Hi! I am Manasvini, an Architect and an Urban Planner, and this is a selection of my most representative work over the last 7 years.
I believe that, as Architects and /Urban Planners, we can create projects that challenge dogma in this ever-changing city.
I am inspired by human centered design and the re-arrange and re-use principals.
Having done Architecture in Under Graduation and Masters in Planning, has given me the required diversity and a holistic approach on various systems that integrate into making a good design/ environment. With experience in urban built form, planning and architecture, I am looking for rethinking urbanity in different ways in a collaborative design environment.
SELECTED WORKS - URBAN PLANNING ARCHITECTURE
CHICK - FIL - A PARKING DECK, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
PROJECT BRIEF - Loacted in Buffington Road, this is a 7 storey parking deck with cast - in - place concrete structure and precast concrete exterior wall cladding. All
levels are open with each level having an area of 74, 366 gross square feet. There are 1,425 standard parking spaces, 97 compact spaces and 29 accessible spaces.
MY ROLECo - ordinated with the Associate Architect, and worked with team members to produce Construction Documents.
MEDIA - AutoCAD
MEDICAL CENTER, ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA
PROJECT BRIEF - Prominently positioned in the Alpharetta’s primary healthcare submarket, the Triad Medical Center is a Class “A” Medical Office Building, located on a 11.65 acre site, overlooking the corner of Georgia 400 and Old Milton Parkway.
This 4 story, 100,000 SF building is designed to maximize the visitor and employee experience, through convenient access at a readily accessible location, with public spaces designed to enhance the well-being of its occupants. The master plan for the property includes an outparcel site, for a 8,700 SF Office or medical office building adjacent to Old Milton Parkway.
Surface and structured parking is provided for Triad Medical Center. Expansive areas of high performance curtain wall and storefront glazing allow natural light to filter into the lobby areas and tenant spaces.
A covered entrance on the west side of the building allows patients, visitors and employees alike to have a sheltered drop-off. Floor plan options for medical office tenants are numerous, and can range from 1,500 SF to 24,000 SF on each floor. The floor plates are designed to enhance flexibility in the layout of tenant spaces, and to respond to ever changing requirements among medical practices.
MY
ROLE - Co - ordinated with the Interiors Department and produced reflected ceiling plan for levels 1 & 2 under the guidance of team member (left). Updated construction documents as per feedback from meetings (right).
MEDIA - AutoCAD
CITY CENTER PARKING DECK, ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA
PROJECT BRIEF - This is a five-level and 455 car parking deck serving the Alpharetta City Center project. Designed to complement the traditional detailing and monumental scale of the adjacent City Hall, the parking deck is constructed of intricately detailed, precast concrete panels.
Exposed concrete portions of the exterior precast panels, use a special concrete mix design, and formwork incorporating detailing similar to the traditional cast stone masonry, of the adjacent City Hall. Brick facing the panels is carefully matched to the brick on the City Hall and cast into the concrete matrix.
The circulation system is simple and was planned for maximum safety, and ease of use. The ramp system of the deck is located away from public streetscape areas, where it is not visible to guests. The long span precast concrete floor system provides visually open, column-free parking areas with a clean interior appearance.
Elevator lobbies and a grand stair connecting the parking levels are conveniently and prominently located to provide direct physical and visual access to the City Hall and adjacent Alpharetta City Library. Toilet facilities utilizing low-maintenance fixtures are provided in the parking deck to serve public events on the neighboring Town Square.
MY ROLE
- Co - ordinated with the Associate Architect, and worked with other members of the team to produce Construction Documents.
MEDIA - AutoCAD
STRATEGIC PLAN OF LIBERTY COUNTY, TEXAS 2016 -
2036
PROJECT TYPE: Vision Exercise | Land Suitability
Analysis| Area Wide Land Use Planning | Site Planning Plan Implementation
MEDIA: ArcGIS | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Liberty County is a slow growing rural jurisdiction in the Houston metropolitan region. Our goal for the project was:
• To develop a sustainable Liberty County with disaster prevention and control;
• Diversification of housing.
• Improved infrastructure and public facilities.
Through visioning exercise, we identified the vision for the County:
“ Liberty County supports a high quality of life by nurturing a family - friendly, resilient, and equitable community, and welcomes sustainable growth while conserving naural assests”.
Floodplain Map due to Sea Level Rise
Future Development
the APA TX PLANNING AWARD (2017) - The Final document (that I designed), can be found here: https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/158267
Proposed Roads
City of Liberty Park Analysis
The identification of possible park locations is displayed in the figure to the right. The criteria for delineating new park locations were the presence of vacant parcels and 0.25 miles from residential areas. The park locations are located away from the city’s industrial areas. An existing major park is illustrated to show its proximity to proposed park opportunties.
Many funding sources, both internal and external, are available. Internal recourses refer to taxes and fees to aid the action items. External are numerous, and may also include public - private partnerships with external partners like developers.
Entities are classified as follows: ADM: Staff within (Courts, administration, secretary, human resources, and finance)
PLAN: Planning, City Management
The Funding column in the Action Tasks table, gives suggestions for funding sources or grants for each of the action items.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF
DAYTON CITY, LIBERTY COUNTY, TEXAS (2017 -2037)
PROJECT TYPE: Vision Exercise | Land Suitability Analysis| Area Wide Land Use Planning | Site Planning Plan Implementation
MEDIA: ArcGIS | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Working in groups, we were asked to define issues, solve problems, make plans and do the following for any city in Liberty County:
• Describe, assess existing and emerging conditions;
• Formulate vision and goals;
• Develop action steps;
• Translate economic and population projections into their land use implications for land, location, and community services;
• Determine the land suitability and locations for various land uses using ArcGIS;
• Design a future urban regional form that meets the community’s objectives and accommodates the future population and economy.
After the Land Suitability Analysis and Area Wide Land Policy Planning, we chose the city of Dayton for Small Area Planning. The small-area plan addresses issues and opportunities in strategically important geographic areas.
Dayton Land Use Design 2040
Suitability Analysis
Dayton Land Use Design 2040
Area Wide Land Policy Map
Small Area Land Use Plan & Site
The location focuses on on development around Highway 9 as this is ideal for multiple uses.
Spot Perspective
The plan contains a focal point, around which land is planned to promote walkability, a healthy lifestyle, and transit oriented development.
Development Tools with Goals
The table below shows planning tools that will help to acheive the vision.
Proposed Development Proposed Plan
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF BUFFALO CITY,
TEXAS (2018 - 2038)
PROJECT TYPE: Fall ‘17 & Spring ‘18 Course work
Vision Exercise | Land Suitability Analysis| Area Wide Land Use Planning | Action Steps & Implementation Framework
MEDIA: ArcGIS | Adobe Suite | Microsoft Office
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Buffalo is located in East Central Texas within Leon County, North of Harris County and East of Limestone County. It lies on one of the most traveled highways, between Interstate 45 and Highway 79. It is a small rural town with a steady growing population that is known to have a small-town atmosphere.
PROJECT RESPONSIBILTY: Community Facilities Section
VISION STATEMENT: Buffalo strives to be a leader by strengthening our local identity while also being an affordable, healthy, and safe destination that provides a range of housing and economic opportunities for our citizens to enjoy an enhanced quality of life today and for future generations.
SMALL AREA PLANS: Following the community meetings, recommendations on focus areas were derived. The following areas were designated for further study:
Location 1 (Figure on the right)US 79 Historic Commercial development. The community expressed interest in revitalizing this area of the city, but a consensus was made that this area should not be the focal point of new development.
The location of the “historic main street” sees a high volume of travelers. But, deteriorating infrastructure and high rents has created a barrier to new businesses along the route. As such, the community expressed interest in improving infrastructure, and creating connections between surrounding land uses.
Small Area Plan
Location 2 – This area (above) of the city is seen by the community as a potential high growth area.
Interstate 45 that cross sects Buffalo has been noted as a valuable asset to the community. As such, planners realize that capitalizing on development in this area is critical to the future economic success of the city. The area shown above would be most suited for commercial and industrial development.
We recommended using taxation and other financial incentives to attract industries that could capitalize on the higher levels of accessibility offered by the Interstate. In addition, these facilities would need to be located within the city limits of Buffalo as to retain any tax revenues from new development.
These types of industries offer a wide range of employment levels and types (e.g. blue-collar, white-collar, etc.). Planners see this type of development as a boon for the local economy and would have a positive impact on housing supply as a special generator.
The Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department is located at the center of the city and is a Volunteer organization. The department consists of 13 volunteer firefighters and 2 non-fighting support personnel.
As can be seen from the Response Time map below, the average response time is between 5 to10 minutes. Therefore, the existing fire station is sufficient and hence there is no need for any additional fire station.
The Buffalo Fire Department has an Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating of 6 which is a moderate rating.
Recommendations
Review and set initiatives for existing Fire Service facilities to achieve and maintain the ISO Class III Fire Protection Rating.
Action Steps:
• Use Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) to get funding sources to improve or add firefighting facilities/equipments.
• Create a document that reviews existing fire facilities to obtain a new and current ISO rating.
• Implement mandatory fire norms .
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF BUFFALO CITY, TEXAS (2018 - 2038)
Small Area Design Concept “Community Street”
GARDEN VILLAGE, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
PROJECT TYPE: Vision Exercise | Site Planning |
MEDIA: ArcGIS | Adobe Suite | Word | Sketchup
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: We were given a site in College Station and asked to do studies on the existing conditions and give development proposals. Site Overview - 3 blocks/ 7 parcels/ 13 structures. Under-developed site.
Existing Comprehensive Plan
The land use map on the left is dominated by road networks and a lot of residential and commercial development (which is along the traffic corridors). The map on the right shows that housing is pre-dominantly for single-family.
Pedestrian Network
Transportation
Route 6, (also known as Rudder freeway) lies in the east of the city. University Drive - a major arterial road intersects the freeway and runs along the site. There are also many collectors and local streets.
Contour
A mixed - use development, in which buildings are balanced out with equal amount of open spaces, will be most suitable in the given location. In addition, a community garden would provide residents with an opportunity to interact with their neighbors and the public. It can also help in producing different kinds of fresh products, that can help generate revenue.
ALT1 focused on residential units and amenities and ALT 2 focused on commercial and office facilities. Parking lots were placed in the back of the lots, so as to make the site more inviting with landscape.
FALLING WATERS, PERUNGUDI, CHENNAI, INDIA
PROJECT BRIEF - Perungudi’s finest residential complex, Falling Waters is spread across 3.4 acres with 186 lifestyle apartments in a pallete of 1, 2, 3 BHK, plus 4 BHK penthouses. Apartments and penthouses range from 577 sq.ft to 3,365 sq.ft.
This building is inspired by the International style of Architecture, known as “Organic Architecture”. Falling Waters strives to blend elements of nature into harmonious living spaces that truly create an unique residential experience.
Central to the Falling Water’s experience is a clubhouse with a host of world class facilities, including a swimming pool for adults as well as children, a gymnasium, a recreation centre and more.
Besides containing modern security systems, door video phones at every apartment ensures safety of residents.
Client: Ambattur Reality
MY ROLE - Produced a presentable site plan for the client (left). Worked with the Project Architect to design elevation (right).
MEDIA - Photoshop | AutoCAD
My Role - Co - ordinated with the Project Architect to create furniture layout (left) and presented it to the client. Updated and completed views for presentation (right).
Media: AutoCAD | Adobe Suite | Sketchup | 3DS Max
SRIRAM THE GATEWAY, TAMBARAM, CHENNAI
PROJECT BRIEF - Located near Tambaram, Sriram the Gateway is designed as an integrated development project, that has over 6 million sq.ft of Information Technology offices, and about 2.5 million sq.ft of residential development.
The entire campus measures about 58 acres, of which 40 acres is designated for IT offices. The residential enclave is designed adjacent to the Special Economic Zone and measures about 18 acres.
The residential space in the complex is designed for a mix of luxury, and semi luxury apartments.The apartment complexes are tastefully designed and come with all modern amenties like gym, kid’s play area, joggers track and excellent landscape.
A retail mall is still under the planning stage and is being designed for a capacity of 3.00,000 sq.ft. This mall is set to come up near the Special Economic Zone.
Client - Sriram Properties
MY ROLE - Worked with Project Architect, and other team members to produce Construction Documents.
MEDIA - AutoCAD
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, BAASHYAAM CONSTRUCTIONS, CHENNAI
PROJECT BRIEF - Baashyam Happy Windows is one of the famous residential developments project in Kattupakkam, Chennai. This is an housing project that contains 1, 2 & 3 BHK apartment, with areas ranging from 551 to 1,676 sq.ft.
Due attention has been given for good ventilation, natural lighting, spacious car parking, private balconies, material specifications, and every other minute aspect for comfortable and happy living.
The project comprises of residential space along with a club house, meditation hall, indoor games area, gymnasium area, jogging track, roof top swimming pool and lush green landscape.
The number of units present within this complex is 280, which is distributed equally in six blocks, with each block having stilt plus four floors.
Client: Basashyam Constructions
MY ROLE - Co - ordinated with the Project Architect, and produced interior layout of Lift Lobby (left).
Generated schematic view (right) for the client.
MEDIA - AutoCAD | Sketchup
PROJECT TYPE: Architecture Thesis
JUNGLE RESORT, MYSORE, INDIA
MEDIA: Adobe Suite | Word | Sketchup | 3DSMax | AutoCAD
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A jungle resort is required near a National Park. Many case studies & construction techniques were studied before stepping into the design. Stage 1 - Case Study, Construction Techniques and Design Methodology
Layout and Construction Methodology
The pool has been designed with a wide, wild edge over a flow, which contains a reed bed.
Layout and Construction Methodology
Stage 2 - Site Study & Site Plan.
Nagarhole National Park is located in the Mysore District in Karnataka State, India. The park has a healthy predator ratio of tigers, elephants and leopards. The park also has a rich forest cover, streams, and hills. Building a resort near it can foster activities like safari and promote tourism.
Site Plan - On entering the site, the Admin block comes first. One can exit to the East or West of the Admin block. On exiting in either direction, one is directed towards a path that runs between the shrub maze and flower garden.
The tree house district in the North West corner, is contoured artifically, sloping higher as one goes further North - West. This is for protection from animals that are in the forest situated in the North-West.
The site has three artificial trees called the Archi-Tree inspired by tall Rain Forest trees. These are located near the tree house district, pool area, and the log house district and are over 7m high.
These are placed to act as focal points, as they can be ideal sites for bird watching. Conceived as a fusion of nature, and technology, these also act as spectacular vertical gardens and landmark features.
Existing
Site Plan
Proposed Site Plan
The figure on the left shows the site, which is located in Karapur Village of Mysore district. There is a forest in the North West corner of the site and the Kabini river runs around the site. Currently, the site is covered with fields.
The figure on the right shows a schematic representation of a super tree. The site has three super trees (artificially created tall trees) - near the log house unit, the dining area and the tree house district. These trees are designed so as to give a person the feeling of being in a deep jungle among natural surroundings and for bird - watching.
JUNGLE RESORT, MYSORE
The Administrative building is located near the entrance. There are exits in the East and West sides of the buiding that leads to a pathway, to go around the site.
There are five tents situated near the shrub maze area. These tents are made of Polyvinide polymer.
This is located in the North East corner of the site. It is oriented in such a way so that people can face the river while getting massages.
Floor Plan
Front Elevation
JUNGLE RESORT, MYSORE
The Meditation hall (192 sq.m) is located in the North East corner of the site. It is oriented in such a way, so that people face the river while doing yoga or meditation. Meditation Hall
Cottage Unit
The site has twelve cottages loacted towards the south of the site, near the river. There are six units, with two cottages in one unit. Each cottage is about 70 sq. m and comprises of two bedrooms with attached bathrooms, and a wooden deck.
Recreation Center
The Recreation center consists of a yoga room, gymnasium, squash court and a gaming area in the first floor. The second floor consists of a billiards room, steam room, theraphy and a table tennis court.
Adjacent to the recreation center is a library which is two-storey. This library also has a conference room for staff meetings.
HOMELESS SHELTER, GEORGE TOWN, CHENNAI
Streets, Trade & Commerce
A prominent part of George Town which is spread in an area of 186 acres.
PROJECT TYPE: NASA Competition
MEDIA: Adobe Suite | Sketchup | AutoCAD
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The homeless population in Chennai is 11,116 but there are only 15 night shelters in the City. Therefore for this competition, a night shelter design is proposed, in the selected site above.
People who are homeless often engage themselves in works such as construction, petty jobs, helpers and cleaners, rag picking, platform vendors, daily wage workers, etc and cannot homes.
According to reports from the Corporation of Chennai, the maximum number of homeless people are in : Zone 2 - Basin Bridge - 65%; Zone 3 - Pulianthope - 28%; Zone 7Nungambakkam - 3%; Zone 10 - Mylapore - 4%
The total homeless population in George Town (an historical place in Chennai) is 2,856. The stretch along the Broadway Road in George Town, is very crowded as it has one of the biggest Markets. Several people work in the market work during the day, but stay on streets at night. Hence, providing a night shelter in this area is much required.
The building form embraced a sense of semlessness and repition, and nutured the cube concept.
The transalation of such dynamic expression of edges and sides, to an immobile block that promotes a seamless form was the challenge in design.
But the mere stacking of cubes one upon the other is not enough. Hence I tried different combinations and adapted the best possible solution - the Tetris. Using these combinations, voids are created, which can be converted as open spaces. Thus, by doing this, a need which has been neglected, is made mandatory.
Tetris blocks have voxels as their basic units. These voxels are arranged to form five different tetris blocks combinations. These combinations are the basic building blocks for this design.
First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan
Site Plan
Concept Tetra Blocks
HOMELESS SHELTER, GEORGE TOWN, CHENNAI
Single Prototype Mattress
The’” Prototype” personifies the compact nature of a person. Every person in the shelter, is given importance and his own space, creating a sense of belonging. The furniture is designed in such a way, that the bed can be drawn out and used during sleep, and can be closed and put away, when not in use. To put the bed away, it is compressed and folded into a portion of the wardrobe. The foldable coconut husk partition alongside the wardrobe, can be folded and pushed into the wardrobe when not in use, providing privacy to the user.
Coconut Husk Partition
Open Scenario
Front Elevation
Side Elevation
Closed Scenario
Wardrobe
Subtle concave to cradle occupant
Collapsable honey comb core supports upto 230 kg
Die cut double corrugated cardboard
Collapsable Card Board
Corn Based Polymer
3 ply, 1.4” thick pine plywood
PROJECT TYPE: Commercial
DURATION: 6 months
MEDIA: AutoCAD (First CAD Project)
SHOPPING MALL, CHENNAI, INDIA
Concept
By bringing natural light into the interiors, atriums offer larger, more efficient floor areas. The roof of the atrium is covered with circular patches of colored glass, so that when natural light passes through, it can create interesting patterns in the floors and the atrium below.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The exercise was to design a shopping mall in a site 50m x 75m, located in Selaiyur, Tambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Development Control Rules and related building codes should be followed. The shopping mall should not only be a place to find and purchase goods, it should also be known as a cultural hot spot, where people of all ages can come to interact.
Objectives:
• To design a shopping mall which gives people unique spatial experience.
• The building shall express technological innovation in the contemporary scene.
• The design shall focus on façade manipulation, entrance, display windows, etc.
• The design should provide for the management of a large crowd, and should address details such as fire safety and parking.
The main feature of the atrium is a huge water fountain, which is placed at the center of the atrium. This will not only create a soothing ambience for shoppers, but also serve as an interactive sitting space.
The principal façade of the building has a unique framed display glass which lights up at night. This can be a major eye-catcher and attract people.
As the floor level goes up, each floor extends outwards than the previous floor level. This creates an interesting facade display from the outside.
The food court is placed in such a way, so that it is visible in the main facade and can attract people.
MISCELLANEOUS
- University Work
Pen rederings, free hand sketches basic shapes - model making done during first semester of Architecture.
