Portfolio 2023_Urban design and architecture_Mahima Patel

(2018 - 2023)

Portfolio Mahima Patel

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CV. I am a graduate from the Master of Urban Design program at the University of Toronto (John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design).

Date of Birth - 06 October 1999 Nationality - Canadian Current Location – Toronto, Canada Postal Address - 1470 Midland Avenue, Toronto, ON M1P 4Z4

Education.

1. Undergraduate studies in Architecture College of Architecture, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of technology (SVIT) Vasad, India.

Extracurricular work.

2. Graduate studies in Urban design Master of Urban Design (MUD) program at the University of Toronto.

1. Research paper presentation and e-publication (2021) Rethinking synergy of liveability and identity: A case of the religious town of Dakor, Gujarat Research in Architecture International Conference 4th Edition, DYPSOA, Lohegaon.

Work experience.

2. Archmello International competition (The attendance, Redefining government schools in India) - Online entry

1. Community research assistant PLAZA POPS project, City of Toronto - Location: Scarborough, Toronto, Canada - Duration: 1 August 2023 – 15 December 2023 - Role: Ethnographic research, Public Life Study, Business surveys 2. Administrative assistant CEO Foundry Inc. - Location: North York, Toronto, Canada - Duration: 1 November till date - Role: Social media marketing, Admin work.

3. Architectural intern HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd - Location: Ahmedabad, India - Duration: 4 January 2021 – 21 May 2021 - Role: Architectural drafting, Visual representation, Presentations.

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3. ULI Hines Urban Design competition (2023 Competition, North Charleston, South Carolina) - Online entry 4. ANDC (Annual NASA design competition) (National Association for students of architecture)

Software skills.

1. Drafting and Visualisation (AutoCAD, Sketch up, Rhino 7) 2. Adobe software’s (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) 3. Microsoft office tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) 4. Arc GIS

Contents.

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Design for the mental health impacts of wildfires.

Melbourne, Australia (Urban Design) Graduate program, Year 2

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Innovation Hub (SSIP Building) Ahmedabad, India (Architecture) Internship, HCP Design Planning and management Ltd.

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Re-enhancing the Identity of Humber.

Toronto, Canada (Urban Design) Graduate program, Year 1

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Adaptive reuse of Rajnagar textile mill.

Ahmedabad, India (Architecture) Undergraduate program, Year 5

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Re- Imagining affordable Housing along Sheppard Avenue.

Toronto, Canada (Urban Design) Graduate program, Year 1

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Revitalization of the historical precinct of Dakor.

Dakor, India (Urban Design Analysis) Undergraduate program, Year 5

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Plaza POPS project.

Toronto, Canada (Community Engagement) Research assistantship

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ULI Hines Student Competition.

South Carolina, USA (Competition entry) 2023 3

01.

Design for the mental health impacts of wildfires.

Melbourne, Australia (Urban Design) Graduate program, Year 2 This project is about the mental health health Impacts of wildfire hazards in Melbourne Australia and possible ways to address these concerns through community and nature based urban design, focusing on a small suburban township called Whittlesea. Due to climate change, the intensity & frequency of these events has continuously been on the rise and the level of trauma and suffering across communities is significant.

To address these issues, the design focuses on 2 aspects: The resiliency framework that includes strategies for wildfire protection and an evacuation plan to give people a sense of safety and assurance if wildfires occur.

The positive health framework which involves connecting people with nature, creating opportunities for social bonding and improving connections to heal anxiety on a daily basis.

Site : Whittlesea Township

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The design is a network of interventions that serve this dual function.

Central community zone

Green buffer belt

Safe spaces.

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Design Principles and Concept.

Creating environments of positivity and peace

Creating strategies for Wildfire protection and prevention

(Positive Health Framework)

(Resiliency Framework)

2. Reconnecting people to nature.

1. Providing Wildfire protection and evacuation strategies

3. Creating opportunities for social cohesion.

4. Enhancing accessibility to existing services.

The objective is to create spaces that serve a dual function of catering to people’s safety and protection during wildfire emergencies AND healing their anxiety on a day to day basis.

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Resiliency Framework

Positive Health Framework

View during an emergency where the fire resistant trees act as a fire break for safe evacuation.

View during a typical day where the green belt acts as a streetscape enhancement strategy.

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The Green Buffer Belt.

The green buffer belt is a network that involves planting a series of fire resistant trees along main streets to act as a fire break or barrier. It also involves elements that assist during evacuations and fire extinguishing that can be used on a daily basis.

Wildfire Resistant species These tree species are local trees and shrubs to Australia that are highly retardant to fire due to their high water capacity. They sisgnificantly help reduce the spread of fires and redude the intensity of smoke and heat when planted in different patterns.

Mediterranean Cypress

Callistemon Bottlebrush

Allocasaurina Sheoak

Sea Hibiscus 9

The Central Community Zone.

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The central community zone involves the redevelopment of the 2 main centrally located public sites in the township - The Whittlesea Agricultural Society and Whittlesea park to act as the cenral zone of mass evacuation during wildfires and temporary refuge post disaster.

The agricultural society is reimagined to include additional functions like libraries, gyms and exhibition spaces that can double as emergency services during wildfire hazards. The existing football ground can be used for mass gatherings and tents.

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02.

Innovation Hub (SSIP Building).

Ahmedabad, India (Architecture) Internship, HCP Design Planning and management Ltd. The Student Start-up and Innovation Policy (SSIP) is a unique initiative of Government of Gujarat that creates a state-wide, university-based ecosystem to support innovations and ideas of young students.

Under this policy, an innovation hub has been planned in the campus of Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG) in Ahmedabad.

The office building is five storied, and occupies a central area in the KCG campus, with a plot area of 1500 sq. m.

The building is tactfully conceptualised as different zones that allow collaborative and interactive areas, as well as formal, individual workspaces.

Site : Knowledge Consortium, Gujarat

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My Role: - Prepration of technical drawings like electical systems, mechanical syatems.

- Working drawings of the floor plans and secions of the building including joinery details.

- Making presentations.

(Rendering by the graphics team.)

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The Plan

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In order to allow for a variety of workflows and functions, the office building has an open plan with a central atrium that acts as an informal public gathering zone. To allow foe the wide span, the slob is coffered and supported with huge circular coloumns.

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The Section

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The facade materials include a main stucture of concrete with colourfull vertical lovers behnd fixed glazing. The entrance to the innovation hub is defined by an extending canopy that creates a foyer for drop-off.

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03.

Re-enhancing the identity of Humber.

Toronto, Canada (Urban Design) Graduate program, Year 1 Most of the developemnt sites along LRT lines in Toronto is focused on Commercial, Mixed use and Residential developemnt.

Being the anchor point of the Finch LRT line, the project aims is to envision Humber as a dominant educational and civic centre focused at community (existing residents and newcomers) and student needs.

The campus sits in the middle of a single family neighborhood with a high student population. The neighborhood also has many specific ethnic neighborhood groups.

The existing secondary plan of the institute aims to expand academic functions and establish a clear connection to the ravine. However it has little provision for student housing.

Site : Humber College, Etobicoke

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The design of this project builds on the existing secondary plan respecting the needs of the college but also adds new functions that cater to the incoming students and diverse cultural demographic of the area.

Principles Transit Using the proposed LRT as an asset for the site, to define a new entrance for Humber and clearly define a pedestrain connection between the transit station to the institute.

Placemaking and ravine access Giving identity to the site, through creation of defined open / public spaces that can be used by the community and enhancing ravine access.

Orientation Orienting the built form along the street, ravine and the existing institute for efficient access to the college, views to the ravine and to define the street.

Streetscape development To respond to the lack of street character and huge existing parking lots, the idea is to develope a active street frontage,either through building facades or open space.

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Design Master Plan

Legend: 1- TTC station 2- Parking near transit 3- Community Library 4- language training centre 5- Retail 6- Retail 7- Retail 8- Retail 9- Retail 10- Reception area for Housing 11- Retail 12- Community hall 13- Academic lab

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14- Academic workshop space 15- Academic lab 16- Academic workshop space 17- Lecture hall 18- Multi level car park 19- Academic office(admin) 20- Academic office(admin) 21- Reception area for Housing 22- Auditorium 23- Multi level car park 24- Academic lab 25- College gallery 26- Gym or indoor sports room 27- Multi level car park

Redevelopment of the college campus aims to utilize the underutilized spaces in the site including the massive parking lots and redendant spaces between building to make the sitemore walkable and lively.

Redefining the public realme 21

The Urban Impact

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04.

Adaptive reuse of Rajnagar textile mill.

Ahmedabad, India (Architecture) Undergraduate program, Year 5 Established in 1925, Rajnagar mills was Ahmedabads first mill compound which led Ahmedabad to its golden days of textile production and trade and its sobriquet as the ‘Manchester of the East’. Its days of glory met a tragic end as the booing mills started to shut down in the late 1980’s.

Today the place stands as dilapidated stuctures in the dense city fabric with rusted peices of machinery & structures telling a story of the past existence.

The aim of the design is to bring potential use and value to the redundant mill by highlighting its architectural value and making its spaces accessible for public use. The functional objectives of the project are to induce the economic upliftment of the people and context of the site and revive its value.

Site : Rajnagar textile mill

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The design aims to reintegrate functions like clothing shops, local workshops and textile production spaces in the structure of the mill to support the nearby mill workers community.

Existing condition of Rajnagar mill.

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Integrating new functions The design aims to respect the existing architecture of the mill and mimic some elements in the new inserts. Buildings that are stucturally stable are renovated while extremly old buildings are demolished and reconstucted to accomodate the new functions.

LEGEND 1- Site entry (for school) 2- Indoor play area 3- Play centre parking 4- Staff rooms 5- Classrooms 6- Outdoor play area/garden 7- Parking 8- Textile outlets 9- Main admin building 10- Admin offices 11- Temple bhojanalay/ Gathering space 12- Ramdevpir temple 13- Amphitheatre

14- Chimmney 15- Main site entry 17- Visitors parking 18- Transportation offices 19- Cafeteria 20- Site entry (for Multi-lvel car parking) 21- Toilet block 22- Store room(for exhibition) 23- Semi-open exhibition area 24- Cafe’ area 25- Multi-lvel car parking 26- Underpass to city centre 27- Toilet block

28- Store room 29- Reception area 30- Workshop 31- Training centres 32- Outdoor sitting area 33- Open lecture area 34- Bridge 35- Auto rickshaw repair shops 36- Idgah circle 37- City centre 38- Bridge 39- Darji ni chali 40- New Rajnagar mill campus 27

Integration of the new inserts with the existing built forms of the mill campus following a similar architectural language. The form merges with the built fabric and does not overpower the massing.

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Birds eye view from the entrance of the site.

Section cutting through the training hall.

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Section cutting through the amphitheatre and exhibition spaces.

The site is landlocked between two bridges and a railway line. Hence external connections are provided to invite public influx via over head bridges and underpasses.

The new inserts are designed on the first and second floor to retain the original ground experience of the old mill campus. The form is created keeping the chimney as the focus, to highlight the dominant features of textile mills.

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05.

Reimagining affordable housing along Sheppard ave.

Toronto, Canada (Urban Design) Graduate program, Year 1 This project involves identifying different possibilities for affordable housing along public sites and private commercial plots, as an extension of Housing Now and Inclusionary zoning policies along the upcoming transit corridor: Sheppard avenue east. The area is charecterised by detached houses and some industrial zones.Being a low-middle income area it has a huge demand for affordable housing.

Due to the subway extensions, the street has a huge potential for densification in the future. Existing social housing units are very limited in number and capacity and have a waiting list of thousands of families. The project aims to utilize this upcoming development potential to rethink ways of inducing more affordable housing based on Housing now & Inclusionary zoning policies along 4 major public sites.

Site : TTC station, Sheppard ave, east.

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These sites are imagined as connected peices of a single system, with bike trails & pedestrian activities binding them along the creek, the avenue and the railway.

Creek Railway

Existing Social housing.

Sheppard avenue

Public services.

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Phase 1: Concept

Transit oriented mix-use development using HOUSING NOW including : A certain percentage of affordable housing, Public and community services, Commercial usesand a Public park or landscape asset along the creek.

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Site development with context.

Accrdording to Hosuing NOW, 35% of the residential development is affordable.

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Phase 1: Design

1- Commercial 4- Subway station

2- Residential 3- Office 5- Public services

The site sits at the transit junction and hence, has the highest density. The massing extends to south of Sheppard to integrate with the existing social housing and co- op housing. The bicycle path branches within the site to connect the built form together.

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View from bicycle path and bridge.

View from the northern part of the creek.

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06.

Revitalisation of the historical precinct of Dakor.

Dakor, India (Urban Design Analysis) Undergraduate program, Year 5 Dakor is a small town located in Kheda district of Gujarat, India. It is a well-known holy landmark that attracts a footfall of 10 to 12 thousand pilgrims during festive seasons, who come to seek the blessings of god and perform various religious rituals.

Dakor is a home to many typical traditional residences, some of them upto 200 years old.

The studio aims to explore new faces of the town and bring a new meaning to the existing rich urban fabric so as to effectively accomodate the floating population while remaining rooted and relevant to the locals. At an urban scale there is a need to tackle issues like inefficient road connectivity, lack of pilgrim friendly spaces and poorly maintained ghats and lakes, while retaining the religious sanctity of the place.

Site : Gamtal area, Dakor

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The design invloves redeveloping the Ghats, Markets spaces and developing new connections accross the lake.

Existing plan of Dakor.

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Node analysis

Hiralaxmi node is defined by the convergence of three major roads, forming a prime cross-junction with the main temple and Ghat entry.

The precinct thus becomes a zone of bustling pedestrian movement and vehicular traffic with extreme crowd and congestion during festivals. Despite the public inflow and pace, the node has an organic nature, accomodating visitors, locals and varied built form in a complex yet organized matrix.

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Street view of the node.

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Activity mapping before and during the prayer (aarti) timings.

Physical model, Conceptual design.

(Hand made)

Physical model, Temple.

(3D Printing)

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07.

Plaza POPS Project.

Toronto, Canada (Community Engagement) Research assistantship plazaPOPS supports the transformation of parking lots and other underinvested spaces, into free, safe and accessible gathering places where already existing vibrant culture, community and business can continue to thrive.

Working with different neighbourhoods, plazaPOPS collaborates with Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), community organizations, landowners/businesses and local residents. With these various partners, we facilitate a community design process to create temporary “pop-up” installations designed for the unique conditions of the city beyond the downtown core, that aim to celebrate and enhance all the things that make these areas special.

Site : Wexford Heights, Scarborough

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My Role: Ethnographic research Business Surveys Intercept Surveys Public Life Study Activity mappping

The Installation design

Different sites along Lawrence avenue east.

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08.

ULI Hines Student Competition South Carolina, USA (Competition entry) 2023 The city of North Charleston, South Carolina, has identified a Site located at the southeastern North Charleston as a development opportunity.

The Site is part of a larger Study Area, which lies along the Cooper River and east of the Park Circle neighborhood, in the northern part of the former navy base. The Study Area consists of 89 acres, including public rights-of-way.

Site : North end of Census Tract 55

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The competition tells to reimagine yourself as a master developer, to provide a vision to transform the Study Area into a thriving, mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood, and a proposal to evaluate the benefits and financial possibilities of redeveloping the city-owned parcels (the Site). The city is seeking a vision for the area that will increase connectivity and mobility, address issues of equity and housing affordability, and have a positive economic impact while increasing the sustainability and resilience of the Study Area, the surrounding community, and the city at large.

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Thank you.

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