I am an Architect from Meghalaya, India passionate about people, culture and interdisciplinary design. I strongly endorse the productiveness of collaborative efforts in attaining a greater good. Designing through an iterative process and exchanging ideas is a preferred approach for me. I remain eager to explore the world in its entirety and to bask in the grandeur and splendor of human civilization.
Name
Phone no.
Email
Languages
Meshullam Nongsteng
+91-8415888772
m.nongsteng14@gmail.com
Khasi (native), English, Hindi (working proficiency), German (Beginner)
Experience
Sep 2022 - Present
Independent BIM Architect (Remote)
Kealan O’toole Architects, Dublin, Ireland using Revit and AutoCAD to make construction documents, and other architectural drawings. Collaborate closely with the project architect and consultants to meet project requirements.
November 2023 - July 2024
Architectural freelance (Remote)
Design for tomorrow, London, UK
Involved in Design development, Sketches, 3D-modelling, visualizations, layouting spreads.
Jan 2022 - Present
Professional freelancing Freelance projects
Involved in Design development, Permission drawing, Construction and project Co-ordination, and site visits.
June 2021 - Dec 2021
Professional Training Field Atelier, Goa, India
Involved in site visits and client meetings. Project co-ordination and site executions. Schematic drawings and 3D modeling. Design iterations.
Education
2017-2022
School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, India
Photography, Cooking, Basketball, Drums, Documentary, Cinema, Travel, Community Volunteering.
“If there is any power in design, it is the power of synthesis. The more complex the problem the more the need for simplicity”
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01 02 03 04 05 06
Mbaye Ngalam
Primary School
Casamance, South Senegal, Africa
Competition entry | Finalist
House at Mawlai
Residential Bungalow
Shillong, Meghalaya India
Built Freelance Project
Strawberry Field
Residential Farmhouse
Lonavala, Maharashtra, India
Competition entry | Winner
Nada
Ceramics retail
Fontainhaus, Goa, India
Built Freelance Project
NHM Headquaters
Office Building
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Solar Decathlon Competition | Finalist
House at Socorro-II
Residental Bungalow Goa, India
Internship training
Mbaye Ngalam
Primary School
Casamance, Senegal, Africa
Kiara Loro Competition 2022 | Finalist
In Sub-Saharan Africa, prevailing circumstances often hinder schools from providing services that ensure student safety and holistic development. A deficiency in quality education deprives children of acquiring essential life skills, hindering their ability to navigate challenges, secure meaningful employment, and actively participate in decisions that shape their future. The current landscape poses a significant risk to the future of countless children. The search is on for an innovative school model designed to protect and nurture the latent potential of every child, creating a secure and enriching educational environment.
Brief Solution
Navigating the landscape, we envisioned a welcoming sanctuary in Casamance’s villages. Sturdy, dynamic walls conceal hidden wonders, unfolding to draw the community toward the heart of the school. The central courtyard, inspired by Senegalese architecture, fosters spontaneous gatherings. Earth-toned walls a our design balances openness and privacy, guiding children through a linear hierarchy to alleviate any sense of abandonment. Variations in elevation and roof massing ensure constant wonder, evoking the joy of jumps and the grace of falls.
Contributions
Initial design sketches, Design Ideation, Design exploration and Iteration, Visualizations
Massing around courtyard with rain water harvesting
basic zoning and connectivity plan sketch
Classrooms with operable shutters opening into a garden
Classrooms with operable shutters opening into a garden
level differences throughout the built mass.
Isometric View of Courtyard
Section
1. Defining walls
Spatial flow 5. Inviting Gesture
Future extentions
functional hierarchy
Creating levels
1. Community Ground
Foyer
Courtyard
Classroom
1. Community Ground.
Entrance Foyer
Open Canteen
Admin & Library
Kitchen
Central Courtyard
Staffroom
Classroom
Multi Purpose Hall
Medical Center
Toilets
Verandah
Classroom Gardens
Embracing facade
This captivating design beckons with open arms, drawing the community towards the heart of the school and fostering spontaneous gatherings around it.
Crawl Space
Children navigate through the school using steps and ladders, discovering playgrounds, classrooms, and mezzanines along the way
House at Mawlai
Residential building
Shillong, Meghalaya, India
professional freelance project
The objective is to design a sophisticated four-bedroom luxury villa situated on a gently contoured hillside site, necessitating the demolition of an existing structure. The villa will encompass two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and external balconies for each room, alongside an integrated living, dining, and kitchen space. A common ground floor toilet and basement parking will complement the functional layout. Emphasizing optimal views and natural light, the design will capitalize on the site’s scenic location, while ensuring privacy for residents.
The architectural approach is to aim for a seamless blend of contemporary aesthetics and sustainable features, adhering to local regulations and codes, to craft an exquisite, functional, and environmentally conscious luxury residence that harmonizes effortlessly with the hillside landscape.
Brief Solution Contributions
Freelance Architect, Architectural Design, Client meeting and discussions, Permission drawings, Construction drawings, Site supervisation, Contractor and Vendor co-ordination, All schedules
Synthesis
01.
Design section
Avenues and views
Basement parking
Winter Living room Summer Living room
Formal dining
Terrace
Porch Garden
Existing Site conditions 04. Basement sketch
Ground floor Sketch
Living Migration 03. Excavation for height
Exploded view
Mumpty floor level
First floor Level
Ground floor Level
Clearing out the Site and line out marking
Adding Louver’s steel and casting level 1
Terrace Slab Casting
Foundation excavations and Column erection
Masonry start
Site Status
Hill View Orchards
Farmhouse Residence
Namchi, Sikkim, India
III Semester academic project
Brief
The competition challenges participants to create farmhouse designs that intricately align with the local fabric, responding to geographic, socio-cultural contexts without isolating from the surroundings. It emphasizes considerations such as material responsiveness to the site, integrating the pre-existing landscape within both interior and exterior spaces. Designs should also address climatic conditions while achieving a harmonious balance between privacy and connection to the serene environment. The competition aims to explore participants’ concepts of farmhouse design by incorporating the principles of endemic architecture while addressing these critical design inquirie
Solution
The farmhouse is designed to give back to the land it is built on. The house and the farm engage with the land to enrich the environment rather than take away from it. We implement principles of mixed-crop farming, supported by interweaving natural systems in the site using swales, bore wells, hardscaping, shelter belts, pasture patches and interspersed courtyards called “wadas”. The trilogy of context, culture and climate is integrated to develop the design in stages The landscape is developed in sections to regulate water flow and treatment. The farmhouse is enhanced with supporting structures like the barn, greenhouse and waste treatment plant which lead towards self sufficiency.
Choosing Panchgani: The hill-locked Panchgani, fairs beautiful trails enveloped by strawberry fields leading to spiritual retreats where most find peace in its lap.
Incorporating Devrai Art Village: Locating the farmhouse beside it helps involve its growing community in polyculture farming and conversly
Site Synthesis
An avenue to play with Contours: The farm and the house respect the geographical context using different levels.
Learning from the village: The charm of the village is brought in with the inviting wadas protected by earth walls and stone laden paths
Sectional Design
Landscape design
Guilds of strawberry farming interspersed with beans, onions, lettuce, peas, radish and spinach maintain the soil character and promote polyculture.
Strawberry Guild
House at Umsning
Residential Farmhouse
Umroi, Meghalaya, India
professional freelance project
The brief was to design a 3 Bedroom farm house in the Picturesque slopes of Umsning, Shillong. This Farmhouse was to serve as a pilot project for the 3 acre site. The entire site will later be developed as a small resort with a pond, a Swimming pool and multiple cottages for visitors. The main building will be used for housing the owner, staff. It will be used as the main reception and dining after the entire project is complete.
Brief Solution
The design approach aimed to create a primamry building that drew atention while effortlessly blending with the hillside landscape. An open Kitchen-Living-dining was established to be used as the reception and dining for later phase. The bedrooms were designed around a courtyard with entries seperated from the main block. A butterfly roof was finally chosen to create the intended focal point. It also servevd as the main catchment area for rain water harvesting.
Freelance Architect, Architectural Design, Client meeting and discussions, Permission drawings, Construction drawings, Site supervisation, Contractor and Vendor co-ordination, All schedules Contributions
Design section
A Section B
Section
Roof Build-up
Site Photos
Rafters
Ply-board & nico tape
Ply-board & nico tape
Ply-board & nico tape
Ply-board & nico tape
Purlins
Insulation
Aluminium sheet
NHM Headquaters
Office Building
Bhopal, Maghya Pradesh India
Solar Decathlon Competition| Finalist
The project is a Government Office Building for the National Health Mission Headquarter in Bhopal. ARCONS Architectural Consultancy Services, oversees the design, while the execution is being managed by the Capital Project Administration. The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people’s needs. The headquaters is to be the place of central management.
Brief Solution
Phase 1- Base Models Analysis
11 of us split into 3 teams to develop 3 different iterations on the basis of passive strategies and
Phase 1- Base Models Analysis
11 of us split into 3 teams to develop 3 different iterations on the basis of passive strategies and
architectural themes discussed.
Phase 1- Base Models Analysis
11 of us split into 3 teams to develop 3 different iterations on the basis of passive strategies and
Phase
The base models simulated
Phase
The team split into five duos working on aspects of passive design, construction materials, HVAC, water and technology research. Tasks were similarly divided and a step wise design approach was followed to stay on course.
The base models simulated
Phase
The base models simulated
Step 1: Two Base Iterations with varied passive strategies
Site-Climate study Passive design Architectural ideas
Phase 3- Finalised Design-Plan
diagrams
Step 2: Three Base Iterations with varied passive strategies
efficient solutions resulting in an optimum building design.
efficient solutions resulting in an optimum building design.
Phase 3- Finalised Design-Planned
architectural themes discussed. Innovation
architectural themes discussed. Innovation
The last step was to Simul Pr Design Analysis Design development
Step 3: Enhance elemental strategies and cost effectiveness
efficient solutions resulting in an optimum building design.
Enhancing strategies
Simulating the Prototypes Analysing Results Combining the Aspects Zoning in levels Adding specific details Allocating strategies
The last step was to enhance elemental strategies, by mindfully incorporating innovative and cost
The summers are hot and last from April to July with temperatures peaking at 43°C. The winter months from November to February are relatively cold, with the temperature dropping as low as 7°C.
The monsoon months of June to September are muggy with humidity levels from 70% to 100%.
The winds in the months November to June are uncomfortable, carrying temperatures as low as 18°C and as high as 45°C. The hot winds are called loo. Comfortable winds blow from July to October, prominently from the West.
Design iteration
Option 1: Central courtyard with thin plan. Buffer spaces zoned in the south
Entrance
Option 2: Disperesed masses for dayligting and ventilation.
Department Core
Total EUI: 91 Kwh/m2
Design strategies
Optimised: Building masses around two central atriums.
Meeting Room Corridor Shading Toilets
Total EUI: 101 Kwh/m2
Total EUI: 27 Kwh/m2
Eequipment Fans Lights Hot-water Heat Cooling
Low use spaces zoned in the south and west to prevent internal heat gain.
Thin plan for maximum daylighting and ventilation.
Distributing masses around two atrium instead of a singular courtyard.
Water edges surrounding the structure facilitate evaporative cooling, while a lush green roof provides thermal mass to regulate internal temperatures. Light shelves prevent direct heat gain, cleverly allowing natural daylight to filter in. A sleek space frame covers the central courtyard, offering solar shading and creating a tranquil oasis for occupants.
Light-shelves
Optimisation Results
Project video
EUI optimizations were done parametrically, against a default value defined earlier. After achieving a desirably low EUI value, elements were added to increase visual and thermal comfort, especially in non-HVAC areas.
Nādā Cermaics
Building restoration and Furnishing
Fontainhaus, Goa, India
Freelance collaboration
Brief
The main bried involved the restoration of a historic Portuguese villa in Panjim. The objective was to transform this vintage property into the perfect setting for their inaugural ceramics retail venture.
Solution
The arrangeme nt of the retail area guides visitors through a central captivating display and then into more meandering room layouts that naturally lead from one space to another. The open criss-cross layout of the villa plays a vital role in crafting a seamless and spacious exhibition that feels interconnected. For the outdoors, we position the café seating as a gentle backdrop to the existing well, creating a feeling of detachment from the bustling streets of Fontainhas.
Contributions
Initial measured drawing, client meetings and presentations, design sketches and site visits.
Existing building
Moodboard
Measured drawing, with sketch furniture and electrical design
View of Retail room 3
View of refurbrised courtyard with stairs to mezzanine
House at Socorro - II
Residential Villa
Socorro, Goa, India
Field Atelier (Confidential)
Created construction documents, electrical plans and elevations, 3D model and viz. Co-ordinated with the Contractor and the Civil engineer. Site Visits and discussions with masons. Contributions
Created Revit model with detailed materials built-up, coordinated with M&E Engineers, C&S consutants to optimise usage of each room plan. Developed detailed sketch design drawing set. Standardised information via Cobie. Contributions
147 Terenure west extention and landscape
House extention and Landscape design
Dublin, Ireland
Kealan O’toole Architects (Confidential)
Contributions
Created a survey drawing set, with survey and sketch design modelling. Developed visualisations of the design and curated a shadow analysis to optimise structure poistioning.
