MANMEETOF KAUR THANDHI
PORTFOLIO
MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE AT THE ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SELECTED APPLICATION2018-2021WORKSFOR
2020AcademicIndependenceOfProject
Human beings are social animals, people and emotions are all we have, emotions give meaning to this world and people give us love which helps us survive. All forms of art are centered around self-expression and building communities through it. Through architecture, we create a permanent mark on this world, we allow people to feel the multitude of emotions which a well-crafted space can bring. And this is what draws me towards architecture. My identity as an architect helps me to create something meaningful, something impactful, which draws people together, and enables me to fulfill a higher purpose. Through architecture, I hope to touch lives by creating inclusive spaces for every being. Carefully crafted spaces catering to every person’s special needs, because every life is important and we are bound to each other.
“Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.”
03. The Cool Pool House Professional Project 2020
CONTENTSCompetitionChangeProject 16.14.10.06.01.
- David Micthell
05. Design for
MOTIVATION
02. Live Work and Play Academic Project 2019
01. In Search
04. The Vaulted House Professional Project 2020
Type - Architecture, Community, Housing, Educational Guide - Ar. Mridulla Pillai Gudekar
The work attempts to Design an environment that caters to the spatial needs of autistic youth and adults and attempts to define an intervention that helps these individuals become independent to ensure their inclusion in our urban society.
LEGIBILITY: A straightforward and consistent spatial organization provides clearly defined transition thresholds between public, semi-public, semi-private, and private spaces.
PREDICTABILITY: All four homes are similar in design so that residents feel comfortable visiting each other or relocating to a different house on the site.
IN SEARCH OF INDEPENDENCEACADEMIC 01
Undergraduate Thesis
The prevalence rate of autism in India is 1 in 250 and currently, 10 million people are suffering in India. Because the disease cannot be fully treated, the autistic child becomes the autistic adult, since any person will spend about 75% of his life as an adult, the task of autism treatment is to prepare children to gain independence and to ensure integration into society.
Living and Learning Center for Young Autistic Adults
NEED FOR THE PROJECT
This project stemmed off from my interest in the impact of architecture on the human psyche. I started giving a thought as to how many possibilities could architecture bring into the lives of individuals in the spectrum.
IN01.SEARCH OF INDEPENDENCE
My first encounter with this term was in the early 2000s when my younger sister was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a very young age of four. As I witnessed my parents struggle to discover early intervention treatment, medical consideration, and educational program only to find that resources were beyond scarce especially being jotted down to a country like India where autism was still in its early era of acknowledgment. Just like my sister, autistic children have now become autistic adults and through this journey of struggle, stress, and anxiety, parents live in constant fear of who will take over from them after their lifetime, they simply ask “what after us”
ESCAPE: And finally the niche spaces in the common areas acts as an escape space that offer respite if individuals find any environment too overbearing.
PROJECT GENESIS
SERENE SPACES: All spaces are designed to reduce sensory stimulation and provide a serene environment. Forms are familiar, colors and finishes are subdued, and lighting is mostly indirect.
Year - 2019-2020 (Semester 10)
In order to avoid the stigma typically attached to group homes and autistic behaviors in general, it is more appropriate to integrate with the community with a residential neighborhood than an industrial, commercial, or city like-location. The town of Baner in the city of Pune seemed the most suitable to start this kind of intervention with, due to its central location, good connectivity, and high autism awareness.
The highly residential context allows the site to have characteristics of a good neighborhood, more interaction with neighbors, the more likely the community will become invested in the facility and accept the unique services provided to the ASD
householdsIndividual
When designing for autism the Zoning and organization of the building is done around the senses because that is what the autistic individuals could relate the most to, so high stimulation spaces next to high stimulation spaces and low stimulation next to low stimulation with a good transition in between.
IntegrationSensorySpacialSequencingWithdrawalspaces
The site is plugged in an Introverted Urban context that has high accessibility, interactive neighborhood, essential amenities but does not have the chaos of Urbanity.
sq m piece of land comes under handicap and spastic use in the Pune government’s development plan, the plot next to and opposite to this are also reserved under this category which gives this kind of intervention an opportunity of expansion.
Thiscommunity.16000
Theenvironments.DesignProgram
includes:
Perception allows, to understand, translate, and draw relationships with the surrounding environment.
Neighborhood5.Calm4.ResidentialNature2.Day care 3.Health care1.Community Hall IN SEARCH OF INDEPENDENCEACADEMIC 02
LearningTherapy& participationCommunity participationParents
But what happens when one experiences this built environment with impaired perceptions.
The relationship between humanity and the built environment is closely linked to the way in which one perceives the world around them.
Individuals in the autism spectrum find it difficult to make sense of the world, which in turn affects their abilities to cope, experience, and relate to their surrounding
Community participation, Parents participation, to create a therapeutic and learning environment, and lastly to Independence.maximize
Autism Awareness.
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurological disorder, it affects one’s social cognitive perception which further affects an individual’s ability to process information and their behavioral pattern.
Recreational zones Vocational Opportunities Parents ResidencesSensory Playscapes
In relation to the Design, programs such as therapy and living facility, zoned under low stimulus have been separated but not socially isolated from interventions such as community and parents participations, zoned under the high stimulus. The planning builds up from residence towards the left and right of the site to the learning community area in the Centre and finally expands towards the community plaza at the entrance.
Individuals are provided with individual households with centrally located staff stations who can monitor residents, allowing adults along the spectrum to live independently while maintaining safety.
Therapeutic and learning environment in which an individual can learn everyday vocational skills that will help them break down existing barriers for employment.
IN SEARCH OF INDEPENDENCEACADEMIC 03
THERAPY CENTRE
T-shape corridor, acts as transition area that helpsthe user to recalibrate their senses as they move fromone level of stimulus to the next.
IN SEARCH OF INDEPENDENCEACADEMIC
The transitioning between these differing sensoryenvironments and activities is done with help of centralcorridor ‘Social Heart’
Individuals with autism have affinity towards routine and predictability. Spaces are aligned to follow once routine.
COMPARTMENTALIZATIONSPATIALSEQUENCINGESCAPETRANSITIONZONES
Theover-stimulating.sensoryguideline aspect of the plan starts with the building which is designed around one central walkway, the ‘Street’, which runs the entire length of the building and is flooded with natural light from a glass atrium inducing an immediate sense of well-being.
THE SOCIAL HEART 04
The concept here is following an experiential hierarchy of volumes starting from low stimulating areas moving towards areas of the high stimulus, with good transition space between them and an opportunity to retreat in case the environment becomes
Spaces provided that offer respite for the autistic user fromthe overstimulation found in their environment.
The concept of the residential unit follows an experiential hierarchy, beginning with the Individual to a neighborhood and finally expanding toward the community. Residents are given the opportunity to preview spaces and activities, and if they find any discomfort to access places of retreat for quiet.
IN SEARCH OF INDEPENDENCEACADEMIC DETAILS
An autistic individual could be either hyper or hypo sensitive to their environment, so the space has been designed in such a way that they can cater to both these diverse behavioral patterns.
Bringingdaylightnatural Interactive & surroundingstactile
SPATIAL SEQUENCING ESCAPE
These also acts as wind catchers, cooling down the space.
It’s followed throughout so that ASD individuals could orient these spaces easily in the time of distress.
The entire length of the building and is flooded with natural light inducing an immediate sense of well-being.
The central courtyard helps individual to orient themselves, giving a cleardirection of what comes next.
COMPARTMENTALIZATION
AUDITORIUMCANOPY
Spaces provided that offer respite for the autistic userfrom the over stimulation found in their environment.
Use of diffused lights to avoid creating over stimulation
ENTRANCE
Protruding bricks break up blank surfaces creating a self shading pattern and help dissipate the heat gain due to increase surface area.
05
Sensory design theory in response to autistic sensory needs. Based on which the first guideline is:
TheRESIDENCESTUDENT’Slayoutfollows
Breaking down into smallerunits in order to limit to the sensory input within each space.
Individuals with autism have affinity towards routine and predictability. Spaces are aligned to follow once routine.
Preview and retreat:
TRANSITION ZONES
These terracotta hollow tiles are suspended from the pergola at the Escape spaces,
Year - 2019 (Semester 9)
LIVE02.
The site for this project is located in the central business district of Mumbai- the Bandra Kurla Complex.
DESIGN BRIEF
The Brief was an open ended one, where we were required to design a program of our own.
The sole criteria was providing functions under components of LIVE, WORK and PLAY with a division of built up area to 20, 40, 40% respectively. Thus making for a mixed use development and public plaza in the heart of BKC.
The intention is to design inspiring and efficient spaces, enhancing the quality of life subsequently productivity of the end users. A space that belongs to the people and effortlessly blends in with the existing socio cultural fabric of the city. In the design, I have tried to increase the permeability and accessibility of the public space component which I found to be most integral to the project. All the built structures are designed around the courtyard taking into account the mobility and transportation issues of the business district. The programs are chosen based on minimizing the dependence on private ownerships. The food and beverage spaces are planned taking into account the workers in the gig economy.
Design Studio IX
WORK AND PLAY
Built V/s Open spaces Private Semi PrivatePublic ParaSocialCommercialFacilitiesRecreationalResidentialCommercial 42m wide road 30m wide road 18m wide road Road HierarchyLand Use map Building use CommercialResidentialHotelsSchoolsServices RecreationHospitals LIVE WORK PLAYACADEMIC 06
Along with well planned commercial spaces it also includes residential facilities and informal, socio-cultural gathering spaces for public interaction celebrating Mumbai’s rich culture.
Type - Architecture, Urban intervention, Commercial, Housing Guide - T Geevith
Mixed Use Development Mumbai’s central business Architecturaldistrict
INITIAL CONCEPT SKETCHES
of the idea of gated communities, white taking care to not hamper the privacy of each private function as it would require.
2. The length of the site was one of the biggest challenge. It made it imperial for the design to ensure that there is no disconnect.
LIVE WORK PLAYACADEMIC
2. ACTIVATING THE EDGE
SITE CHALLENGES
Roof plan
1. The site had provisions of cycle tracks, spacious foot paths and a good public pedestrian connect. However, the paradoxical reality is that all these amenities remain isolated.
1. CENTRAL ACTIVITY NODE
3. Though the development is that of a mixed use, segregation of residential to commercial/industrial zones is important in order to create privacy and alleviate nuisance.
ToINTENTgetrid
07
3. ACHIEVING MAXIMUM PEDESTRIANIZATION
Ground Floor
Photovoltaic fins
Self Shading facade
08
Chajja
The ground floor of the hub has minimal footprint and only public and semi-private spaces. The complex has 4 pedestrian entrances, 2 vehicular entries and one service and delivery entrance. The parking and the traffic is directed downwards towards the basement to ensure a safe, vehicle free zone. E-bikes and scooters are available for cross campus mobility. To ensure ground water permeability despite the creation of a basement, all paved surfaces are embedded with permeable paver blocks that will collect and harvest water and avoid flooding.
Water body at entrance
First Floor
LIVE WORK PLAYACADEMIC
The water passes through the vertical holes in the surface and can then be moved transversely or longitudinally through the tile
RCC Construction with Flat Slab and Drop Panel
Separate entrance and congregation square for the shopping complex, Restaurant and the residential live/work space.
LIVE WORK PLAYACADEMIC
Residences Galleries Theaters Workspaces RetailsSupermarkets LIVE PLAY WORK Sports Complex 09
The buildings are designed in a manner that creates multiple gateways into the public space. They are planned to ensure that the central court remain shaded at all times of the day.
Large, semi-open entrance area that doubles as a public space where fleas, Public meetings and street art can be conducted.
The central courtyard is a public space that features an amphitheater, a cinema hall and a series of gardens and seatings. This space is an extension for the office spaces and a place for thriving nightlife.
A grid of columns and beams like an skeleton that modulate, order, delimit and qualify the different spaces.
THE COOL POOL HOUSEPROFESSIONAL Site Plan 10
THE03.
Deep within the untamed wilderness of Karjat, stands a symbol of refuged. The house is a floating, transparent structure, designed to take advantage of the multiple captivating views that make up its surroundings. The built form with its aging character becomes the second home of a family eager to change the rhythm, far from any trace of civilization.
Type: - Residential Architecture, Residential Interiors Team Kayzad Shroff, Khusbu Mehta, Hitanshi Mehta Contribution Design and research, graphics and drawings
COOL POOL HOUSE
The living room ties the house together, offering sweeping views of the landscape beyond. The infinity pool is placed to take advantage of the existing sloping terrain, offering undisturbed views of the river and waterfalls that spout from the surrounding hills.
Site - Karjat,, India Professional Work with Shróffleon Year - 2021
The primary living spaces are bridged together with a spacious, airy portico, adorned with slender concrete columns at its perimeter. These columns are mindfully designed and placed to allow the portico to seamlessly unfold into the plantations. The three bedrooms overlook on opposite sides, with the master bedroom opening up to the river valley below, and the guest bedroom enjoying views of the vast plantations.
View from the Bar
THE COOL POOL HOUSEPROFESSIONAL 11
The house can live as closed or open as you want, allowing you to enjoy the sea breeze and vegetation that seeks to introduce the jungle immediate context by a rich variety of the Bar
Viewspecies.from
View of the Patio
View from the Patio
Steel Roof Structure
Back Elevation
THE COOL POOL HOUSEPROFESSIONAL 12
Professional Work with Shróffleon Year - 2021
Contribution Design and research, graphics and drawings
Site Plan
Shroff, Maria Leon, Arjun Giri
Situated amidst the vast landscape of Alibaug ‘The Vaulted House’ is an experimental contemporary holiday home. The house is deconstructed to create a set of pods, designed in a form of brick monolith vaults scattered within the lush jungle-like greens. These pods are oriented to overlook an organic shaped water body giving each space, a serene and distinct view of the extensive verdure. The central water body that dissolves into nature connects the different pods together with a peripheral outdoor corridor. The house develops from the idea of being aware of the environment and takes into consideration the respect for its surroundings. The materiality was chosen to let nature take over the structure and adapt to its aging character. An array of semi open interior spaces layered inside these varying volumes, offer a multiplicity of oblique views through the house while capturing natural light from a variety of angles.
THE VAULTED HOUSEPROFESSIONAL 13
Site - Alibaug, Mumbai, India
THE04.
The series of vaults, pertaining to the different programs, scale-up in height in relation to the function of the plan which reflects the importance of the room, with the living room having the highest spatial volume followed by dining, the family room, the bedrooms etc.
VAULTED HOUSE
Type: - Residential Architecture, Residential Interiors, TeamLandscapeKayzad
THE VAULTED HOUSEPROFESSIONAL 14
Lotus pond overlooking the pool.
The Living area
The Living and dining area.
Cladded with Peterson Bricks ConcreteExposed Black FrameworkWindowMetal
From Master bedroom overlooking the pool.
THE VAULTED HOUSEPROFESSIONAL 15
The Dining area overlooking the pool.
DESIGN05. FOR CHANGE
DESIGN FOR A CHILD-CARE CENTRE (ANGANWADI)
National Competition Year: 2018 Type: Architecture, social intervention Team: 10 members#.Contribution: Research, design, presentation, drawings.
3RD PLACE IN THE DESIGN FOR CHANGE TROPHY AT 60TH ANNUAL NASA CONVENTION. PROTOTYPED FOR REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION
Design for Change: Competition brief for trophy sponsored by DHFL (Mumbai) and organized through NASA In National Association of Students of Architecture 60th Annual NASA AnganwadisConvention.orcourtyard centres, are established as a part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) services of the Ministry of Women and Child Development,Government of India to provide quality early childhood development and care to children upto 6 years of age. The centres also provide nutritional and health care support to pregnant and lactating mothers.
Urban anganwadis are dull and have poor ventilation due to poor infrastructure. There are very few facilities for women and expectant mothers, resulting in anemia and poor health of expectant mothers, resulting in problems to the future generation. Hence, we considered our proposed design to be built in urban context, in order to improve the quality of healthcare and education of children belonging to urban slums and make mothers realize the importance of good health care during pregnancy.
The concept of anganwadi originated in rural parts of India and are proved to be beneficial for mothers and their children belonging to low income groups. As this idea proved to be effective, it was replicated all across India, in rural, urban and tribal contexts. These multi functional development units cater to basic amenities that a child requires for his overall well-being which creates an impact over a child’s mental, physical, emotional and behavioral, qualities.
DESIGN FOR CHANGECOMPETITION 16
Insitu fittings designed keeping in mind different age group
Private spaces for lactating mothers
Learning from NatureElement of play
17
Slides acts as an interesting fun element for kids and also connects two levels
Indoor Outdoor learning
Isometric Sectional View
Wind Chimes creating curiosity which triggers the sense of hearing
Spaces active after Anganwadi hours
Sand pit at midlanding which helps in development of motor skills
DESIGN FOR CHANGECOMPETITION
The tree trunk represents the anganwadi which holds allthe branches that reflect to the different facilities this space caters. ‘Angan’ in Indian context and culture is a multi functional space for learning and playing space for kids and gathering space for adults.
Safety, sustainability, hygiene, functionality in order to accommodate all necessary functions are the essential aspects considered in this design.
ZONING
Rollers installed near railings in order to stimulate touch & sound
Upper level catering children 4-6 year olds.
Spaces active during Anganwadi hours
The massing of the module is such that it can suit Indian climatic zones. The central courtyard can be shaded or exposed to respond to the climatic context.
The zoning of this structure is done considering the overlap in time and its function. Quiet spaces are segregated from the Noisy ones in order to avoid disturbance.
For Hot and Dry, Hot and Wet
ForTemperaturesColdandDry
Use of different textures creating curiosity which triggers the sense of touch
Railings consideringdesignedheights of children & adults
In order to create an ideal anganwadi the design has incorporated child friendly spaces via a sustainable approach which is innovative and responsive in maintaining an active brain and body development. This module aims to be a space that nurtures both the child and their mother. By creating such spaces it allows the child to be more active, making him curious to explore and discover new things around them and stimulate their senses.
A child learns to be social and interactive with his surroundings. This is where the senses are triggered via environmental stimuli, by learning and observing things around them. Hence, Aganwadis are where the roots of the child’s development and personality are
children and their mothers with basic facilities during their crucial stages of life, anganwadis help in giving back to the society by ensuring growth of our nation.
DESIGN FOR CHANGECOMPETITION CONCLUSION 18
Foyer & waiting area Dining & Play area
Bybuilt.providing
View from the CourtyardEntry
WORKSOTHER
I enjoy skills,improvevisualscreatingandtomydigitalherearesomeofmyillustrations.
