Karan Kaura-Portfolio

KARAN KAURA PORTFOLIO

K K

My approach to design is rooted in curiosity and adaptability, ensuring that every project is not just a solution but a response to a deeper understanding of context and function.

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01_HABITAT 02_WASTE TO ENERGY 03_AQUA HUB 04_URBAN EDGE 05_WELLNESS RETREAT 06_HOUSE 14 07_VARIOUS VISUALS

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01 HABITAT Pratt Advance Studio VI | Spring 2023 | Critic: Peter Zellner | Collaborator: Joe Pignataro

As Los Angeles and California faces a housing crisis, upgrading and adapting existing buildings, mainly commercial structures, for new residential uses has become an increasingly common way to address urban life in Southern California. This adaptive reuse project proposes to re purpose and re-adapt a four-story 1960s commercial office building in West L.A into a housings project.

By using several adaptive reuse strategies such as subtraction, addition, infiltration and co presence, this project proposes an eight story addition to the existing building. The existing four floors on the podium are dedicated to public program such as retail, restaurants, co working spaces and amenities for the residence. Whereas, the addition is dedicated to maximizing green spaces for both the community and residents of community and this is achieved by pushing and pulling the building envelope to provide every residential unit with access to green space. A central atrium acts as the heart of the building and allows for natural ventilation and light to filter throughout the building.

Program such as a vertical indoor farming facility, residence lounge and multiple green roof decks are spread around the atrium. The atrium also features a space for vertical indoor farming facility. The building offers a total of 120 units with multiple unit typologies ranging from studio apartments all the way up to a 5 bedroom multi generational duplex. By creating a city within a building, Habitat aims to create a unique and vibrant living environment that fosters community, social interaction, and environmental consciousness.

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ADAPTIVE RE-USE STRATEGIES DIAGRAM 06

EXISTING BUILDING EXPLODED AXON 07

MASSING DIAGRAMS

1. EXISTING ENVELOPE

2. CUTTING EXISTING ENVELOPE

3. OPAQUE SHEER WALLS AND ATRIUM TO BE REMOVED

4. INTRIGUE AT BUILDING GATEWAYS

5. INVITING THE COMMUNITY

6. ACTIVATING TERRACES WITH VEGETATION

STRUCTURE FRAMING DIAGRAMS

A. EXISTING STRUCTURE 08

B. PROPOSED STRUCTURE

C. PROPOSED GREEN TERRACES

D. WATER COLLECTION/SUPPLY SYSTEM

INTERIOR ATRIUM RENDER

EXPLODED PROGRAM DIAGRAM

EAST ELEVATION 09

1 BR-UNIT

2 BR-DUPLEX UNIT

1st FLOOR

1st FLOOR

RESIDENTIAL UNIT TYPES PLANS 10

3 BR-DUPLEX UNIT 2nd FLOOR

1st FLOOR

2nd FLO

OOR

4 BR-MULTI GEN UNIT 1st FLOOR

2nd FLOOR

3rd FLOOR

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STREET LEVEL FLOOR PLAN 12

TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL FLOOR PLAN 13

SECTION A 14

BIRDS EYE RENDER 15

SECTION B 16

WEST ELEVATION 17

NORTH ELEVATION 18

BIRDS EYE RENDER 19

APPROACH FROM THE STREET RENDER 20

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02 WASTE TO ENERGY Pratt Integrated Studio IV | Spring 2022 | Critic: Landon Brown | Collaborator: Cristy Martinez

Located adjacent to the university heights bridge in Bronx, NY, overlooking the Harlem river, the Hub is a typological experiment which proposes an intersection of a waste-to-energy and recycling plant with education and community recreational facilities.

The facility creates layers of transparency and translucency to balance a dialogue across the Harlem River, an urban infrastructure and the surrounding community. We frame the relationship of these dual program elements through a symbiotic approach where programmatic layers are interdigitated to varying degrees, with the public program weaving through the industrial program.

The massing sweeps through the urban fabric, fracturing the relationship from the street towards the water. The axis of arrival from the street , articulates the ground, engaging the public through multiple pathways of the waste to energy recycling center.

The layering is achieved by stacking the public programs on top of the industrial program and shifting the masses to create outdoor public spaces for the community. The massing is finally skewed towards the views of the Manhattan skyline. The fractures in the form allows for natural ventilation throughout the facility and also allows for multiple outdoor green terraces for the public.

Recreational spaces such as a natatorium, gym, spa and cafe weave through the industrial facility and opens up to the Harlem river. The energy produced through the waste and recycling process in further used to heat up the programs such as public natatorium and thermal baths. The waterfront serves as an point of entrance for the people arriving through the ferry terminal and the waterfront park activates the ground level, providing public space for the community to interact and engage with the water.

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DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAMS

1. Public program stacked on top of industrial program to separate circulation routes.

PROGRAM BREAKDOWN

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2. Program broken down, shifted and weaved to create points of connection for vertical circulation.

GREEN TERRACE PLAN

3. Volumes skewed and rotated towards the river to frame views out to the city and take advantage of the prevailing south west winds for ventilation.

4. Volumes shifted to provide layers outdoor public terraces and green rooftops.

MASSING DIAGRAM

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Education Center

Cafeteria

2nd FLOOR PLAN- PUBLIC Natatorium

Atrium to Wellness Center

1st FLOOR PLAN- PUBLIC Amphitheater

Reception Lounge | Atrium

Recycling center Dispatch

Recycling center to WTE facility

GROUND FLOOR PLAN- WTE & RECYLING FACILITY 26

PROGRAM AXON

GREEN TERRACE RENDER

ROOF DECK RENDER

THERMAL BATHS RENDER 27

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 28

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WALL SECTION

Facade Section Detail

FACADE WALL SECTION DETAIL

Perforated Metal Screen Metal Screen Framing Insulated Glazing Unit Vertical Steel Mullion Steel Pipe Column Horizontal Steel Mullion Horizontal Metal Connector Metal Screen Framing Concrete Slab on Deck Spandrel Panel Insulation Vapor Barrier Beam

Facade Plan Detail

FACADE PLAN CUT DETAIL

Perforated Metal Screen Metal Screen Framing Insulated Glazing Unit Horizontal Steel Mullion Vertical Steel Mullion Metal connector Anchor Plate Steel Pipe Column

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FACADE ELEVATION

EXPLODED FACADE DETAIL

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TRANSVERSE SECTION 32

NATATORIUM RENDER

ROOF DECK RENDER 33

TERRACE RENDER 34

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03 AQUA HUB Pratt Advance Studio V | Fall 2022 | Critic: Alex Barker

With a projection of the global population rising significantly in urban areas such as New York City, there is an urgency to localize produce as a way to reduce food miles. The Aqua Hub is a self-sustaining aquaculture farm which re purposes an abandoned self-carrier barge into an aquaponic food and algae production facility along with an oyster hatchery. With the ability to be docked at various harbors such as the Red Hook Terminal in Brooklyn, NY, the project utilizes the harbor water available on site, and further filters and collects it to be used for aquaponics farming.

In order to activate the site and the surrounding neighborhood, public programs such as recreational thermal baths, swimming pools and a public garden are incorporated which also make use of the filtered harbor water and occupy the upper deck whereas the lower deck houses the aquaponic farm and labs along with an aquarium to educate people on the types of species being farmed. The massing of the project utilizes the existing openings of the storage compartments of the vessel to carve into it and occupy those volumes as aquaculture greenhouses while the outer shell of the vessel creates openings for light and views while also being turned into an artificial reef for organisms and wild vegetation to grow on.

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LOWER DECK FLOOR PLAN

WEST ELEVATION 38

TOP DECK AERIEL VIEW RENDER 39

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 40

TRANSVERSE SECTION 41

EXTERIOR DECK RENDER 42

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SECTIONAL CHUNK RENDER A 44

SECTIONAL CHUNK RENDER B

CHUNK MODEL PHOTOGRAPHS 45

INTERIOR DECK RENDER 46

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04 URBAN EDGE Pratt Urban Studio III | Fall 2021 | Critic: Erich Schoenenberger | Collaborator: Christine Chan, Equere D.

Located in Brooklyn, New York on the site of Farragut Housing, this project tests the potential of metropolitan housing by forming the edge of an urban courtyard. The building morphology emerged through drawing physical and implicit connections from Farragut’s existing context. The surrounding building edges, streets, and walkways generated our extents while forming this edge.

After taking the place of a playground, this space serves to enhance what was lost by providing a new place for the community to gather, stay active, and grow. The tension caused by smaller scale apartments encourages people to spend less time in their units. By leading people toward public lounges or reading areas, they end up viewing the larger physical activity spaces.

This entices residents to use those amenities while interacting with neighbors. In deploying this strategy on a larger scale, this building includes specific areas of transparency which lead people to and through the site. By providing access to this housing experiment at different scales, this space motivates inhabitants to interact and potentially bridge gaps between socioeconomic differences.

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LEVEL 8 FLOOR PLAN 50

LEVEL 9 PLAN

AERIEL SITE VIEW 51

ROOF GARDEN

APARTMENT UNITS

DAYCARE

SECTIONAL CHUNK 52

0

3

9

21 N

Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0"

TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL UNIT PLANS 53

COURTYARD RENDER 54

SECTION A 55

SECTION B 56

STUDIO APARTMENT RENDER

INTERIOR CORRIDOR RENDER

INTERIOR CORRIDOR RENDER

ROCK CLIMBING WALL RENDER 57

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS 3

A-101

2

A-101

PAINTED COPER PANEL

1 A-102 ROOF 147'-0"

BRICK VENEER AIR CAVITY RIGID INSULATION AIR VAPOR BARRIER CONCRETE BACK UP WALL

GREEN ROOF

CURTAIN WALL METAL SCREEN

1

A-101

4

A-101

2 A-102

FLOOR 16 132'-0"

1

A-101

2

ELEVATION

A-101

1/2"=1'-0"

3

A-101

WALL SECTION 1/2"=1'-0"

3

A-101

WALL SECTION 1/2"=1'-0"

2

A-101

No.

Firm Name and A KQC

61 ST. JAMES PL BROOKLYN, NY

Prepared by Karan Kaura

Project Name and URBAN EDGE

237 NASSAU ST BROOKLYN, NY

Project URBAN EDGE Date 12/17/2021 Scale 1/2" = 1' - 0"

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A-101

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PLAN

1/2"=1'-0"

GRASS SOIL

FILTER FABRIC RESEVOIR LAYER MOISTURE RETENTION LAYER AERATION LAYER RIGID INSULATION DRAINAGE LAYER ROOT BARRIER PROTECTION COURSE AIR, WATER , VAPOUR BARRIER ROOF SLAB

1

A-102

GREEN ROOF DETAIL 1 1/2"=1'0"

CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

METAL SCREEN No.

Firm Nam KQC

61 ST. JA BROOKLY

BRICK VENEER MORTAR BRICK TIE WOOD FLOORING CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB

Prepared Karan Kau

Project Na

GALVANIZED STEEL PLATE

URBAN E

RELIEVING ANGLE

237 NASS BROOKLY

RIGID INSULATION LIQUID APPLIED AIR VAPOR BARRIER CONCRETE BACK UP WALL

Project

INTERIOR WALL FINISH

Date

URBAN E

12/17/202 Scale

1 1/2" = 1'

2

A-102

WALL DETAIL 1 1/2"=1'0"

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WEST ELEVATION RENDER 60

NORTH ELEVATION RENDER 61

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05 WELLNESS RETREAT SCAD Capstone Studio | Spring 2020 | Critic: Samuel Olin

A wellness retreat located in Clearlake, California. This project integrates architectural interventions at multiple scales to cultivate an immersive experience that fosters physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Set within a serene natural environment, the retreat is designed to harmonize with its surroundings, enhancing visitors’ sensory awareness and deepening their connection with nature.

The retreat’s master plan employs a dispersed layout, allowing privacy through spatial separation while maintaining a cohesive atmosphere. The architecture emphasizes outdoor circulation, blurring the boundaries between built and natural environments. Each structure is carefully positioned to frame views, invite natural light, and encourage moments of stillness and reflection.

Program elements include a holistic spa with thermal baths, meditation and yoga pavilions, an open-air amphitheater, creative workshop spaces, communal dining facilities, a gathering lounge, and private guest cabins. These spaces, whether experienced collectively or in solitude, provide an opportunity for guests to reconnect with themselves and their surroundings.

Through various sustainable design strategies and biophilic principles, the retreat aspires to serve as both a refuge and a catalyst for personal transformation.

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DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAMS 64

SITE PLAN 65

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 66

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GROUND LEVEL

UNDERGROUND LEVEL 68

TRANSVERSE SECTION

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DETAIL SECTION OF SPA & THERMAL BATHS 70

1. PERMEABLE PAVER DETAIL

3. INFINITY POOL DETAIL

2. WALL SECTION DETAIL

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS 71

RENDERED SECTION 72

YOGA STUDIO RENDER

SPA CORRIDOR RENDER

THERMAL BATHS RENDER 73

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES DIAGRAM 74

THERMAL BATH RENDER

DINING HALL RENDER

LODGING RENDER

YOGA STUDIO CORRIDOR 75

AUDITORIUM RENDER

CENTRAL COURTYARD RENDER 76

AUDITORIUM SECTION

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OUTDOOR FIREPLACE RENDER

CENTRAL COURTYARD RENDER 78

OUTDOOR WALKWAY RENDER

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06 HOUSE 14 Pratt Design Studio I | Fall 2020 | Critic: Hart Marlow

An architectural anomaly; House 14 is an artist-in-residence located on Governor’s Island in New York City. The site consist of several historical colonial houses. The scheme is to convert one of the houses entitled house 14 to an artist in-residence-program supported by the community and public exhibition space that both functions inside and outside. My strategy involved an experimental approach where I disassemble the parts of the building to come up with a new kit of parts which are then stitched together to come up with new spatial zones on the interior and exterior of the building. The site is activated by altering the landscape around the house to create a slopes and elevated platforms for outdoor use.

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ORIGINAL ELEVATION Original Elevations

KIT PARTS Kit OF of Parts

Altered Elevations PROPOSED ELEVATION

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PROPOSED ADDITION PROPOSED ADDITION

SE ISOMETRIC

NE ISOMETRIC

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PRIVATE ENTRY

BEDROOM

ARTIST LOUNGE

PRIVATE ENTRY

BEDROOM

ARTIST LOUNGE

KITCHEN

ARTIST OFFICE

GALLERY

KITCHEN

GALLERY

ARTIST OFFICE

ARTIST STUDIO

GALLERY

GALLERY

ARTIST STUDIO

OUTDOOR SCULPTURE GARDEN/EXHIBITION SPACE

ENTRY 2

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERY

ENTRY 1

ENTRY 1

FIRST FLOOR FIRST FLOOR FIRST FLOOR

S ELEVATION

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SECOND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

S ELEVATION

E ELEVATION

E ELEVATION

PRIVATE ENTRY

ARTIST LOUNGE

GALLERY

OUTDOOR SCULPTURE GARDEN/EXHIBITION SPACE

ENTRY 2

GALLERY

GALLERY

ENTRY 1

SECOND FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

SECTION/ISOMETRIC SECTION

N ELEVATION

E ELEVATION

W ELEVATION

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SECTION/ISOMETRIC SECTION SITE PLAN 86

ISOMETRIC SECTION

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07 VARIOUS VISUALS Miscellaneous visualizations created during my time at Pratt Institute.

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PORTAL RENDERED SCENE 90

PORTAL RENDERED SCENE 91

LA MURALLA ROJA- FLOOR CHUNK RENDER 92

LA MURALLA ROJA- RENDER 93

901 ABBOT KINNEY BLVD- RENDER 94

901 ABBOT KINNEY BLVD- WORMS EYE AXON RENDER 95

GROUND RELIEF STUDY AXON 96

GROUND RELIEF STUDY MODELS 97

OBJECT X DRAWINGS 98

OBJECT X CHUNK MODELS 99

K K PROPOSED ADDITION

KARAN KAURA ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

SE ISOMETRIC

kkaura10@gmail.com