Asmakam | Semester IV Design Studio | 2021

asmakam ‘for us’

A P la c e fo r C o l l e c t i ve D w e l l i n g

Semester IV Design Studio (2021)

Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot Saurashtra University

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Ind ex Project Brief

Architectural Program

Programmatic Requirements Site and Context

Overview of Semester

1. Introduction to the Studio 2. A place for myself/guests 3. A place for company 4. A place for grandparents 5. A Home (1st impression) 6. Cluster formation (1st iteration) 7. Cluster formation (2nd iteration) 8. Site Plotting 9. Sketches 10. Cluster to Unit 11. Dimensional Study 12. Home (3rd Iteration) Expert Talks

Final Compilation

Post Jury Comments 3

Tu to rs

Neelkanth Chhaya Mentor

Riddhi Shah Studio Faculty

Bhavesh Wadhwani Teaching Assistant

S tud en t s

Hemang N.

Ruchi P.

Gaurav P.

Viral P.

Meet B.

Mana J.

Param C.

Ruta K.

Maitri D.

Astha A.

Anjali R.

Hardi P.

Milan Z.

Harshit J.

Isha S.

Smit P.

Hematri B.

Nisarg P.

Shivam B.

Viraj P.

Krutagna K.

Akshesh P. III

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P ro je c t B rie f

Premise: Living environment consists of built and natural environments. It comprises social and functional aspects that affect the quality of life. They have the capacity of evoking a sense of belonging. The intent of this studio is to equip students to recognize the role of the built environment in creating that sense of belonging (a place where I can be myself and a part of a family). A home is one of the most significant living environments that we experience throughout our lives.

Largely serving as a significant private space, a home represents safety, ownership, and a sense of relief away from the rest of the world. We begin and end our day here and occupy certain spaces for specific activities. Despite the specificity of activities in particular Spaces, there is something about a home that one cherishes. This studio aims towards identifying those qualities in a home and a method of designing the appropriate and aspired spaces for the same.

A group of young aspirants have decided to stay together after graduation. They have identified a site near the airport of Rajkot where they would create a living environment for themselves and their family. They plan to construct their houses with a possibility including their workspace. Worried about the climatic change and environmental degradation; they aim to develop a self-sustaining community where they can recycle water and grow vegetation that sustains their livelihood. They have named the project ‘Asmakam’ which literally means ‘Ours’, ‘for us’ in Sanskrit.

They wish to develop this site as a platform for exploration once they graduate. They will build the bare minimum needed for their family and will have their workspaces and possibility of incremental growth in future. They have till date known about mud, brick, stone and timber construction and would like to explore the same while designing their homes.

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Arch i tec t u ral P ro g ram

Focus: The program focuses on cluster and unit design with reference to the concerns of climate, construction and sustainable living. Key components while designing would be:

Site Planning: • • • • •

Response to site edges Plotting of units and community spaces Built and unbuilt spaces and inclusion of nature into site planning Pedestrial vs Vehicular movement in the community Parking

Unit Design: • Potential for growth and change & hence design must be incremental. How to create a system that creates architectural coherence (it seems whole/complete)?

• Materials and structural system exploration: brick (group 1), stone (group 2), and mud (group 3) • Rainwater Harvesting in each house • Kitchen garden (it could be in individual house or shared between two or 3 houses)

P ro g rammatic Re q u irements Dwelling Unit 1 (120 mt2) : 3-4 Units Approx 35% open space 1-2 private sleeping areas + workspace + kitchen garden Dwelling Unit 2 (160 mt2) : 3-4 Units Approx 35% open space 2-3 private sleeping areas + workspace + kitchen garden Dwelling Unit 3 (200 mt2) : 1-2 Units Approx 35% open space 4-5 private sleeping areas + workspace + kitchen garden Community Place (250 mt2) Can be built/semi built for various collective activities.

Can be subdivided into parts, with any part not less than 100mt2 Dedicated area for construction yard (150 mt2) Since all units have a workspace, they will share this area to explore/showcase construction techniques to help their practice Circulation network (30% of total area) : Roads, walkway, community courts, meeting places & common parking area Total site area : 2500 mt2 Since the site is located adjacent to the airport runway, following are the restrictions by the Airport Authority of India for construction :

• No construction is allowed higher than 6 mts from ground.

• At least a margin of 3 mts is to be considered from the airport compound wall.

The students are free to make their own break-up of each unit so as to justify your and the family’s lifestyle.

The area requirement is suggestive and can be revise with logical argument, Apart from above mention programmatic requirements any change appropriate to kinds of group is appreciable.

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S i te & C on text

The site is an open plot located on the road connecting Hanuman Madhi and Airport; and is amidst various housing societies. The site is surrounded by Airport Runway to its N-W, residential street to its S-W, Airport Road to its S-E and an open plot to its N-E. Squatter settlements, row houses and apartments are found around the site. There is a Taiya Tope Garden near the site which is a common recreational space of the people living around. The garden is well maintained and equipped with equipment for physical exercises. There are some temples around it.

1. MAHADEV TEMPLE

2. TEMPLE SURROUNDING

1. MAHADEV TEMPLE 1. MAHADEV TEMPLE

2. TEMPLE SURROUNDING 2. TEMPLE SURROUNDING 3

1. MAHADEV TEMPLE 1. MAHADEV TEMPLE

2. TEMPLE SURROUNDING 2. TEMPLE SURROUNDING 3

4. STREET NEAR SITE

5. VIEW FROM ROAD

4. STREET NEAR SITESITE 4. STREET NEAR

5. VIEW FROM ROAD 5. VIEW FROM ROAD

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4. STREET NEAR SITESITE 4. STREET NEAR

5. VIEW FROM ROAD 5. VIEW FROM ROAD

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2. TEMPLE SURROUNDING 7. ADJACENT STREET

3. BUS STOPROAD 8. MAIN

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O ve r v i e w o f Se me ste r Week

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Conceptual Understanding of Dwelling

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Formative Stage (Unit)

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Exploration/ Iteration

1. Introduction to Studio

4. A place for myself

9. Three characteristics in the un

2. Discussing an individual’s understanding of dwelling

5. A place to welcome guests

10. Cluster designing (1st Iteratio

6. A place for company

11. Understanding the family

7. A place for grandparents

12. Introduction to site and basic

8. A Home (1st impression)

13. Cluster designing (2nd Iterat

3. Screening of ‘Lovely Villa’ & ‘Doshi’

14. Site plotting with concerns o

15. Cluster designing (3rd Iterati

16. Site Planning in a group of 717. Cluster to Unit design

18. Individual Unit (2nd iteration

19. Introduction to design progra

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n (Cluster & Unit)

Culmination (Cluster)

nit designed by you

20. Dimensional Study

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21. Identifying building examples

c responses

22. Individual Unit (3rd iteration)

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Summation

23. Designing alternate spatial experience 24. Design resolutions

25. Individual Unit ( Final iteration)

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Studio Week

26. Site Development 27. Final Submission

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01 : Introduction to the studio Discussing an individual’s sense of dwelling, relation of dwelling and its surroundings & Identifying activities associated with dwelling Screening of ‘Lovely Villa’ and ‘Doshi’

Param

Shivam

Krutagna 14

Param

Reading / documentary

‘Lovely Villa’ by Rohan Shivkumar & Avijit Mukul Kishor ‘Doshi’ by Bijoy & Premjit Ramachandran

Krutagna

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02 A place for myself : Where you would like to do one activity alone. You must be able to do that activity under adverse environmental conditions.

A place to welcome guests : A place where you can interact with your extended family and friends. It should have a capacity to accommodate your entire family along with 4-5 guests Students were asked to make 6 clay models in 1:50 scale, 1 each day..

Harshit 16

Ruchi 17

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03 A place for company : where you can be with one of your family members (siblings/parents). It should have necessary requirements by which you can do certain activity with her/him.

Students were asked to design 3 places at 1:50 scale and detail one at 1:20.

Ruchi 18

Harshit 19

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Secondary Studies

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Sample drawings were shared from 1) Gamda nu Ghar by Indubhai Parekh 2) Kitchens of India 3) Exercises in Architecture by Simon Unwin

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04 A place for grandparents : design a space for your grandparents which is comfortable, functional and interesting .

Students were asked to sketch proportionate plans and sections at 1:20 scale

Param 20

Reading / documentary

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An Architecture Notebook by Simon Unwin (Chapter -Wall)

Ruchi 21

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Expert Talks

What is Dwelling?

by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya Where do we Dwell?

by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya

05 A Home : Combine all the places to complete a sense of a dwelling. Add all the required supportive spaces.

The design should be a place where you and your family are comfortable to spend quality time with each other.

1st impression of home along with rough idea of dimensions

Harshit

Meet 22

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Hemang

Smit

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06 Identify three characteristics that you will have in the unit designed by you.

Iteration 1 of cluster housing : In a group of 2 (Online + Offline students) design a housing where all your previously designed houses can be brought together as a community. Imagine/describe/depict the site.

Think about the entrances, common open space and its usage, site edges, etc while you are placing these houses together. Think of and give name to your housing.

Online Group 24

Reading / documentary

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A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander Chapters: The Family, House for a Small Family, House for a Couple, House for One Person, Your Own Home

Offline Group 25

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Expert Talks

Transactions : In to Out and Out to In

by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya

07 Site study and basic responses.

Iteration 2 of cluster housing with respect to site & context Site plans and sections at 1:200 scale

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Questionnaire

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1. City of residence 2. Type of house you currently live in.

3. How many people do you share your house with?

4. Name, Age and Qualification/Occupation of each member.

5. Do you live with your grandparent/s?

6. What are your hobbies/habits?

7. What are your fathers’ hobbies/habits?

8. What are your mothers’ hobbies/habits?

9. If you have siblings or live with your grandparents, mention their hobbies/habits here.

10. What religion & cast do you identify with?

11. How religious is your family?

12. Write a short description for each of the family members. Mention their likes/dislikes, behavioral patterns, daily routine, etc. On reading this description, an outsider should be able to get a fair understanding of your family.

13. What leisure time activities are important to your family? Do they take place in the house, and/or what is required to support the activity?

14. Do you frequently have guests at your home? If yes, how frequently?

15. Do interact with your neighbors frequently? If yes, what is nature of the interaction? It can range from a formal greeting to exchanging/ sharing resources etc.

16. Special comments about your family (something which set’s your family apart from others; for e.g. some customs, traditions, etc.)

17. What is the single best thing about the house you currently live in?

18. What’s that one thing you dislike about your current house?

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A questionnaire (via Google form) was floated to gather family data of each student. The answers were shared with all which helped them understand each other’s families and eventually design the common spaces for the entire community.

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08 In a group of 3-4, make a collage of your plans along with the ones designed by master architects Site Plotting with the concerns of parking, community spaces, and context. Insert designed units to that plot Site plans and sections at 1:200 scale

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09 Sketches of the spaces they desire in their homes (25, A5 sketches)

Harshit 30

Viraj 31

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10 Site Planning in a group of 7-8 students CLUSTER to UNIT Design - Parameters for designing Sketches of the spaces they desire in their homes (25, A5 sketches)

Gaurav 32

Reading / documentary

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The TImeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander Chapter 1 - The Timeless Way

Harshit 33

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Expert Talks

Review of students work

by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya

11 Dimensional Study - Study all objects in the spaces mentioned below, with respect to standard/ideal dimensions.

1. Cooking Space 2. Meeting Space 3. Sleeping Space Draw plans/sections in 1:20 scale for all objects separately. Use a graph paper/grid for reference.

In a group, identify & study building examples where similar material/constrcution techniques are used.

Viral 34

Blessings of the Sky

by Charles Correa

Reading / documentary

Ruchi 35

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Secondary Studies

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12 3rd interation of a house - Based on dimensional and material studies, redesign the house. Individual discussions follow.

Plans and sections at 1:50 with dimensions - 3 iterations with plans/sections and block models.

Shivam

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Ruchi

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Expert Talks

The Vocabulary, Grammer & Prose of a Dwelling by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya

The Story of Materials and Techniques by Prof. Kiran Vaghela

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Expert Talks

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F in al Comp i lati on

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H a r s h i t

J a d a v

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H e m a n g

N a t h w a n i

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R u c h i

P a r e k h

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M e e t

B h e n s d a d i y a Final Drawings

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D h o l a r i y a

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P a r a m

C h a u h a n

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O n l in e j u r y disc ussio ns

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Jury C omme n ts

Jury Panel : Vijaykumar Sengottuvelan , Sohan Nilkanth, Uday Andhare, Snehal Nagarsheth, Vishwanath Kashikar, Mona Doctor-Pingel, Meeta Jain Studio: Asmakam - Living environment for a group of 8-10 families This studio focused on learning by doing and exploring the concerns of belongingness as experienced by an individual (themselves) and a family. The narrative for the studio revolved around identifying the sense of a dwelling that each one has been experiencing since their childhood. Hence; based on their past experiences, individuals had to design their future home. Eventually they designed a community of 7-8 families living together at a site in Rajkot. This studio attempted to decipher the experience already embedded in individuals. The students relied more on their instincts and experiences rather than secondary sources.

Studio: Collective Living at the Old Core, Bhavnagar The studio attempted to understand collective living environment and complex inter-relationship of individual within community / families and between their surrounding in socio-cultural context. The studio tries to understand various form of physical manifestation of the built environment, so as to understand shared spaces of neighbourhood, mutually dependent living, relevance of house type, definition of a house/dwelling is not independent of neighbouring houses (open space of a house is defined by surrounding built form), making of a house and resources of the place etc.

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Post jury feedback and discussions: The work done by the students was received well with a positive note by all the members of the jury.

The students were exposed to the ways of imagination and the ways of drawing; both are parallel activities and must be practiced simultaneously. The concerns primarily focusing at collective living like the changing sociology structure, presence and need of gendered domains, identity amidst variety, ‘type’ in a building - traditional vs. aspirational, public vs. private, and the sense of territoriality were discussed.

Intriguing questions were raised based on the students’ approaches: Who is the user group? Does a knowledge about the users change the building type or spaces?, What are the layering of a program and how to respond to them?, Should there be a front and back of a building? How do you respond to different situations of the contexts? and many more… Eventually the discussion lead to the process of learning that deals with exploration and enjoyment. Rather than an evaluation tool these sessions proved to be a unique celebration of students’ efforts.

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