Architecture Portfolio

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

Bhavana

Bhavana Viswanathan

5th Year B Arch | CEPT University

“I believe that architecture is about the right process to arrive at solutions for any kind of design problem. As an aspiring architect, I am deeply invested in exploring and experiencing the various design processes that help enrich the outcome. In the end, it is all about creating a larger impact in the built environment and enhance the spatial experience for the users.”

EDUCATION

DOB: 15 October 2001

Nationality: Indian

+91513533663

bhavana.ug190274@cept.ac.in

bhavana.viswan@gmail.com

ABOUT CONTACT ADDRESS

B2 101, L&T South City, Arekere, Bangalore - 560076

Masters in Architecture (Exchange Semester)

ENSA La Villette, Paris- 75019

Feb - July 2023

*(Currently Pursuing)

Bachelors in Architecture

CEPT University, Ahmedabad- 380001

2019 - 2024

CBSE 12th, Higher Secondary

PSBB Learning Leadership Academy, Bangalore- 560076

Till 2019

ACHIVEMENTS LANGUAGES

English | Hindi | Malayalam

Tamil | Kannada | French (learning)

AREAS OF INTEREST

Architectural Design and Detailing

Public space designing and Planning

Graphics and illustrations

Visual Communication

Exchange Scholar - ENSA La Villette, Paris

Issued by CEPT University, 2023

Charpak Scholarship for Exchange Program

Issued by Campus France, 2023

Portable Isolation Unit Competition

Issued by Archue, 2021

(Winning Entry)

Architectural Intern

Case Design Studio LLP, Mumbai

Jan 2024 - Ongoing

Research Volunteer

Cultural Heritage Narratives (CHN), Thane

Feb 2024 - Ongoing (Part time)

Summer Intern

Rushnaiwala Architects, Ahmedabad

May - July 2022

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Fundraising Intern

Muskurahat Foundation (NGO), Mumbai

Feb - Mar 2024

Student Assistantship

Student Service Office (SSO), CEPT University, Ahmedabad

Aug - Dec 2023

SKILLS

Drafting Autocad

Modelling Rhinoceros 3D | SketchUp

Rendering Lumion

Adobe Photoshop | Indesign | Illustrator

Web Design WIX Website Design

MS Office Word | PowerPoint | Excel

Manual Model Making | Hand Drafting |

Sketching | Research

Google UX Design

Coursera, 2024

Reimagining Urban Infrastructures

CEPT Winter School, Dec 2023

Decoding Public Spaces

(Mapping the Junctions of Law Garden, Ahmedabad)

Part of Studio work, Aug 2022

Deciphering the Morphology of Bhaktapur

(Mapping the Squares of Kathmandu Valley)

CEPT Summer School, May 2022

Exploring Varanasi

(Relative Study Program)

Part of CEPT Foundation Program, Dec 2019

VOLUNTEERING/ INITIATIVES

Student Volunteer

CEPT Winter Exhibition, Dec 2023

Member of Campus Management Team

Kurla Varkey Design Forum, Aug 2023

Core Team Member

Bamboo Installation for Navarathri, Oct 2022

Founder and Club Head

CEPT Eco Club, 2021- 2022

Club Deputy

Discussion of the Week (DOTW) club, 2020 - 2022

Facade Treatment

All the shared spaces are highlighted in the facade in order to break the visual monotony and reflect the idea of the project.

Rental Space

A part of the 3 BHK Unit (Type C) could be rented out which could be used as a studio apartment for students and working professionals

Shared Corridor and lobby

The balconies of the unit are interlinked to form a shared corridor and the lobby spaces become shared verandah and chowkdi.

Skywalks

Skywalks at every third floor which interlinks all the blocks and bring the community together. It also acts as refuge area in case of fire.

Commercial edge

The compound wall is designed with commercial pockets and spaces for vending activities

Informal Seatings along the compound edge

Public Garden

The ground towards the road edge is designed as public garden which is open to other housing societies nearby.

Project Tapestry

A housing Scheme Proposal in Ahmedabad

Guided By: Vishwanath Kashikar Studio 9 | Monsoon 2023

The main aim of the project is to foster community life by designing spaces that encourages chance encounters and social interactions. At the site level, the focus was to establish connections with the outside world. Thus, a part of the ground was imagined to be a public garden that is accessible to neighbouring housing societies. The edge towards the road was also kept as fluid as possible welcoming more people and allowing commercial and vending activities to happen. At the cluster level, the project aimed to foster connections within the larger community. Inorder to achieve this, a Single loaded corridor typology was adapted which allows more opportunities for chance encounters. Elements such as shared community garden and skywalks were also created to enhance this idea. Inorder to foster connections with the individual neighbours. Common shared spaces like the entrance verandah and the kitchen chowkdi became a point of connection between two units. They were also overlooking each other to encourage vertical interactions. In essence, the project embodies a complex tapestry were each strand, while distinct, intricately interwining them forms the cohesive whole.

The Two Grounds

Massing such that the ground is divided into a public garden and an inner community garden for the society (shared resource)

Stepped Mass

Decreasing the height of the mass and creating accessiblie terraces of the community

Level difference to exaggerate the transition from the public spaces to the private spaces at site level at cluster level at unit level

Horizontal Connection

Common shared spaces (like the entrance verandah and the kitchen chowkdi) becomes a point of connection between two units

Vertical Connection

Overlooking spaces/ corridors creates opportunities for vertical interactions to take place.

Plan Diagram

Plan Organisation of a unit with public spaces facing the shared spaces and private spaces separated by services.

Sectional Diagram

The Identity of Shahpur Reveal

Ahmedabad has a rich historical background and the fort wall becomes one of the main anchor points in its history. It is famously known as the Walled City which encloses the oldest part of the city on the eastern banks of Sabarmati River. Shahpur becomes the first neighbourhood to be part of the walled city. It is known for its rooted historical background, textiles and diverse cultural neighbourhood. The dense urban fabric integrated with residential (pol houses), commercial, industrial and mixed-use buildings increases the diversity of the place. Thus the vision of the project is to reveal this rooted identity of Shahpur- by creating Shahpur as a Gateway to the history of the Walled City and at the same time incorporating the present needs to lead a healthy future. This was approached by revealing the foundations of the Fort wall (with an assumption that it is found during the excavation) as it literally celebrates the past and evokes a sense of pride amongst people. The program, thus serves as a curated journey of the past (fort wall remains) and present (need for public open spaces) making the station beyond just a transit space.

that compliments the structure of Bastions to house all the functions and create pause points

Stepping Plazas

inorder create a journey along the fort wall and facilitate different kinds of activities

A clear walk through between the fort wall remains on one side and activities on the other side

A sense of visual or physical connection with the wall is maintained in all the spaces across the levels

Special N

A Place to Stay, Champaner

Guided By: Anuj Anjaria | Muntaha Rushnaiwala

Studio 6 | Spring 2022

Beginning the design process by decoding the music of Special N by the artist Mogwai and forming a narrative for the program, the journey through the spaces became the focal point. The three keywords that came as a result of the process were the feeling of narrowness in the pathways, the sudden sense of openness and a sense of relief at the end of the journey.

Thus, the final design aimed at creating a place to stay which included the living, Kitchen, dining, bedrooms and bathrooms. Design decisions such as long narrow pathway at the entrance leading to a large courtyard, curved roofline directing towards outside, contrasting flooring of Kadappa stone in transition spaces and Grey Kota stone in the main spaces emphasis the experience of narrowness to sudden sense of openness. Kinetic played a major role in experiencing a sense of relief at the end of the journey. L- shaped wall of 4m x 3 m opens up to the outside and blurs the boundaries of inside and outside. This wall not just acts as a large opening but also creates a space with a window, door and seating within it.

Detailed Section (Showing the Elevation of Kinetic Wall in Closed condition)

1: 2 Scale Kinetic Wall

View of the Mechanism

Movement: Closed condition

CO-Lab

An Innovation Lab, Ahmedabad

Guided By: Jahnavi Bhatt | Nilang Pandya Studio 5 | Monsoon 2021

CO-LAB aims at creating an innovation lab that promotes start-ups and innovators to come together, interact and collaborate to take their ideas and skills forward and succeed in their business ventures. Located near Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, design includes, workshop (handson and digital), conference room, admin, Kitchen, dining. The program also provides accomodation spaces for 5 people with a small pantry. The main idea revolved around freeing the ground to continue the existing activity of students sitting and conversing and keeping the structure light and open to increase transparency between inside and outside.

The latter part of designing explores various details and servicing such as staircase, doors and windows eletrical and light fixtures, plumbing and flooring finishes required for the proper functioning of the built form.

Amphitheatre for gatherings and performances

Co-curricular/ Public Block for the community engagement

Students engaging with the community in the Open Grounds

Pond acting as element of Sensorial Learning

Gardening as an hands-on learning to engage with nature

Second Home

Learning with nature and neighbourhood

Guided By: Mitesh Panchal | Anagha Joshi Studio 4 | Spring 2021

Located in between a busy road and a calm residential area in Bangalore, the project ‘Second Home’ aims at creating a learning space that not only belongs to the students of the school but also belongs to the public in the neighbourhood. The design allows multiple opportunities to learn amidst nature (Sensorial learning), learn from each other (Social learning), and learn through experiences (Hands-on learning). It also creates an environment for the neighbourhood to engage in various activities happening in the space. Certain design decisions such as introduction of courtyard, OTS, pavilion, open amphitheatre and bifold doors between spaces increased the transparency and the multi-functionality of the spaces.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How are people learning and utilizing their skills and to what extent are they sharing it with each other?

DESIGN QUESTION

How can we create a physical space that can motivate people to share their skills?

LARGER AIM

To create opportunities for better economic development in the community.

TECHNICAL SKILLS EMPLOYMENT

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PEOPLE OF KESHAVNAGAR

CREATIVE SKILLS

DOMESTIC HELPERS

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL SKILLS

Types of skills and why skill sharing as a potential

RICKSHAW DRIVERS

GRUH - UDHYOGWORKERS PAINTERS

ELECTR ICIANS

Saath Mein Vikaas

A Place to Learn from Each other

Guided By: Harshil Parekh | Ramya Ramesh Studio 3 | Monsoon 2020

Dwellers in Keshavnagar, Ahmedabad are the biggest asset for the community. Each of them possess unique skills right from technical to creative and social skills. The possibility of skill sharing is seen as a potential because it generates better employment opportunities, personal development and eventually community development.

Saath Mein Vikaas which means ‘Developing Together’ aims at creating a place that motivates people to share their skills and learn from each other. It also provides opportunities for learning additional skills which helps in better employment and economic growth, thus achieving the larger aim of the project. This project is divided into 2 phases. Phase 1 is temporary phase which is interacting and conducting small community meetings in the different chowks to gain the trust of the people. Phase 2 is evolution of a centralised community space for common meetings and further developing it into a place for skill sharing.

Stage 1: Formation of Platform for Formal Discussions (6 to 7 Months)

Stage 2: Extension of Ground Floor for Workshops (1 Year)

Stage 3: Addition of First Floor for conducting classes (Close to 2 Years)

Un Paradis Urbain

The Idea of Mixity

Guided By: Audigier Fréderique | Littow Pekka Exchange Semester | Spring 2023

In the heart of Pantin, the project is located along a major road artery of the city of Paris. It aims to create an urban paradise with multiple functions coming together in the same space (the idea of mixed-use typology). The overlapping of distinct functions such as an health centre, leather goods workshop, coworking spaces and multiple housing units can be seen in the project. The central green spaces not only helps in tying the project together but also encourages diverse activities to flourish. After the master plan stage, the studio focused on developing and detailing the individual spaces. The health center is located right in front main road for ease of access. Inorder to increase the visibilty of the building the facade is intentionally made with red bricks. The interior spaces arranged around a central atrium-like space that brings in light and helps in ventilation of the spaces. There are also housing units within the health center which acts as spaces for elderly people, disabled and visiting doctors.

ORGANISATION

Dorms Medical Cabinets Infirmerie Administration Services Personal Space

The Idea of Mixed - Use Typology

(Dorms above Medical Cabinets for elderly people, disabled and visiting doctors)

STEP 7: Main Concrete layer

Paolo Soleri

STEP 6: Steel Reinforcement

STEP 6: Steel Reinforcement

STEP 5: Thin Concrete Layer Man With a Utopian Vision

Guided By: Smit Vyas Semester 6 | HRW-4 Agents | Spring 2022

Born in 1919 in Turin, Italy, Paolo Soleri graduated from Politecnico di Torino. In 1947, he moved to Arizona, US to do a fellowship under FL Wright. Though the fellowship was for a short period of time (one and a half years), FL Wright clearly played a major role in influencing the ideologies of Soleri. Returning to Italy after his fellowship, in 1965, Soleri along with his wife started their own practice called “Cosanti Foundation” in Arizona. Taking all learnings and experience, in 1969 he coined the term “Arcology” which is a fusion of architecture and ecology that is capable of demonstrating a positive response to many problems of urban civilisation such as population growth, depletion of natural resources and food scarcity. This illustrative essay depicts the journey of Arcology in one of his famous projects named Arcosanti- Soleri’s vision of how a city should be in future.

STEP

STEP 4: Plastic Sheet Cover

STEP

STEP 2: Concrete Base

STEP

CONSTRUCTION

STEP

STEP 3: Silt Mount Mould

STEP 1: Concrete Formwork

STEP 1:

Thai Kottaram

Documenting

Padmanabhapuram Palace

Guided By: Mona Khakkar

Semester 4 |Technology II | Spring 2021

Thai Kottaram is a part of the Padmanabhapuram Palace complex located in Tuckalay, Tamil Nade. It was built originally by Ravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal in 1601 and later modified in 1750s. Made of stone and teakwood, it follows a Kerala courtyard house typology. Since it is located in a hot and humid place, there are a lot of climatic decisions taken such as the verandah acting as a buffer space and protecting the interior living areas from harsh sun, the central courtyard has the roofing sloped from all directions to drain the rainwater and the horizontal louvres for natural ventilation. These drawings show a clear overview of the building, the overall layout of the spaces around the courtyards, the sloping roofs in the section and the various details of the wooden structural system amalgamating with the stone walls.

THAI KOTTARAM

PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE COMPLEX

THAI KOTTARAM

Thuckalay, Tamil Nadu

PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE COMPLEX

Thuckalay, Tamil Nadu

Team - Bhavana | Abhishek | Avaneesh

PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE COMPLEX

Banaras Ki Galiyan

Study of streets in Buhuteshwar Gali

Guided

By:

Maulik Chauhan Semester 1 | RSP | Monsoon 2019

The city of Varanasi is famous for its Ghats. There are narrow streets behind these Ghats where the buildings do not allow sunlight to pass through. These buildings have shops on the ground floor for easier visibility and accessibility and residences on the upper floors. This study focuses on the streets behind a 400m stretch extending from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Chousatti Ghat and the space utilization there. There is a continuous line of shops of varying sizes that share a common wall. Within these shops, space utilization in terms of the arrangement of products varies. The shops on this side sell everyday items as well as items that would attract tourists more. Apart from the stationed shops, one can also find mobile shops where the vendors travel through the streets while singing their jingles to attract customers.

Team - Bhavana | Samriddhi | Riddhi | Konkana

Competition - Archue | Winning Entry | 2021 POISUN

Competition - Archue | Winning Entry | 2021 POISUN

Portable Isolation Unit

PORTABLE ISOLATION UNIT

The name POISUN is derived from its function of being a Portable Isolation Unit that is collapsible and convenient to use. The integrated unit avoids the hassle of reading a manual and connecting independent parts. This also allows the unit to be erected in an hour without external help. The unit when collapsed is a 2.3x1.2x1.2 m box with wheels allowing easy transport while the erected unit measures 4.5x2.3x3 m (Area=10.5 sq m).

The selected materials, CDX plywood, steel box sections and canvas make the unit durable. The sturdier wooden part of the unit can house services like washrooms, exhausts, etc. The interior spaces are partitioned using canvas cloth that is provided in the box and it can be detached as per the function. Several such units with varying functions come together to form a healthcare institution.

The name POISUN is derived from its function being a Portable Isolation Unit is collapsible and convenient integrated unit avoids the hassle of reading a manual and connecting independent This also allows the unit to be erected in an hour without external help. The unit when collapsed is a 2.3x1.2x1.2 m box with allowing easy transport while the erected unit measures 4.5x2.3x3 m (Area=10.5 sq m). selected materials, CDX plywood, steel sections and canvas make the unit durable. The sturdier wooden part of the unit can house services like washrooms, exhausts, etc. The are partitioned using canvas that is provided in the box and it can be detached as per the function. Several such units with varying functions come together to form a healthcare institution.

Team - Bhavana | Samriddhi | Sreelekshmi | Namrita

Team - Samriddhi | Bhavana | Sreelekshmi | Namrita

Hands-On Learning

Use of actual mediums and materials

Across All semesters

As the name itself suggests, this section of the portfolio is all about acquiring physical skills by working with actual materials such as wood, metal and bamboo in the workshop. This helped in understanding the properties of each of the materials, their joineries, the tools used and the practical issues faced while building on a 1:1 scale. Learning from masters is a project that was executed in the 6th Semester. It is essentially a cube that has various kinetic openings (designed by master architects) in each of its faces. Vertebral Bamboo is an installation that was built for Navarathri. Inspired by fossils the installation was made of Bamboo slats, which were curved to form triangular modules of varying dimensions. Traveling and Sketching is another valuable medium that helped in increasing my observation skills and understand variations of spaces and its experiences

Vertebral Bamboo (Navarathri Installation at CEPT University)

Travel and Live Sketches

bhavana.ug190274@cept.ac.in

| bhavanaviswan@gmail.com