01. Unity Utopia: Center for Harmony, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.
04. Quarantine Center Design, Geeta Colony, Phase II, New Delhi, India
Net Positive Childcare Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.
05. Museum of Illusions, Lado Sarai, New Delhi, India
Music School Design, South Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.
06. Community Center Urban Design, East of Kailash, New Delhi, India
North Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. Academic | Masters Final Project | Community Engaged Design
The project aims to address the impacts of historic systemic racism and its effects on the North Minneapolis community, focusing on increased crime and violence. The proposed solution is the creation of a youth center focused on violence prevention that offers alternative forms of therapy and conflict resolution.
“ Teenagers to young adults aged 14-25 years experience trauma most of their lives. Therapy is necessary for them.”
-Bill Magnuson, Community Crime Prevention Specialist, Office of Violence Prevention, City of Minneapolis
“ In the name of “leading” someone to a “place” of calmness; it’s best to change locations, this is the most advantageous.” -Julius, Conflict Resolution Expert, Restorative Inc.
“ Sometimes because of the trauma, we are constantly in survival mode. It takes a little more touches for person to be open to help. It takes a moment for that to happen. Consistency. Persistency. ”
- Ethrophic Burnett, Special Program Coordinator, Public Health, Office of Violence Prevention
The center is part of a larger network of affiliated facilities and is designed to be anti-institutional, reflecting the community it serves. The building’s architectural design includes a conflict resolution hub, alternative forms of therapy, and a central exhibition gallery that provides restorative experiences for at-risk youth. The project’s goal is to invest in prevention rather than punishment, with the hope of making a positive impact in the community by addressing the root causes of conflicts. The proposed location for the youth center is a vacant lot, and the project’s approach to violence prevention through architecture and emotional healing offers a unique and holistic solution. Overall, the project’s design and proposed solutions could serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges.
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.
HVAC System: Radiant Floor
Wall Insulation: R-40
Floor Finish: Hardwood floor, R-15
Roof Insulation: R-50
Roof Glazing U- Factor: 0.32 Infiltration: 0.15
Window U factor: 0.15, SHGC: 0.4
Light Power Density: 0.4 W/SF
Equipment Power Density: 0.6 W/SF
Site area: 5000 m²
Built up: 2700 m²
No. of floors: G+2
Hyperbolic Paraboloid model inspired the organic shape of the roof.
Plaster cast model: Creating multiple courtyards leading to a flow of experiences.
Orienting the high and low points to correspond to wind and sunlight.
Showing movement of air through the courtyards according to Minnesota weather.
Touch sensory piano shaped facade encouraing activity.
Touching the surface enables different sounds to be produced leading to melodious tunes.
CENTRAL SEMI-PUBLIC AREA: Encouraging engagement between students and public. Also providing a space for students to collect their thoughts surrounded by nature.
OUTDOOR PRIVATE ACTIVITY
PODS: Temporary practice rooms provided to enable change of space for students and faculty.
ACADEMIC FRONT
BUSINESS FRONT
INTERACTION WITH BUILDING
SEMI- PUBLIC
INTERACTION WITH BUILDING PUBLIC
Equalizer pattern which is touch sensitive and lights up when it is touched to create different patterns on the facade.
The typical structural system used is as follows:
Foundation: Isolated concrete footing used as foundation.
Horizontal spanning members: Steel I beam sections used as girders as well as beams.
Vertical Members: A combination of steel box and steel hollow circular columns. For walls, poured concrete with an exterior finish of Exterior Insulation Finishing System ( EIFS).
Floor System: Cast-inplace concrete floor system in used since the shape of the building is organic.
Lateral System: Due to the availability of concrete walls running to the top of the building, shear walls seem appropriate for a laterial system.
Geeta Colony, New Delhi, India
Personal | Group of 2 | Duration: 2 Weeks
Role: Concept, Design, Planning, Structure
Site area: 3700 m²
Built up: 4350 m²
No. of floors: G+4
Site area: 23,000 m2 Built up: 16,351 m2
The concept and the built form and location of functions of the building is derived from the definition of illusions and the parts of the human body which plays the most important role in perceiving it.
• Anamorphosis:
Anamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to occupy a specific vantage point, use special devices or both to view a recognizable image.
• Supernatural/ magical or impossible phenomena:
Illusions are often related to being magical as they do not adhere to the commonly experienced circumstances.Example: It is a complex structure made of multiple cubes, stacked one on the other, seeming to come out of a bigger base cuboid.
• False Idea or belief:
The following design gives the false impression or idea that the cuboidal structure has fallen and sunken inside the ground.
Twisted form of the building:
The form of the building and the skin on it makes it look as if the building has been twisted and bent like a miniature object, leaving all the floors hung at different angles in air. However, the floors inside are horizontal and work like a normal building.
FINAL OUTPUT: The blocks come together to look like one object (eye) and start making sense, whereas when viewed from different angles, they look independent and do not seem to hold significant with others.
Academic | Sem. 7 | Group: 5
Role: Concept, Analysis, Design, Planning
Site area: 50,000 m2
Built up: 70,000 m2
No. of floors: G+2
G+4
G+ 6
The change of direction along the main axis is accentuated by using building modulations. It is used to direct pedestrians.
The main axis should have two major entrance plazas of minimum area of 150 sqm. While the secondary entrances into the site should have smaller plazas of minimum area of 100 sqm. Furthermore, the building profile of the buildings encasing the plaza should not intrude into the plaza.
5. Incentive to walk:
The buildings must be modulated on the upper floors to frame the main axis and continue walking on the same. The entrance plaza must be well modulated to allow for the pedestrian to keep walking on the main axis and to invite/ encourage them to alk ahead and further in the form of a square.
2. Entrance Plazas: 6. Classification of activity according to function of built: 3. Courts: 7. The Square:
The guest house and hotel must surround a common court. The court formed between them should have two zones; private zones of their own and a common zone for them. The section shows variation in the building envelope enclosures. A sense of enclosure increases in private courts.
Colonnades should be provided along the axis and along the edges of the site boundary for shading. Minimum height at which the building should project out must be 4m and the minimum width of projection should be 2.5m.
The main axis must have retail on the building face, hence a commercial activity would be expected. The courtyard facing building edge has academies and must have an exhibition space for tapping the maximum potential
The square sandwiched between the guest house, the office building and the theatre building must be developed with the side of the building edge modulations
Alternate pockets of parking and street vendors are provided along with continuous strips of Non Motarized Vehicle (NMV) lane and pedestrian pathways that enables safety of the pedestrian and an active edge of the site.
1. BOLLARDS:
Bollards designed to highlight path leading to site.
2. PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS:
Unique pattern that gives identity to the connected streets.
3. GREEN AND SEATING:
Similar to the landscaping elements found on site.
4. ROAD EDGE:
Alternate parking and street vendor pockets, NMV are part of edge section of site.
5. MIXED USE:
Proposed on all underconstruction and abandoned spaces along the street.
6. SHADING:
Proposed provision of shading to pedestrian wherever possible
TEL: +1612-517-7167
EMAIL: misraanukriti@gmail.com
LOCATION: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Masters of Architecture | 2023
College of Design, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Bachelor of Architecture | 2020
U.S.A.P., Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India