, used BIM Software to draft models and iterate plans and renders for reviews with clients, contractors, and project managers/ supervisors, and have coordinated MEP drafts with the local Engineering firm. These experiences have provided me with a well rounded knowledge of the workings of the profession, while encouraging me to continue expanding my skillsets for future employments.

The first of the projects that I had participated in was the schematic design phase for a spalsh park and playground , with rennovations to the pool in a fitness facility.

The first Iteration of the Splash park and playground, Juxtaposed with the final version. The inspiration behind the park’s space theme was the Langley visitor center nearby. The collection of drawings on the right show the rennovation ideas for the pool, as well as previous iterations for the splash park and playground.

GUERNSEYTINGLE SELECTED WORKS

DURATION JUNE 2022 - AUGUST 2022

SUPERVISOR K. Baum

This project consists of a rennovation to a Fitness center located within a gated community. Our contributions included modernizing the weight and cardio rooms, including a cafe overlooking a riverside view that wasnt previously utilized.

The images on the left show the rennovated floorplans of the fitness center, reflecting the improvements made to the programme.

The images on the right show renderings of the new space. The cardio/weight room is equipped with new machines, and a view to the horizon outside.

GUERNSEYTINGLE SELECTED WORKS

HRACRE AWARD BOARD DESIGN

DURATION JUNE 2021 - AUGUST 2021

SUPERVISOR S. Kalantarians

This spread includes my contributions to the 2021 HRACRE award winning board designed by GuernseyTingle. My work included the creation of a siteplan as well as improving the exisiting and new floorplans drafts for the submission.

The image below shows the site plan for the resort, completed background details and site markers

The images on the right show the floorplans of the new rennovated constructions.