“among the planets of the arts, architecture is the dark side of the moon.” -Aldo Rossi
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Mixed-use residential
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Interior design
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Highway amenity
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miscellaneous work
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mixed use residential semester VI | Adiudupi, Karnataka | 21000 sqm
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Situated along the NH-169A, a major expressway at the forefront of Udupi Town, this project aims to challenge the monomorphic programs of residential projects that form the townscape; instead providing a variety of retail and congregation space applications, both in open and enclosed forms, to boost the self- sufficiency of the users and entities associated with the site.
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Mixed Use Residential project
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio poster developed to exhibit the crux of the design program; a question that would set up a dialogue to influence design decisions.
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site plan legend
rudimentary illustration of immediate site context and density of settlements
The site is located conveniently along a service road that forms a part of the
main expressway; this funnels in a variety of potential tenant/ user groups to be part of the project. While prominent access paths, great views from the site to the coast and Udupis townscape were merits to the site, problems such as the lack of parking and retail spots in the area were to be addressed through the design on further studies of the site. The design process would then go on to show that flexibility of open areas was a masssive asset to residential projects in the region, more than ever at the time of a pandemic. More culturally relevant weekly events such as the “santhe”, where smalltime businesses would flock to open areas, particularly near peripheral areas, to sell their produce. spaces that would enable these kind of events to occur could be very profitable for the overall project, and convenient for potential tenants. It was these aspects that drove major design decisions for the structure.
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1. site entry 2. offstreet parking 3. offstreet parking 4. reception, block B 5. gathering space 6. sheltered parking 7. retail block entry 8. supermarket + cafe 9. staircase to block B 10. basement parking 11. service road (7m width) 12. restaurant 13. Block A lobby 14. staircase 15. office+gym entry 16. gymnasium 17. service core 18. lounge + info desk 19. steps to playground 20. sports area 21. entry to parking structure, Block B
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Site plan, 1:500 scale
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Mixed Use Residential project
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
legend
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1. main entry 2. reception 3. lobby 4. north face entry 5. staircase 6. toilets 7. restaurant 8. lifts 9. utility 10. janitor room
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legend 11. garbage room 12. stairs to basement 13. lounge 14. gymnasium 15. locker rooms 16. toilets 17. storage 18. office 19. gym reception
1. staircase from restaurant 2. seating space 3. toilets 4. benches 5. retail stalls 6. corridoors connecting atrium 7. balcony 8. multipurspose space 9. void space 10. toilets
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Block B
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Retail block
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ground floor plan, Block A
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site isometric view
Block A is the bigger of the two residential structures on the site, comprising of 2 and 3BHK’s placed over a G+3 commercial complex. Amenities such as a quick service restaurant (QSR chains such as Mcdonalds’), a Gymnasium, Swimming pool, Game rooms and multifuncitonal spaces are placed within the envelope of the complex. The building itself follows an atrium core concept, wherein the core of the building is split betwen the atrium and the lift, both in close proximity to each other. this would enable the atrium to continue upwards onto the residential floors while keeping the structure stable and allowing for open spaces between the residenital units.
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View of lobby space, Block A
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A triple heighted lobby on the west face of the building forms the entry to this block, with passages flanking this space, so as to subtly guide the visitors eye to the spaces within the building. The lobby maintains its west- east axis, opening out onto a sports/ playground area at the back of the site.
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first floor plan
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11. janitor room 12. lifts 12. staircase 14. staircase from atrium 15. game room 16. outdoor seating 17. storage 18. playground space 19. maintainence room for terrace level swimming pool 20. storage room
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Mixed Use Residential project
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
legend 1. staircase 2. courtyard space 3. lifts 4. staircase 5. garbage room
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double height courtyard space, Block A
One of the more interesting aspects of the design process for the project was the question of the liveability of housing units, especially in a town like Udupi, during the pandemic. it was important to note that most residential projects being developed in the area were being bought out by people who were based elsewhere, and flats that became handovers for rent was very common occurence. Local and migrant workers who did not feel the
need to own or rent out such assets were left out of the housing equation, instead opting to commit to long commutes to make ends meet. So were students from nearby institutions, often living in threes and fours to afford one of these units. How then could a housing project address this problem? Could housing be tailor made to fit the needs of relatively satellite regions? Such was the dialogue that drove the concept for this project.
section, block A
Block A is a B+G+15 structure, holding 84 residential units, ranging from 2 to 4 BHK’s. Each residential floor holds 9 residential units, all equipped with spacious balconies. at the centre of the floorplate, towards the west facade, a double height courtyard serves as a congregation space with a dedicated garden bed that can be shared by each of the units. Such garden beds are common in regional homes, where staple vegetables and plants that can be used in daily meal preparations are grown.
Typical floor plan, Block A.
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Mixed Use Residential project
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
legend 1. staircase 2. lifts 3. utility 4. housekeeping
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micro apartment section, drywall details
While Block A is designed to provide affordable homes for families and groups of people, Block B provides a more serviced approach for the younger tenants who prefer ease of service and essential facilities. The units follow a rather micro- house style of layout, and dedicated housekeeping provisions on
every floor. A multistorey parking facility and great views toward the hills of manipal and the coast of Malpe through cantilevered balconies are certain features of this building. the structure also holds an in house cafeteria with meal memberships for tenants who are in need of such services.
retail walkway, west face of site
typical floor plan, block B (micro housing)
At the “bridge” of both of these structures is g+1 structure that is primarily commercial in function. It houses a small scale coffeeshop, a convenience store and about 400sqm of office space. the structure is placed such that the spaces around the buildings footprint form internal streets of a sort, they can be repurposed to form makeshift markets on occassion, or for certain cultural events. The defining feature of the west facade
of this structure is a punctuated by a single flight staircase that rises to the podium level of block B (about two storeys in height), and a precast concrete trellis that provides shade to the walkway created underneath.
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MIT Cafe
semester VII | Manipal, Karnataka | Interior design | 800sqm
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Long known for making the most scrumptious plate of Pav Bhaji in Manipal, this cafeteria was part of an interior design project that revolved around adding a mezzanine level to broaden the serving potential of the space. The interior concept was built around maximising daylight in the space and a fresh take on the otherwise drab mosnoon weather of Manipal.
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Interior Design- MIT Cafe
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
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ground floor plan, MIT Cafe legend 1. entry 2. staircase to mezzanine level 3. kitchen entry 4. self- serve counter 5. billing counter 6. gabion feature wall
7. faculty seating 8. toilets 9. rear vestibule space 10. planters 11. kitchen rear entry 12. staircase
view of cafeteria seating space, ground floor, MIT cafe
The project comprises of two levels that differ in function; the lower level
retaining the cafeterias existing function, and the mezzanine level doubling up as a cafe. studies performed during the design of the upper level indicated that a major feature of the exisitng setup of the cafeteria was that the rear entry, opening up to the quadrangle of the adjoining college was used by as many people as the front was. This feature if retained would dictate the major circulation patterns within the building.
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first floor plan, MIT cafe legend 1. staircase 2. seating/ waste disposal 3. bar seating 4. void space 5. seating 6. cafe counter 7. cafe prep area
8. toilets 9. staff room 10. storage 11. rear entry 12. outdoor benches 13. service staircase
view of bar seating, first floor, MIT cafe
In an effort to maximise daylight across both levels in the cafeteria, floorplate cutouts were introduced that doubled up as transitional spaces. roof level curb skylights were fixed to broaden the angles of sun entering the space. In terms of design program, on of the main goals was to reflect the interactive and collaborative work culture of the campus. This was achieved by creating an interior concept that was more than just designed for food; more public- oriented modes of seating were introduced, and visual access was opened up to the west face of the building.
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Interior Design- MIT Cafe
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
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The Concept The weather was oddly enough a starting point in the conception of this design. It was evident that weather conditions dramatically changed the outlook of spaces and this ended up becoming a trigger point for the design process. The objective was to create a concept that could engage with the almost perennial monsoon outside. Buff white brick was chosen as a primary material across the two levels to maximise lighting in different weather conditions as well as behave like a literal canvas for the thriving artistic student community of Manipal. Various metallic finishes would be employed to add some depth to these spaces, while retaining bright yellow and red shades to stay true to the campus branding. As a result of this decision, teal was picked as an accent because of its dynamic position on the color wheel; it allowed for great combinations with yellow and red hues.
CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT MATERIALS
PERFORATED CEILING PANELS
the use of suspended lighting fixtures combined with microconcrete perforated ceiling panels allows for a more airy, freeform ceiling look that puts further emphasis on the finishes and the teal walls.
these panels are good sound dissipators, and add a light and airy touch to the ceiling.
VERTICAL LOUVERS vertical louvers placed on the west face to filter out direct evening sunlight while adding dramatic shadows to the rear spaces.
perspective section (cut from buildings east- west axis)
CORTEN STEEL WINDOW TRIMS corten steel is a dynamic material during the weathering process and gives a characteristic effect to the windows when lit.
A LIVING, BREATHING WALL gabion walls impart a certain tectonic contrast to the relatively lighter elements on both the levels.
BOLD STAIRWAY FINISHES keeping in mind the diverse modes of users that the project “caters” to, circulation patterns are emphasized on the facades to indicate movement between the levels of the structure.
view, rear entry to the cafeteria; takes on the form of a colonnade and acts as a transitional space between the quadrangle and the cafe entry.
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Interior Design- MIT Cafe
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
first floor cafe counter elevation
first floor cafe kitchen elevation
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Highway Amenity semester V | Huskur, Mysore City | 2000sqm
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Conceived as a result of the NHAIs plan to provide wayside amenities to highway users every 50kms, this project comprises of a gas station and rest/ refreshment facilities, as well as lodging provisons for people using the Mysore- Huskur road in Karnataka.
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Highway Amenity Centre
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
Transit systems are an indespensable asset of any
nation and can more than often be called the backbone of a nation’s economy. While these systems undergo routine maintenance and upkeep, the user services of these expressways are an aspect that has come to recent emergence. Wayside amenities remain the most appropriate example of rest stops that also double up as vehicle service centers, and under the NHAI’s direction, can become a rather profitable business venture. The proposed wayside amenity is located in the outskirts of Huskur town in Mysore, and is fairly standard in typology, featuring a gas station and a rest and refreshment hub, with amenities such as parking facilities, a motel for accommodation services, a food court and a speciality restaurant.
legend 1. entry 2. atrium 3. lift 4. restaurant 5. staircase 6. kitchen/ prep area 7. toilets 8. locker room 9. garbage room 10. loggia 11. motel lobby 12. service 13. toilets 14. retail stalls 15. souvenir store 16. staircase to food court 17. building management/ security
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ground floor plan
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legend
Site plan (1:500)
1. site entry (12m width) 2. security cabin 3. self assessment pods 4. petrol filling bowsers 5. bus parking 6. convenience store and toilets 7. car parking 8. pick up/ drop off point 9. building entry (atrium) 10. food court 11. motel and restaurant 12. toilets 13. service road
legend 1. seating 2. food kiosks 3. service channel 4. toilets 5. lift 6. voids 7. motel entry 8. staircase 9. motel rooms 10. breakout space 11.lift 12. staircase
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first floor plan
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view of stairway to the food court
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Highway Amenity Centre
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
perspective section cut from the buildings north- south axis
Regarding the design concept of the building; the program was stacked into two forms, a stepped cuboid that held the restrooms, toilets and the convenience store on the ground floor, and the food court on the “stepped” part of the form. The motel and restaurant were stakced in an L- shaped form that spanned three floors. Both of these programs are held together by seemingly negative space enclosed by a corten steel curtain wall, which
flows into a public green space, that seems to ebb and flow in and out the building. the main motive for this mode of space organisaton was to shield the green space at the back of the site from the expanse of vehicular areas on the south face, thus making for a rather intimate setting for the users to take refuge in, quite literally providing respite from the highway.
schematic details of gas station space frame roofing
plan view of gas station and convenience store
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Miscellaneous works
poster developed for tsunami awareness day; strategies and do’sand-dont’s of disaster management in case of such a catastrophe. Samples the great work of Japanese artist Hokusai, named “The great wave off Kanagawa”
Poster developed highlighting renowned French architect Jean Nouvel’s hallmark project “La Marsellaise”; done on Photoshop.
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Mixed Use Residential project
Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio
THESIS PROJECT: Integrating small businesses into mixed use program- a commercial mixed use project.
An architectural investigation of space planning of lunch home restauarants in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka
SYNOPSIS: The internet age has played an important role in many of the revolutionary new procedures and technologies that have influenced the modern way of life, particularly in urban areas. The commercial sector happens to be the main beneficiary of this evolution in the process; cashless transactions and virtual networking have changed the landscape of work for many corporations, making for increasingly efficient methods of workflow.
ABSTRACT: The place and usage of typical kitchens in contemporary settings is significantly different as opposed to kitchens in rural/ town areas that follow a more traditional approach, whether for home or commercial purposes. Architectural revolutions that took place in the early 2000s (the working triangle concept, the galley kitchen model) allowed restaurants to manage their workflow more efficiently, with advancements in equipment and research. However, the kitchen remains a space for the most scope in space planning and research, seeing how movement patterns and cooking activities vary greatly with differences in cuisine and culture.
India as a country is placed on a rather unique point on this curve that allows it to harness these modern technologies to facilitate mass job creation and become an active hub for developing businesses and giving them stability in the long run. This poses the question, how can architecture, specifically workspace architecture, adapt to the constantly changing needs of businesses and their activities?
Writing & Research
collection of writing and research projects by me during my course.
The proposal centres around the development of a mixed-use commercial project that incorporates retail and workspace functions to accommodate the varied demands of enterprises and foster collaboration across various sectors and disciplines. The project is strategically located in electronic city phase 2, along the upcoming metro line extension in Bommasandra, on the Bombay- Chennai expressway (NH48) to act as a generator project by nature, at the forefront of a proliferating residential community and upcoming retail destinations.
Concerning Architecture: A narrative ABSTRACT: History has been an exercise in refinement of architecture for as long as it existed. People admire it, analyze it, ignore it but eventually it occupies our entire material world and if history has taught us anything, it is the realization that we have driven ourselves further into the material away from the natural, in fact we have made a conscious effort to do so. The tangible, ethereal realm that buildings once served as an instrument of are now long forgotten, culture has broken down by the iota over decades and decades of advancement and progression, becoming a pill, easy to digest. Has the notion of an architectural revival rolled afar, over the horizon? Or will the architecture of tomorrow move into the light, redefining itself yet again?
The study aims at addressing concerns pertaining to the south Indian MSME retail food service sector landscape (such as a lack of wellplanned and affordable retail setups, as well as health implications and worker dissatisfaction arising from poorly planned spaces) from the lens of spatial planning and ergonomics, to produce a lowcost, efficient model of a restaurant kitchen adaptable to the unique culinary processes of the Dakshina kannada region. While past reviewed research methods have attempted to use qualitative methods (interviews, questionnaires) to gather information about tasks undertaken in the kitchen, this study aims to analyse a considerable sample size of south Indian lunch home menus to extrapolate information parameters such as movement patterns, activity sequences, equipment required, use of ingredients, and so forth, such parameters will be factored in while simulating a generative space planning algorithm to find the best solutions.
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Anselm Fernandes