PROFESSIONAL TRAINING REPORT
SANGATH - VASTU SHILPA CONSULTANTS MAY - NOV 2023
SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, VIJAYAWADA
HARSHITHA N KUMAR
ABOUT THE OFFICE
Established in 1955, Vastu Shilpa Sangath is one of the leading consultancy firm in the country dealing with the interdeciplinary feilds of Architecture, Planning and Urban Design.
Each project delves into novel conceptual ideologies, emerging technologies, and distinctive construction methodologies, challenging the conventional norms that currently characterize contemporary architecture.
Sangath places emphasis on crafting experiences rather than mere structures. The aim is to design architecture adaptable to evolving cultural and societal needs which enriches the space’s potential while maintaining a holistic vision.
NATURE OF PROJECTS
The establishment works as three units:
• Vastu Shilpa Consultants Large scale Institutional projects, Planning and Urban Design Vastu Shilpa Foundation Restoration, publishing and archives
• Studio Sangat Medium to small scale projects, residences, galleries
I had the opportunity to intern at Vastu Shilpa Sangath for 6 months from May 2023 to Nov 2023. I am very grateful to have worked on the following projects during my tenure.
Flame university, Pune
Involved in initial design development process, Generation of floor plans, digital modeling and digital rendering
Srimad Ramachandra Educational Trust (SRET), Dharampur Cut and fill physical couture model of the site
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi - Girls hostel 3D modeling and rendering
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi - Faculty housing Physical model
Anant National University (ANU), Ahmedabad
Elevation and section drafting, 3D modeling of services and HVAC, 3D rendering and physical modeling
Shiv Nadar School, Chennai
Flooring details, door-window details, wall section, overall section, RCP, interior elevation drafting and detailing for finishes, interior unfolded elevations for interior fixed furniture and finishes, detailed interior 3D modeling and rendering, shaft door detail, exterior rendering, corridor rendering, staircase details, skylight and gutter details
Working as an intern
Sangath recognises itself as a place where passion meets architecture. As much as we try to maintain the balance between life and work, work pressures often lead to late nights and long working hours that are often spent in joy and laughter.
Team SNS consists of a very smart group of people taking up heavy responsibilities, responsible for the seamless execution of the Shiv Nadar School, Chennai. It is this group of people that led me to believe in the phrase ‘Teamwork is dreamwork’. I arrived as a clueless intern, but by the end of my internship I had learnt enough to be able to take up big and small responsibilities and I have Team Sangath to thank for that.
Conversations with Kathpalia
Rajeev Kathpalia, the principal architect of VSS, is a very busy man, but takes time out of his busy schedule to interact with the interns and architects once in a while.
Apart from the architectural concepts and innovative construction techniques we discussed, he also talked about his journey of becoming an architect and interacting with people from all walks of life.
He told us about his experiences of traveling through Europe and making free sketches of people from restaurants and bars which earned him free drinks and food, he told us about his flare for competitions which, even to this day he enormously enjoys, he told us about the financial struggles that Sangath endured and about the various projects that took decades of patience to build but stands strong even today.
As I listened to all the enormously entertaining stories sir told us, I could hear the fondness with which he remembers joys and difficulties alike; this led me to decide that the architect way of life is something I want to experience.
What did I learn?
During my 6-month stay at Sangath, I was given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of design processes from conceptual development to construction drawings. While the actual list is very exhaustive, here is my take-away from all the things I learnt.
Physical
model making
Physical models are useful for a variety of reasons:
Aids to conceptual design:
During the first three weeks of my internship, I got a chance to participate in the conceptual stage of design for the future technologies block at FLAME university, Pune.
1. 2D modeling
As shown in the image, we tried to explore interesting forms by cutting and folding patterns in 2D
2. Sketching
Once the interesting forms were chosen, the conceptual masses were modeled on archicad and the various floor plans were worked upon by sketching
3. Study models
Once all the spaces were satisfactorily fit into the plans, 3D physical models were prepared to study the massing
4. Realistic rendering
The digital models were rendered to capture views of the different spaces to observe light and shadow, views into other spaces, etc.
Contour models - Helps us to understand the existing contours of the site
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us study the massing, effect of light and shadow during the conceptual stage
Cut and fill model - GIves us an understanding of the cut and fill and resulting heights of the masses
In today’s world where physical model making is deemed as a waste of time, I feel the need to disagree with the general belief. As much as sketching or doodling or painting, 3D model making helps us unload our ideas, if not more effectively. It gives us a real-life understanding of our concepts and helps us explore alternative designs which may not be possible on 2D.
Client presentations - to convenience the client to approve the design
Study models
helps
While learning how to make working drawings, the architect I was working under taught me to view working drawings as a work of art because we are architects, not draftsman:
• Conceptual sketches - before actually beginning the drawing, making conceptual sketches can increase our understanding of the drawing we are about to make.
• Line Weights - are very important to establish a field of vision and highlight the most important aspect of the design.
• Labeling - Uniformity in labeling makes a drawing neat and tidy.
Different types of drawings sent to site
An essential to understanding the process of construction is dealing with various types of drawings. My mentor architect guided me through learning to read different types of drawings and what to look for in each drawing. Eventually, I was also guided to compare various vendor drawings with one another and make and send changes to the site.
• Structural drawings - they deal with the design and construction of the structural elements of the building. They are prepared by the structural firm consulting with our office.
• Architectural drawings - They deal with the architectural aspects of the design. In architectural drawings we mention finish to finish dimensions while in structural drawings structure to structure dimensions are mentioned. There are several sub-categories of architectural drawings.
• General Agreement (GA) drawings - They are the first draft of construction drawings sent to site. The site engineers are allowed to send back a list of suggestions/questions according to which we may prepare the final draft of GFCs.
• Good for construction (GFCs) drawings - As the name suggests, these are the most accurate drawings which will be executed at the site.
Service based and consultant based drawings - ex - MEPF, ELEV, HVAC, Landscape etc…
Anant National University
Sangath has taken up the design and construction of the new architecture block of Ananth National University, Ahmedabad. I had the opportunity to be involved earlier in the design process just after the client approval. I helped to draft a few presentation sections and elevations as well as interior renders for client approval.
Structural system
A multi-fold paper is capable of standing stronger. The office used this concept to create a portal struc tural system.
Advantages of portals: It can span longer widths
The slits help to improve daylighting in the interi
The parasol caps the entire structure and ties all the elements together. Various variations of the parasol were designed which dictate the building facade
Sangath has taken up the design and construction of Shiv Nadar School, Chennai. I had the opportunity to be involved in the preparation of a few construction drawings for the Primary Block of the school. Learning from the roadblocks met during the construction of the Pre-primary block, we had the opportunity to make corrections and further perfect the Primary Block drawings.
• It is drawn from the concept of a guru teaching students under a tree
• The G+1 structure has a no. of classrooms and activity spaces around a serpentine corridor
• The client wanted a space for kids to play without getting wet during the rains in chennai; hence the emergence of the corridor covered by a parasol.
• The parasol raises around the classroom and corridors like a tree, shading the entire structure from sun and rain.
• Skylights and openings at the sides allow for plenty of natural light and ventilation while still providing shade.
Structural system
• Most of the columns and beams are MS while the slabs are deck slab as can be observed in the above sections.
• This combination tries to achieve a sweet spot between the enormous costs of a steel structural system with the minimal use of concrete (because of climate)
• The overall section of the primary block helps to understand the concept
Reading vendor and structural drawings
• One important fear that I overcame at my internship is how to read vendor and structural drawings
• Architects I worked under at SNS continually encouraged us to refer to vendor and structural drawings while making our drawings to maintain a level of consistency between all sets of drawings
• Ex - revisions of structural details of staircase
• Ex - 2nd revision of ELE, MEPF and interiors
Importance of detailing in architecture
• Team SNS delved into minute level of accurate detailing as compared to other projects I had worked on
• Spot details covered every minute details like the fixing of a railing to the stair to the structural detail at a T-junction
• This was done to leave nothing upto chance and handover a well executed project to the client
3D modeling and rendering
• When the interior consultants of our project discontinued, I got an opportunity to try my hand at interior design
• The architects decided the final layouts of the fixed and loose furniture but us interns were given the opportunity to model the same in 3D
• 3D rendering is very useful for a no. of reasons
• It helps the vendor and construction workers on site to better understand the final finish expected It helps to get the client approval faster
Elevation view of the classroom
Elevation view of the music room
View of composite learning room
View of dance and theatre room
View of the library
View of science lab
