Mereen Sarah Koshy | Portfolio | 2024

PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO ‘18 - ’23

ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE

Mereen Sarah Koshy | B-Arch

ABOUT. Hi, I’m MEREEN, A B-Arch graduate from College of Architecture Trivandrum (2023) who is interested in building relationships between people and the world around them.

My curiosity about the hows and whys of design piques my attention and motivates me to study, develop, and perceive more about it. I strive to demonstrate my abilities, both individually and as part of a team. I like to approach design conceptually, allowing me to take on a variety of creative difficulties and to create user-centric design.

In my perspective, design ties people to more than just their environment. I am a learner who appreciates collaboration and mutual work. My interest in interior design, influences my desire to curate personalised designs for consumers. The following are examples of my academic and other works, which I hope demonstrate my abilities, originality, and effort.

CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Mereen Sarah Koshy DOB: 13th December 1999 (24 yrs) From: Kochi, Kerala Contact: +91 9061651315 E-mail: mereensara@gmail.com Languages: English, Malayalam

EDUCATION

SKILLS | INTERESTS

12th CBSE : Birla Public School (2018), Doha - Qatar B-Arch : College of Architecture Trivandrum (2023)

Drafting | Model Making Architecture | Interior Design

SOFTWARES

WORKSHOPS | ACTIVITIES

AutoCAD Rhino SketchUP Lumion Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Adobe InDesign Q - GIS Microsoft Office

Volunteer at Varadhanam | Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (2018)

INTERNSHIP

COMPETITIONS

Studio Foxgreen, Trivandrum (2021)

Shortlisted for ANDC Trophy (2020) Top 100 Entry

Assisted in Various Projects Architectural | Interior | Landscape Drawings Project Renovation Site Documentation BOQ and Tiling Estimation 3D Modelling & Visualisation

Ferrocement Workshop (2019) 9 Software Workflow Workshop, Studio Layout (2020) Volunteer at Olam (2020) Exhibition | Metagreen Dimensions Conference (2022) Pottery Workshop, Kosava (2023) Woodworking Workshop, Hitesh Woodwala (2023)

DesignClass Diginified Housing Competiotion (2021) Top 5 Finalist NASA - DesTech Challenge (2021)

CONTENT

01

02

The Ekklesia | 5 - 20

Mountain Vale House | 21 - 28

03

04

05

Brewers Cafe | 29 - 34

Hotel Folia | 35 - 40

Miscellaneous | 41 - 48

01 The word "church" is derived from the Greek word "ekklesia," which is also rendered as "congregation," "assembly," or "meeting" in the new testament of the Bible. It refers to a group of people who identify as followers of Jesus Christ.

THE EKKLESIA

A Church and Christian Community Center | Thesis Project

The ancient Jewish faith is embodied in the 2000-year-old religion of Christianity. The Bible and other historic texts are sources that can be used to determine the true fundamental principles of Christianity due to its extensive histor y, changing traditions, and variety of denominations and interpretations.

Churches, otherwise called the “congregation” began to grow and saw the need for spaces where they could gather, leading to the adaptation and evolution of such buildings.

1500-500 BC

Outer courts of the tabernacle and temple where God is believed to intercede.

7 | The Ekklesia

200-100 BC

Central plan of synagogues where the focus was on the dias.

33-300 AD

House churches with courtyards where there were both outdoor and indoor gatherings and an importance for communal activities.

300-500 AD

The simple, functional arrangement of space and volumes in a basilica where it only served the necessary functions and intended purpose.

The relationship between God and humanity, which peaks with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and glimpses of eternity as the end, is at the heart of the entire Christian religion and biblical stor y.

Church structures became larger and more complex over the centuries. Despite the fact that God stated "The Most High God does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48), people nevertheless had the belief that these structures contained God's presence.

500-800 AD

800-1500 AD Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals raised their pulpit such that there is a focus on the sermon in addition to a clearer and better vision towards the precher.

Basilicas and cathedrals had a theological theme of cross shaped plans which served ass additional congregational area and later further new liturgical functions.

REINTERPRETABLE ELEMENTS

1500-2000 AD

2000’s AD

Protestant churches made the sermon the main part of their program, further making ministr y accessible to ever yone in the congregation and creating a direct line of communication between the gathering and the service.

Modern megachurches saw the revival of community in the church, leading to the addition of more spaces in connection with the sanctuary.

The Ekklesia | 8

ARCHITECTURE & THEOLOGY EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN & THEOLOGIAL TRUTH IN ARCHITECTURE

Every structure or confined area we come across causes us to react in some way, especially when we first enter it.

Such places have an influence and are sure to leave an impression in the shape of a memory or experience, whether one is aware of it or not.

A structure is made up of a variety of emotional components to which we respond to as a whole. What we experience is a synthesis of a lot of experiential factors.

MEMORY

L E AV E A N I M P A C T E M O T I V E FA C T O R

ARCHITECTURE

EXPERIENCE ENTRY

TA N G I B L E & I N TA N G I B L E I N TA N D E M W I T H C O N T E X T

REFLECT GOD Light, material & texture, scale & verticality, and colour are a few examples of such emotive elements that go into experiential architecture.

9 | The Ekklesia

In addition, if we can learn to interpret the elevation, plan, and section of churches, we will be able to understand what they are saying about our relation to God.

Ecclesiastical architecture must be able to move and affect the visitor's heart as well as adhere to the cultural context in which it is situated.

From the elevation, we can comprehend the theology and message of the church.

ELEVATION

It is not required for churches to be explicitly iconographic. Instead, it must mimic the size and materials of common architecture with structures that serve to remember and transmit the truth that God became flesh and dwelt among us.

A church's floor plan indicates how we should relate to one another. The existence of the alter, font, and baptismal, as well as the pulpit's visibility and seating arrangement, serve as indicators of this.

PLAN

The placement of people in the room affects social dynamics and decides whether a hierarchy will be upheld or a congregation will form.

The section arranges the spaces along the vertical axis, directing our gaze upward and demonstrating God's relationship to us.

SECTION

Small to medium-sized spaces serve as a theological reminder of God's immanence, or close proximity to our everyday life.

The Ekklesia | 10

THE CHURCH WHERE THERE IS FELLOWSHIP, A COMMUNITY & A SENSE OF BELONGING

PROFANE

Does the architecture's concept and language suggest divinity?

11 | The Ekklesia

SACRED

Does each area of the building offer opportunity for spiritual reflection and communion with God?

Today, there are a large number of churches that identify as Independent. Why does this matter?

In contrast to the doctrinal and occasionally political associations that many long-standing denominational churches had gained over the years, these churches were born out of a need for independence and a desire to return to the biblical foundations of Christianity.

COMMUNITY +

Even if they make up a smaller fraction, such communities are nevertheless expanding year after year.

Due to their small population, they are forced to rent wedding halls, residential terraces, and commercial spaces/buildings in order to have a place of worship.

FELLOWSHIP +

Such churches need places for instruction, learning, gathering on Sundays and other days of the week, as well as on special occasions.

They even need somewhere to reside during events like retreats and camps, but because there isn't room for expansion, they are stuck in their current confines.

BELONGING

The Ekklesia | 12

REVEALING A REVELATION TRANSFORMATION & REVELATION THROUGH THE SITE

The Christian Community Center is designed in a way that allows for a revelation to be made through the orderly transformation of a person who leaves behind the profane and seeks the holy.

The sacred is something that inspires feelings of wonder, respect, and worship.

PROFANE

13 | The Ekklesia

TRANSFORMATION

SACRED

KUMBALAM, KOCHI REVELATIONAL AXIS

SPIRITUALITY & EXPERIENCING NATURE

SACRED

DINING

CAMP HALL LIBRARY

TRANSFORMATION

CHURCH

WEDDING HALL

DORM

TRANSFORMATIONAL AXIS PROFANE

1

Breezy and cool, where a beachy smell can be experienced.

2

Open area, where vastness and a grandeur can be felt.

4

3

Vegetaed areas, give a sense of serenity and relation to nature.

5

4

Relatively open area, creats a sense of belonging and being bound by nature.

5

Narrow entr y area, gives a sense welcoming and a feeling of continuum.

3 1

3

S

X IS

AXI

AL A

NAL

N AT IO

T IO ELA

ORM

REV

T

SF RAN

2

of

a

grand

The Ekklesia | 14

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES UNWINDING PATHS, A JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE

CE

SELF

A

C

NT

LENESS

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

U L NE

S

GE

T ROL

JOY

HF

S

FAI

ON

E

T

PE

-

LO V

K I N D NE S

PA

S

TI

EN CE

ONE BODY

15 | The Ekklesia

O D NE

SS

GO

DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

LOVE

JOY

PATIENCE

KINDNESS

FAITHFULNESS

GENTLENESS

PEACE

GOODNESS

SELF-CONTROL

The Ekklesia | 16

MASTERPLAN ROOF PLAN & GF PLAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

CHURCH LIBRARY / ADMIN CAMP HALL / JUNIOR CHURCH BOYS DORM GIRLS DORM KITCHEN / DINING WEDDING HALL CHAPEL ENTRANCE GATE DROP OFF GARDEN - LOVE GARDEN - SELF CONTROL GARDEN - PEACE GARDEN - GENTLENESS GARDEN - FAITHFULNESS GARDEN - KINDNESS GARDEN - JOY GARDEN - GOODNESS GARDEN - PATIENCE BACKWATERS PROMENADE

20

12

11

13

14

3 15 4

2

17

1

6 5

16

10

19 18

7

8 0 5 10 9

17 | The Ekklesia

20

50

The Ekklesia | 18

02 A property for the D'Souzas intends to provide the extroverted family with spaces where they may hold family reunions and guest parties, as well as a private dwelling, all while enjoying the scenic view of the Kovalam Beach. The house is divided into zones, with a corridor separating public, semi-private, and private areas. The open floor design, along with the front and back yards, allows the family to accommodate guests while also providing isolated spaces for themselves.

MOUNTAIN VALE HOUSE Residence Design

ZONING BASED ON PRIVACY

ZONING BASED ON CLOSURE

ZONING BASED ON CIRCULATION

23 | Mountain Vale House

FIRST FLOOR VIEW

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

W/A

KITCHEN DINING ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

POWDER ROOM

BREAKFAST NOOK

FAMILY LIVING ROOM

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

BEDROOM FOR TWINS SITOUT

CAR PORCH

SECTION AA 4

1

6

8

MULTIPURPOSE ROOM

TERRACE

TERRACE

KITCHEN

FORMAL LIVING

0

1 2

5m

25 | Mountain Vale House

1

4

6

8

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

KID’S BEDROOM 1

TERRACE

LEISURE ROOM

TERRACE

KID’S BEDROOM 2

SECTION BB A

B

D

C

E

F

+8800 ROOF SLAB LEVEL

+7100 PARAPET LEVEL +6200 FLOOR SLAB LEVEL MULTIPURPOSE ROOM

KIDS BEDROOM (1)

+3100 FLOOR SLAB LEVEL

DINING POWDER

FATHER'S

ROOM

BEDROOM KITCHEN

0

1 2

5m

A

B

C

D

E

F

Mountain Vale House | 26

SIDE VIEW

FRONT VIEW

03 An open-air, nature-surrounded place provides a sense of calm in the middle of people's hectic lifestyles.

The garden cafe seeks to provide an area where IT personnel and their families may relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. It also intends to serve tourists by providing a pop-up shop that can be rented out by any retailer.

CAFE BREWERS Coffee Shop Design

FORM DEVELOPMENT CAFE

31 | Cafe Brewers

SIDE VIEW CAFE

FRONT VIEW CAFE

GROUND FLOOR PLAN CAFE

KITCHEN

STORE ROOM

OFFICE

PREP AREA

SEATING

FIRST FLOOR PLAN POP UP SHOP

ROOF TOP

De Baed

De Baed

POP UP SHOP De Baed

De Baed

0

1

2

3

Cafe Brewers | 34

04 Hotel Folia is a 4-star business hotel that caters to those on business trips or conventions, offering them a pleasant and luxury stay and amenities. The hotel's proximity to an IT hub and the Trivandrum airport makes it an ideal destination for tourists and other visitors. The hotel's amenities, such as a banquet hall, a multicuisine restaurant-bar, a gym, a pool, and spa, make it worthwhile to visit. With the use of a modular trellis system for the vertical gardens and limestone cladding on the exterior, the structure appears to blend in with the surroundings but its form stands out.

HOTEL FOLIA Four Star Hotel

MASTERPLAN GROUND FLOOR

9

A

SERVICE LIFT 200X200CM M RO AID O S M

8

B PL SH UM AFT

BI

N G

HV

SH

AC

AFT

EL SH ECTR AFT IC

A

1 2

EL RO EC O TRIC M

7

FI DU RE CT

6

3

LIFT LOUNGE

5

4

C

CAFE 150 SQM

B

BAR 70 SQM

9

LOUNGE 105 SQM GR

EE

N

RO

OM

SHOP 50 SQM

8

C

BACK OFFI 25 SQM

CE

BANQUET HALL 200 SQM

1

7

NCI

CO

PRE-FUNCTION AREA 100 SQM

ON

SPECIALTY RESTAURANT 75 SQM

E

RECEPTI

D

LOBBY 100 SQM

LEFT E LUGGAG

FREIGHT AND STAFF LIFT 260 x 180 CM

2

E

ERG

D

6

5 3

4

0

37 | Hotel Folia

5

10

20

ENTRANCE VIEW HOTEL

3rd FLOOR

4th TO 6th FLOOR 9

A

9

8

8

B

A

7

B

A

BUSINESS SUITE

7

6

3

C

B

EXECUTIVE SUITE

6

3 5

4

A

4

5

C

B

9

9 DELUXE ROOM (KING)

TERRACE BUSINESS SUITE

RECREATIONAL SPACE 8

SHOWER & W/C

C

SHOWER & W/C

BOARDROOM 75 SQM

MD'S OFFICE

DELUXE ROOM (TWIN)

D

ACCESSIBLE ROOM

MASSAGE ROOM

SPA CENTER

7

POOL AREA AND DECK 7

SHAFT

POO L AND AREA DEC K

D

8

C BUSINESS SUITE MASSAGE ROOM

SHOWER & W/C

D SHOWER & W/C

FACIAL ROOM

CONFERENCE ROOM 60 SQM

D

GENERAL MANAGER

HOTEL SUITE

FACIAL ROOM 6

6

5 3

39 | Hotel Folia

4

5 3

4

7th FLOOR

8th TO 11th FLOOR 9

A

9

8

8

B

A

7

A

B

A

FIR DU E CT

7

6

6

KITCHEN 5

C

B

5

9

C

B

9

8

C

8

C

EN PRESID SUITE TIAL

RESTAURANT 7

7

D

FRESCO GARDEN 6

5

6

5

Hotel Folia | 40

05 A selection of competitions, workshops, and exhibitions in which I have been involved and participated.

MISCELLANEOUS

Competitions | Workshops | Exhibitions

C HOMES

DIGNIFIED HOUSING COMPETITION Competition (Top 5 Finalists) Team Members: Aleena, Mereen, Treesa

The C Homes Housing Project intends to provide low-cost individual dwellings for families along Vizhinjam's coasts. A single dwelling module can be replicated to form a village community.

43 | Miscellaneous

This is achievable due to the surplus amount of containers available from the nearby port. These can be utilised to build container residences that mix in with the seaside environment.

Furthermore, raising these homes will create room beneath them for fishing families to set up businesses and sell their catch alongside other things.

URBAN DESIGN

CHAMBA

Model Making | Publication | Exhibition

As part of our 9th semester Urban Design Studio, we undertook a study in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, to document and analyse the urban nature and organic development of this small but rapidly rising city.

While studying the Ecological Strata of Chamba, developing maps and conducting research, appropriate solutions were made to address present and ongoing concerns.

45 | Miscellaneous

We were also given the opportunity to curate an exhibition for the Metagreen Dimensions conference, which was hosted at the College of Architecture Trivandrum, in which I was assigned to be one of the lead curators of the model making team.

DESTECH CHALLENGE | 2020 DESIGN OF OPEN SPACES

Team Members: Aleena, Linda, Mereen, Treesa

This challenege was focused towards understanding the value of open spaces in urban environments post Covid-19.

Data collecting and research for this project included crowd-sourcing open space data using Q-GIS, city-specific analysis, and developing designs using local interventions.

47 | Miscellaneous

WOODWORKING WORKSHOP

BY HITESH WOODWALA

We were given the option to design our own version of a desk organiser, customised to our needs.

MODEL MAKING | S10

MODEL MAKING | S8

MODEL MAKING | S1

Miscellaneous | 48

THANK YOU Contact: +91 9061651315 E-mail: mereensara@gmail.com

Mereen Sarah Koshy | B-Arch