PORTFOLIO. PAVANI MANDE
YEAR: WINTER 2023
TYPE: ACADEMIC
CLASS: DESIGN STUDIO IV
INSTRUCTOR: JON CUMMIINGS
STUDENT RESIDENCE
AN EXPLORATION OF WELL-BALANCED LIVING
The project involved the development of a student housing proposal at Spadina and Sussex Ave. near the St. Geoarge University of Toronto campus in Toronto, Canada. The housing can accomodate about 350 residents and offers several amenities for both graduate and undergraduate student community.
Borrowing ideas from Tietgen Residence in Copenhagen, Denmark, the student residence has a circular inward facing geometry with a central courtyard to create a sense of community. The deliberate programatic organisation and unit configuration in the residence creates varying levels of privacy. The relatively small unit sizes and presence of large common areas on each floor attempts to foster socialisation. Besides this, the student residence intends to create a healthy student environment by offering various shared amenities such as student lounge, study spaces, cafe, wellness spaces, locker rooms and bike parking. The proposal aims to create a well-balanced centre for comfortable living and personal development.
01. Site Context
02. Extrude Define a double-height ground floor.
03. Pinch Pinching generates two curves in plan.
04. Subtract: Subtraction creates a central courtyard and another set of green spaces at the back.
05. Heritage: Integrating the facades of the heritage buildings and carving out entrances for seamless design.
06. Modular Aggregation: Repetiton along the curve and alternating offset forms varied unit sizes.
07. Extrusion: The modules are stacked along the curve.
08. Natural Daylight: The lowered south-west corner allows natural sunlight into the central courtyard.
Instructor: Jon Cummings
set of photographs
Site Plan
A
of a laser-cut massing model at 1:500 placed within a context model.
Single Bedroom Assembly Diagram
Axonometric
Assembly Diagram
Single Bedroom Unit
01 Assemble Bathroom Module
02 Exploded Module Components
03 Completed Module
*Not to scale
Axonometric Assembly Diagram
Four Bedroom Unit
01 Assemble Bathroom and Shared Spaces
02 Exploded Module Components
03 Completed Module
*Not to scale
Four Bedroom Assembly Diagram
Modularity: Modularity allows for faster construction timelines and easier transportability for assemblage on site. The Assembly Diagrams detail how each unit is assembled and corresponding number of components required for construction.
Section Perspective
East Elevation
Instructor: Jon Cummings
Interior Render from the student lounge overlooking the central courtyard.
Terrace Garden Interior Render
YEAR: FALL 2022
TYPE: ACADEMIC
CLASS: DESIGN STUDIO III
INSTRUCTOR: PETROS BABASIKAS
KENSINGTON TOWER
A SHARED DWELLING FOR TWO INHABITANTS
The project design emerged from the multiple dualities that are produced due to the mixed-use buildings observed in Kensington. Located on a narrow lot on Augusta Avenue near Toronto’s Kensington Market, the project explores the themes of separation vs intersection. The house is designed for two friends: an extroverted artist and a private writer. Although these occupants have different personalities, they share a common interest in gardening. Thus, through careful program organisation, the lives of the inhabitants intersect in the living and garden area at the center of the house.
Broadly, dichotomies of their personalities is reflected in the circulation, and transparency and orientation of openings which create a series of volumes with different levels of privacy and comfort. Private spaces such as bedrooms, baths, the artist studio, and the home office overlook the laneway and are concealed from the main street. Common areas like the garden and living area overlook the main street and have large openings for ample sunlight. Further, to cater to the preferences of the inhabitants, the house has two sets of circulation: an exposed stairwell for the extroverted occupant and a stairwell at the back for the quieter resident. Overall, the house is manifestation of the occupant’s personalities and professions coming together in the garden.
Site and Program: The spatial organisation of the house is very similar to the mixed-use buildings in and around the site (Kensington market). It has two bedrooms, baths, a living area, and a street-facing garden area. Besides this, the house has a double-height sculptor studio which opens up on the ground floor for natural light.
Instructor: Petros Babasikas
An Elevation of the Front Facade
A Longitudinal Section
Although the building is not accessible to the public, there are moments of visual access from the street into exhibition spaces through the transparent part of the largely opaque facade.
Instructor: Petros Babasikas
Gardening Area Interior Render
Living Area Interior Render
YEAR: FALL 2021
TYPE: ACADEMIC
CLASS: DESIGN STUDIO I
INSTRUCTOR: MICHAEL PIPER
TORONTO’S YELLOWBELT
REIMAGINATION OF RAVINES IN BAYVIEW VILLAGE
The project addresses the pressing issue of detached housing in Toronto’s Yellowbelt region. With rising housing prices, there have been calls to open the neighbourhood to new types of density to cater to different populations. This exercise engages with issues of housing, density, and site-sensitive design proposals that might manifest itself on an urban scale.
A large portion of the assigned site in Bayview Village is covered with a ravine. Research suggests that the site was planned to integrate the community into the ecologically-sensitive landscape. Consequently, in this project, the focus is on streets and block patterns that are carefully mapped along the ravine edge. However, spatial analysis revealed a lack of access to the ravine. In line with this issue, the design proposal deals with visual and physical access to the ravine through the addition of density that contributes to recreational and social development in the area.
A typological index of lot shapes and its proximity to the ravine
Instructor: Michael Piper
BEFORE ADU INTERVENTION
Isometric views depicting typological classification based on lot shape.
AFTER ADU INTERVENTION
Isometric views depicting the proposed design interventions for each lot typology.
Long Lot
Vignette
Typology
- Ravine Facing ADU
- Partially Underground ADU
Long Lot Vignette
Typology
- Street Facing ADU
- Taller ADU
VIGNETTES ILLUSTRATING THE TYPOLOGY-DRIVEN
Rectangular Lot Vignette
Typology
- Ravine Facing ADU
- Partially Underground ADU
Rectangular Lot Vignette
Typology
- Street Facing ADU
- Taller ADU
Instructor: Michael Piper
TYPOLOGY-DRIVEN ADU INTERVENTION
Pie Lot
Vignette
Typology
- Ravine Facing ADU
- Partially Underground ADU
Pie Lot
Vignette
Typology
- Street Facing ADU
- Taller ADU
Reverse Pie Lot Vignette
Typology
- Ravine Facing ADU
- Partially Underground ADU
Reverse Pie Lot Vignette
Typology
- Street Facing ADU
- Taller ADU
YEAR: WINTER 2022
TYPE: ACADEMIC
CLASS: MODELLING & FABRICATION
INSTRUCTOR: NICHOLAS HOBAN
PARAMETRIC TOWER
ITERATION AND RECURSION IN TOWER
DESIGN
The project explores digital modelling and fabrication design. The iterative nature of the tower draws from the concept of recursive patterns. The base floor plate is a star. The tower is designed such that the number of vertices of the base floor plate changes by four at regular intervals. The rotation of the floor-plates forms balconies and viewing decks that allows to create diverse views for the occupants. Moreover, the façade pattern creates varied openings(windows) that offer uniquely framed views of the surrounding context.
Physical Modelling: Core components of the tower such as floor plates, transfer columns, central structural core and 2D facade was digitally fabricated (laser cut). The physical model was made using museum board, bass-wood and blue acrylic sheets. The photographs of the model help capture the futuristic and modern quality of the design.
Tower Development Diagram
Instructor: Nicholas Hoban
The typological display of how the tower has evolved over the semester illustrates the iterative quality of the tower design.
YEAR: 2023-24
TYPE: ACADEMIC/RESEARCH
CLASS: URBAN CAPSTONE PROJECT
INSTRUCTOR: DAVID ROBERTS & SIMON RABYNIUK
REIMAGINING 75-81 ELIZABETH ST.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH HOUSINGNOWTO
Advisor: Mark Richardson
Team: Ben Murphy, Joyeh Meng, Pavani Mande, Kristina AntonioPeralta, Suzan Ye Htwe, and Derek Yi
Role: Design Lead (Site Analysis, Design Ideation, Diagramming, Rhino Modelling and Rendering)
The multidisciplinary capstone project on “Reimagining Surplus Public Sites in Toronto” was undertaken in close collaboration and under the guidance of HousingNowTO, a non-profit collective that closely works with the City of Toronto to maximize opportunities for creating new affordable housing on surplus transit-oriented city-owned lands. In the current landscape of severe shortage of affordable housing in Toronto, our team was assigned to develop sustainable and affordable housing on 75-81 Elizabeth St., a city-owned land located in downtown Toronto, behind the new City Hall. The goal of our team was to offer HousingNowTO insights and actionable analysis to help them influence the future direction of the site with the City of Toronto.
The proposed development is a 25-story purpose-built, mixed-use, mixed-income rental development, tailored to deliver affordable housing for students and hospital workers living in the neighbourhood. The proposal balances housing needs with public benefits, fosters community through shared amenities, and addresses environmental concerns with sustainable living practices and design strategies. Collaborative team efforts resulted in a design proposal which is a sustainable, liveable, and economically diverse/inclusive community, centred around public transit.
Proposed sites’s location in Toronto’s Yonge-Bay Corridor
Density of public transit and good walkability of the proposed site
The diagram illustrates a range of amenities within a 1km radius of the site, indicating its suitability for a proposed residence.
Instructor: David
Site Constraints: The site is located directly north of the new City Hall, in the Yonge-Bay Corridor, one of Tornto’s most historically significant and most expensive neighbourhhoods. Despite it’s seemingly desirable location in Toronto’s core, the site presents several zoning and physical limitations. They have created difficult circumstances for feasible development of affordable housing development. The project attempts to offer actional analysis and a design proposal that maximises housing density while working with and around existing constraints.
Hydro-One Construction and tunnel exit shaft, may delay the development until 2026.
Zoning Envelope for the proposed site.
A diagram illustrating City Hall View Protection Policy.
Parkland adds zoning, reimbursement, and massing challenges to the site.
Narrow streets restrict transportation and construction access on-site.
Proposal 1
1: 1000 Model Study: The photographs illustrate site-driven shape of the 7-story tall base that preserves the public park along Bay Street. The L-shaped tower is arranged on the eastern half of the podium to avoid City Hall view cones without compromising on unit density.
Iterative
Design Exploration: Iterative designs played an important role in the design process through experimentation. The three proposals encapsulate the different scenarios and challenges of the site. A comprehensive comparative analysis based on affordability, community development and zoning feasibility aided in identifying Proposal 1 as the most actionable and feasible design solution.
Proposal 1 Feasibility: Proposal 1 was the most actionable and feasible compared to other proposals when rated out of 5 for their affordability, scope for community development and zoning feasibility.
Proposal 3
Program and Unit Aggregation: The final proposal design showcases the diverse usercentric mixed use program including a rich retail, social and residential program offered by our sustainable and inclusive affordable housing proposal.
Retail and Common Spaces
Vertical and Horizontal Circulation
Program and Unit Mix Diagram
Instructor: David Roberts & Simon Rabyniuk
A conceptual collage indicating the active urban and pedestrian environment on Hagerman Street.
The conceptual photo collage representing the experiential quality of the wrap-around student study and lounge areas that overlook the central green atrium.
Year: 2023-2024
1 BED UNIT
2 BED UNIT
Ground/Retail Floor Plan
m2
m2
Spatial Organisation: The ground floor plan has a double-height layout, lined with retail stores and communal spaces. It aims to act as a link to the active urban environment outside the main entrance. The other floor plans on the right showcase the relationship between the residential and rich social program.
Unit Mix & Configuration: Prefabricated modular units offer natural light, ventilation, privacy, and modern interiors with ample storage, fostering interaction and meeting the needs of young adults. The chart on the left highlights unit distribution, dominated by 1 and 2 bed units for families, followed by 3 and4 bed units tailored for students.
2nd Floor Plan
Amenities Floor Plan
Typical 3-7 Floor Plan
Typical 9-25 Floor Plan
3 BED UNIT
An atrium runs through the first 6 storeys of the building and facilitates natural lighting and ventilation interiors of the building, especially given the floor plate’s large dimensions. It fosters The space around the central void on the ground floor is flexible and can be appropriated
ventilation through the incorporation of a skylight. This reduces reliance on mechanical systems in the deep fosters a sense of openness and connectivity across different levels of the building. appropriated to host informal events such as pop-up stores and flea markets.
Adjacent to the public park, the narrow east end of the development serves as a private main entrance active urban environment where vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists co-exist. Street furniture, trees, and interaction, walkability,
Instructor:
on Hagerman Street. Inspired by the Dutch “Woonerf” concept, Hagerman Street is envisioned as a an and narrow paths reduces car traffic, enhances safety and comfort for residents while promoting social walkability, and sustainability.
