Urban Design and Architecture Portfolio (selected works 2018-2021)

SELECTED WORKS (2014-2021)

URBAN DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO ARKADIPTA BANERJEE

Adobe Indesgn

CURRICULUM VITAE

CONTENTS URBAN 1 (GL)OCAL FORMATIONS | M.Arch Thesis (2021) EXTENSION 2 Futuristic smart city, SEEB (2021)|Urban design consultant RESTRUCTURING 3 Kochi Vision Document | Mission city studio THE CITY (2020) URBAN 4 Re-emerging localities | Local area planning TRANSFORMATION studio (2020) 5 Ente Kochi Design Competition (2020) URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE 6 Last of the commons | Urban form Lab (2020) UPGRADATION RESEARCH 7 Traditional folk art community and urban AND transformation (2019) WORKSHOPS 8 An urban village in mumbai: culture and community in the maximum city| SWS CEPT (2017) 9 The missing basti project| SWS CEPT (2017) ARCHITECTURE 10 Nalanda University| B.Arch thesis (2019) 11 Bandhan training center| Internship (2018) 12 BBSR school

URBAN EXTENSION

01

(GL)OCAL FORMATIONS Rethinking globally planned peripheral area as an inclusive city: The case of Newtown Rajarhat, Kolkata Guided by Ar. Rajiv Bhakat

Abstract As globalization gained momentum in the country, desire arose for restructuring cities into paradigms necessitating segregation between the global and local population. Greenfield areas at the peripheries of major cities, were chosen to accommodate such profit-based development. This privatized vision led to the creation of such a masterplan that does not accommodate the local population, living there for generations. The land and infrastructure were designed to attract global capital, resulting in the boom of gated communities and insular building typologies. Thus, nurturing the idea of a segregated and introverted lifestyle. This urban form created an overpowering identity of global capital which systemically erased the sense of belongingness of the locals. Yet, in reality, at various levels, there exists a strong economic and socio-cultural interdependency between the global and the local population. Therefore, the question of whose city it is becomes the central question of this thesis. Newtown Rajarhat in Kolkata shows similar developmental trajectory where the primary intension of the imagined masterplan promotes the idea of segregated lifestyle adhering to a global identity yet having strong layers of interdependency

with the excluded local population.

This thesis aims to create an alternative urban design framework which would be economically and socially inclusive, anchoring the local population at the heart of this globally induced masterplan whilst creating a strong sense of belongingness. Regarding the developmental trajectory of Kolkata, there has been various planned areas in the city which have given way to an urbanism that is inclusive, accommodating people from all social groups with respect to socio spatial and economic aspects. Thus, various fabrics of Kolkata has been taken as cases to generate principles to reimagine the existing structure of this place.

The broader approach taken in the formation of an alternative structure to this place is to empower the local population by enhancing their quality of life through capacity building, preparation of transformational guidelines for newer building typologies and functional repurposing.

Finally, to strengthen the sense of belongingness, the public realm is enhanced through various urban design moves and guidelines so that the locals are made an integral part of this global city.

Issues mapping

Section showing allowance of front setback in large plots leads to the creation of boundary walls ultimately producing unanimated edges.

Elevation of the Sub CBD along the Biswa Bangla Sarani

Socio spatial and economic interdependencies between the planned and the unplanned areas

Community commercial center

Community park

Sub CBD

Shopping mall

local 0 LIG 200

population Population from other countries

MIG local 500

population LIG local population

LIG Migrant 1000 population MIG local population

Population from Area level socio spatial interdependency other countries network

HIG population (from other states) LIG Migrant population

HIG local population HIG population (from other states)

2. Parks entrances and streets along it becoming informal vending spines/ zones

HIG + MIG local population HIG local population

HIG + MIG local population

1. Areas around shopping mall and 5 star hotel becoming informal vending stretch

3. Canal front road as recreational space for all social groups + relegious gathering space

“To reimagine Newtown as an urban continuum of Kolkata which would represent the attributes of inclusivity, social diversity and a strong sense of place “ Objectives 1. To reduce segregation between the surround villages and the lower income areas 2. To increase flexibility and adaptability of existing building typologies 3. To provide livelihood opportunities across all classes of people 4. To enhance the public realm and have more interactive interfaces 5. To integrate the ecological system (canals) with the existing site.

6. To provide better living conditions for slums dwellers along the canal 7. To achieve a strong sense of place which so that it becomes an urban continuum of Kolkata

Structure Plan

Vision

Strategies Work spaces, informal markets, production units between the Slums & the planned areas.

Shared Social amenities at th between the park and the resid

he interface dential area.

Enhancing multi functionality of temple node by incorporating every day functions.

Informal spaces of recreation and eateries along institutions and ecological interface.

Creating hierarchy of publicness - large public activity at the street and intimate public activity occurring inside privatelyowned public space while having visual & physical connection.

Proposed public realm Economic spine

Community spine

Green spine

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Proposed masterplan 1. Community Oat + para club + wetland as bherry 2. Weekly haat 3. Primary school + water tank + badminton court 4. Secondary school + NMT stand 5. Local shop outlets + shaded sitting area for parents + tea shop 6. Car parking (mlcp) for Sub CBD + community 7. Govt. Hospital 8. State innovation centre 9. Informal food stretch + bus stop 10. Proposed perimeter block with POPs with cafes and retails in the ground floor 11. Electric sub station 12. AA1 Sub CBD metro station 13. Workspaces for SMEs + workshops + production/ manufacturing units 14. Temple square + ghat + fish market + NMT station + flower market 15. Nursery + green house + storage + horticulture lab 16. Commercial (local shops) + residential mixed use typologies 17. Coaching centers + para clubs + anganwadis + neighbourhood park + durga puja ground 18. Books and stationary shops + informal tea shops 19. Proposed residential + office + commercial typologies 20. Existing bus terminus 21. MLCP 22. Shopping mall + multiplex + office 23. Pedestrian path + informal retail stretch + high end retail area Informal food joint Bridge stretch

Canal front path Informal shacks Green buffer Institution building – modified height

Interfaces Canal front - residential

HIG - Sub CBD

Economic spine (Residential)

Community spine

Sub CBD

Transformational guidelines

Perimeter block Plots depth > 45m Plot width > 60 m Street width > 24m

Linear typology Plots depth < 35m Plot width < 20-25m Street width < 20m

Podium tower typology Plots depth > 35m Plot width < 60 m Street width >24m

Podium tower Courtyard Linear Perimeter block

To provide a permeable and functional urban structure of blocks and streets permeable block layout with block dimensions ranging from 120m to 240m long and 60m to 120m wide. A block perimeter of around 600m provides for good pedestrian and vehicular access and an efficient subdivision pattern of the block.

To integrate a large development site into its surrounding area Providing at least two ‘through’ streets across the large development plot, linking ‘centre to edge’. Cross-block pedestrian links provided where the street block perimeter is greater than 600 m. Providing POPs the size and types of public open spaces for informal and active recreation to serve the intensity and type of development. To create a transition from large development sites to adjacent residential neighbourhoods or ecological networks, the height should be lowered or staggered

Courtyard typology Plots depth > 35m, <45m Plot width > 60 m Street width > 24m < 40m

URBAN EXTENSION

02

FUTURISTIC SMART CITY SEEB, MUSCAT, OMAN Team members - Arkadipta Banerjee, Dr. Suptendu Biswas, Vina Verghese Biswas, Ashok Bhattacharya, Gaurav Dambe, Shruti Das, Devniel Biswas, Yatish Asthana Client - EPTISA

Muscat’s urban origins are from Muscat to Mutrah (located on eastern side of Muscat). Recently urban area has grown linearly on the west. The ribbon like development is observed in the overall urban form.

Few suburbs have developed along the west side and Al Maabilah is one of them. Proposed Futuristic city Seeb is a part of Al Maabilah settlements.

The scope of the project was to prepare tender drawings of a comprehensive urban design scheme with a masterplan for the new upcoming futuristic smart city in Muscat, Oman which will house a population of 100000 within 1570 Ha. The aim of the project revolved around ideas of affordability, inclusive and safe environment, land efficiency (layout, open space, circulation networks), robustness, compact density (urban form), accesible and comfortable public space, healthy-smart-livable city.

The main concept behind developing the masterplan was to create passively comfotable public spaces, climate adaptive building typologies, energy efficient designs, de centralized water system, on site renewable energy supply, walkable neighborhoods, TOD (transit oriented development), integration of new smart technologies and landscaping with natural topography.

The overall idea of the SEEB Urban Design and Architectural Guidelines are based on the notion of Focus and Fabric Buildings. Focus buildings will be associated to the notion of Trophy/ Futuristic/ Landmark / Iconic/ Signature buildings that adds to the legibility in a city. Focus buildings, on the other hand, will have perimeter blocks with active ground edges, vibrant street life and uniformity and continuity in urban expression of contemporary times.

Strategies

Major institutional and cultural facilities proposed along the green networks.

District and neighborhood level facilities are proposed along primary (city boulevard) and secondary (district avenue) movement corridor acting as a spine.

Hierarchy of green network is created to promote pedestrian and bicycle friendly mobility options linking residential and

Land Use Plan

Struct

ture Plan

Area Level Structure Plan

View at the interface between the SEEB vista and Urban C

Public Realm Structure

The SEEB Block constitutes the fabric of the SEEB Smart city. It is developed on the basis of 5-minute walking module of 350 m and has many variations based on the immediate edge conditions, abutting street typology, and land use. Height restrictions in the project site require high footprint mid-height built-form option for optimization of the sellable floor area.

Therefore, the urban perimeter block type with its variations are adopted here which, historically, created a highly active public street edge all over the world.

n (Urban Centre)

Centre

View along the internal roads in between blocks

Section through Urban Block

Typical Plan of Medium Density Quarter

700 X 700 m Residential Quarter

The SEEB Block constitutes the fabric of the SEEB Smart city. It is developed on the basis of 5-minute walking module of 350 m and has many variations based on the immediate edge conditions, abutting street typology, and land use. Height restrictions in the project site require high footprint mid-height built-form option for optimization of the sellable floor area. Therefore, the urban perimeter block type with its variations are adopted here which, historically, created a highly active public street edge all over the world.

Pedestrian and Green Network

Vehicular Network

RESTRUCTURING THE CITY

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KOCHI VISION DOCUMENT MISSION CITY STUDIO (SEM II) Team members - Arkadipta Banerjee, Shinjini Saha, Walsado Sangma, Ahmed Fareed, Olivia Jacob, Mansi Jain Studio Instructors - Dr. Arunava Dasgupta, Ujan Ghosh, Rajender Singh, Rajiv Bhakat, Animesh Dev

The studio followed the theme ‘Mission Cities’ and examines urban transformation trends that have been triggered through diverse missions including the Smart City Mission, AMRUT, HRIDAY, PMAY. Focusing on Tier 2 and 3 cities like Mangalore and Kochi, the studio explores outer and peri-urban regions of the city under five different aspects of inquiry – a) Urban Aspirations b) Environment-Development Interfaces c) Whose City? d) Shelter, Livelihood and Liveability e) The Everyday City. Kochi’s unique ecological and socio-cultural setting along with its momentum of growth and change provided the studio team a strong case for an extensive, in-depth study of the prevalent processes and directions of change.

The concept of the project was imagining “Water as the lifeline of the city” Water as an asset, linkage, and unifier.

To provide improved quality of life by harnessing it as a productive landscape through resilient solutions.

Kochi has germinated and defined itself through water time and again. This strategic settlement with its proximity to water has triggered growth - fostering

ecology, local economies and trade. In times to come, the city will enhance as a model, creating foresight for sustainable growth by invigorating its relationship with water and contributing to the quality of life of its residents and visitors.

Linkage is vital for city growth. Before the onset of the rail and roads, water was paramount in connecting the city. These linkages allowed movement of not only people and goods, but as a system played a greater ecological role. The linkage will be a fresh start to restore Kochi’s natural order and reap the benefits of a future city centric to water.

Man has always associated water with everyday activities such as rituals, swimming rites with friends or reclusive boat rides. It is stitched intricately in the fabric of Kochi. Even in it’s heterogeneity it has not resulted it loss of local identity but has embraced civic pride. The city intends to retain the same sentimental value preserved for so long by defining water as a public space through interactive edges to promote social inclusivity and cultural diversity.

City Level Structure Plan

P1

P2

P3

Development at SEZ

Development around main water metro nodes (Vypeen)

Development at industrial area (Eloor)

Development around main water metro nodes (Kakkanad)

Structure Plan for Design Demonstration area (Eloor)

Existing Section

Proposed Section

Urban Design Strategies

Proposed Site Plan

View of the temple entrance

Canal-Wetland front road

Proposed housing and open space system

Tea point plaza

View from the deck

Temple precinct

URBAN TRANSFORMATION

04

(RE)EMERGING LOCALITIES Of the Indian City In The Post-Covid Era LOCAL AREA PLANNING STUDIO (SEM III) DUM DUM (WARD 21 & 22), KOLKATA Studio Instructors - Dr. Arunava Dasgupta, Ranjit Mitra, Sanjay Kanvinde, Rajender Singh, Shweta Mathur The studio aims to use community participation as the main tool to create a Local Area Plan which has the ability to reduce the gap between the city level masterplan aided by the Government and the local area level people’s aspiration and needs. The ward becomes the basic unit or area of concern in this case.

Dum Dum lies in the north western edge of Kolkata being an important historic place because of the presence of the Cantonment during the colonial times. It also became the breeding ground of various refugees during the partition of India. Various socio economic groups have been residing in the chosen wards (21 and 22) as it has offered various livelihood opportunities to the refugee settlers and also migrants from neighbouring states of Bengal - Bihar, UP, Sikkim, Assam, etc. Because of the presence of the NSCB Airport at its viccinity and the upcoming metro project, the area is going through a huge real estate pressures attracting capital intensive developments such as gated communities and large shopping malls creating concerns to local small scale business owners. The existance of the

MALL road (Millitary Accomodation Living Lines) gives unique placemaking opportunities to this place and making space of various scales of businesses. It also gets transformed as a cultural spine during the festive seasons. It also has issues concerning highly territorialized/ hegemonic neighborhoods acting as ghettos, drainage and waste problems, lack of open spaces for women and the decline of small scale factories giving way to large scale real estate projects.

UN SDGs were consulted for this project to localise the major goals to fit the specific problems, ie 1. Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) 2. Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) 3. Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) 4. Reduced inequalities (SDG 10) The main objectives was to redesign the public realm to address the local issues faced by the people and the post pandemic scenario, to rejuvinate existing spines which will act as a catalyst to attract businesses and to create social interdependencies spatially across all social groups.

Local Aspirations through Participatory Method

Re-organising Reorganising

1. Need for walkable, clean streets with shades and pause points 2. More accessible green spaces for children and elderly 3. Needs more variety of commercial setting 4. Alternative livelihood options for the bustee 5. Better public sanitation system and design 6. Better space planning for bus stand area 7. Recreational space for the youth 8. Traffic calming measures at nodes

Vision Vision

“ To create a socially equitable and economic development by “ To create athe socially equitable development by strengthening publicness of and Malleconomic road acting as a connector strengthening the publicness of Mall road acting as a improving connector the between the fragmented neighbourhoods while between the fragmented neighbourhoods while improving the infrastructural thearea. area.“ “ infrastructural facilities facilities ofofthe Major

Vehicu propos

New recreational + commercial functions are introduced near the slums and connected to mall road.

Proposed ope

Proposed Open sp

New recreational + commercial functions are introduced near the slums and connected to mall road.

Creating a pedestrian friendly street by assigning dedicated hawking zones along Creating a stretch pedestrian friendlyshaded streetareas by and assigning the commercial while creating pause points . dedicated hawking zones along the commercial stretch while creating shaded areas and pause points

Integrating withwith existing infrastructural unitsunits like waste dumping Integratingpublic publictoilets toilets existing infrastructural likeorwaste vats or which waterwill pumping stations which vats water dumping pumping stations further strengthen it. will further strengthen it.

Introducingnewer newerfunctions functions as teaching coaching Introducing suchsuch as teaching coaching centres, art schools centres, art schools or mask weaving workshops at the orentrance mask weaving at thewhich entrancewillof thecreate paras which of workshops the paras an will create an interdependency all paras reduceand the hegemonic of paras interdependencyacross across all and paras reduce character the hegemonic character of paras

Integratinginformal informal shops withstops bus+stops rikshaw Integrating shops with bus rikshaw+stand to strengthen the node stand to strengthen the node (at Ordinance factory, (atMrinalini Ordinance factory, Mrinalini cinema hall more and central jail more ) cinema hall more and central jail more )

Introducing new fu multifunctional an Insertion of pocke green open space

gg movement movement networks networks

arterial road

ular routes with sed interventions

NMT + pedestrian routes with proposed interventions

Redevelopment of commercial spine Redevelopment of commercial spine

Bus stands NMT stands

en space structure

pace system

unctions to improve the usage of open spaces and making them nd accessible. et parks along the mall road to increase the available accessible

Creating a pedestrian friendly street by assigning dedicated hawking zones along the commercial stretch while creating shaded areas and pause points .

Proposed amenities spaces Proposed Amenities spaces

Introducing social amenities at the entrance of the paras or using clubs spaces/ abandoned buildings which will create an interdependency across all neighborhoods. Integrating public toilets with existing infrastructural system which will further strengthen it.

Proposed Structure Plan

At commer

2. Bazar st

Proposed structure plan

Pedestrian and spaces. Public used by hawker channels added

Nodes to be Strengthened

At neighbo 4. Neighbo

Landmark Major arterial road Vehicular routes with proposed interventions

Tactical Design Moves 3. Nodes (meso level)

NMT + pedestrian routes with proposed interventions

Anchors

Bus stands NMT stands

Design demonstration stretch

Bus stand reoriented, made into a shaded plaza with At transit seating spacesnodes and integrated with informal shops and NMV Bus stand reoriented, made into a shaded plaza station. Wide footpath added seating spaces and integrated with informal to with reduce overcrowding shops and NMV station. Wide footpath added to situation.

reduce overcrowding situation.

Underutilised s and vocational hawking zone o of each neighbo

rcial spine (Bazaar street/ Mall road)

treet

d vehicular segregation by the addition of walkways with sitting toilet integrated with chai shops. Parklets added which will be rs in the morning and residents in the evening. Parallel drainage d. Intermediate spaces made for building entrances.

ourhood entrance points ourhood entrance point

spaces used to integrate education hubs (coaching centres) training centres with shaded plaza in the font to accommodate or informal vending. This will act as visual markers for the entrance ourhoods (paras).

At community nodes

1. Nodes (micro level) Pedestrian and vehicular segregation by the addition of walkways with sitting spaces. Public toilet integrated with chai shops. Parklets added which will be used by hawkers in the morning and residents in the evening.

Parallel drainage channels added.

Intermediate spaces made for building entrances.

Road pavement changed at junctions to avoid accidents.

Raised platform or plazas are created infront of the existing temples to attract informal activities. Rerouting of traffic for political events or festivals.

Adequate parking space added. Waste dumping vat relocated to available space + public toilet integrated with pump stations.

Road chang avoid Raised plazas infron temple inform Rerou politic festiva parkin Waste reloca space integra station

At parks and green open spaces

5. Parks and green spaces Underutilised spaces used to integrate education hubs (coaching centres) and vocational training centres with shaded plaza in the font to accommodate hawking zone or informal vending. This will act as visual markers for the entrance of each neighbourhoods (paras).

Narrow strips of the parks which i accommodate se and informal vend food stall) with a strengthen the ed Club houses reim development cent In the case of boundary walls a into sitting and ha

Narrow strips of land being reclaimed from the parks which is abutting the wider street to accommodate seating space for the elderly and informal vending (fuchka stalls, chai stall, food stall) with an avenue of trees added to strengthen the edge and for shading purpose. Club houses reimagined to accommodate skill development centres and viewing decks. In the case of parks less than 200 sqm, boundary walls around parks can be made into sitting and hawking space.

Proposed Stretch Development 10.

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Urban Design Guidelines 1. Mixed land use or commercial land use with a plot size above 2500 sq m can accommodate transformation of existing typology into podium tower model where the lower base will accommodate commercial usage upto 2 to 3 floors built to edge and above can constitute residential use. These plots should abut a means of access more than 15m – the applicant will get extra FAR upto 3.

2. Corner plots will accommodate offices/ hotels/ retails with max height of 12 floors built to edge condition.

1. Proposed Commercial complex with parking + walkway 2. Redevelopment of municipality commercial typology 3. Proposed bus stand + informal shops 4. Proposed crosswalk (traffic calming measure) 5. Proposed parking plus waiting area for health centre 6. Proposed parking for residential 7. NMV station 8. Proposed vocational skill development centre 9. Proposed park 10. Proposed public toilet + temple plaza

Proposed vocational skill development centre + park

Proposed redevelopment at temple square with social amenities

Proposed edge development as per new urban design guidelines

URBAN TRANSFORMATION

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PALLATHULI PERUVELLAM Ente Kochi Design Competition 2020 Team members - Arkadipta Banerjee, Divya Manaktola, Sanjana Verma, Shubhangi Desai, Saif, Karan Singh Shan, Ashmita Jain

Over the course of history, water has sustained human progress, and our aspiration into the future cannot be imagined without its presence. For centuries, the city of Kochi, nestled off the coast of Arabian sea has drawn its might and strength from the vastness of sea. It was ruled by the richest kingdoms and its success was assured by its proximity and relationship to the sea. Known as the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’, the city has been an important part of connecting India to the rest of the world and locally has provided not only been a source of livelihood but also provided cultural.

Developed as an intelligent integration of water into the land, the intricate network of canals and natural lagoons makes Kochi a unique ecology.

However, this ecology is slowly changing threatened as it is by both manmade and natural processes.

Like, most coastal cities of the world, it is vulnerable to climate change and rising global temperatures.

No longer pristine, and lifeline of the city, the canals

have become destructive, with every seasonal rainfall engulfing the city, leaving behind its trail devastation. Mounting challenges of ever-expanding population have further alienated the canals from everyday use, reducing itself to nothing more than a constantly flowing drainage. Even with schemes like “Operation Anantha” underway, Kochi and her 2.11 million residents still grapples with its constant pollution and the vagaries of the monsoon that clogs canal every year. Despite constant efforts by the local administration, to evacuate families during the high floods, there is severe loss of property, life, and livelihood.

Our design proposal, entitled, ‘Pallathuli Peruvellam’, seeking inspiration from water, symbiotic lives, and our shared responsibility, aims to revive, rejuvenate and restore water’s life affirming positivity. It stands on the triple bottom line approach bringing together

Structure Plan

Jewish cemetry as a community space with a pavilion for congregation

Celebrating the banks where the canal meets the backwaters

Connecting the narroest lanes through a pedestrian pathway and cleaning the canal all along

The new imagined ‘Fashion street’ along bioswales and designed landscapes with seating areas

The multimodal terminal as a landmark and placeholder

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADATION

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LAST OF THE COMMONS Re-imagining Mini hydro Power Stations Himachal Pradesh Team members - Arkadipta Banerjee, Walsado Sangma, Insia Hasnain Lab Instructor - Dr. Arunava Dasgupta

Due to modernization of infrastructure in the hills there has been a huge shift in errigation techniques - shift in piped systems mainly with the coming up of large scale hydel power projects. This is resulting in defunct traditional water systems and technology causing huge environmental, social and economic impact.

The Himachal Pradesh state hydro power policy (2006) states that it is to provide an affordable, reliable and quality power to the consumers round the clock, throughout the year, create avenues for employment to the residents of Himachal Pradesh in

the Power Projects and at the same time mitigate the Social, Economic and Environmental impact - yet not being able to successfully solve social and economic impacts.

The alternative solution is to provide mini hydro power projects which is Reliable, eco-friendly, More suited for the sensitive mountain ecology.

The vision was to reimagine mini hydel power stations which would increase production of energy and boost local economy and ultimately empower hill communities.

Functional Disposition

Conceptual Ideation

Design outcome

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1. Upper road 2. Pipe 3. Innovation centre + green house 4. Community kitchen 5. OAT ((for cinema + sitting + eating) 6. Public Toilet 7. Tea shop 8. Charging station 9. Micro Hydro power station 10. Lower road

RESEARCH AND WORKSHOPS

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TRADITIONAL FOLK ART COMMUNITY AND URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS THE CASE OF THE ARTISTS’ VILLAGE AT KALIGHAT, INDIA Journal of Architecture and Planning, Chicago, IL, USA (2019) Dr. Mainak Ghosh, Arkadipta Banerjee The transformation of urban places is a continuous process and part of the evolution of human society and related changes in spatial usage. However, little research has looked at place transformation in conjunction with traditional folk art communities.

Folk communities — whose lives, livelihoods, and activities are specifically reliant on folk art — have changed drastically over time. Did spatial changes and the effects of urbanization and globalization support or detract from them? How has place transformation affected the artists’ professions and economic situations, as well as the community at large, if at all? This paper deliberates some of these questions with the aim of investigating, documenting,

and analyzing various aspects of these issues without necessarily finding a solution. This study focused on the case of Kalighat, an artists’ village in Kolkata, India, that could be compared with other cases with similar characteristics. A holistic understanding of the interrelationships among communities and their values, activities, economies, and spatial contexts is of utmost importance in development today. This paper puts forward a prologue for future discourse in urban design, development, and management that takes into consideration artistic communities and their economies, which are as sensitive and fragile as the art itself.

RESEARCH AND WORKSHOPS

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AN URBAN VILLAGE IN MUMBAI: CULTURE AND COMMUNITY IN THE MAXIMUM CITY SUMMER WINTER SCHOOL 2017, CEPT UNIVERSITY Course Instructors - Kamalika Bose, Anuradha Parikh Vibrant communities lie at the heart of dynamic and resilient neighborhoods and cities. Their history, stories, dreams and aspirations fuel the engines of urban transformation for a future that is sustainable — economically, environmentally, culturally and socially. Mumbai’s urban villages, or gaothans, are historically endowed with this rich social and cultural capital leading quiet yet disconcerted existences. Struggling to fit into the mosaic of the city’s contemporary urban culture, Worli Koliwada, one of the earliest fishing villages in Mumbai, is representative of this phenomenon.

This study is a culmination of a collaborative effort between GSA Foundation’s CityLAB initiative and participating students from CEPT University’s Summer School 2017. Working in groups, the students interacted closely with the local community to enable qualitative research and impressionistic mapping.

Dove-tailing into GSA CityLAB’s ongoing work on

developing a participative and inclusive model for neighborhood governance, with a current focus on Solid Waste Management in the Worli Koliwada, the students additionally looked into aspects of the physical neighborhood, livelihoods, heritage, culture and memories - and their changing patterns with time.

The work attains a broader relevance in wake of Mumbai’s towering aspirations and swift transformation into a global megapolis. However, such priorities dexterously implant global images of urbanity into the local landscape, while often casting aside any concern of context, culture and livability.

That the Worli Koliwada, by its strategic location, foregrounds this emergent skyline, is both ironic and opportune. This study is thus also an attempt and opportunity to refocus on the local — by minutely observing embedded histories, acknowledging the ordinary, and enabling an inclusive, bottom-up approach of working with community and culture.

RESEARCH AND WORKSHOPS

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‘THE MISSING BASTI PROJECT’ DELHI ANTI-EVICTION MAPPING SUMMER WINTER SCHOOL 2017, CEPT UNIVERSITY Course Instructors - Swati Janu, Fredrike Thonke

Forced eviction is the process of permanent or temporal removal against the will of individuals, families, and/or communities from homes and/ or land they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection. Delhi has undergone a higher rate of forced eviction over the last few years yet the mass has very little knowledge about the subject itself. Hence there was a need for detailed surveying by ethnographic research methods.

Ultimately, the deliverable of this course was to create a website that will send a very strong message to the public. The website includes maps of settlements, history of evictions, character sketches, spatial qualities of the

settlements, and legalities concerning eviction. link of the website- http://missingbasti.com/ The workshop helped trigger a larger and longer mapping exercise in collaboration with social workers, activists, lawyers, designers, film-makers, researchers and rights-based organizations to archive all the evictions in Delhi from 1990 onwards. Started in 2018, the Missing Basti Project is a voluntary and interdisciplinary initiative to archive past and ongoing evictions in Delhi in order to question as well as mobilize action for the prevention of further evictions. It leverages the power of maps and data in supporting marginalized communities to assert their right to the city.

ARCHITECTURE

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NALANDA UNIVERSITY Rajgir, Bihar B.Arch Thesis Guided by Debanjan Kayal

Achyut Kanvinde (1969) wrote that when it comes to categorising university campuses, two typologies comes up - homogenous and heterogeneous styles. Homogenous styles are those which are concieved as an entity in a kind of geometric pattern utilising the same material and form consistantly throughout. Campuses which are of heterogenous style are made up of individual designed buildings that are distinct entities not always in harmony with each other, not providing strong enough background context to bring them together into a unified whole and yet forms a place overtime.

The thesis dwelves into the production of a middle ground between the two campus typologies.

The aim of this thesis is to design a campus which would explore the interrelation between built form with urban space and a master plan which would cater for sustainable future development.

Nalanda University which is established under the act of the parliament has been taken for design demonstration which would address the thesis enquiry.

The objectives are to design built forms and spatial qualities which would be modular in character,providing interactive urban spaces responding to the local context of the region.

Finally to create opportunities for intense work, learn, live and play environments

Masterplan Development

Basic zoning

Advanced zoning

The site faces the Rajgir hills in the south, Rajgir town in the east, a proposed stadium in the west, and a 20m highway on the north from which a service road running along the site boundary. The geometrical centre of the site is taken as the main academic core consisting of 7 schools, admin, auditorium and a large central library. The residential facilities are kept in the western portion of the site. The campus has 2 main entries, one from the service road in the north and from the railway station in the south. Future connections have been made to link with the academic core.

The geometrical centre of the academic core acts as the main focal point around which a ring road has been created which will act as a service corridor for the buildings. The academic core is bisected by a vehicular road dividing it into two parts : the academic area in the south and the faculty residence in the north.

Focal points, vistas and orientation

Urban design guidelines

The residential zones are kept as far as possible from the highway in the north and rail line in the south because of sound and air pollution. Green buffer added along the edges which face the railway line and the highway. The academic zone has a concaved orientation in order to give maximum views of the Rajgir hills. The whole academic core is placed following the 4 cardinal directions. The central plaza and the 3 entrance plazas act as the main focal points of the academic core which will give striking vistas.

1. Buildings should be placed in closer proximity to create protection from the harsh climate.

2. Buildings should be placed as clusters to break the scale of development into smaller human scale.

3. Pedestrian streets should be shaded by arcades, pergolas or avenue of trees along both sides.

4. All streets within the academic core should be pedestrian oriented.

5.The built form should reflect the materi-alistic quality of the ancient Nalanda Ma-havira.

Site Plan (Academic block)

View from the east lawns

Site section

View from the west lawns

Academic Block Design Synthesis

Academic block Axonometric

Serial Vision

Ground floor plan

First floor plan (Typical)

Front elevation

500 High parapet details

Section AA’

Facade section (typical)

View of the library

Libarary block axonometric plans

Library block section

ARCHITECTURE

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BANDHAN TRAINING CENTRE (HOSTEL BLOCK), BOLPUR ABIN DESIGN STUDIO (Internship 2018) Project involement : Design development Tender drawings Working drawings

COURTYARD

ACADEMIC BLOCK

COURTYARD

AUDITORIUM

ARCHITECTURE

CANTEEN

AUDITORIUM DROP-OFF ZONE

SERVICE DROP-OFF ZONE

SCHOOL DROP-OFF ZONE DEDICATED ACCESS TO THE FIELD PROPOSED HIGHWAY SETBACK

NATIONAL HIGHWAY

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BBSR SCHOOL, BHUBANESHWAR ABIN DESIGN STUDIO (Internship 2018) Project involement : Design development Presentation drawing