Architecture | Urban Design Portfolio

URBAN DESIGN | ARCHITECTURE

Rajani Chowdary Kotaru

rajanichowdary98@gmail.com

CONTENTS

CHICAGO KNEE DEEP

A vision for water resiliency

Academic - Graduate | 2022 Spring page 04-07

MCKINELY PARK

Reimagining 35th Street

Academic - Graduate | 2022 Summer page 08-11

HUMBOLDT PARK

Revitilizing Humboldt Park

Academic - Graduate | 2021 Fall page 12-15

TOURIST VILLAGE INTERFACE

Cultivating the spine of Vadrapalli

Academic - Under Graduate | 2019 page 16-19

Experienced urban designer and architectural professional with over 3 years of experience in residential, commercial, public realm, transportation projects assisting with technical drawings, 3D modelling, renderings and interdiciplinary co-ordination. Expertise in conceptual designs, prototyping and construction documentation and skilled at revit, autocad, lumion, adobe creative suite along with hands-on involvement for planning proposals, community outreach, critical analysis and request for proposals. Passionate about creating resilient, inclusive, and vibrant urban environments.

ELEVATED

CHICAGO KNEE DEEP

Great Cities Studio: Ecological Override Studio , Climate change Action Plan

Location: Near Southside, Chicago, IL

Professors:  Phil Enquist, Sevin Yildiz

Software: Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe Suite, Lumion

Role: Redesign of Museum campus and Urban grid

A Vision For Water Resiliency

The great cities studio focused on ecological design for cloudburst flooding. Planning for cloudburst events is a new concept, which is preceded by special area plan, systems thinking and blue-green infrastructural interventions. Some resiliency plans have incorporated ideas related to flash flooding, but the acceptance of cloudburst flooding has become a specialized angle with increasing torrential rain events across the globe. Chicago Knee Deep: A Vision for Water Resiliency reimagines the near southside of Chicago including Grant Park, Railyards & The 78, Northerly Islands and the Museum Campus, as well as iconic urban grid to accommodate pluvial, fluvial and costal flooding between Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.

The Chicago Bird Highway Analysis

Landcover

62% of land is impervious 0% wetlands

Drainage

60% of soil does not drain properly

Freight Tunnels

60 miles of subterranean freight tunnels

Soil

Dominance of blue clay soil type

Surface Parking

59 acres of land is used for parking

Green Roofs

Only 3% of roof area is vegetated

Near Southside

Chicago has been labeled one of the most dangerous cities for birds because it is the largest urban area along a major migratory route. The Chicago Bird Highway (CBH) can serve as a regional system that returns some of the land to the birds by introducing wetlands and restoring natural habitat that will offset carbon, absorb stormwater and slow warming temperatures.

South Works

Lake Calumet

Museum Campus (Melding logical with ecological)

Re-programming the Museum Campus

Toolkit

Redevelop east McCormick Place

Optimizing protected burnham waters

Naturalize west McCormick Place

Retrofit Soldier field

Future flooding

Sections

Preserve lakefrontprotect wildlife

Surface parking conversion

The Cup, The Straw and The Sieve Streets

(Enabling traffic and water to flow)

The urban grid was reimagined considering topography, water pooling, water directionality, and other site conditions. Our model is termed ‘The Straw and The Sieve’, wherein large, north-south corridors that are largely flat and experience high water levels can act as ‘straws’ that retain water through green infracture and regrading. East-west avenues that cross the pooling area will direct water to ecological areas and restored wetlands.

Master Plan

Water flow direction

Water pooling

Planning Studio:

Charatte

Location: McKinely Park, Chicago, IL

Professors:  Sanjeev Vidyarthi, April Jackson

Software: GIS, Rhino, Lumion, Adobe Suite

Role:

3D visualization and renderings, Community engagement events, designed few boards.

MCKINLEY PARK

Reimagining 35th Street

In partnership with the McKinley Park Development Council (MPDC), Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE), and international consulting firm Design Workshop, the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs Masters of City Design program conceived and facilitated a community-led design process for civic improvements in McKinley Park. Three sites were carefully selected by studying past planning efforts and thought conservation with community stakeholders. After conducting preliminary research, the team carried out a range of engagement events at various locations in McKinley Park culminating in a design charette.

Housing

Project Principles

Community Engagement

Project Principles

After the preliminary research, the team developed intentional engagement activities, designed to understand resident’s experience, wants, and needs. The activities were loosely structured around the principles of housing, beautification, mobility, streets, and culture. The invaluable insights shared by community members in the engagement phase went on to guide the co-design process.

Project Principles

& Preservation

Housing

• Preserve housing that is affordable for existing residents.

Housing

• Introduce new housing that is appropriate for the existing cultural, economic, and built environments.

• Preserve housing that is affordable for existing residents.

• Introduce new housing that is appropriate for the existing cultural, economic, and built environments.

• Preserve housing that is affordable for existing residents.

Housing

Housing

Housing

Principles

• Promote adaptive vacant buildings.

Project Principles

• Preserve housing that is affordable for existing residents.

• Preserve housing that is affordable for existing residents.

Beautification & Preservation

• Introduce new housing that is appropriate for the existing cultural, economic, and built environments.

Beautification & Preservation

Preserve housing that is affordable for existing residents. Introduce new housing that is appropriate for the existing cultural, economic, and built environments

Beautification & Preservation

• Promote adaptive reuse of vacant buildings.

• Promote adaptive reuse of vacant buildings.

• Ensure that new development is with the neighborhood’s architectural and character.

• Introduce new housing that is appropriate for the existing cultural, economic, and built environments.

Better Streets

• Introduce new housing that is appropriate for the existing cultural, economic, and built environments.

• Promote adaptive reuse of vacant buildings.

Beautification & Preservation

• Ensure that new development is in line with the neighborhood’s architectural and cultural character.

• Promote walking, bicycling, and use of public transit through purposeful interventions that improve accessibility, safety, and enjoyability.

• Ensure that new development is in line with the neighborhood’s architectural and cultural character.

• Ensure that new development is in line with the neighborhood’s architectural and cultural character.

• Extend the beauty of the park through the neighbourhood.

• Promote adaptive reuse of vacant buildings. Ensure that new development is in line with the neighborhood’s architectural and cultural

Accessibility & Mobility

Accessibility & Mobility

Accessibility & Mobility

Accessibility & Mobility

• Improve safety and connectivity for all modes of transit.

• Improve safety and connectivity for all modes of transit.

Better Streets

Better Streets

Better Streets Project

Improve safety and connectivity for all modes of transit. Consider universal design principles at each stage.

Accessibility & Mobility

• Improve safety and connectivity for all modes of transit.

Accessibility & Mobility

• Consider universal design principles at each stage.

• Improve safety and connectivity for all modes of transit.

• Consider universal design principles at each stage.

• Consider universal design principles at each stage.

Improve safety and connectivity for all modes

• Consider universal design principles at each stage.

Beautification & Preservation

• Promote walking, bicycling, and use of public transit through purposeful interventions that improve accessibility, safety, and enjoyability.

Consider universal design principles at each stage.

Better Streets

Promote adaptive reuse of vacant buildings. Ensure that new development is in neighborhood’s architectural and cultural character.

Culture

Better Streets

Culture

• Promote walking, bicycling, and use of public transit through purposeful interventions that improve accessibility, safety, and enjoyability.

Culture

• Extend the beauty of the park through the neighborhood.

• Promote walking, and use of public through purposeful interventions that accessibility, safety, enjoyability.

• Promote walking, bicycling, and use of public transit through purposeful interventions that improve accessibility, safety, and enjoyability.

• Create a vibrant, community-oriented 35th Street while promoting the development of businesses that hire local residents and reflect the neighborhood’s cultural makeup.

Culture

Create a vibrant, community-oriented 35th Street while promoting the development of bussiness that hire local residents and reflect the neighborhood’s culture make-

• Extend the beauty of

Promote walking, bicycling, and use of public transit through purposeful interventions that improve accessibility, safety, and

9

• Extend the beauty the park through neighborhood. Create a vibrant, community-oriented 35th Street while promoting the

• Extend the beauty of the park through the neighborhood. Create a vibrant, community-oriented 35th Street while promoting the development of businesses that

Pop-up Event

Open-house

Board for open house and charrette

Charrette

Design Development

We began the design work using the following six overarching concepts, which emerged from our analysis of past planning efforts and outcomes of the community engagement process.

Small town main streets, cultural district, park extension, accessory dwelling units, flexible spaces and preservation are the areas that are focused during the design development.

Urban Edge Studio: Charatte

Location: Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL

Professors:  Sanjeev Vidyarthi, Sevin Yildiz

Software: GIS, Rhino, Grasshopper, Lumion, Adobe Suite

Role: Morphological analysis, housing experiments, street design

HUMBOLDT PARK

Revitilizing the Humboldt Park

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot commissioned the Invest South West Initiative in October 2019 which has identified 12 corridors across 10 neighborhoods on the south west sides of city for future development. The initiative has a budget of $750 million in public funding that will be distributed across a series of RFPs in which developers will work with local and national prequalified architects to support improved programming, infrastructure, and policies that will create a lasting impact in key commercial corridors.

A wide array of design teams are exploring interventions across each of the selected corridors. The Chicago Avenue corridor of Humboldt Park was selected for the present study given its proximity to the University of Illinois, Chicago and the generous partnership with the neighborhood.

Park has created a series of systems that are interconnected and interdependent upon one another.

Neighborhood Analysis

Existing Institutional Assets

historic, study area could the urban community. To was undertaken solutions context, our broad, farmorphology Avenue. This analysis. Transect searching for typically categorized radiating outwards concentrated configuration understanding well with current existing form.

The distribution of these varied lived experiences is not uniform across the study area and there is an immense amount of granularity along the corridor The figures below illustrate some of the variables examined and analyzed during the design process. Each of these factors demonstrates a unique and complex socioeconomic pattern within the study area. The distribution of wealth, ages, and mobility trends across the whole of West Humboldt Park has created a series of systems that are interconnected and interdependent upon one another.

The distribution of these varied lived experiences is not uniform across the study area and there is an immense amount of granularity along the corridor. The figures below illustrate some of the variables examined and analyzed during the design process. Each of these factors demonstrates a unique and complex socioeconomic pattern within the study area. The distribution of wealth, ages, and mobility trends across the whole of West Humboldt Park has created a series of systems that are interconnected and interdependent upon one another.

The distribution of these varied lived experiences is not uniform across the study area and there is an immense amount of granularity along the corridor. The figures below illustrate some of the variables examined and analyzed during the design process. Each of these factors demonstrates a unique and complex socioeconomic pattern within the study area. The distribution of wealth, ages, and mobility trends across the whole of West Humboldt Park has created a series of systems that are interconnected and interdependent upon one another.

To shape future design recommendations, our team began the project by developing a community profile investigating social, demographic, and economic conditions. Armed with this background knowledge, we sought to understand the existing urban fabric in the neighborhood. Finally, we carried out spatial and data analysis to understand how Chicago Avenue fits into the larger urban context.

Proposed Plan Re-imagining Streets

In recent years, West Humboldt Park has experienced transportation safety issues related to economic disinvestment and traffic volume, making Chicago Avenue unwelcoming for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestriand alike. To reinvigorate the corridor, our team developed alternative designs, intended to safely rejuvinate the municipal artery.

Experiment - 2

Plaza

Improved Streetscaping Bike Lanes

Reduced Traffic Lanes

Existing

Housing

To determine how density should be balanced with practicality and ambition, a number of experiments were conducted to analyze what impact various levels of development would have on the physical fabric of the neighborhood.

RFP Building

New housing

Rowe-Clark Academy

Vacant lots

Proposed

Experiment - 1

Experiment - 2

TOURIST VILLAGE INTERFACE

Cultivating the spine of Vadrapalli

Gitam School of Architecture: ANDC Competition

Location:

Vadrapalli, AP, India

Team:

Rajani Kotaru, Srujitha Jonnala, Madhav Varma

Software:

Hand Sketches, Adobe-Suite, Lumion, Sketchup model.

Role:

Conceptualization, 2D and 3D renderings.

In the esteemed NASA 2019 design competition, our team proudly emerged as the runner-up, earning recognition for our visionary approach to revitalizing an Andhra Pradesh village. Guided by commitment to sustainable development and cultural sensitivity, we immersed ourselves in the fabric of the community, seamlessly integrating vernacular architecture into our design.

Our project is a comprehensive solution that goes beyond conventional approaches. It encompasses eco-friendly housing solutions, thoughtfully redesigned communal spaces, strategic economic hubs, modernized education facilities, and robust environmental conservation strategy. By prioritizing the unique needs and traditions of the community, we aimmed not only to uplift its residents but also to set a precedent for future development projects.

Our vision extends beyond the competition, showcasing the transformative power of architecture fostering harmony between modernity and tradition.

No windows on the external facade for safety.

Storage spaces in the courtyard reflects its multi purpose characteristics.

Ideology

Space between houses can be well developed for aesthetic purposes.

Streets displayed with artistic works.

Open spaces in the spine can act as good market place

Free spaces act as a communal interaction spaces.

Shared courtyard can be transformed into a cultural space.

Small pockets with fun zones

Nesting pots on the external facades of the houses.

Spaces around the courtyard can be used for residential extensions.

Exteral walls of houses are painted for decoration purposes reflecting artistic characteristics.

Paddy fields and farm lands surrounds the villages.

Ornamentation of the spine entrance with local art

Cultural Spine of Vadrapalli

Lower spaces act as a working space for both visitors and villagers sharing the knowledge and experience.

Creating spaces for workshops and learning. Space where the villagers can learn new technologies with the visitors.

Main Spine Stage for Artists Cultural platforms and workshop spaces Relaxation zone Residential Area Main Spine Co-working & co-living Courtyard Secondary Road Cow Shed Open air recreation Semi-open spaces Residential & Retail Recreation space Main spine Residential

Communal Spaces

Semi-open spaces have been developed by choosing proper pocket spaces or common courtyards between the existing houses to enhance the small cultural acticities such as Baulmusic, Santhal Dance for the visitors.

The spaces around roads and pathways have been highlighted with decorated entrgates, informal tree shaded sitouts, exhibition spaces of the artisian works displayed around the pathways and the main central spine.

Enhancing the Lake Front

Enhanched fishing deck

Ghat

Gazebo where tourists can use it as a boat deck as Vadrapalli boats are special

Fish store warehouses

Watch tower which gives 360 view of the village

Cottage and bamboo workshop

deck

View

Fishing Deck Sitout

Diving deck

Communal Spaces Traditional entrance gate

Tourists playing fun games organised by the natives.

The tourists amused by the native culture by watching traditional dance and music which enhances the culture of the Vadrapalli.

ELEVATED CYCLE TRACK

Gitam School of Architecture: Urban Design Studio, Sustainable Design Studio

Location: New Delhi, India

Professors:  Dr. Gowthami Krishna

Software: Revit, Rhino, Sketchup, Adobe Suite

A Bridge to connect with nature

New Delhi, the capital of India is one of the most polluted cities of the world. A large number of studies in Delhi have examined the effect of air pollution on respiratory functions and the associated morbidity. In order to overcome the situation, the city needs to preserve and increase the share of walking and cycling, which has been on steady decline over past few decades.

Besides, with the present state of air and vehicle pollution, the city roads are not conducive to cycling. Even where the cycle tracks exist, they have been encroached by motorized vehicles. In order to combat this condition, the government plans to build an elevated cycle track.

The track will be covered for the riders to be safe from sun and rain. Solar panels will be installed on the roofs along with CCTV, Wi-Fi amenities on the street lights to ensure safety of commuters. one such initiative will be a project of 6 km long and 20 feet wide elevated cycle track, running through areas such as Sheikh Sarai, Siri Fort, Lajpat Nagar and Defense colony. 20

The Concept

Points that are considered as the design concept are

- structure should be weather conditioning and climate responsive

- comfortable user experience inside the track tunnel

- structurally unique and futuristic - structure inspired from nature

Path Selection

JLB Stadium 213.98m defence colony sriniwas puri 215.77m

public place govt. quatres market + residential residential area andrew’s ganji

Design Approaches

sir fort 228.93m heritage site panchsheel enclave 225.43m

Elevation

ACP sheet

G1 sheet

Tubular truss

ACP sheet wall

Stairs case steel framed

Pneumatic dome at station

Steel staircase

Elevator

Structural column

RCC base

government area

panchsheel enclave 225.43m residential area

Pneumatic dome at station

Steel staircase

Structural column

RCC Base

The Column

Structure skeleton

Base plate

RCC column

base

Structure skeleton

Concrete filing

Steel support & casing

RCC base

Plan View

Steel support & casing

Cycling track

Pedestrian path

Elevated path

Basic Structure

Base plate

Tension member

RCC column

Fiber glass glazing with UV reflector

Flat steel plates

Pedestrian path

Concrete Grider

Base plate

Tension member

RCC footing

Phase 1

Phase 2

Cycling track Median

Drip drainage Pedestrian path

Red epoxy resin

Steel support & casing

Metal deck

I - section

Base plate

RCC footing

Elevation at phase 2

RCC Column

The Roofing System: station

The parametric or pneumatix dome

The motive is to design a shell structure and dome with pneumatic members along with parametric design technique for the structure to evolve as a contemporary design.

The Roofing System: track

Section The Staircase

Phase 2

Phase 1

CHIRPAL GROUP HQ

A design for Head Quaters

Typology:

Commercial Building, Finger6 Architects

Location: Hyderabad, India

Team Lead:  Ar. Santhosh Sadam

Software: Sketchup, AutoCad Lumion, Adobe Suite

Role:

Project Architect - team of 4. Design development, floor plans, sections, elevations, 3d modelling and rendering. Client presentation.

The core concepts revolves around creating a space that engages with the user’s needs and fosters a healthier environment. We implemented a subtle intervention amidst structural elements, transitionting the space into one that is more sustinable, enhancing user functionality and bolstering building performance.

This two-story corporate edifice is strategically oriented to harness seasonal breezes and leverage daylight to enhance inerior illumination. The ground floor caters to public and semi-public activities, whereas the upper floor caters to private and semi-private functions. Surroundings the building with dense vegetation servers to mitigate sound pollution and counteract the heat island effect, thereby reducing building temperatures.

Typology:

Institutional, CDB project, Globetrotters Engineering Corparation

Location: Skokie, IL

Team Lead:  Michale Hall

Software: Revit, Adobe Suite

Role: Architectural Designer. Construction drawings, RFIs, 3D modelling and rendering.

OAKTON

Replace Exterior Wall Systems

The project aims to replace the exterior wall systems of a community college in 7 planned phases, strategically designed to minimize disruptions to classrooms, offices and labs.

The scope of work involves conducting assessments, developing detailed plans, procuring materials, and executing each phase with precision. Upon completion, the project will deliver modernized exterior wall systems that contribute to the energy efficiency, visual appeal, and overall functionality.

INSTALL SMOOTH MEMBRANE PLY OVER EXISTING MEMBRANE, FULLY ADHERE BY HEAT WELDING AND EXTEND OVER TOP OF METAL PANEL.

INSTALL GRANULE SURFACE MEMBRANE PLY OVER SMOOTH MEMBRANE, FULLY ADHERE BY HEAT WELDING AND EXTEND OVER TOP LAYER OF EXISTING GRAUNLE MEMBRANE FLASHING.

EXISTING BUILT-UP-ROOF ASSEMBLY. DO NOT REMOVE MEMBRANE PLYS OR PORTIONS OF EXCEPT AS REQUIRED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE INSULATED METAL PANEL SYSTEMS.

PREFIN. METAL COPING

METAL CLEAT AND FASTENER 7"

6 T/COPING

CLOSED CELL SPRAY FOAM

FIRESTOPPING W/ FIRE RESISTANT SEAL AND MINERAL WOOL BACKING

074213

2 1/2" OVERALL THICKNESS. THERMAL VALUE MIN. R-20.1 OR U=0.055

072500

061600

5/8" GYP. BD.

054100

16" O.C. STUD FRAMING. SEE SPECIFICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

074213

2

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

5/8" GYP. BD. 16" O.C. STUD FRAMING. SEE

061600

CONNECTING CLIP AND BASE EXTRUSION BY PANEL MANUF. PROVIDE WEEPS AT BOTTOM OF BASE EXTRSN.

Typology:

Bud terminal, Globetrotters

Engineering Corparation

Location: Schaumburg, IL

Team Lead:  Carl Darr

Software: Revit, Adobe Suite, Enscape

Role: Architectural Designer. Schematic design, Design development, Construction drawings, RFIs, 3D modelling and rendering.

PACE

Northwest Transportation Center

The project involves the comprehensive renovation and expansion of an existing bus terminal to enhance functionality and aesthetics. This includes adding a new wating area, rerouting the bus driveway. Furthermore, a new parking zone will be integrated to accomodate increased demand, facilitating smoother vehicle movement.

Central to the project’s success is the seamless coordination of architectural design elements with structural requriements, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity.

The project aims to transform the bus terminal into a vibrant, user-friendly, and sustainable transportation hub.