Harsh Desai's Architectural Portfolio for Masters

Architecture Portfolio

Harsh M Desai

Selected Work 2014-2019 hmdesai08@gmail.com

“ Design is noting but a humble understanding of materials, a natural instict for solutions and respect for nature �

-Ar B.V. Doshi Indian Architect 2018 Pritzker Prize Winner

contents

01 Thesis National Museum of Architecture Ahmedabad | Gujarat 02 Housing Casa Riverfront Apartments Ahmedabad | Gujarat 03 Hotel Design Sea Shell Retreat Daman | Gujarat 04 Urban Design Naturopathy Centre+ Public Intervention Chandod | Gujarat 05 Professional Work Residential + Industry Bangalore | Karnataka

06 Miscellaneous + Ta j Amity Mumbai Pavilion Competition Photography + Models + Sketches

01

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ARCHITECTURE, AHMEDABAD

THESIS

INDIVIDUAL

It is to bridge this gap in understanding between the profession and society that the National Museum of Architecture is needed.

Project Type : Public Institutional

The Museum of Architecture will provide information about the evolution of Indian architecture from Indus Valley civilization to Post-Modernism.

THESIS STUDIO(1105001) YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2019(10th Semester) GUIDE: Ar. Babar Yahya

WORD CLOUD (OVERVIEW)

LOCATION

Ahmedabad,Gujarat,India

Paldi Area, Ahmedabad

Site(Red Marked)

SITE CONTEXT

Tagore Hall, Ar B V Doshi

Architecture is an ancient discipline, and the results of its thinking and endeavour provide us with some of the most lasting examples of our culture.

Our monuments, cities, and villages speak of our culture and civilization over the longest span of time. Yet, and possibly by an accident of history, the representation of architecture and its role in our society has not yet flowered till this moment.

Sanskar Kendra, Ar Le-Corbusier

National Institute of Design

The initial conceptualization of the project revolved around the idea of showcasing the evolution of architecture from Ancient Architecture to Modernism to Post-Modernism. The idea was to amalgamate all the forms into one building which would become the elevation of the museum. But upon analysing the site constrains and context, the museum took the form of Minimalism by making a parallel wall concept

Flower Park, Sabarmati Riverfront

SITE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

SITE ANALYSIS This area can be used for parking of buses and cars due to ‘west access only’ entry.

The flower park attracts a lot of visitors from around the city.

Non-commercial vehicle Not allowed on this road Along riverfront likes Buses and autorickshaw

Tertiary road access between sites can be a Break point in building skyline.

The site is very well connected with road network with 1 Primary road 2 Secondary roads And 1 tertiary road

Constrain in expanding in width

The site being linear in shape indicates the building form to be in linearity with lines as its dominant features.

5.Adding Levels up-to G+2 and adding 3 exterior pre-fab concrete slant walls to give the museum a bold asthetic.

4. As extreme linearity of the the site the wall are uni-directional along the longer axis of site making it opaque from one side and see-through from another side.

At this level there is a Drop off and Pickup point for visitors.

3. After creating a subway the upper part of the subway becomes a dynamic entry point for the entrance of the museum.

Parking is placed above ground in front of smaller Block A.

2.As a public road penetrate through the site,the same road is treated as a subway with landscaping above it.

Strong context of Famous architectural Building

Site has a direct non-obstructed view of Sabarmati riverfront if site is leveled to event ground

SUMMER WINDS No obstruction of any site feature Like surrounding buildings or trees Due to which museum will be getting enough day lighting.

1.The site being linear in nature is 500m long with a public road passing through it dividing it into 2 parts.All the admin services are on the smaller site while the exibitions are on the bigger site.

CONCEPT OF PARALLEL WALLS

Wider Space Narrow Space

SITE CONTEXT 3D

SECTIONAL ISOMETRIC VIEW THROUGH WATER BODY.

SECTIONAL ISOMETRIC VIEW THROUGH ENTRANCE FOYER

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONAL CLOSE PACKED WALLS TO GIVE A FEEL OF POL HOUSES OF AHMEDABAD

FLOOR PLANS

Second Floor plan

Final Render from North-East perspective

Final Render from South-East perspective

First Floor plan

Ground Floor plan

3D RENDERED VIEWS

FLOOR PLANS. (Represented in Isometric)

The roof is slightly elevated from the rest of the structure to let measure natural light enter the building.The slant Colloid on roof is strategically placed to take in maximum natural light in the entrance area.

Final Render of Entrance Atrium

Final Render from West perspective

1 Temporary Exhibit 2 Connecting Passage to Block B 3 Library 4 Indus Valley Civilization

5 Cave Architecture 6 Stupa Architecture 7 Pause/Resting Area 8 Medival Architecture 9 Outdoor Cafeteria

1 Temporary Exhibit 2 Reception 2A Entrance 3 Administration 4 Urban Planning Exhibit 5 Virtual Reality

Experience 6 Modern Era Exhibit 7 Pause/Resting Area 8.Islamic Architecture Exhibit

B’

1 Auditorium 2 Live Play area 3 Workshop and Service 4 Urban Planning exhibit 5 Virtual Reality

Final Render showing Stupa Architecture exhibit B

A

A�

Final Render showing Urban Design exhibit

LEGENDS Public Area Private Area+Services Resting/Transition Points Water Body

Experience 6 Outdoor Temporary exhibit 7 Pause/Resting Area 8 Storage Area 9 Conservation And Restoration lab 10.Water Body

Uni-Directional walls in opposite to the museum walls

Skylight

Temporary Exhibition Area-International Architects

Front Elevation (River side)(East)

Subway Entrance (Drop-off)

Rear Elevation (City side)(West)

Rustic Metal

Perspective Section AA’

Auditorium

Temporary Exhibition Area-National Architects

3d Section BB’ through Block A

Stone texture

Wood

Plywood Walls

Exposed Concrete

02

CASA-RIVERFRONT HI-RISE APARTMENTS, AHMEDABAD

MASS HOUSING

The block of flats is designed facing the Sabarmati River.

The building is staggered horizontally as well as having variation in number of floors vertically. The apartments are designed in such a way that all the units have the facing view of the river which makes the topmost selling point of the project.

INDIVIDUAL Project Type : Housing

Horizontally the apartment has 8 units on a single floor from 2 Bhk to upto 4 Bhk Duplex. While vertically blocks are incrementing in height from 14 floors in front to 20 floors at the back giving each units an oppulant living spaces and views.

HOUSING STUDIO (1085001) YEAR OF COMPLETITION: 2018 (8th Semester) GUIDE: Ar. Hiten Chawda, Ar. Babar Yahya

All the public activities happens to be enjoyed on the river facing podium level with parking underneath the podium.

SITE CONTEXT

L O C AT I O N

Ahmedabad,Gujarat,India

Paldi Area, Ahmedabad

Site(Red Marked)

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Taking Cubism as my concept and stacking them

The project sits in the urban context of ‘Paldi’ area, just beside National Institute of Design campus.The proposal was to re-construct the existing and decrepitly 30 years old brownfield site with existing apartments into the new high rise apartments.

Creating pockets by pushing it in opp. direction

Adding 2 floor podium for recreation and to raise the apartments

Staggering the apartment gives views to more rooms per unit.

Adding the service core between 2 blocks (Red marked)

SITE PLAN

FLOOR PLANS

2BHK

2BHK

2BHK

2BHK

3BHK

3BHK

4BHK

4BHK

Upper Level Floor Plan

2BHK

2BHK

2BHK

2BHK

3BHK

3BHK

4BHK

4BHK

Lower Level Floor Plan 2 BHK

4 BHK

3 BHK BALCONY/TERRACE 3.6x1.5 M

FIRE FIGHTING

BALCONY 5x1.5 M

ELECTRICAL

LIVING AREA SEEN BELOW UTILITY 1.6x1.6 M

A.TOILET 2.65x1.8 M

KITCHEN 3.5x2.8 M

M.BEDROOM 5.4x4 M

UTILITY 1.6x1.8 M

C TOILET. 1.5x2.2 M

BALCONY 1.75x1.9M

A.TOILET 3.1x1.6 M

A.TOILET 2x2.4 M

BEDROOM 3.5x4.2 M

M. BEDROOM 3.4x4.2 M

AT. TOILET. 2x2 M

GUEST ROOM 3.6x4.5 M

DINING AREA SEEN BELOW

KITCHEN 3.2x3.6 M

STAIRCASE R-0.15 M T-0.3 M

LIVING ROOM 3.6x3.8 M

STAIRCASE AREA 3.2x4.3 M

DINING AREA 4x3.1 M

C TOILET. 2.3x1.5 M

BALCONY 1.9x2.5M

FAMILY SEATING 3.8x3.9 M

STAIRCASE AREA 3.8x2.4 M UP

M. BEDROOM 3.7x4.1 M

BEDROOM 4.4x3.3 M

BALCONY 1.8x3.9 M

BALCONY 3.8x1.6 M

BEDROOM 4.0x3.5 M

COMMON T. 3.4x1.3

LIFT(S) 1.5X1.65 M CABIN 1X1.3 M *6-PERSON CAPACITY

BALCONY 3.8x1.6 M

2 BHK TYPE 2 TOTAL AREA=109 m2

LIFT(S) 1.5X1.65 M CABIN 1X1.3 M *6-PERSON CAPACITY

FOYER 2.6x2.1 M

UP

LIVING ROOM 4.2x4.1 M

DOWN

4 BHK LOWER LEVEL TOTAL AREA=250m2

3 BHK SINGLE LEVEL TOTAL AREA=152m2

ELECTRICAL

FIRE FIGHTING

ELECTRICAL

UTILITY 1.6x1.6 M KITCHEN 3.9x2.7 M

LIVING ROOM 6.5x3.8 M

C TOILET. 1.8x2.1 M

DINING AREA 3.2x2.6 M

Individual Unit Floor Plan BALCONY/TERRACE 2.5x3.1 M

M. BEDROOM 3.7x4.7 M A.TOILET 1.8x2.7 M

STORAGE 2.7x1.6 M

DINING ROOM 5.0x3.3 M

KITCHEN 3.1x3.9 M

MAID'S TOILET 1.8X1.3M

UTILITY 2.3x4 M

COMMON T. 3.2x1.4

BEDROOM 3.15x4.2 M

UP

GUEST ROOM 4.4x3.5 M

2 BHK TYPE 1 TOTAL AREA=106 m2

MAID'S ROOM 2x2.3 M

FOYER 2.4x2.1 M

BALCONY 1.2x3.8 M

LIVING ROOM 4.1x3 M

STAIRCASE AREA 3.8x2.4 M

TERRACE 3.7x4.2 M

4 BHK LOWER LEVEL TOTAL AREA=250m2

Wooden horizontally moveable Louvers are designed to cut sun when and where needed Vertical Window louvers to cut harsh west evening sun

2 BHK Apartment section

East facing windows have horizontal louvers to minimize 45 degree to minimize afternoon sun

4bhk apartments are fixed at double-height opening with horizontal louvers to minimize afternoon sun 4 BHK Apartment section

Aerial View of the project with context

fig// Illustrating the exterior details of the unit.

Section AA’

View from River Side

Front Elevation

View of Site entrance from road side

Section BB’

View overlooking the podium

Aerial View of the project with river

03

SEA SHELL RETREAT DAMAN

3 STAR HOTEL DESIGN

The project is located on the Devka Beach of the Arabian Sea. The selling point of the project was the magnificent view of the sea and the location of the site. It is near to city centre yet cut off from the city noise, having a peaceful surroundings.

Project brief was to design a 3-star hotel on a given site. The site was completely flat with backside of the site facing the sea.

The project gave us a deep knowledge about the services and the functioning of any conventional hotel.Requirement was to make a hotel with 40 rooms including 3 major type of room(Double,Deluxe,Suit).

INDIVIDUAL Project Type : Accomodation CONTEXTUAL STUDIO (1055001) YEAR OF COMPLETITION: May 2017 (6th Semester) GUIDE: Ar.Sneha Vadhera, Ruhi Gala

The main ideology was to design my rooms in such a way that maximum number of rooms get an amazing sea view.

LO C AT I O N

SITE PLAN DEVKA BEACH

Access to beach Swimming Pool

Daman,Daman & Diu,India

Devka Beach Road, Daman

Outdoor Space

Site(Red Marked)

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Adjoining Plot

Adjoining Plot

Outdoor Space

Being a Beach hotel sea shell was found in abundance near the site. The idea for conceptual came from these seashells.

Sea shell is taken as Concept of my hotel.

Making an Abstract of the skewed shape, The shape of my rooms developed in skewed form.

Ground and third floor are 90° to sea while 1st and 2nd floor are skewed at an angle of 65° along E-W axis.

Vip Parking Entry

Exit

12 M Wide Road

1. Suite Room(x2) 2. Deluxe Room (x7) 3. Games Room 4. Laundary 5. Rooftop Kitchen 6. Service Area

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

A

2

1

1

Deluxe Room Swimming Pool

4

3

5

6

A’

Entrance

Third Floor Plan 1. Double Room(x32) 2. Restaurant 3. Service Area 4. Overlooking Atrium

12m Wide Road

A

Double Room

Spill Over space

Waiting area

2

3-D Site Section

1

1

Reception

Deluxe Room

Wall Section

Games Room

3 1

4

A’

First Floor Plan Legends: 1.Entrance 2.Reception 3.Back office 4.Meeting 5.Waiting

6.Disabled Double room 7.Banquet 8.Restaurant 9.Kitechen 10. Service Area

Section AA’

8

Swimming pool

Restaurant

Disable double room

Corridor

Admin office

VIP Parking

A

A

9

5

6

Staircase Detail Sea facing view of hotel

Recreational Area

Front Elevation(Perspective)

View of Atrium

7 4

2

3 A’

Ground Floor Plan

10

Staircase-Blown up detail

1

Railing Detail

04

REVITALIZING CHANDOD BY PROMOTING WELLNESS TOURISM, CHANDOD

“Rivers represent an extraordinary cultural heritage in their history and as settings for continuing enactment of ancient traditions that sustain cultural memories, beliefs and values.”

This project focuses on developing a town named CHANDOD which is considered aspicious in Hindu mythology. The town lined by Ghats, temples, kunds, streets, plazas. Moreover, it is know for the cremetorial rituals as the remains of the ashes of a human body after doing the last rituals are submerged in the river Narmada where the town is exactly located.

URBAN DESIGN

INDIVIDUAL Project Type : Public Intervention

However, the identity of CHANDOD is confined to just one purpose(for the last rituals) which is kind of darker vibe due to which a proposal for Naturapathy Centre was a prefreable choice to create a new identity of CHANDOD and create new job opportunities. It will bring in positive energy of meditation,therapies for rejuvenating and coming closer to nature.

URBAN DESIGN STUDIO(1095001) YEAR OF COMPLETITION: 2019 (9th Semester) GUIDE: Ar. Babar Yahya, Ar.Swapna Kothari

Ar. Anagha Joshi

L O C AT I O N

STATISTICAL DATA OF CHANDOD ISSUES

Vadodara to Chandod (45 km)

Chandod and Site(Red Marked) fig // Satellite images showing the location and context of site.

POTENTIALS

Chandod on Narmada river bank The population of the town is ma jorly divided into 4-5 castes namely BRAMINS(Upper Caste), MACHIS, HARIJANS, MUSLIMS and TADVI (All Lower caste). The occupations in town is divided into categories by caste.

Brahmins do all the spiritual ceremonies while the Machis(Fishermen) control all the boats in the river for submerging the ashes into water of the deceased. The stretch of the town connecting with the river holds a very strong historical value.

fig // Transverse section through Malhar Rao Road

Chandod Town Mapping

CHANDOD

ISSUES

1. Lack of job oppurtunities.

2. Unemployment among lower caste people 3. Rigid identity (last ritiuals) in tourism.

4. Outward moving population.

5. Lots of under-developed area around the village 6. Many projects shuts down due to political reasons.

POTENTIAL 1. To regenerate a different identity by creating an iconic architectural attraction to generate inward population in chandod and creating more job oppurtunities.

2. Promoting wellness tourism through reviving importance of ayurvedic and naturopathy by creating parallel identity of chandod.

OBJECTIVES 1.Creating a different identity which generates parallel income for the low income group people.

2.Bring more inward population of people from other cities and towns 3. Teaching new skills to people which has a potential to learn apart from boating and fishing in machis.

4. Generating more job oppurtunities.

5. Bringing an untouched potential of health and Wellness retreat in chandod .

NARMADA RIVER The Village is located on the ghats of river Narmada which is considered holy acording to Hindu religion. Chandod is a pilgrimage town with lot of devotees.

WATER SYSTEM The water system of the village were damaged by open seweage directly disposing itself into the holy river and polluting it.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE The town has a very unique architectral style with JAROKHAS and CHAJJAS in every house. The buildings are ornamented with intricate details.

OCCUPATION People are self-sustaining in terms of income. There is an inter-dependency in jobs according to caste.

Section Through Malhar Rao street

Street section through Markand-Rushi Ghat Road

SEWEAGE SYSTEM The village has an open seweage system for rain & gray water and is poorly designed in yesteryears. Human waste is disposed in soil pit under their homes itself.

Street section through Bust Stand Near the entrance of the town IMPORTANT BUILDINGS As Chandod is a holy town there are as many as 10-15 temples of varied sizes and all the temples have their own importance related to its history.

Street section through the main market place

SITE AREA MAPPING

CHANDOD MAPPING(GROUP WORK)(My Role: Documenting + Final Presentation)

BUILT USE

COMMUNITY PROPORTION

LAND USE

POTENTIALS MAPPING OF CHANDOD

BUILT VS OPEN

TOPOGRAPHY

SENSORY MAPPING

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The proposed development of the public intervention and Naturopathy centre is developed on the west of CHANDOD from where the people from Ra jpipla and Poicha enter the town. This place is visioned as the new entrance to the town by proposing the following interventions: 1.Low Cost Housing 2.Public Plaza 3.Children play area.

4.Flea Market 5.Lake Development 6.Public Parking 7.Senior Citizen Walking track 8.Food Hub and souviener shops 9.Meditation Centre 10.Naturopathy centre 11.Natural Amphitheater 12.New Proposal for cremetorium 13. Temple The idea was to develop not just a Health and wellness centre but also public inserts like mentioned above due to the reason that even common people of CHANDOD can use all the facilities.

It is estimated to generate 250-280 jobs by proposing this development.

Meditation Hall

Section through Theray Block

Section through Theray Block

Meditation Hall Deatail

3d Render showing Naturopathy Centre

Transverse Section through Lake

Transverse Section showing meditation hall and lake

Section through proposed cremetorium

Render of Amphitheater in the retreat Souvenir Shop Plaza Way from Ra jpipla,Poicha Road Widnening

Render of Amphitheater in the retreat Proposed Housing Lake Development Meditation Center

Kids Play Area

Public Plaza

Proposed Cremetorium

Illustration showing entrance of Naturopathy centre

Meditation hall

Naturopathy centre

Contours

Naturopathy Center Parking

Naturopathy Center

Physical Model

Naturopathy Center Accomodation

3D view of the entire proposed development

Narmada River

05 Internship 2017

During my internship I was largely involved in Landscaping part of the projects .

Doing my internship under an landscape Architect was my first choice as I wanted to learn the co-relation between landscape and architecture.

DECK LOCKER

PUJA

STORE RM 10'-0" x 13'-4" BEDROOM LVL@+3'-0" LIVING FAMILY

LVL@+3'-0"

LVL@+2'-6" DECK

DRIVER RM 10'-0" x 9'-6"

UP DRESS 11'-7.5" X 8'-0" TOILET

TOILET 6'-0" x 6'-0" STORE

During my time at the firm I worked on 6-7 projects ranging from different size and scale.

PANTRY

LOBBY 11'-0"X17'-0"

OPEN ABOVE LVL@+2'-6"

SER RM-1 10'-0" x 9'-6"

OFFICE

WASH

KITCHEN DINNING LVL@+2'-6"

TOILET

UTILITY ROOM 10'-9" x 11'-9"

BEDROOM

FOYER LVL@+2'-6"

WET KITCHEN POWDER ROOM LVL@+2'-6"

ELECTICAL BOARD

Firm name: Genesis Architecture, Bangalore

The two projects which I handled from the initial stages to the final drawings are presented here.

Dr.Bala’s Residence The project brief was to design the exterior of their newly constructed house. The client wanted a very subtle kind of landscaping by even amalgamating water bodies in it. My work was to design the landscaping from scratch.

I prepared Autocad Drawings as well as Sketchup rendered views. I also dealt with different landscaping materials used in the project.

Autocad plan

3D view

DG. SET

PARKING LVL@+1'-6" ROOM

SECURITY

3D view

3D view Photoshop Rendered

Elevation of Entrance gate

B

A’

A

Section AA’

FEATURE WALL T/FW 103.10

FEATURE WALL T/FW 103.10

FFL +101.45

Pebble bed LVL 101.30

T/C 101.25

FFL T/E +100.90 100.70

T/C 100.70

FFL +101.10

FFL +101.15

FFL +101.00

BOARDWALK

COMPACTED EARTH

Section BB’

FFL +101.0

FFL +101.15

FFL +101.30

PLANTING MEDIA

COMPACTED EARTH

COMPACTED EARTH

Existing drain MATCH LINE

B’

2. Agriplast Factory Campus The project brief was to design the entrance of the clients factory campus. As the client spent his mostof his time at the factory he also wanted to design a gazebo and relaxing space for himeself at the site.

My work was to design the landscaping from scratch. I also got the opportunity to do the survey drawings of the site. I prepared Autocad Drawings as well as Sketchup rendered views. `

bioswale BUILDING

T/C 100.55

T/C 100.70

T/C 100.40

T/E 100.80

T/E 100.80

PLANTING MEDIA PL MEDIA

PLANTING MEDIA

WATERBODY

T/E 100.80

T/E 100.80

PLANTING MEDIA

PLANTING MEDIA COMPACTED EARTH

slope

LAWN

slope

PLANTING MEDIA

BUILDING PL MEDIA

DRIVEWAY PLANTING MEDIA

COMPACTED EARTH

06

01

miscellaneous Life beyond Architecture

Description About the Left labeled images: 01. Created a perpetual model with bearings in a workshop.(2019) 02. Interlocking structural systems using laser cutting by prototyping.(2015) 03. Tensile shade created in campus as a part of workshop.

04. POP workshop by carving out negative space + Creating an illusion

02 03

04

P T L

O F I

R O O

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.....