PORTFOLIO ANDREA DSILVA
ARCHITECTURE + URBANISM
TABLE OF CONTENTS University + Professional
2019
Re-defining the Urban Commons
DESIGN THESIS
1-6
DISSERTATION
7-10
URBAN SEMESTER
11-13
COMPETITION
14-15
WORKSHOP
16-17
A Mixed- Use Riverfront Development Project I am a young architect driven by a passion for architecture and the built environment. I believe in providing simple, yet responsible and creative solutions to growing challenges around us. Through Urban Design, I intend to establish an example of how sustainable urban development strategies can benefit society in an era of environmental degradation, climate change, rapid urbanization, and globalization. I hope to devise solutions that create a more symbiotic relationship with our environment rather than a consuming one.
2018
Colonial Diasporic Architecture and a City
The Architectural Significance of Colonial Diasporic Business Communities in the Context of Kolkata
2018
Vasco City Centre
A commercial and entertainment complex
2021
Intertwine
Public Toilet Design, Submission for the India Pavilion, London Design Biennale 2021
2022
Transit Development in Tourist-Centric Locations The Urban Design applications on 6 continents program
RE- DEFINING THE URBAN COMMONS A Mixed-Use Riverfront Development Project Type: Architectural and Urban Intervention Location: Bara Bazaar, North Kolkata, India Site Area: 15,170 sqm Built-up Area: 16,544 sqm Project: B.Arch Sem 10, Thesis 2019
HOWRAH ROAD TO RIVER HOWRAH BRIDGE
BARA BAZAAR (SHOPPING DISTRICT)
MULTIPLE SACRED & HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
Waterfront sites in major cities can provide respite from the hectic city life, improve socialization, and stimulate public spaces. A site like this is located in Bara Bazar, Kolkata’s traditional business area and former port district. It is a site with a rich architectural heritage but is poorly maintained. Due to the presence of large warehouses, railway tracks, and roads, there is a lack of open access and visibility to the river. This proposal aims to revive the context, by reconnecting the city to the river, with a two-part intervention. A business centre with a central museum on a vacant site, that conveys the story of the city’s development from the river, and the adaptive reuse of an abandoned Armenian warehouse along the riverfront, as a cultural and commercial space for the public.
SITE 1 SITE 2
CIRCULAR RAILWAY
ARMENIAN WAREHOUSE
FERRY SERVICE
MUTTY LAL MILLENIUM CANNINGS WAREHOUSE PARK SEAL GHAT
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A master plan was prepared after an extensive mapping of the context to identify important nodes, buildings that need to be preserved, potential heritage and activity trails and waterfront connections. Detailed analyses of the current issues and different user groups in the area also contributed to the development of toolkits for planning the new proposal.
FIGURE GROUND MAPPING
TRANSIT MAPPING
BUILDING USE MAPPING
MASTER PLAN
BUILDING HEIGHT MAPPING
LANDSCAPE MAPPING
ACTIVITY DENSITY MAPPING
Seamless Connecting River to City
Implementing Public Safety Measures
Reviving & Highlighting Architectural Heritage
Improving Traffic Systems & Infrastructure
Developing Existing Landscape
Upgrading Businesses Development services
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The design of the Business Centre began with the form evolution of a simple mass, divided into three sections by two axes governing public movement to the river. Visual axes to the river, ghat, warehouses, and the Howrah bridge were established externally, while a seamless central connection was established internally. Inspiration was also drawn from the surrounding warehouses. On the ground floor, the layout is open and allows simple and unrestricted movement. Four pedestrian entrances lead to the building, with the main entrance to the left, two to the river and the Armenian warehouse, and a central one to the museum. Due to the presence of the railway track and vehicular road, the pedestrian path to the warehouse extends below ground thereby connecting the two structures.
FORM DEVELOPMENT
There are five floors within the centre, two of which are basement levels with car parking facilities, services and a museum extending from the ground floor. The ground floor also contains shops and food courts. An incubator for businesses is located on the first floor, while offices and event spaces are housed on the second.
SITE PLAN
3
With multiple double heights spaces and cutouts, the sections were designed to improve visual user communication and experience. The first and second floors were planned to be more private, catering to the business development of the area, while the ground floor served the general public and tourists with commercial facilities, workshops and a museum. The museum would portray the present art and culture of the city while the pathways leading to the warehouse would include galleries that depict the city’s growth and influence from the river.
SECTION THROUGH PATHWAY
SECTION THROUGH CULTURAL & EVENT SPACES
SECTION THROUGH ENTRANCE
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The elevations of the building are designed using exposed brick and prefabricated concrete segments. Brick is a common building material used in the city and is used in a similar manner in the neighbouring Cannings historical warehouse. To form a stronger connection to the Armenian warehouse, the elevation similarly expresses a strong use of the arched language and a sloping roof form.
ROADSIDE VIEW
SECTIONAL DETAIL
PATHWAY VIEW
5
INTERIORS OF THE ARMENIAN WAREHOUSE
As this project is located within a heritage landscape, it complements its surroundings, forming a significant relation with the context, respecting and deriving influence from its form, spatial quality, & material. The protection of different kinds of heritage structures (like warehouses, that have been neglected for conversation) would help in protecting and displaying the city’s collective identity.
ENTRANCE TO BUSINESS CENTRE
6
COLONIAL DIASPORIC ARCHITECTURE AND A CITY The Architectural Significance of Colonial Diasporic Business Communities in the Context of Kolkata
Research Questions 1. What defines the architectural identity of the diasporic communities in Calcutta? 2. How has urban transformation and the changed architectural context affected the Armenian and Jewish communities?
Type: Urban Conservation Location: Bara Bazaar and Park Street, Kolkata, India Project: B.Arch Sem 9, Dissertation 2019 This project was a study of the architecture, built by the diasporic communities, from the early 18th century to the early 20th century. It particularly looked at the Armenian & Jewish communities that had played an important, economic and architectural role in Calcutta. Aim of the Project: To study the character and transformation of Armenian and Jewish architecture in the urban setting of Kolkata. Objectives: 1.0 To understand the growth and evolution of the communities with the city. 2.0 To survey the architectural contribution of the two communities with respect to: 2.1. Evolution of the urban context 2.2. Chronology and functional typologies 2.3. Stylistic characteristics 3.0 To select a few examples for detailed study and analysis, with respect to their history, stylistic attributes, context, current condition and relationship with the city.
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The study involved mapping two areas, Bara Bazaar and Park Street, that housed most religious, residential, commercial and institutional structures of the selected communities.
A
B
(A) BARA BAZAAR
(B) PARK STREET
Zone A (Structures of Religious Significance)
Zone B (Structures of Commercial /Residential /Educational Significance)
1. Armenian Church of Holy Nazareth 2. Neveh Shalome Synagogue 3. Beth El Synagogue 4. Maghen David Synagogue
1. Park Mansion (Armenian) 2. Queens Mansion (Armenian) 3. Stephen Court (Armenian) 4. Armenian College & Philanthropic academy 5. Chowringhee Mansions (Jewish)
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DETAILED STUDIES OF SELECTED EXAMPLES Along with the Armenian and Jewish structures, buildings, of similar age and function of other communities (Portuguese, Scottish and English) were also selected for comparison. The analysis is divided into two parts Urban Context and Architectural Style. For Urban Context, the entrance, orientation, scale and proportion and visibility were documented. While for Architectural Style the prominent elements, style and similarities to other buildings were analyzed.
BARA BAZAAR
PARK STREET
Node Sites
Primary road Secondary road
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SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS Kolkata is different from other cities due to its turbulent history, culture, and multiple social groups. The city’s architecture is an important part of its identity. The surviving Armenians and Jews, are still trying to resist their disappearance and protect their identity, through documentaries, books, articles, archives, conserving their architecture, and community involvement. This study aimed at recognizing these efforts, by understanding the characteristics and influences of their architectural identity. This could help contribute to the communities and also to the conservation of Kolkata’s heritage buildings.
Through the study, it was found that: 1. The local architectural culture determined the architecture of the Jewish and Armenian communities. While the community’s memories played a minor role in their architectural identity.
The architectural identity of the diasporas was mainly defined by two factors, urban context and prevalent architectural styles at that time period. The buildings did not adapt to a singular style but were also influenced by their location, the builder’s memories and ideas.
2. The local architectural culture was mainly defined by the prevalent architectural styles that were used by the British who were major stakeholders in Calcutta at that time period.
With Neo-Classical, Victorian, Edwardian and Indo-Saracenic elements, the buildings of the Armenian and Jewish diasporas are often misinterpreted as British colonial architecture due to the similarities observed. As discovered in the analysis of the structures, the buildings at Bara Bazar and Park Street had a strong influence on the prevalent architectural styles and trends of the context (e.g. addition of the clock). These prevalent styles were also observed in other colonial cities like Mumbai, London, Perth and more.
3. Although the buildings did not undergo much physical transformation, they were affected by the changes in the urban fabric, the addition of infrastructure services and mismanagement by governing authorities.
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VASCO CITY CENTRE
A commercial and entertainment complex Type: Architectural and Urban Intervention Location: Vasco, South Goa, India Site Area: 16,527sqm Built-up Area: 14,000 sqm Project: B.Arch, Sem 8 2018 The city of Vasco was once a bustling commercial and trading hub that gained prominence during the Portuguese rule in Goa. However, currently due to subsiding business opportunities, environmental pollution and a lack of public amenities, economic growth and public activity have significantly reduced in the city. A master plan was proposed to address these problems, which includes the reintroduction of a canal, and redevelopment of the city’s waterfront stretch. Some of the major interventions suggested include a cruise and ferry terminal, hotels, sports and cultural centres, multiple residential developments, and a city centre. The city centre is a large, commercial and entertainment complex for the residents and visitors of Vasco. Sitting along the canal, it is part of a larger public recreational amenities scheme.
11
The city centre acts as an important landmark and scenic leisure space for the city. Comprising of three entrances, the building is designed to actively respond to the canal and city. It acts as an open plan, similar to a conventional market space on the ground floor encouraging unrestricted movement.
Existing site, with congested roadways, restricted waterfront and illegal encroachments.
Proposed site solutions, with continuous public waterfront activities (fishing jetty, landmarks, garden, performance area, water taxi service, sports activities) development of roadways and proposal of new infrastructure and residential complexes
12
THEATRE
The ground floor of the centre contains anchor stores, with smaller retail outlets between them, and restaurants and eateries along the waterfront. A central courtyard helps generate an inward open space, that can be used for exhibitions, play areas, installations or any festive occasions. The building mass steps down to the canal where a range of activities can be conducted like performances, food trucks, carts, a floating market etc. The upper floors are more private, with the first floor housing more retail outlets, the second containing entertainment (game) zones and food outlets, and the third, housing a multiplex with 4 screens serving around 600 people and event spaces overlooking the canal.
TERRACE GARDEN & EVENT SPACE
FOOD COURT
THEATRE
ANCHOR STORE
ANCHOR STORE SMALLER RETAIL STORES
EATERIES ANCHOR STORE
GAMEZONE
ANCHOR STORE SMALLER RETAIL STORES
SECTION THROUGH COURTYARD
SECTION THROUGH ATRIUM
PARKING
SERVICES
13
INTERTWINE
Public Toilet Design Type: Urban Intervention Location: Goa, India Built-up Area: 98 sqm Project: Submission for the India Pavilion, London Design Biennale 2021: Sustainability Idea Labs competition for Arijeet Raikar Design Studio Team Members: Arijeet Raikar, Andrea D’Silva and Navaneeth Nair Responsibility: Conceptual design, detailing, modelling and presentation Comprising two modules, this proposal tries to explore catering to the demand for public toilets by the provision of gardens. The toilet serves 250 to 300 footfalls and can be rotated in many configurations, to complement different locations.
PLAN
Designed to be modular in nature the toilet is fitted with systems that allow it to harvest rain, generate electricity, and recycle its waste. Each module of 49 sqm, contains 4 zones, serving all toilet requirements, and is made of a lightweight prefabricated steel structure, with a stainless-steel core and, a floating roof to maximize ventilation.
14
The movement and use of natural elements are prioritized in the design, as the constant flow of air and sunlight, (a natural disinfectant) helps create a safe, hygienic, and odourless space for the users. Two important processes incorporated are waste management and the efficient collection and utilization of resources making the toilet completely self-sufficient.
SECTION THROUGH BIODIGESTER
AXONOMETRIC
SECTION THROUGH RAIN WATER TANK
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TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT IN TOURIST-CENTRIC LOCATIONS Type: Street Intervention Location: Mapusa, Goa, India Project: The Urban Design applications on 6 continents workshop, 2022 Transportation is an integral part of the overall experience and journey of a tourist. To ensure safety, security, comfort, and ease of access, efficient systems need to be put in place. Currently, public transportation is declining in popularity due to accessibility, longer travel times, and poor safety and hygiene, leading to a rise in private vehicles in Goa. This project provides possible solutions to address these issues at the source (transit hub) and its connections to tourist destinations (street interventions). It incorporates the utilization of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and automation services, useful and creative public amenities as well as restorative landscape strategies resulting in sustainable, viable and safer development of public movement and benefiting the state’s economy and image. SCHEMATIC TRANSIT HUB SECTIONAL PROGRAM PLACEMENT
LOCATION PLAN
TRANSIT HUB PROPOSAL
EXISTING SITE
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PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
TOUCHLESS FEVER TOUCHLESS FEVER DETECTION DETECTION
MASKDETECTION DETECTION MASK
Secondary street proposal 1 with skyway (station above) & greener, wider streets supported by user-friendly amenities
Tertiary street proposal with pedestrian friendly streets & automatic shuttle fixed lanes
AUTOMATIC AUTOMATIC SANITIZATION SANITIZATION
AUTOMATIC DOORS AUTOMATIC DOORS
CROWD CONTROL CONTROL A.IA.I CROWD
Secondary street proposal 2 with automatic shuttles fixed lanes & greener, wider streets supported by user-friendly amenities
Tertiary street proposal enriching local biodiversity through rain gardens, green walls and roofs.
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