Graduation Portfolio - Ganesh Umasankar - 2023

portfolio ganesh umasankar

Personal Information

Name

Date of birth

Nationality

Mother tongue

Languages known

Email ID

Contact Number

: Ganesh Umasankar

: 08-August-1998

: Indian

: Tamil

: English,Tamil, Deutsch(A1)

: ganesh.umasankar07@gmail.com

: +91 9444182440

EDUCATION

- School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, Chennai, India. Bachelor in architecture 2016 - 2021

- Sri Sankara Vidyalaya MHSS, Tambaram, Chennai, India. Higher secondary 2016

WORK EXPERIENCE

- Ph.D Research Assistantship. JAN. 2023 - Present Assisting PhD Scholar, based on Urban design and Development

- Worked on ground survey for the pilot project, Data collection.

- Working on GIS softwares to analyse data

- Kardium Architecture, Chennai, India. JUN. 2021 - DEC. 2021 Junior Architect

- Worked on Construction drawings, Schematic plans for individual residents, office spaces and apartment buildings.

- Designed Interiors for residents and office buildings

- Sketching, Auto CAD, SketchUp, 3ds Max V-Ray, Lumion, Adobe suite.

- Errol Reubens Associates, Ahmedabad, India. DEC. 2019 - MAR. 2020 Intern

- Worked on Schematic plans for various residential, office building and produced construction drawings.

- Designed and detailed an entire fire escape structure for a existing office building using steel construction technique.

- Worked on Interior design for several residential building.

- Produced Construction drawings and MEP drawings for residential and institutional buildings.

- RamPrakash $ Associates, Chennai, India. MAY. 2019 - JUN. 2019 Summer Intern

- Designed interiors for residential building.

- Worked on presentation sheets for competition entry.

SKILLS

- Manual - Drafting, Model making, Sketching.

- Digital - AutoCAD, SketchUp, Cinema4D, Revit, Rhino, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign Lumion, V-ray 3DS Max, Keyshot, Premier Pro, QGIS, eQuest ( Energy simulation )

CO-CURRICULAR ACHIEVEMENTS

- National level Winner in Residential category

Competition conducted by REIMAGINE WITH EVEREST. MAR. 2021

- Special mention in South Indian Design Competition

Conducted at Zonal National Association for Students in Architecture convention. SEP. 2017

- Director of International Affairs

Rotaract Club of School of Architecture and Planning. NOV, 2017 - SEP. 2018

- Participated in Transparence 2020

A National competition conducted by ETHOS India. DEC. 2020

- Participated in IGBC Green Design Competition 2021

Conducted by Indian Green Building Council. OCT. 2021

CRUX

MIXED USE TRANSIT HUB

Location : Madhavaram, Chennai.

Project : Academic thesis.

( Individual )

Level : 10th Semester

Role : Urban analysis, Site selection, Context analysis, Program selection, Concept development, Architectural design, Digital modeling, Design visualization and Presentation.

Duration : Jan 2021 - May 2021

Studio Coordinator : Dr. P. Meenakumari, M. Arch, PhD. (meenak@annauniv.edu)

Mixed Use Transit Hub is intertwining of mixed use typology and multimodal transit system. The Crux is the point where all the factors in an urban realm meet and cease to co-exist. Mixed use typology includes integration and coexisting of various typologies such as residential, commercial, office, retail, cultural, institutional, entertainment, recreation, etc,.

CHENNAI - City Profile

Area: 1,189 km2 (CMA)

Population: 4,646,732 (census 2011)

Density: 26,553 persons per sq km.

Public Transit system

Bus (MTC)

Suburban train

MRTS

Metro

Chennai – an economically powerful city on the south-east coast of India. Its rich cultural heritage co-exists harmoniously with industrial and services sectors that have successfully drawn people from across the country. As per the census of 2011 the population grew by 7% with a density of 26,553 persons per sq km.The presence of ports and a long coastline enabled Chennai to develop into an industrial city

Analysing the key residential and industrial zones, the mixed use transit hub is proposed in northern chennai at Madhavaram

Context images

Key residential zones

Key industrial zones

View of Madhavaram Bus Terminus

View of NH 716 (200Ft ring road)

View of Madhavaram round-about and flyover

View of Retteri Lake

Manual model to capture the growth of humans by means of water ripples.

The Context of madhavaram and the Retteri lake has made an impact in analysing the context. The fluid dynamics of lake hinders human intervention between madhavaram and retteri.

This syntax made me analyse the context and neighborhood as water body and human interventions as water droplets while the lake now is expressed in a way it hinders the movement.

The context is Mixed residential and commercial, the region is characterized by the highways and the Godowns. apart from residential, healthcare facilities.

Design evolution

Vertical Zoning

The functions introduced in the mixed use are selected by observing the activities and needs the context demands, vertical zoning is done in preliminary stages of design and stacked in order to allow its neighboring function to coexist and accelerate the people’s usage simultaneously.

Concept section

Commercial complex Transit complex NH 716

Design overview

Truckyard Storage Market Commercial block Sky-bridge

Metro station Transit complex

Madhavaram roundabout Pedestrian plaza

Vehicular entrance Para-transit station

The Transit complex consist of a metro station of metro corridor 5 and mofussil bus terminus which connects to the MTC service as well as APSRTC. Other facilities such as dormitories, food court, cinema halls, gymnasium, indoor kids play area and a bowling alley adds on to the experience of the commuters as well as the user groups attracted to individual function.

Multiple functions are achieved by taking them to different levels, User groups who come here for recreational amenities are gradually filtered from daily commuters who are running on time to catch their metro/bus. A sky bridge that connects the transit and commercial complex is at 26.5m above ground level.

Sky bridge Kids play Bowling alley

Gymnasium

Cinema

Platform

Metro concourse

Concourse Atrium

View of Atrium in transit complex

View of Transit complex

Section through Transit complex

The Commercial Complex has three levels of rent out space, two levels of co-working space, conventional multipurpose hall and a hotel. The hotel has its own private entrance and lobby. The co-working space is designed with levels and a mezzanine with double ceiling height brings in ample amount of daylight into the space.

View of Commercial complex

Section through Commercial Complex

View of Sky bridge.

View of Sky bridge View of Swimming pool in Hotel lobby level. Shopping Storage Market

The Swimming pool at the hotel lobby creates an infinity view over the horizon and the retteri lake in context attracts birds. All the hotel suites overlook the lake so birdwatching can be an activity. The pool also reflects dynamic reflection over the balconies of the hotel suites that creates a pleasing dynamic environment.

Skybridge connects the commercial block with transit block., It is at a height of 26.5m above ground, creating a viewpoint and a destination, attracts users towards the site. The bridge is cable suspended and is supported by concrete piers, arches are connected to piers which distributes the load.

Truck yard contributes in small amount of goods transfer, fresh goods from other states and district gets unloaded and the products are sold in the market space.

The facade is a fluid form diagrid structure which provides stability as well as creates dynamic shadows inside the building, this structure reduces the solar gain thereby reducing the energy used by the building.

LEGEND

Commercial rent space

Co-working

Hotel lobby

Hotel restaurant

Core Storage

Trial rooms Services

Lavatory

Sky bridge

LEGEND

Main

Paid concourse

Dormitories

Commercial stalls

Food court

Kichen

Cinema Gymnasium

Kids play area

Bowling alley

Core Services

Lavatory

Sky bridge

Exploded isometry Commercial complex

Exploded isometry Transit complex

Shopping Lvl.

Boutique Lvl.

Co-working Lvl.

Co-working Lvl.

Sky-bridge Lvl.

Hotel lobby Lvl.

Dormatory Lvl.

Food court A Lvl.

Food court B Lvl.

Cinema Lvl.

Recreational Lvl.

The main intend of this project is to maximise the density along the transit corridors and use transit oriented development to solve the rapid development of the city, by increasing the density along transit corridors, people tend to use more of public transportation, this will help in reduction of carbon footprint and move the society to a sustainable future, not only stopping with the transit corridor development, but also proper and safe movement to and from these nodes to the extend of the city in which people of all ages and gender can commute will make such development thrive. This thesis project is an exploration with multiple functions, working on such a project which is at the crux of all activities was a great experience. From writing down the synopsis till the final presentation, I have enjoyed the process and very much happy about how the project evolved.

View of CRUX- Mixed use transit hub in vv context

Isometric view of CRUX- Mixed use transit hub

URBAN COURTYARD

Urban Design

Location : Madhyakailash, Chennai.

Project : Academic.

( Group )

Level : 9th Semester

Role : Urban design, Handling social aspect of the junction, Context analysis, User-group study, Concept development, Rethinking urban context, Urban Furniture design, Design visualization and Presentation.

Duration : Aug 2020 - Nov 2020

Studio Coordinator : Dr. P. Meenakumari, M. Arch, PhD. (meenak@annauniv.edu)

Urban Courtyard redefines the urban heart to reflect the social and physiological, economic and cultural needs of the society. This design aims at being an entrance to the city, promote NMT and addresses communal needs. Madhyakailash junction connects two major roads in Chennai. The social aspect of this project is handled by myself and is presented here.

Madhyakailash Junction

Edge condition

ENTRANCE to Chennai

NMT based design

Imageability

Making a strong visual identity by creating green pockets and plaza on a major junction to redefine the presumed visual perception of a city from glass skyline to organic green cover.

Access

Social space intertwining with various modes of transport and enabling last mile connectivity. Taking the motorised transport lanes underground to enhancing the use of non motorised transport above ground thereby making the plaza pedestrian friendly.

COMMUNITY invested Magnify

Crux of social interaction, designing the social spaces according to the usergroups such that both transit and local users can benefit from. Installations and built spaces reflecting the cultural background magnify the richness and heritage of the city.

Imagability

What?

City’s culture

Art

Why?

Entrance to city

Madhyakailash junction in chennai connects Sardar patel road with OMR (Rajiv gandhi expressway) The junction is crutial in connecting the city to its industries. The junction also has an MRTS station which is widely used by commuters using public modes of transportation.

Junction data

User movement

How?

Five great epics

Literature Sangam literature

Celebration

Architecture

Actively participated by various usergroups and neighboring communities

Surrounded by rich landmarks and institutions

Enriching the plaza experience by changing the urban facade perceived by users to nature’s facade A performing arts center with indoor auditorium and studios Exhibition space for art and artistic works

Pavilion design by abstracting the characteristics of selected literature plot

*This Projects is a group project, done between aug. 2020 - nov. 2020 so due to covid pandemic, the data used for this project mainly dependent on literature study which was divided and collected by all the members of the team, the project was divided onto 3 namely Social plaza, MRTS redesign and redeveloping social housing along the Buckhingham canal. The social plaza is done my myself and is presented here.

Junction data

Stakeholders

Junction data

Vehicular movement

Stakeholders

◆ Residents of kotturpuram, Gandhi nagar, kasturibai nagar.

◆ Students and staff of surrounding schools and institutions.

◆ Street vendors from nearby areas.

◆ Commuters leaving from and going to MRTS.

◆ Commuters using buses.

◆ Temple visitors.

◆ Daily communtes crossing the junction.

Issues

◇ Vehicular traffic congestion.

◇ Unsafe pedestrian paths.

◇ MRTS edge being inactive

◇ Blind spots and Insufficient lamp posts which makes the junction unsafe at nights.

◇ Lack of people engagement.

◇ Un-utilised urban infrastructures adding up to urban heat.

◇ Less shading elements contributing to increase in micro climate and human comfort.

Kasturibai Nagar MRTS station

Pavilions

OMR ( IT Express corridor )

Sardar patel road

Culture center

Kasturibai Nagar

MA Chidambaram College of nursing

CLRI campus

Madhyakailash Temple

Para-transit station play park Cycle track

Lavatory

Buckingham canal

Magic carpet is an interactive installation which projects light on flood based on people movement, Water curtain projects time and can be utilized for commercial purpose.

Cycle trials and walking trials are weaved into the urban courtyard, Umbra seaters is an urban furniture inspired from cultural point of community interaction under a tree.

Design elements

Vehicular movement is separated from pedestrian by taking them to different levels, sardar patel road is connected to OMR by Subterranean underpass

The urban courtyard is filled with green cover, this reimagines the entrance of a city from a noisy vehicular junction to grove with pedestrian plaza.

Culture center is proposed with a grand auditorium (150 seating) and 7 studio spaces for practicing/ learning the traditional arts. Studio spaces is enriched with indoor and outdoor.

View of Urban courtyard.

View of Culture center

This design is an exploration to achieve an indoor space with spacial natural qualities, Creating a sustainable conventional and co-working office space, Which enhances the physiological and psychological comforts in its users. Started with Music then to Vibrations, Brain waves and Reverberation in structures that can reverb a particular vibration. Going through various research studies and solving all the structural systems and services concluded my design named SOUL (The Built for Living).

SOUL - Office design

Amalgamation of working spaces

Location : Karapakkam, Chennai.

Project : Academic.

( Individual )

Level : 6th Semester

Role : Concept development, Workspace planning, Facade design, Experimental design, Architectural design, Physical and Digital modeling , Design visualization and Presentation.

Duration : Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

Studio Coordinator : Ar. C.B. Cibi Balakrishnan

(cibi.c.b@gmail.com)

Music has ultimately proven to bringin Productivity and helps in healing one by enhancing his sense of Hearing. The dynamism in its structure is the key to divulge from the uniform environment created around us.

Brain waves

The human brain is made up of brain cells called neurons, which communicate with each other through electrical brain waves. The pattern of brain waves changes depending on one’s level of consciousness and cognitive processing.

Brain waves types

Delta Waves [0.5Hz -4Hz]

Dreamless sleep, Human growth hormone release.

Theta Waves [4Hz -8Hz]

Dreaming sleep, Increase productivity

Alpha Waves [8Hz -14Hz]

Relaxation, beginning to access subconscious mind.

Beta Waves [14Hz -30Hz]

Concentration, high level associated with anxiety

Gamma Waves [30Hz -100Hz]

Focus on problem solving, higher level of concentration.

Our Environment is designed is such a way that it keeps humans productive over the years. Dynamism in our natural environment helps us to be cherished and happy throughout, Can this be captured in a static environment, can the essence be captured by man-made form ?

The site is located on the IT Express Corridor of Chennai, next to water stream called okkiyam maduvu. The site is 2.8KM from the shore line hence can experience salty sea air. The IT Express corridor is the major arterial road connecting chennai city with its IT industries.

Site context

SOUL

Step

Step

Step

Step

maximize the views.

Reverberation experimentation

In order to change/retain a particular wave reverberation in a space SABINE EQUATION defines the relationship between T60 of a room, it’s volume and its absorption coefficients.

T60= 24 ln10-1 V / C20 Sa ~ 0.1611sm-1 V/Sa .

C20 - Speed of sounf in room

V - Volume of room

S - Surface area of room

a - Average absorption coefficient of room surface

Design outcome

Sa - Total absorption (Material used in this space has Sa~0.15) Reverberation time R60 and volume V of the room, height have influence in critical distance for reverberation D c The atrium designed in co-working space has a kinetic dome which changes Critical Distance. This is used inorder to bring in various reverberations inside the space according to the users activity/workflow.

Critical Distance - 160 (DELTA WAVES) Increases human hormone growth, access to unconscious and collective unconscious mind.

Critical Distance - 120 (THETA WAVES) Increases creativity and increase retention of learning material.

Critical Distance - 100 (ALPHA WAVES) Indulges brain to relaxation, superlearning and relaxed focus.

Critical Distance - 80 (BETA WAVES) Indulges brain to increase concentration, alertness and cognition.

Critical Distance - 40 (GAMMA WAVES) Indulges brain to increase focus on problem solving and bring in fighter level of alertness.

Conventional Office and Studio Apartments

Co-Working Office Space Basement Parking

Step 01 : The building mass is raised excluding the set back area.

02 : Blocks are elevated through ascending order from road side.

03 : Blocks are split and subdivided to have multiple terraces with varying heights.

04 : Internal courtyards are introduced in every block for maximizing the natural ventilation.

05 : The blocks are chamfered oriented to

Design site Built form

Conventional office and co-working

Vehicular movement and service road.

Basement parking Stairs and lift cores

Atrium of Co-working space

Diagrids are structural and helps in setting up an open floor plan in a conventional office.

Greenery layer run along the circumference of the building acts as a secondary system which reduces the heat gain.

Polarized Glass is used to regulate the amount of light and intensity of sun light entering the building.

Legend

Commercial Food court

Conventional Office Studio apartment Daycare center

Communal auditorium

Co-working office Service lane

Physical model Section through Fire Stairs

Conventional Office Internal Courtyard Fire Stairs

Basement Parking Common Lobby

Shading Element

The design brief aimed at creating work environment, two kinds of office spaces has been designed, one being the conventional office space with cubicals and the other being the flexible coworking space, the conventional office space follows the norms with sustainable corporate environment addressing the context and climate, the flexible coworking space is experimented with theoretical concepts to enhancing the human comfort by reverbing brain waves inside the spaces.

Spearing Street is a mixed use complex near a proposed bus terminus in Chennai. The design aims in analysing the contemporary pattern in growth of the city and interpret the same in a micro context. Surrounded by institutional and industrial hubs define the programs of this mixed use commercial hub.

SPEARING STREET

Mixed use commercial hub

Location : Urapakkam, Chennai.

Project : Academic.

( Individual )

Level : 7th Semester

Role : Concept derivation and development, Urban Analysis, Program derivation, Mixed use design, Architectural design, Digital and Physical Modeling, Design visualization and Presentation.

Duration : Aug 2019 - Oct 2019

Studio Coordinator : Ar. P. Yuvaraj

(yuvaswamy88@gmail.com )

Programs and user groups

The design aims to bring a symbolic relationship between the users and the built form, the liquid population in the site demands mixed-use development inorder to satisfy them throughout the day and throughout the year. Needs of the site is translated into programs of their respective typologies.

In Chennai city, Trade has been the main motive at the beginning with lead to birth of new industries around the city, these industries inturn demanded better trading modes to commute, connectivity through road, rail, water and air has been well established which lead to further growth of the city. Being one of the metropolitan cities of India, Chennai has rich infrastructure and a dense population. The city has attracted people from their rural areas. Transit of population movement throughout the year plays a major role in sustaining the balance.

Urappakam is a town panchayat .The site is situated near crescent college and is just 0.5km away from vandaloor zoo. The GST road acts as a spine for the development in and around the context The GST Road has peppered with several residential and commercial hubs alongside. Connecting Chennai and Trichy.The vehicular traffic intensifies during the peak hours i.e. from morning 7 am to 9 am and during evening 5pm to 8pm.During festive seasons and weekends, a hang of populated traffic near Tambaram is extended near the site.

Massing evolution diagram

Site entry

Site entry

Final

Step 06 : creating active edges towards the node.

Step 01 creating buffer from setback.

Step 02 : extruding solid mass.

Step 03 : creating axis and node.

Step 04 : blocks divided based on functions.

Step 05 : expanding the node.

LEGEND

Spearing Street colligate various usergroups from the context and attracts them to the core outdoor space which is set to be dynamic through its users, their activities and their need through time.

1. The Commercial block Restaurants, Eateries and Shopping units.

2. The Recreational block Theater, Event space and Gymnasium.

3. Dormitories For temporary stay with aminites for the transit population.

4. The Co-working block Co-working space for the startups and industries and institutional use.

5. The Knowledge block Contains a library for the share of knowledge and a node for student community.

1. Commercial block

2. Recreational block

3. Dormitories

4. Co-working block

5. Library

6. Parking block (future extension)

View of the Node

Street view of the Node, Spearing Street

RER aims at create multi-functional residential spaces to incorporate work-from-home. Each nuclear family pods creates pockets that allows privacy and connection. We also adapted dry-wall construction techniques to reduce environmental impact during construction process, easy installation and mass production. Three modular Dwelling units A,B,C of area 64 sq.m, 100 sq.m, 144 sq.m are proposed.

RER - Rotate Expand Retract Resilient housing design

Location : Hypothetical site (Modular design)

Project : Competition ( Group )

Level : National level ( Winning entry )

Role : Modular design development, Designing retractable interior walls within a unit, CAD Drafting, Digital modeling, Architectural design, Design visualization and Presentation.

Duration : Nov 2020 ( 3 weeks )

Studio Coordinator : nil.

Rotate Expand Retract is a concept which deals with dynamism within modules. Increase in demand for affordable housing in India can be addressed by proposing modular design which can be customised for each site considering its topology, climate and context. This proposal deals with the detailing of square modules which uses steel members for structural framework and paneling for walls. Dwelling unit(DU)

A, B, C of sizes 8m x 8m , 10m x 10m , 12m x 12m respectively are proposed. Unit A is targeted for LIG users while Unit B and C are designed for MIG users.

False Ceiling

Everest designer board 6mm with high thermal and sound insulating properties.

False Ceiling Grid

G.I. main runners are suspended from the soffit/ purlins with G.I wire hanger.

Structural Framework

Light gauge steel frame as dry wall skeleton used as filler walls.

Flexible Wall

Everest Standard Boards have also been utilised as louvers. Artewood adds sophistication, style and opulence to the design.

Partition Wall

Everest Smartwalls are better than traditional brick-block walls have low thermal mass and high heat resistance.

External Wall

RAPICON panels are ready made Fiber Reinforced Aerated Concrete sandwich panels. Rapicon walls helps in space saving and provide better thermal insulation.