p ortfolio.
Ruchi Khakurel’s
ABOUT
Contact
Curriculum Vitae
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Urban Bazaar
Low Cost Housing
Vertical Living
SuperFutche
Beautiful Everytime
Visualisations for Future
RUCHI KHAKUREL
An architecture graduate who believes to stand out and deliver best in every work assigned to. Acquires leadership and critical thinking qualities with a keen desire to learn, experience and expertise.
Kathmandu, Nepal
ruchikhakurel7@gmail.com +977-9860560007
EXPERIENCE
Dec 2023
Dec 2022
Oct 2022
Nov 2021
Feb 2021
May 2020
Dec 2019
EDUCATION
2017 - 2023
2015 - 2017
Till 2015
COMPETITIONS
Sep 2023
Nov 2022
Sep 2022
May 2022
Dec 2021
Nov 2020
SKILLS
CAD
Rendering
Adobe CC
Microsoft Office
Architect at Foresight Architects
Summer Intern at almond.one
Managing head at Architectural Expo, Thapathali Campus
All star team and Founding member of the Young
Nepalese Architects Union - Supertecture
Trainee Architect at AAJU Designs
Content writer and graphics volunteer at SPACES magazine
Department head of Vernacular Architecture at Jigyasa
Technical Exhibition at Thapathali, Nepal
Bachelors in Architecture -IOE, Thapathali Campus
+2 Science, NEB, Kathmandu Model College
SLC, Brihaspati Vidyasadan
Monumental Park in Pokhara, Asian Paints
Kaleidoscope Design competition (National Round) - TOP 5
Low-cost Housing in Terai, Habitat for Humanity NepalSECOND RUNNER UP
Multifamily residential comlpex at ichangu, Asian Paints
Kaleidoscope Design competition (College Round) - TOP 5
Gold Trezzini Awards for best public space - NOMINATION
Community 2050 in Shenzen, China
Future Classroom design competition - FIRST RUNNER UP
AutoCAD |SketchUp |Autodesk Revit
Lumion |Enscape| V-ray
Photoshop|Illustrator|InDesign| Lightroom|Premium Pro
Word|Powerpoint-|Excel
URBAN BAZAAR
Fostering Social Interactions through Placemaking
Category : Marketplace, Commercial
Location : Taragaun, Chabahil
Area :10853 Sq. m. (21-5-1-1.5)
Year : 2023
The urban bazaar to be proposed can be designed to encourage use and to address the human dimension by creating opportunities for interaction. Th civic square provides an arena for public activity that might be created along the axis of Pasang Lhamu Park. Along the axis of Chabhil-Boudhanath road, the Pasang Lhamu park creates an axis of opportunity for the marketplace to grow on all of its three sides which becomes the point of departure of the thesis project. The site rises with a slight gradient towards the middle, raising a platform for the proposed bazaar located in dense core urban settlement. Markets in Kathmandu reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage and history and serve as important gathering places for both locals and tourists.
The components of a city, including streets, plazas, and squares, play an important role in shaping how a bazaar flows and functions and the social interaction of a city. Bazaar has been inspired by narrow streets and lively plazas. These streets are actually great places and not just corridors. They are places where people come together to shop, offering a sense of belonging provides a space where people can connect with each other and with their local environment. For creating a sense of visual hierarchy, buildings themselves are designed to be terrace-stepped, and providing a clear connection to the surrounding hills and mountains. Ultimately, the bazaar is anchored by a landmark building that serves as a focal point and symbol of the community.
Type Academic Thesis
In collaboration with IOE, Thapathali Campus
Urban Bazaar | Taragaun, Chabahil
Plan (+5.0 LVL)
Master
1. Entry Plaza 2. Bakery Street Market
Food Street Market
Open Farmers’ Market 5. Pulses & Spices Market
Fruits & Vegetable Market
Dry/Cold Storage
W/C
Waste Collection
Waste Management Index
Urban Bazaar | Taragaun, Chabahil
Built form grows from all 3 sides to rest on the platform forming a plaza
Market hall created on the lower level which runs by the road level and can be accessed through pocket plazas along the bus transit.
Pedestrian access moves along plaza to variety of streets. Voids anchored in the platform to reach out natural day light to market interior at lower level
Built form to be terrace-stepped, creating a sense of visual hierarchy, anchored by a landmark building.
LOW COST HOUSING
Category : Affordable housing
Location : Terai, Nepal
Area : 186 sq.m (0-5-3-1.6)
Year : 2023
Land Shortage and the skyrocketing price of housing is one of the most pressing issues in Nepal. Especially in some parts of terai region where people are economically backwarded, the need to address the housing problem is a must. Furthermore, the slow decline of the vernacular essence in the housing is also one of the major problem. To address the same an affordable housing proposal has been proposed which uses the sustainable techniques, vernacular approach and incremental housing principle to provide residence for marginalized community of the inner terai region. The spaces and planning is done as per the layout in which centrally placed Kitchen and living area is constructed up of solid earthbag house. The core and the most used portion of the house is secured thermally by placing rigid walls and bedrooms around it. The core of the house (Kitchen and living room) connects all the bedrooms and porch making the most important of all space.
Phase wise construction approach makes the house more affordable and practical. The plinth and foundation is laid along with one bedroom, Kitchen and toilet in the first phase while the rest of the spaces can be added gradually by the owner during the course of time. The sustainable approach includes provision of cross ventilation and Bamboo Jaali in windows which allow light and restrict heat. The mono pitched truss roof is facilitated with wooden louvers on both sides to provide air circulation across the roof. An innovative method of fulfillment of water demand is done by placement of water pipes in the roof as a water storage tank. The 6 inches pipe is placed horizontally across the roof acts as a water tank and also a measure for insulation and evaporative cooling. The bamboo false ceiling with plastic sheets as a waterproof membrane prevents the structure from water leakage problems.
Type Competition
In collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Nepal
VERTICAL LIVING
Category : Post-disaster Integrated Resettlement Housing
Location : Ichangunarayan, Nagarajun
Area : 8648.53 sq.m
Year : 2022
The Apartment in Ichangu is proposed to be a dwelling for the local people especially Putuwars, Tamang and Lama who have been in the business of flower farming. Ownership of small chunk of lands and vast number of owners gave rise to solution of using the vertical space rather than spreading horizontally. The site is in proximity to the culturally significant Ichangu mandir and most of the users are in flower trading.
Unlike horizontal elements, vertical elements have the ability to present themselves as more dominant within our visual field, making them more effective in creating designated spaces for particular purposes.
This symbiosis of built and open space is experienced through building composed in a staggered manner, providing public space at street , as well as staggered public green terraces that lead to the green roof.
With the provision of geometric flexibility and using modular elements, but on top of this, the component-based approach is used to enable fine-tuning of the palette, and for various elements to be swapped in or out according to meet the need of users.
This neighborhood model is a framework that supports a palette of materials and optional elements in order to respond to context and market forces.
Type Competition
In collaboration with Nagarajun Municipality Committee
TRANSITION TERRAINS TO
The main concept of the structure was stacked on each other with stepped terraces apartment units. Stepped terraces provide crease vertical interaction. There are
The units are stacked on each other light to the apartment units, connectivity interaction. By integrating the natural tween’ the Neighborhood model nurtures strategies uplift the experience of apartment
House modules with yard
complex neighborhood
TRANSITION TO
TERRACES
was derived from terraced fields. The units are terraces which provides plenty of light to the provide connectivity between the users and in small common spaces, gardens for users to
with stepped terraces that provide plenty of connectivity between the users and increase vertical into the built form as well as the ‘space be nurtures our biophilic nature and together these apartment living.
The concept of vertical living
green terraces
public loop
traditional methods of construction to prefab ready housing units
flexibility using concrete, steel or lightweight framing, be it volumetric or
private circulation
metal stairs
public space
open plaza connecting to road
metallic structure
The site is surrounded by 6m roads from all sides connecting the axes from Ichangunarayan mandir and Shivapuri.
Main and rear setback reducing the bulk and scale of development responding to neighboring structures.
The facades of the apartment blocks are maintained to orient towards the south to receive the ambient amount of sunlight to the apartments.
Volumetric subtraction to create plaza spaces on the intersection between nodes of bulk structure.
Each building is composed in a staggered manner, providing public space at street , as well as staggered public terraces that lead to the green roof.
With creating good spaces for interaction, it makes the user feel safe and comfortable and welcoming and accessible to everyone at the same time.
The model provides a platform for apartment construction to move from being a project to more of a product which could be a significant step change in dwelling affordability.
DWELLING - AS A KIT OF PARTS
Every modular housing unit type is 6 x 7x 3m and they are inserted in the any lighter weight structure. The primary housing unit of one bedroom is 42 sq. m. The further possibility is that it can increase half of its volume, becoming a unit of 63 sq.m i.e. two bedroom. The repetition of the apartment with respect to the needs of the user promotes the replication of dwelling apartment as per the criteria.
The buildings across the site are able to be constructed from standardized modular components. This drives cost efficiency and enables prefabrication, quick assembly, and construction quality - in turn assisting to deliver durable and affordable high quality dwellings. Modular assembly can also support disassembly and adjustment over time, supporting long-life, loose-fit buildings that are responsive to changing conditions and demands.
+27.0 Floor Plan (1/2 Bedroom Apartment)
+27.0 Floor Plan (3 Bedroom Apartment) Conceptual Modularity in between Apartments
SUPERFUTCHE
Category : Future Classroom
Location : Dhoksan, Nepal
Area : 50 sq.m
With the future proceeding with so many possibilities, an idea of a future classroom rests on education not bounded by walls but connecting different parts of the world through a portal. A portal behaves as a progressive channel screen which breaks the typical ideology of egg crate classroom. With a new approach to pedagogy, the building itself acts as a teacher and gets connected around the globe.
The classroom in future is encouraged in establishing spaces that affect the five senses of a child’s brain. When one enters the classroom from the mezzanine floor connected through a courtyard, one is exposed to a communal space with a portal on the ceiling. As descending to the lower space, a learning area with a mini library along with some secluded spaces encourages students to learn by themselves.
Year : 2020 Type Competition
Alongside the advancement of technology, the future classroom focuses more on physical activity of children through kinetic floor tiles. The tiles help in transforming the footsteps of children into energy that can be outsourced for the classroom itself. Virtual and augmented reality are being developed rapidly and one day these technologies will be used in the class room that demands movement and will let children learn by being part of the physical space.
The structure encompasses the use of recycled corrugated sheets and polycarbonate sheets between bamboo frames. Between two layers of CGI sheets, a spray foam insulation is provided for thermal and sound insulation. The facade comprises colored CGI sheets influencing cognitive abilities and stimulating a child’s brain.
In collaboration with Supertecture & Patrizia Foundation
Hello! I am SUPER FUTCHE , A student from Germany. Today I will introduce you all to my friends from Dhoksan, Nepal. Come on, Let’s go!!.
......jumps out of the portal to land
SUPER FUTCHE is using technology (Augmented Reality) to elements and sustainable materials.
SUPERFUTCHE | Dhoksan, Nepal
Hi ! Super futche we love talking with you wish you could come here.
Well! It feels like i am actually here ....
land on the classroom on Dhoksan
to visualize the building structural’s
TIME TO 3D SCAN !
Bamboo Joints Recycled CGI sheet blocks
Kinetic tiles
bamboo rafter purlin
insulation
CGI blocks
colorful recycled corrugated sheets
wooden staircase
kinetic tiles
Exploded Axonometric
Dhoksan, Nepal
BEAUTIFUL EVERY TIME
Category : Reintegrating Campus Block with Landscape
Location : Thapathali Engineering Campus, Kathmandu
Area : 2500 sq.m
Year : 2022
An architect demands a space to be creative that broadens their horizons. The space designed is a remembrance of the author’s childhood after a long class, where the center court served as a turn off button to relax. Why doesn’t a similar arrangement be adapted in our daily workplaces where studios are surrounded by serene places? The space could be for one to think, stroll, be inquisitive or whimsical, but most of all, be comfortable with themselves. We are losing sight of the fact that our minds require peace and serenity in order to calm down from our hectic lives.
The space is an escape in creating innovative ways to arouse the primary senses through irregularities in nature, which can fill the mind with a sense of awe and endless possibilities.
The lush wild grass, varieties of plants, warped hammocks, and a big old maple tree reveal the space to know us and perceive our thoughts. Nature and it’s iregularities bring a balance in the space we feel alive. We all deserve a space that accepts us for who we are and the moment we feel is beautiful every time.
Type
Academic
In collaboration with Thapathali Enginnering Campus
VISULAISATIONS FOR FUTURE
up | s01 | visualisations for the future
Category : Urban Regeneration
Location : New Road
Year : 2023
The visualisation mainly focuses on how new road, the economic heartbeat and cultural core of kathmandu, can be pedestrianised, the benefits it will have and the opportunities this will create. pedestrianisation of streets has numerous economic, social and environmental benefits such as reduced congestion and pollution, while also promoting social interactions and improving business. redesigning new road without traffic allows for additional trees, greenery and furniture, opens space for street vendors, cafés, performers etc., and makes the walking experience more lively and enjoyable.
The redesign of New Road without vehicular traffic allows for the integration of additional trees, green spaces, and attractive street furniture. This incorporation of nature adds aesthetic value and improves the overall ambiance of the area. This approach prioritizes the well-being and convenience of pedestrians. In summary, the visualization of a pedestrianized New Road in Kathmandu showcases the myriad benefits it would offer, both in terms of enhancing the local economy and culture and improving the overall quality of life for those who live, work, and visit the area.
Type Urban Design
In collaboration with almond.one
1 | juddha salik
2 | bhugol park
3 | newroad
Axonomentric street detail
4 | newroad gate