Architectural Portfolio

Arjun Prajapati

M.Arch,Architectural Design

Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

arjunprajapati.ar@gmail.com

London,UK

PORTFOLIO

ARJUN PRAJAPATI

Part 2 Architectural Assistant, UK Registered Architect, INDIA

EDUCATION

Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, UK

Master of Architecture, Architectural Design

Research Cluster: Monumental Wastelands [Ar. Deborah Lopez and Ar. Hadin Charbel]

2021-22

Design Thesis : Climate Squatters : Living on the Edge

• Developed a non-extractivist social community centered around generating identity through community value and a strong commitment to non-human entities and representative physical elements.

• Utilized automation and tech mobility to establish a sustainable lifestyle, mitigating climate change and coastal erosion impacts.

Research Thesis : Multi-planetary Climate Migrants : Anti-Colonial Perspective in Space Exploration

AIA, Gujarat University, India

Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture

2015-20

Nationality: Indian arjunprajapati.ar@gmail.com

WORK EXPERIENCES

Personal Architectural Works Architect

2022-Present

• Currently working on a proposal of Agricultural Home Industry on 0.8 acre farmland, 5 BHK Residence(514 sqmt) and Hospital interior in city of Ahmedabad and Vadodara respectively.

• Developing a business by doing adaptive reuse of the listed heritage properties of Ahmedabad city.

The Urban Lab, Ahmedabad Graphic Designer

Nov 2019-Jan2020

• Designed an engaging wayfinding map of Kochi in partnership with The Urban Lab, prioritizing visitor navigation.

Jagrut and Partners, Ahmedabad Architectural Intern

Jun 2018-Nov2018

• Contributed to diverse projects, focusing on construction detailing, facade, residential design, and 3D visualization.

• Led the 3D visualization team, collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure design feasibility, and gained hands-on experience in a dynamic environment.

Abir Charitable Trust Volunteer in Art Curation

Jun 2018-Nov 2018

Anant National University Photography Club Head

2016-2018

SOFTWARE SKILLS

Technical Revit. Autocad.

3D

Rhino. Sketchup. Meshmixer. Game

Unity. C#. Render Vray. Enscape. Lumion. Twinmotion.

Graphic Photoshop. Illustrator.

Presentation

Powerpoint. InDesign. Video Premier Pro.

AI and ML Midjourney. Stable Diffusion. Runway.

LANGUAGES

English

Fluent

Hindi

Native

Gujarati

Native

INTERESTS

Photography, Head Photographer at GU

Perfume making, Developing a Brand

Martial Arts, 3 times district champion

Travel, Sports, Cricket, Football

1.

Ar. Deborah Lopez, Ar. Hadin Charbel

2.

6.

3.

Design Thesis

Personal work

Semester 10, BArch

4.

5.

1. Climate Squatters: Living on the Edge

Thesis Design Project

In Collaboration with:

Nora A.,Bryan C.,Tung S.,Xiaotong L.

Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL M.Arch

Video: https://youtu.be/htJ9SxndsGQ

Villages on the coast of the UK are disappearing from the map as their land is being washed away into the sea. These villages that are vulnerable to erosion are expected to lose a significant amount of land in the current and future years with a lack of governmental support and compensation, as they’re left with a “No Active Intervention” coastal management plan. Happisburgh is a coastal village three hours away from London experiencing aggresive coastal erosion. As the villagers are left with the only option to abandon their lands, a system was realised to enable the communities to travel intelligently as modern squatters through the use of a platform, enabling them to be active agents in their process of relocation, habitation and migration. The system seeks to reinitialize and ritualise the process of migration throughout generations, by creating a continuous process of relocation triggered by the existential threat of coastal erosion. Climate Squatters project is a non-extractivist social unity without fixed habitation, that forms around the idea of generating identity through community value, a care for non humans and physical elements representative of the inhabitants. With the help from automation and technological mobility it will generate a self sufficient sustainable, adaptable and opportunistic way of living in order to avoid the hardships of climate change driven coastal erosion.

Erosion Timeline

In 1999 the coastal erosion from Happisburgh began

In 2006 coastal

In 2009 another 6m where taken from the coast and the first line of houses had to evacuate.

In 2015 12m where taken from the coastline.

In 2021 a total of 38m where taken from the coast and 2m per year are expected to erode.

Total erosion up to the mentioned year

Total erosion accumulated

Actual Site Images

erosion has taken 20m from the coast inward.

Decoding Process

Beyond the Voxel Dataset

Unit Generation

Construction location

Structural Voxels Envelope Voxels Realistic Mode

Voxel-mode house

Structural voxel

The voxel-mode house is generated manually base on the function type of the targed house. All the voxels are classified into 6 typeswood structure, scaffolding, column, floor, envelope and space, every voxel will be labeled with the exact location and position, and can be tracked during every migration process.

Structural Component Labelling Coding Envelop

WFC House Generation

Platform Workflow

The diagram represents the workflow of the digital platform, an integral part in the operation of the project.

Communal Ecological Economy

Through communal living, Climate Squatters will employ the idea of resouce sharing and ecosystem sharing. Economic value should not be limited on production but, ecosystem services also need to be valued. That will stimulate resource development and avoid the waste.

3D Scanning of the buildings

4.Farming Incentives

5.Live Incentives value

6.Migration Countdown

1.Live Platform 2.Incentives

3.Incentives levels

Based on the data and incentives, user chooses the land and generates the buildings and communities in platform for maximum effeciency in the next migration.

A new nomadic house will effect the activity of the land surrounding; the effectness will be restored as a value of adjacency of new settlement. The value will add up as a new nomadic house settles down in a nearby place. This method is used to evaluate the land and generate new community.

Adjacency Proximity

Unit Allocation

Active connection: adjacent value>8 means good capability of active connection.

Active rewilding: adjacent value<6 means good capability of active rewilding.

Unit Structure

Roof Voxels

Metal Joinery

Wall Voxels

Floor Voxels

Ceiling Joists

Wall Voxels

Columns

Bottom Plate

Storage Voxels

Floor Bearer & Joist

Brick Footing

Voxel Construction

Structure

B-Pro Show Panel 2022

B-Pro Show 2022

Community Recommissioning

Unit Structure

Community Building

Recommissioning of the buildings and communities as users being the active agents in the participatory platform model.

First Migration

Second Migration

02.

Workshop by Keshav Ramaswami

In Collaboration with:

Fernando Rey Vidal, Tessia Zachariah

Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL M.Arch

Video: https://youtu.be/c4Vt6fBGhvc

The Forgotten Theatre

Audio Notational Architecture

Developed a relationship of architectural elements and ways of annotating them to produce the sound, which refers as AudioPhysical Architecture. The architectural output was a forgotten theatre to be built in the Roman era, made from primitive bricks which were be placed in the fictional wilderness. The objective was to sculpt the complex meshes to make fictional site in remote locations, and visualise its architectural formations with help of light and material mapping for accurate visualisation. The communal theatre was built in stages and each material connects to the audio to create amalgamation of primitive architectural setting and music.

Audio Notational Architecture

The amphitheatre design was focused on a vibrant wilderness and non-humans as an integral part of a cultural public architecture.

Primitive Amphitheatre

This forgotten theatre has been overtaken by the wilderness and camouflaged with the surrounding landscape.

03. Astronomical Observatory

Design Thesis Project

Anant Institute of Architecture, Gujarat University

B.Arch

Astronomical knowledge has always set curiosity about the unexplored objects in the universe. India has always been conservative about this field for tourists and lack of infrastructure for visitors makes their visit tough. The majority of the institutes have private programs restricted to their staff and students. There are hardly a few institutes that provide programs for visitors because of lack of awareness. Site is located near Indo-Tibetian border in the Hanle village of Ladakh on around 4000 M altitude. Site was chosen between 2 existing observatory site and would act as a buffer and a pause point for visitors and professionals. It is a need of this time to propose an extrovert program to embrace the visitors to celebrate the sky together.

There are a few reasons to choose a site at a higher altitude and in a dry region; A cloudless sky:Seeing is good, Very low air turbulence:pollution less; low water vapor.In addition, the site is scientifically proven as the best site for astronomical observation in India as it has the clearest skies around the year. This place has the lowest precipitation and the highest motorable altitude. This place is also known as ‘the cold desert’. In the beginning of construction of existing observatories, engineers had planted solar power station to generate the electricity, and a liquid nitrogen plant to cool down the telescope’s detectors in the remote region to provide selfsustainable built environment in a sensitive context.

Design Evolution

Key:

1. HAGAR and MACE observatory project

2. Solar Power Plant

3. Substation

4. Workshop and Storage

5. Control room and Maintenance

6. Staff hostel

7. Manufacturing plant

8. Homestays

9. 0.7 M Robotic Telescope observatory

10. 2 M HCT observatory

Dome Design

Dome

Section

Astronomical Observatory with Visiting and Learning facilities

04. Arboretum an Urban Insert

Urban Insert Project Semester 9

Anant Institute of Architecture, Gujarat University B.Arch

The site is located in Surat near the important creek of the city. As a part of Urban Resilience- SMC has taken steps in creating Biodiversity parks along the creek. This park consists of Urban forests, an Interpretation center, Aviary and Insects conservatory, and Sensory centers. The site would act as an important center to this park and help in creating multiple employment opportunities. In addition, migrant communities (low-income groups) have made unauthorized houses and have been living for past 15 years. Their daily open disposals on site have made the area extremely unhygienic. The proposal of Arboretum would enhance the core value of human and nature relationship as well as it would help the people of the city, its built context, and the climate of the city. Also, it would act as an emergency shelter in extreme flooding situations.

Conceptual Design Development

Physical Development Process

These shelters are created in such a way that it provides multipurpose spaces and can cater many people at the same time. There is no single way to access the site, just like a forest. But, it’s roofs act as a guide to direct users into the site.

Ground Floor Plan

1.Pedastrian entrance/ street culture

2.Vehicular entrance

3.Playing area entrance

4.Drop off point

5.Playing area/park

6.Ramp to 1st flr

7.Path to forest

8.Entrance for workers

9.Shops 10.Washrooms

11.Pavilion entry-1

12.Tour gathering point/ exhibition

13.Waterbody

14.Waterbody

15.Cafeteria

16.Sitouts

17.Kitchen-storage-toilet/ service area

18.Service drop off

19.Staff dormitory

20.Deck

21.Cycle stand

22.Pedastrian and cycle path

23.Observatory

24.Forest 25.Washrooms

26.Amphitheatre

27.Aquaculture facilities

28.Observatory bridge

29.Wetland

30.Observation deck

31.Observatory

32.Gathering/observation

33.Exhibition/av/library 34.Foyer

35.Learning deck

36.Research lab

37.Staff dormitory

38.Balcony

39.Observation deck

Urban Site-Edge Sections

Site Section

05. High End Housing Senior Citizen Living

Housing Project

Semester 8

Anant Institute of Architecture, Gujarat University

B.Arch

The site is located near the coastal area of Kochi on the artificial island. This area consists of few wetlands and aquacultural activities. Kochi has multiple water transportation routes and they are easier than road transportation. Site is exactly opposite of Indian Maritime University. The connecting roads are primary route for transporting goods. An existing natural wetland turned into artificial lagoon to allow water transportation on the site. Also, the site was developed to provide a peaceful environment to the residents.

Type 1

1 BHK

Type 3

2 BHK + Assistant Room Duplex

Lower Floor

Type 3

2 BHK + Assistant Room Duplex

Upper Floor

Type 2

1 BHK + Assistant Room

06. Professional Experience

Architectural Design

Internship at, Jagrut and Partners (6 months)

Work: Conceptual Design, Construction Details, Facade Design,3D Visualization,

As an architectural intern at Jagrut and Partners, I worked on a variety of projects ranging from small to large scale. My main responsibilities included construction detailing, technical drawings, facade design, conceptual design development, and 3D visualization.

Window Details

Electrical Layout

Godrej Garden City, Phase 7, Gujarat, India

Mixed-use building

Stage: Conceptual and Proposal

Conceptual Design Development

Conceptual Views

07. Competitions

Competition: Beyond Isolation by, Buildner and Arch Daily Senior Citizen Housing

In Collaboration with, Meet Vaidya

The TEAM [The Elders Associated Market] is a collaborative way of living in the inter-dependent community that empowers the sense of the communal ownership and social unity. The project promotes the decentralized participatory culture that allow the members to grow and create their identity through their contribution in the community. The TEAM aims to find the global solution for curing the crisis of isolation in the later years through the community connectors in the society, and leave the wise footprints for human and non-human.

Community Management Plan

Incentives Connectors

Community Care Reciprocity Autonomy Self Sustainable Interactive

Social Support + Interdependency

Traditional and Modern Knowledge + Wisdom Identity

Healthcare

Economical, Social Ecological, Adaptable and Self-growing

Communal Learning Societal Contribution in Economy

Participatory + Sense of Belongingness + Public Engagement

Generational Responsible Community Involvement

Decentralized Platform: Participatory Design

Sign

up Choose and Compare the Clusters Personal & Health Details

Community Platform

House

Hot, Cold, Humid etc. Designer, Farmer, etc. Art, Crafts, Flowers etc. Garden, Nursery etc.

Hello, Harsh!

Interior Designer & Florist

House Taxonomy

Recreational Spaces

Establishing connection between public and community through the community multipurpose space and community cafe.

Community Units

Type C

Profession: Cook

Occupancy: 2

Shop: Pop-up Cafe

Landscape: Spice Garden

Type T

Profession: Florist

Occupancy: 2

Shop: Flower Shop

Landscape: Flowers

Information Center at the heart of the site acts as a guide to the site and exhibition for the community and visitors.

Type L

Profession: Gardener

Occupancy: 2

Shop: Vegetable and Fruit Shop

Landscape: Vegetable Garden

Type I

Profession: Librarian

Occupancy: 2

Shop: Book shop and Library

Landscape: Reading Space

TEAM - The Elders Associated Market

Clusters:

Units I and Units C

These modular units promote the co-living and co-working spaces, that allow them to grow beyond their boundaries. These global model allow communities to adapt and grow orgaically based on the location to make them valuable and respected in the society that create, share and provide to the community. Thus, it is the community that thinks Beyond Isolation and grow out of it.

Annual NASA Design Competition, NASA, India

Cultural Architecture

Status: Awarded and Built

Turned abandoned space into lively public space for a local community. The design approach was inspired from the traditional Indian plinth sittings called “Otla”.

Concept

Construction Process

08. Hands-on Works

Hands-On Workshops

In Collaboration with, Various Groups

Status: Built

Bamboo and Earth Workshop, Auroville Green Practices, IN

The hands-on experience has been gained through various workshops happening across India.

Parabolic Workshop, Anant National University

Catenary Design Structure, NASA, IN

09.

Architectural and Landscape Design

Farmland at Goraj, Gujarat Status: On-Going

Prithvi Farm

This project is based on the ancient Indian Vedic farming wisdom to cater all the human and non-human without interrupting their life cycle and habitats. The forest-like permaculture farming is proposed to create a family of plants and trees. The site is located on the route of migratory birds, hence, the pond and aquatic life is proposed to attract the birds and help remove the pests from the farm naturally. The wetland soil on the site, holds the great fertility to shelter all the new type of plants, trees, good insects and avian life. The farm is proposed to have a semi-private access, to create the agro-economy and help various university students to study the bio-diversity closely.

Mango Orchards

Pond and Rice Field

Rice Field and Meditation area

Short term goals:

• Provide protection to birds,insect

• Remove weeds

• Develop a small pond and maintain it for aqua flora and fauna

• Create mounds in pond and on farm

• Organize local people and build your community to conserve and preserve the ecology.

• Observation tower : bird watching, sunrise-sunset, telescope

• Minimize pesticide

• Environment education program

• interaction with the community

• Organize nature camps

• Arrange awareness campaigns to boost value & resources

Phase 1: Attract the Fauna

• Fencing

• Mango Orchards

• Bio-fencing to attract the birds and insects

• Pond Development to attract the birds and small animals

• Butterfly Garden to attract the butterflies

• Mulching to preserve the soil quality

Phase 3: Human Inter-connection

Long term goals:

• Preserve and improve the Ecosystem

• Improve flora and fauna diversity and monitor habitats of them

• Eco-development

• Build scientific database of through organizations of the research (Biology, Zoology, Botany, Orinthology, Nature conservation)

• Spread love for the ecology in the community

• Train locals for Eco-Tourism

• Employment for the locals

• Public awareness for bird lovers

Phase 2: Self-sustain the Farm

• Intercropping

• Permaculture farming

• Forest development

• Crop Field

• Vegetable Garden

• Trails Meditation area

• Bird tower

• House

• Hydroponic farm

Tree Species

Arjun Prajapati, MArch arjunprajapati.ar@gmail.com