WORK

portfolio of work 1989-2012 Amit Upadhye, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

Suntec City remodel, mixed use development with convention center, office towers and retail podium. USD300m remodel project, original design by I M Pei + Tsao and Mckown, NY and DP Architects, Singapore

Currently working for Aedas, Singapore Pte, Ltd.

2010-12

The south-western desert makes vivid impressions in the mind. One that strongly remains, are the boulders and the shadows in the wilderness. During one of my hiking trips near Pinnacle Peak, Arizona, I noticed that these boulders create micro climates around themselves and life thrives in the shadow of these boulders. They act as heat sinks and as thermal masses. The Native Americans were aware of this phenomenon, often building homes in the shadows of such boulders. One can find many such examples in the Marble Canyon, Arizona. I am inspired by such observations that help me create meaningful architecture, rooted in the Sonoran desert. While designing, image of such boulders flooded my mind. Also, some of my travel sketches to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico came to my mind.

Essence of the Desert house, Scottsdale, Arizona Amit Upadhye, Architect AIA Home Tour, 2010

2007-09

The master bedroom loggia has gorgeous views of the McDowell Mountains to the East. The sensual curtain softens the harsh masonry block and extends the space outward, disintegrating the corner into a fluid line of inside-outside. The pour-stone cast lets the sun penetrate into the house at sharp 7.00 AM on their marriage anniversary. Thus, there is a longing for the sun and the mountains in the architectural expression.

The cast in place concrete apron wall mutates to climb the house to meet the masonry in a unique joinery and give birth to the master bath three sided butt glazed slot window that wants to disappear in the sky.

2007-09

The master bathroom 3 sided butt glazed slot glows in the night against the starry Arizona sky. The fabric scrim softens the corner and gives privacy and shade to the evening patio behind.

2007-09

The living room faces north framing the mountain views beyond. The floors are integrally colored polished and sealed concrete. The exposed concrete masonry wall sits on the concrete apron wall that runs at 2’-8� throughout the project. The dark concrete floors act as background and floats the furniture on it like a painting. The window wall system has full overlay of glass from outside.

The cabinet mass rises from the ground like stalagmite in a cavern to reach for the stalactite, like the Kartchner Caverns of Arizona. The cabinets become linen closets at the upper hallway level to serve the bedrooms.

2007-09

Full page coverage under COOL HOMES section of AZ Republic, news paper

http://www.azcentral.com/photo/Style/CoolHomes/1331 1/331305

2007-09

The Kitchen is connected to the second floor spaces such as library, hallway, kids bedrooms and the master bedroom through the double height void . The north facade gets 20’x20’ full height glazing with operable bottom half that connects the kitchen to the backyard, swimming pool and the mountains beyond.

Outstanding Kitchen Design regional award by SUBZERO-WOLF 2008-2009

2009

The 1.6 acre site in Paradise Valley has very interesting yet challenging natural features that make this project what it is. We were drawn to the wash as a natural response to the site locating the public and the private ‘bars’ on the two opposite banks of the wash with a bridge connecting the ‘bars’ forming courtyard space across the wash. The walls facing the wash became transparent with a fabric canopy connected both the ‘bars’ as a web.

The elliptical oculus in the fabric web spotlights different trees in the wash at different times. The upper floor became a big studio open space with formal dining, living and kitchen. The living room has breath taking views of the McDowell Mountains and Four Peaks at the horizon to the east.

Bars and Bridges house, Paradise valley, Arizona Amit Upadhye, Architect

2007-09

We were approached by the clients to remodel their existing southwestern suburban dwelling to a modern home in Scottsdale, Arizona. The old neighborhood is pretty flat but offers view to the McDowell Mountains to the east and the Camelback Mountain to the southwest. In response to bring in the natural north light and yet maintaining the privacy from the road ‘the wall’ plays a major role. The wall forms a compound and opens up a very private world behind. The entry is inconspicuous as one walks through the shady trees into a relatively small opening in the wall which leads to a cozy entry courtyard open to sky. The monumental openings in the wall at upper height flood the cozy inner spaces with north light.

The master suite on the upper floor captures views to the east and the southwest.

‘The Wall’ house, Scottsdale, Arizona Amit Upadhye, Architect

2007-09

Situated on the south side of the Camelback Mountain in the Arcadia district of Phoenix, lies this compact sustainable residential addition project. This original house is ranch style, 1800 sq.ft single storey, built in the 1950s out of nicely proportioned concrete masonry unit and shingle roof with a carport.

The clients approached us with a need to add a master bathroom, patio and enclosing the carport and making the house more sustainable by harvesting the natural rain water, desert landscaping and using solar energy.

Summers residence remodel, Phoenix, Arizona Amit Upadhye, Architect AIA Home Tour, 2011

2008-09

The garage mass has been broken down by introducing polished glass inserts on the west wall. The skylight glass roof overhangs above and keeps water away from masonry.

2008-09

Work bench gets skylight and glass inserts in the masonry wall facing West that shoot daggers of golden light in the evening.

The low window brings daylight to the bench inside during the day. Intensity of the bench changes as the sun traverses the sky.

FLAMINGO DANCER: The deck offers a great place to have a drink in the evening watching the setting sunlight hues on the Camelback Mountain. The spiral stair is like a twirling flamingo dancer. The parapet walls of the deck also receive the clear polished glass inserts to express the rejoicing nature of the space.

2008-09

The new patio bears on the existing solid grouted masonry walls with galvanized steel columns and also anchors into the existing masonry fireplace chimney. This averted the need for new footings. The plane of the patio floats above the low roof height creating clerestory that allows hot air to freely escape making space for the cool breeze. The plasma TV is mounted on the new steel columns with a sliding stainless steel enclosure.

The fabric scrim blocks the view of the HVAC roof top units and diverts one’s attention to the Camelback Mountain to the right . The ‘TREX’ deck provides cool walk surface with low albedo. The rain collector roof below collects and harvest all the rain for landscaping.

2008-09

The Bathroom cuboid contains another cuboid of shower with full height glass enclosure and a translucent laminated glass bench. This bench changes its intensity as the sun moves in the sky from east to west. As the sun sets in the west the solar powered lights bring the bench to life again throughout the night. Next day morning the sun takes over again.

This way the bench pulsates and never looks the same reminding of the presence of the sun out there. The cuboid also contains new laundry room and the water close leaving the rest for vanity, shower and space for future bathtub.

2008-09

COOL HOMES, AZ Republic new paper 2010 http://www.azcentral.com/photo/Style/CoolHomes/15592/391140 Top 10 homes 2011 http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/decor/articles/2011/12/30/20111230top-10-homedesign-trends-wowed-us-2011.html?page=4

2010

Bornstein residence, Scottsdale, Arizona for The Construction Zone, ltd.

2005-07

2005-07

AUTOWERKS Tempe, Arizona.

Auto detailing+showroom and administration offices for The Construction Zone, ltd, phoenix

2005-07

Udinotti Art Gallery, Paradise valley, Arizona for The Construction Zone, ltd, Phoenix

2005-07

The Construction Zone’s Office, Phoenix, Arizona for The Construction Zone, ltd, Phoenix

2005-07

Tempe Center for Arts, Tempe, Arizona for joint venture of Barton Myers +ARCHITEKTON, Tempe, AZ

2002-04

2002-04

2002-04

2002-04

Houses at Sagaponac, lot #39, Southampton, NY for Marwan Al-Sayed Architects, phoenix.

Master planned by Richard Meier and Coco Brown, NY www.housesatsagaponac.com

2000-02

2000-02

Yanni house, New Jersey for Kramer Woodard Architects, Albuquerque, NM

1997-98

1997-98

Esplanade – Theaters on the Bay, Singapore for (James Stirling)Michael Wilford + DP Architects.

1993-97

1993-97

1993-97

Indian Institute of Management(IIM) Ahmedabad, India by Louis I Kahn

Ravi Mathia Auditorium, Indian Inst. Of Management, Ahmedabad, for Anant Raje Architect, Ahmedabad, India

1989-92

competitions Architectural competitions by Amit Upadhye

Regional Outstanding Kitchen Design Award by SUBZERO-WOLF 2008-2009

2009

IMAGINATION CUBE competition by AIA, phoenix. 48’X48’X48’ Cube. Brick as a predominant building material.

Kahn once asked the brick, “what do you want to be?” and the brick said, “I want to be an arch”. For the last 30 years the brick has been quiet. Here it was asked the again, “what is it’s desire?” and the brick said, “I have been too heavy for centuries and now I want to fly in the sky”.

2004

World Trade Center Memorial, international design competition.

CONCEPT: “If existence is beginning-less, endless and timeless then, could there be any beginning and end with in it?�

2002

Phoenix light rail power substation design competition. AIA Arizona Chapter.

The concept was to abstract the flower growing out of sidewalk crevice into Power Substation.

1st Prize by AIA, AZ chapter

2002

Davids Island, Long Island – Honors graduate studio at University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Winning entry for International design competition floated by New Rochelle Castle Gallery, New Rochelle, NY. 1st Prize won by six graduate students, Spring 1997 1st Prize awarded by ASLA 1997, NM chapter

1997

1997

furniture Selected furniture designs by Amit Upadhye. 2002-2009

paper clip lounge chair

tissue paper storage US Patent#D539, 581 S

jewelry boxes

tealight holder - wenge

“Our panel felt that your design was innovative, functional, and most importantly aesthetically pleasing not only from a design perspective, but also to someone who has minimal knowledge about product design.�

Finalist, KONTAKT MAGAZINE, International Furniture Design Competition 2008

coffee table made of purple heart

2002-04

Travel sketches in India and United States in different media such as watercolor, pastels and markers