SELECTED WORK Rucha Kumthekar
The architectural landscape today has transcended geographical boundaries, combining a global tapestry of influences and identities. Growing up in East Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East has profoundly shaped my architectural ideology, reflecting a cross-cultural perspective. This portfolio is a collection of my diverse exploration and narratives that prioritize environmental sustainability, the design process, and our collective human experience.
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POKROVSKYY THREADS
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Architectural Design Capstone
TAPECARIA
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Cork Environments
MIDWOOD KITCHENS
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Architectural Design Studio 5
PROFESSIONAL WORK Ingui Architecture
Rucha Kumthekar
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Restorative housing in Kryvyi Rih. Ukraine Utilizing circular material strategies to repurpose a demolished kindergarten into a neighborhood healing network that integrates housing for Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) , accessible housing, and family-oriented living space, By leveraging adaptive reuse, modular construction and biophilic design, the projects aims to address a housing crisis as well as a cultural crisis. It fosters community resilience through spaces centered on healing. mental and physical well-being, and social reintegration. The approach aims to demonstrate how material reuse can serve as both as a practical and symbolic tool for rebuilding war affected communites. creating sustainable and restorative environments for displaced and vulnerable people.
POKROVSKYY THREADS Architectural Design Capstone Parsons School of Design Professor: Alison Mears, Bless Yee Published in Healthy Materials Blog
By leveraging adaptive reuse, modular construction and biophilic design, the projects aims to address a housing crisis as well as a cultural crisis. It fosters community resilience through spaces centered on healing. mental and physical well-being, and social reintegration. The approach aims to demonstrate how material reuse can serve as both as a practical and symbolic tool for rebuilding war affected communites. creating sustainable and restorative environments for displaced and vulnerable people.
By leveraging adaptive reuse, modular construction and biophilic design, the projects aims to address a housing crisis as well as a cultural crisis. It fosters community resilience through spaces centered on healing. mental and physical well-being, and social reintegration. The approach aims to demonstrate how material reuse can serve as both as a practical and symbolic tool for rebuilding war affected communites. creating sustainable and restorative environments for displaced and vulnerable people.
Rucha Kumthekar
By leveraging adaptive reuse, modular construction and biophilic design, the projects aims to address a housing crisis as well as a cultural crisis. It fosters community resilience through spaces centered on healing. mental and physical well-being, and social reintegration. It fosters community resilience through spaces centered on healing. mental and physical well-being, and social reintegration.
Load Bearing Components Glulam Concrete Rubble Mix Non Load Bearing Components Silicate Brick Clay Brick AAC Panels Reused Plaster
Load Bearing Components Concrete AAC (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) Silicate Brick
Re-Using Corrugated Metal Local Waste Resource
Non Load Bearing Components Plasterwalls Wood Flooring Metal Framing Window Glass
Re-Using Silicate Brick On Site
Re-Using Interior Plaster Walls for: Finishes of New Walls
Re-Using Masonry Onsite
Re-Using Plaster Onsite Re-Using AAC Panels from Wall, Roof, and Floor for: New Load-Bearing Structure, for Walls, Roof, and Floor
Insulation Hemplime Local Resource
Re-Using Crushed Rubble Onsite
Re-Using Silicate Brick and Clay Brick for: Cladding
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Glulam Structure Local Resource
By leveraging adaptive reuse, modular construction and biophilic design, the projects aims to address a housing crisis as well as a cultural crisis. It fosters community resilience through spaces centered on healing. mental and physical well-being, and social reintegration.
Rucha Kumthekar
KEY 1 - cluster housing 2 - community centers 3 - playground 4 - common spaces 4 - neighboring existing buildings
Explain site significance of center point Bomb Shelter - between two walls Centralized Kitchen within shelter Material advantages and openings for light exposure Community center openings to allow for light traveling inside the shelter
Site Plan Scale:
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KEY 5 - daycare and play spaces 6 - bomb shelter 7 - communal cellars 8 - pathways
Explain site significance of center point Bomb Shelter - between two walls Centralized Kitchen within shelter Material advantages and openings for light exposure Community center openings to allow for light traveling inside the shelter
Site Plan Scale:
Rucha Kumthekar
Wall Detail Scale:
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Single Cluster Model 3 Units Stacked Scale:
Neighborhood Plan Scale:
Rucha Kumthekar
Site Section Scale:
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Rucha Kumthekar
Rucha Kumthekar
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Cork Tudor Tile
Perforations of Canopy
Assembled Screen
one piece of the mosaic
shadow of an oak tree
a whole forest
Recycled cork scale model
Prototype was showcased in Casa Cork, an immersive atelier at Milan Design Week 2025. Selected with five other projects, from Parsons School of Design, for a Student Design Competition led by Cork Collective and Corticeira Amorim. External Jury included Paola Antonelli, Carlos Bessa, Susan Sellers, Noah Shwartz, John McPhee, David Rockwell. Rucha Kumthekar
Project display on USM shelving at Casa Cork
This project showcases the performative potential of cork to transform spaces. Tapecaria is a cork tile designed for decorative roofing and screening. It features perforations based on a cork tree's canopy, with joinery that forms branch-like light openings. Inspired by traditional Portugese azulejos and floor mosaics, the tiles assemble to create a patterned surface that filters light. This casts intricate shadows, and enhances spatial movement, while also providing natural insulation for heat and sound.
TAPEÇARIA Cork in the Constructed Environment Parsons School of Design Professor: Daniel Michalik Curators: Rockwell Group, Cork Collective, Amorim Cork, Salone Del Mobile