University of Illinois at Chicago- Master in City Design’23
School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi- Master in Landscape Architecture’ 20
MITS Gwalior- Bachelor in Architecture’18
About Me
I am an AICP Candidate working as a Landscape and Urban Designer in Chicago. I graduated with a Masters in City Design Degree from University of Illinois- Chicago ‘s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs in 2023 and have registered as a landscape architect and architect with Council of Architecture, India. I am keen about people, places and their cultures which I have experimented through the juxtaposition of urban design, landscape architecture and planning realms. While landscape allows me for an expression of my ideas, it is the intersection of landscape with urban design that has aided me in brainstorming about the future of our public places which can represent the diversity of its users. In all my works, I put forth the perspective of an individual trying to indulge into the social and cultural aspects of an urban grid, trying to make things stand out but blend at the same time with the systems they belong to.
Framework plan -South Branch
Connectivity Project, Chicago, Illinois
Neighborhoods in the southwest region of Chicago have been disproportionately affected by many years of disinvestment and industrial activity. The South Branch Connectivity Project: Framework Plan takes this history as a starting point for the six neighborhoods in the project area and establishes strategies to enhance equitable access to green space, create new public places and community enterprises, and repair connectivity within neighborhoods isolated by hard infrastructure.
While several plans previously identified the significance of the South Branch of the Chicago River as a potential corridor for pedestrian and bicycle movement, the previous approaches taken to the corridor were piecemeal. This Framework Plan builds from that base but takes a deeper and more holistic look at site conditions, jurisdictions, existing land uses, land ownership issues, and potential urban network connections to arrive at the most feasible strategies with respect to both design and implementation for the distinct neighborhoods it touches. The plan uniquely integrates urban design with landscape architectural principles to arrive at tangible and specific solutions within a broader set of planning and design strategies at distinct scales.
Concept Diagram
The plan was developed over a 12-month timeframe with a total budget of approximately $212,000 awarded to McKinley Park Development Council by The Community Trust Chicago’s Our Great Rivers Grant 2023 cycle. At the project’s core was a robust community engagement process, which meets APA-IL’s commitment to building inclusive communities and serving the public interest. This process began with a kickoff meeting where all stakeholders – including the 11th and 12th Ward Offices, State Rep’s office, local non-profit Urban Rivers, Metropolitan Planning Council, Department of Planning and Development, Chicago Department of Transportation, UIC CUPPA, community-based non-profits such as the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community and the Bridgeport Alliance, and the primary funding agency,
received
100 surveys at five individual pop-up events Over 200 participants at community charette Over 120 participants
Existing Conditions
Community Engagement Event
Work- Living Habitats LLC I December 2024- Ongoing Role: Urban and Landscape Designer Planner
Masterplan -City Center Plaza, City of Evanston, Illinois
City Center Plaza is a pass through space next to 909 Davis St. and adjacent to Davis Metra Station, CTA Purple Line Davis Street station in Downtown Evanston. This space was identified as an economic driver by city’s economic development plan to be transformed into a public plaza. Living Habitats worked on the project to propose conversion of this space into an opportunity for local art, better pedestrian access and an informal dining zone through placemaking changes.
Concept Rendering- Church Street
Proposed Site Plan
Survey Questionnaire
Intern Landscape Designer
Landscape Master plan -Hostel Block, Raksha Shakti University, Lavad, Gujarat.
The Masterplan portrays a pattern of Masses and Voids that are sculpted through landscape design which draws inspiration from closely knit ‘Pol’ neighborhood settlements in the old heritage town of Ahmedabad.
The contoured site creates scenic vistas in and around the University, carving unique gathering spaces. This tends to pose a set of concerns for the accessibility on site that shapes the arrangement of the built and unbuilt on the site. A series of steps around Play Courts leading to Tree Court Plazas and terraced pavilions are interwoven to develop a unique blend of seating spaces and a barrier free learning environment which promotes easy stormwater management on site.
The vehicular access being restricted to the periphery makes the pedestrian realm more safe and minimises the unnecessary grading of topography. Lean deciduous trees create an avenue lining the driveway allow partial visibility and let the sun light to trickle down to the ground during the mild winters experienced in India.
Madison for EveryoneBlurring the edge
Madison within Oak Park presents a unique opportunity owing to its different character in terms of demographics, architectural language and economic scenarios. This gives it the potential to serve as a “community connector”- both between neighboring communities and within Oak Park itself. If Oak Park is for Everyone, one would say Madison is for Everyone else.
We came up with the idea of Madison MED, Madison MIX, & Madison MADE in the Corridor based on their current assets that creates unique but coherent identities. By adopting the pragmatic urbanism approach, this plan aims to holistically propose public and private development that improves the character of Madison, for everyone.
Community Profile
Looking at Madison in a larger context, we picked out its relationships with the surrounding urban realm. The diagrams specifically highlight: Existing downtowns and Open Space Systems that drive the edge at Forest Park and Austin, The impact of Distance of Madison from the CTA Green and Blue Line stations and specific notable assets on the corridor, such as blockchain retail, public institutions, and senior living facilities.
Macro Planning
Porosity
as an economic indicator for State Street, Chicago
State Street has a long legacy amongst Chicago’s business districts that has constantly evolved as per the changing needs of the market. Although economics does play a key role in determining the success of these markets, the infrastructural framework within urban realm where these retail strips sit, significantly determine their discourse with the consumers. This urban tissue analysis examines Porosity as an indicator of economic activity within the most ambitious and long lasting shopping district in Chicago by delving into two kinds of Porosity identified by the author- namely Visual Porosity and User Porosity. The outcomes thus show the most porous segments of State Street that are likely to do well economically even amidst the ongoing vacancy trend.
This study is however limited to a part of state street extending from Monroe Avenue to Ida B Wells Drive in Downtown Chicago.
Timeline of State Street
Diagnosis of Parameters
Archival picture of State Street (www.chicagolive.com)
Mahakaleshwar Temple Rudrasagar Lake
Integrated Landscape Development, Ujjain
04
This project was orientedtowards studying the cultural landscape of Ujjain around the Mahakaleshwar Temple-Rudrasagar Lake through the layers of history and proposing ‘Landscape Master-plan’ to provide better pedestrian connectivity by the means of an open space system.
Research on the cultural and historical facts available from the accessible literature deciphered socio-cultural aspect of this landscape. This design took into consideration, the last maximum peak footfall recorded during Simhastha 2016 (around 8 million) people spanning over a month’s period. There were constraints like existing & archaic built up on the site, some of which were proposed for preservation/relocation, based on the site analysis for academic purposes.
Proposed Visuals for the Landscape
Vegetation mapping in and around the periphery
Vegetation mapping revealed a predominance of Ficus Religiosa in the landscape for mythological reasons. The newly introduced Azadirachta indica trees near lake indicate plantation done after the implementation of CDP. The trees like Aegle Marmelos and Butea Monosperma were also spotted owing to their religious importance and association with Shiva. For a larger region, tree clusters were marked as per on site observation.
The maps to the left, present the seasonal variation of water in the lake and flooding boundaries of the river (781 m approx.). There was also a variation of 5m in the water level post and pre monsoon on the site.
Analysis of existing slopes
Tracing seasonal water level changes in the Lake
Summer Monsoon
Post-Monsoon
Dominant vegetation on site
WEEKENDS and FESTIVALS WEEKDAYS
Circulation Planning: Proposed Pedestrian, Vehicular & NMV movement
Proposed Site Sections and Visuals- Mahakal Van
Section D
Section C
Stories of Faith- Expressions in Landscape
The temple is the spiritual center of the region. Rudra Sagar Lake which is one of the seven holy reservoirs worshipped here forms the foreground for the temple. The study revolvedaround problems like urban congestion that has by far changed the visual quality and environment of the temple, thus leading to loss of character. This assisted in redefining the modern landscapes of a culturally significant structure and the importance of crowd management and multi- utility ephemeral landscapes flexible in use for a longer time owing to the surrounding land uses. It also targeted the revival of cultural and ecological value of the manmade lake on site along with possible pedestrianisation of the 750 m
in and
the site.
stretch
around
The ascetic mountain God Shiva- ‘Kailashvaasi’ Gateway to the abode of the deity through various tiers.
Borrowed Landscape
Fire well- Symbolising amorphous deity
Infinite column of lightGenesis of the world by Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu
Five elements of LifeWind,Water, Fire, Sky and Earth as an embodiement of Shiva
The center of the universe as ‘Shiva’Circumabulation performed by Ganesha.
Vishwa janak Agni Dev Mandala
SrishtiKendra Pancha Bhuta
Kailash Niwasi
Designed Landscape
Rubric for Design Manifestation
Sections from the Temple Complex
Study of the open space system along the Najafgarh Drain , Delhi.
The Najafgarh drain is an extension of Sahibi River flowing into Yamuna as its tributary. During 1960s, it started being used as a major drain for Delhi entering at Dhansa regulator, hence its name. The entire stretch of Najafgarh Drain passes through various agricultural lands near Jheel and some residential colonies like Inderlok and Punjabi Bagh. It was found that most of the outlets of local untreated sewer lines opened into the drain in residential areas that ultimately resulted in heightening of BOD levels of Yamuna. Approximately 100 species of avifauna were spotted in the ‘Jheel’ area and the spotted flora included native trees of Delhi. Apart from that, there was a visible outbreak of Prosopis Juliflora along the banks of Drain, even in constructed embankments where it cracked. The other invasive species like water
hyacinth in the Najafgarh Jheel have now wiped out the possibility of any aquatic life in water. The open spaces along the drain are somehow not visually/physically connected to Drain due to a 3m high wall around the Drain and the situation is worsened due to the foul smell that causes a social disconnect with the people.
Typology of Greens along the Drain
Visual Elements
Najafgarh is one of the largest of the 3 basins formed in Delhi due to its physical and geographical attributes. The Central Ridge contributed to a large amount to the watershed of the drain. Its catchment area once ranged upto 600 sq km which has now deteriorated over the years due to increasing urban density and encroachment on the banks of the Drain. The Nala was once a clean stream where accounts of leisure boating by royals are substantial in realizing the quality of water it had then. The river on entering Delhi gave rise to Najafgarh lake that was formed due to large depression which remained flooded for most of the seasons. This seasonal depression gradually channelized into small stream which was the origin of Najafgarh Drain. Gradually the Lake was drained and the stream was widened to be used as a stormwater outflow for the city and thereafter began the exploitation of the Drain. The condition is such that the Central Pollution Control Board categorized it as one of the most polluted wetlands. This project explores the possibilities in
reviving the catchments and watersheds for the Najafgarh and Barapullah Drain that feed several small drains, which might impact the intensity of pollution that Yamuna river is dealing with. The study was undertaken considering these issues that would help revitalize the basins of Delhi by knitting them back into urban grid with sponge zones as potential water recharge sources.
Tentative Soil Profile as per CGWB research
Physical Infrastructure along the stretch of the Drain.
Presence of commercial Complex and secondary connection with Banda Bahadur Marg creates potential for footfall generation. However, encroachment is a major concern. Presence of considerable numbers of native and migratory birds at the confluence of supplementary drain and Najafgarh drain creates an interesting opportunity for avifauna enthusiasts. The site thus could act as urban oasis to varied user groups from the surroundings.
Extensive unbuilt open spaces and dense vegetation characterise this stretch.The site owes its dynamic nature to different emerging and existing heritage landmarks accompanied by water level fluctuations on flood plains of the mighty Yamuna.
Planting policy for the selected zone
Varying length of Open spaces along the Cross section of Drain
Panjchor Park and Entrance Plaza
Panjchor
Mapping the uncharted systems along the Ring Railway, Delhi.
The city of Delhi has witnessed several transit networks introduced to cater to the National Capital Region. One such transit system developed in the 1960s was Delhi’s Ring Railway which ran parallel to the Inner ring road and was connected to nearby towns such as Shahdara, Rohtak, Rewari etc. that now lies unused. The objective of this design exercise was to analyse the utility of such open spaces surrounding this railway route for public use as urban green linkages in terms of parameters such as Ecology, Culture and Community. Reframing these greens would therefore enhance the open space system of the city that could connect vital landmarks and enhance the viability of ring rail system.
The 32km long Delhi avoiding line was meant to decongest the existing city stations of the interstate goods traffic, to better facilitate the throughput of passenger trains at these stations. After few years, the suburban railway was converted to a passenger train to serve as an important passenger transport link during the Asian Games of 1982. This is now managed by the Indian Northern Railways. This route had approximately 24 trains running clockwise and anti-clockwise taking around 90 minutes to complete the loop. Each station was strategically planned due to proximity to different residential, commercial and tourist destinations across the city. Today, the city growth and non integrated development of other transit system networks have left the urban transport underutilized making it unsafe at many points, inaccessible, and most importantly neglected by common masses. It is thus important to integrate this network back into the urban fabric and determine proper program to put them to public use. These green spaces also serve as prospects to connect larger green corridors within the city.
of Open Spaces
Stretch 1 of this loop is comprised of greens that can broadly be classified into above categorises and hence interventions in this area look at cultural and ecological integration of landscape. The surrounding context include Lodhi Art District, Safdajung airport, Barapullah Nala, Railway museum etc. and are marked as target zones to ensure a better pedestrian network in and around these significant spots. The markets are key spots which have the possibility of getting linked with these tourist attractions that could boost up the economy and make the areas even more walkable.
These areas if integrated with other stretches by certain core parameters would help re-invigorate the entire loop with a new set of objectives as per the stakeholders. The masterplan here thus looked at cultural and ecological integration of landscape.
Distribution
Masterplan Objectives
The route has specks of open spaces within the study area in the form of both formal and informal open spaces. Some of them also include Neighbourhood parks, District Parks, Community Areas, Open Fields etc. These open spaces thus have an opportunity to be knit into a network of greenways to major chunks through pedestrian connects.
After analysing these voids stretch wise, it was also found that the percentage of usable open areas in Stretch 1 and Stretch 4 are higher than the other 2 stretches due to the planned development that has occurred in these areas over time. Some of the archaic buildings and their conservation zones like Barapullah drain, Humayun’s Tomb, Sunder Nursery, Raj Ghat, Indraprastha Park, Zoological Park etc. also lie in the study area.
Master plan policies and strategies primarily aimed at achieving the predefined aim of creating open space system throughout the route, but the head-wise strategies were contextually varied due to different conditions prevailing in each stretch. The open space system also targeted large green network in lieu of fragmented greens that will be ecologically and socially significant for the city. The revitalization of urban greens was seen as a milestone in the process to ensure smooth functioning of open spaces with respect to security, privacy, active-passive
recreation and cultural gatherings. The master plan culminated with a set of probable sites chosen for comprehensive landscape development and proposing design interventions with respect to spaces, aesthetics, function, requirements and stake-holders.
Proposed Visuals- Photomontages
Live Urban SketchingCapturing the real
Member of Urban Sketchers Gwalior and Indore chapter
Urbansketching allows to capture the essence of a space at all hours of a day. As an architect and a landscape architect, it has allowed me to stay rooted to human scale and get public perspective of a space that have shaped my projects. These live sketching sessions have not just enhanced my observation skills but have also led me to realise the importance of context of spaces.
