LIK
‘23
D2D Document to Design
The design cell was conceived as a platform for students to participate in competitions, projects, and seminars outside the typical academic scope of each semester. Comprising students across batches, it is intended as a space to explore, experiment, and question the finite and tangible notions of architecture.
Design Cell, School of Architecture, Anant National University
Ashish Tiwari | Ujjwal Dawar
Amrita Goyal | Anagha Vaidya | Atharva Singh Choudhary | Devansh Sharma
Dhruv Kothari | Hridayi Shah | Jeet Bharadiya | Jiya Gautam
Lawrence Berkmans | Monishka Kothari | Muktansh Shah | Naman Bhavsar
Opranav Maheshwari | Parth Patel | Pearl Patel
BRIEF
An echo of the past, a construct for the future...
An annual competition organized by the National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA India), the Louis I Kahn Trophy is a unique and intensive documentation exercise. The brief asks students to measure, document, and map a historical structure in detail, going from the macro- level of site, context, climate, and community to the micro- level of construction, ornamentation, and architectonics.
This year, for the first time, the brief called for a design intervention inspired by documentation. The proposal was to reflect some of the main understandings, inferences, and learnings derived from the process of documentation, which is said to be one of the more intimate and raw ways of truly understanding a structure.
JETHABHAI NI VAV
Stepwells arose out of a need for a perennial water source in the semi-arid region of water, water used to be a precious resource and these stepwells used to act like refuges where travellers can take shelter. Stepwells were and still are considered to be extremely expensive to construct, thus they were only built where good year-long groundwater is available. Historically stepwells were built near a present water source like Rani Ki Vav is near the Saraswati River and Adalaj ni Vav is near a Lake, and in this case, Jethabhai’s stepwell is near Isanpur lake.
Jethabhai a wealthy Gujarati businessman started the construction of the stepwell, he used various derelict ancient structures to build this structure. The two major mosques which were used were Malik Alam Masjid in Danilimda and Nenpurvada Masjid, the Stepwell today also shows signs of reuse and repurpose, some of the original columns of the derelict mosques have been used as columns inside the stepwell, thus providing an excellent example of reuse of old materials from derelict structures. In some cases, the sculptures also are older than the stepwell itself.
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STEPWELL AS SITE
Stepwells are among the most unique typologies of historical structures, and documenting them extends beyond measured drawings into the realm of spatial and constructional understanding. Additionally, the balance between mass and void as well as the proportion of above vs underground form interesting parallels to draw out a design from.
Historically, this vav was such an integral part of the local fabric and the lives of the people that it was used every single day without fail. But with time, this vibrant use faded to a mere echo, and eventually a standstill, with far more people ignoring or bypassing the well than experiencing or using it.
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The column details are heavily similar to surrounding stepwells they highly resemble the column typlogy of Rani Ki vav, Adalaj and nearby mosques.
BORROWED ELEMENTS
Jethabhai used various derelict structures, including Nenpurvada and Malik Alam Masjid to construct this vav. It is also heavily influenced from the other stepwells and mosques of region. This is not new strategy as in the early 19th century, for the Barot vav in Patan, a similar strategy for construction was used by Bahadursingh Barot.
A section depicting the use of borrowed elements in the vav. - Entrance Pavilion, Columns, Arch, Dome
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Pavilion at entrance. Mosque like window.
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ESSENCE OF SITE AND SURROUNDING
Streets are lined with shops and stalls that blur the boundaries between the public and the private. There are three schools in the vicinity, one of whose windows open into the site. Children enjoy playing both between the trees and inside the vav. On most afternoons, locals come to the site and rest in the shade of the trees.
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| 7 PLAN AND SECTION
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COLUMN TYPOLOGY
There are, in total, 120 columns in this stepwell, and 10 different typologies. The columns have a simple Teka with an ornate Ucchalak/Teki. Every pavilion has a different column typology considering that the columns were taken from derelict structures.
Columns A-J are arranged in order of ornamentation.
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CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
Axonometric drawing showing the direction of constrcution in the stepwell.
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[1] The diameter is assessed depending on importance of stepwell. A cyclinder trench is dug to the height of one man. [2] A wooden wheel with a cross bar is lowered into the excavated well, where the soil is already moist and sluggish. The wheel is of the size of the diamterer of the well at that depth and abuts the excavated sides of the trench. [3] Once the wheel sits horizontally on the soil, layers of brick masonry are piled up on it. [4] Once the stream is flowing within the well and settles to its normal minimum level of water, the length of the stepped corridor is decided. [5] The pavilion part of the stepwells are excavated firat as they structurally bear the exterior load. Columns and beams are added with platforms to make consecutive pavilions. [6] According to the analysis, first retaining walls are built and then pavilions are built.
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[7] The pavilions are constructed before steps are laid. First the retaining wall is built adjoining which stone pillars and beams are added with a platform on the top and the pavilions are formed based on the ledges.
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DIAGRAM OF ANALYSIS
Lines of Analysis
Mass and Void
Penetration of Light
Void axis
Road axis
Street axis
Stepwell axis
Bult mass
Stepwell
Void
Axis
Movement - The Bee Diagram
Relationship to Sky
The movement in the stepwell is never linear. Instead, visitors act like bees, attracted by ornamentation, openings and elements.
As one moves deeper into the ground, the relationship to the sky is strengthened and emphasized.
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LOAD TRANSFER AND RESTORATION
The major load comes from the ground itself from both the sides.
To counter balance the same retaining walls are placed.
Platforms are added at intervals to support the tall walls.
Columns and beams are added with heavy bases to hold the platforms.
The stones in the wall which were done by bowtie and staggered joints, is replaced by machine-cut stones.
Intricately carved motifs were either replaced by at stone else covered by lime plaster.
The new structures were made with conventional materials like bricks instead of using singular material in the stepwell which is sandstone.
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EVOLUTION OF SITE
As part of the ASI restoration, the site was made greener and a fence was erected around the stepwell to protect it from the very people it was built for.
The development around the highway led to an dense urban fabric emerging around it, choking the stepwell.
Stepwells were developed as a result of the semi-arid region’s requirement for a permanent water source. When water was a scarce resource, these stepwells served as shelters for travellers. Stepwells were only developed in areas with good year-round groundwater availability because they were and still are thought to be very expensive to build.
The AhmedabadVadodara highway was contructed adjacent to the stepwell cutting through the farms.
The stepwell was built to support the farms around it with water for irrigation as well as fresh water to drink.
Like Rani Ki Vav, which is next to the Saraswati River, and Adalaj ni Vav, which is close to a lake, historically stepwells were constructed close to an existing water supply; in this case, Jethabhai’s stepwell is close to the Isanpur lake. There’s a clear water connection seen on the map, as there is a strong connection formed with Sabarmati River- Chandola Lake - Isanpur Lake -and ultimately the Jethabhai’s Stepwell.
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SCANNING THE SITE
By ‘scanning’ the site, one noticed the prominent number of squirrels, tracing organic paths through the greenery and the stepwell.
There is a clear drop in temperature when one steps inside the dome.
The stables, with their high arches and exposed brick, are in stark contrast to the depth of the well, which is articulated in stone.
Despite people occasionally taking refuge in the shade, the squirrels seem to consider the site their own.
The current treatment of the fence as a boundary seems forced and inorganic.
Despite the well being less decorative than other stepwells (with only one ornamental niche), the depth and scale of it almost induces vertigo.
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DESIGN PROCESS
ECO-EGO CENTRIC
EXTENDING GRID LANGUAGE
MASS AND VOID
RELATIONSHIP WITH SKY
BORROWING THE ELEMENTS
FOR KIDS AND WOMEN?
PENETRATING STEPWELL
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DIAGRAMMING THE INTERVENTION
EXTENDING GRIDS SPACES FOR WOMEN SPACES FOR CHILDREN
PUNCTURING THE STEPWELL
SUBTLY EXTENDING THE VAV
MODERNISING WITH GRIDS
INTERVENTION + STEPWELL GOING UNDERGROUND
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THE INVERVENTION
By simply o setting and mirroring the strong linearity of the vav, two di erent complementary axes created on either side. Using the idea of mass and void- the two spatial features that make up the stepwell.
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SECTIONS
the other side of the vav, shaded with creepers, is articulated as a pause.
increase permeability and porosity.
transforming into shaded semi-open spaces for people to pause and rest.
creating a microclimate.
re-establishing a sense of belonging and community.
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THE INVERVENTION
By simply o setting and mirroring the strong linearity of the vav, two di erent complementary axes created on either side. Using the idea of mass and void- the two spatial features that make up the stepwell. To subtly modernize the historical while still respecting it, the grid was articulated as a light steel frame that acts as both a structural and a visual element, in both plan and section. The grid is a oating extension of the design intervention and continues over the stepwell into the landscaping of the site, transforming into shaded semi-open spaces for people to pause and rest.
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CYCLIC SECTIONS
The design intervention increases the permeability and porosity of the site. By creating multiple functional spaces and drawing people inwards, the public extends into the site and the site extends to the public realm.
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