Portfolio_Rushavi_Shah

This portfolio represents a harmonious collection of projects undertaken during my ongoing pursuit of an M.Arch degree at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (UWM) and my B.Arch studies at the Institute of Design, Environment and Architecture (I.D.E.A) in India, as well as projects completed during my professional practice.

ABOUT ME

I am a highly ambitious individual with strong analytical skills, dedicated to designing spaces that resonate with user perspectives while respecting cultural heritage influences. With a comprehensive background in planning, design, analysis, implementation, and management of both small-scale and large-scale architectural and interior projects, I bring a wealth of hands-on experience from construction sites. I firmly believe in the power of collaboration and effective communication as integral components of creating designs that truly enhance society’s built environment.

RUSHAVI SHAH

Contact number: 612-685-5313

Email ID: rushavi96@gmail.com

CONTENTS:

VERSATILITY (FABRICATION)

Emergency shelter PVC System Assembly

The Chipstone Foundation, Milwaukee

DESIGN THESIS

Children’s behaviour in built environment

Banswara, Rajasthan

URBAN INSERT

Generative and metrix diagrams Inferences Typologies

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

LEARNING WHILE PLAYING

Design concepts Evolution of design Visualization

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

PROFESSIONAL WORK: RAJESH DESAI

PROFESSIONAL WORK: SARANSH ARCHITECTS

INTERNSHIP WORK (2016)

PERSONAL PROJECTS

Kothari residence

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

RF Corporate House Akshatam-7

Mahuva, Gujarat Palanpur, Gujarat

Life on the Street Nature park & Mithi River Bridge

Palava, Maharashtra Mumbai, Maharashtra

Nook & Corners - Reshamwala’s house

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

RELATED STUDY PROGRAMS

Tropical Modernism, Sri Lanka

Identity of village: Naddi and Bal village, Himachal Pradesh

Versatility (Fabrication): The Chipstone Foundation, Milwaukee

The fact that the Windsor chair is produced by hand, and the Emergency chair cut by a machine, showcases diverse modes of production, while the idea behind the designs remains very much the same - Versatility.

When the Windsor chair was created, it marked a point in history where furniture and people could escape boundries. The windsor chair was designed to be mass-produced before the mass-production era. Its components were crafted by different artisans all around, to later come together to assemble the chair.

While the Emergency chair was designed to be versatile in a unique way. Its roots come from a sense of emergency, when the possibility of assembling without the necessity of any tools can be appreciated. It is versatile in its conception because it should not assembled but admired unless you have a seating emergency.

Windsor Chair

D.E.Sellers Emergency Chair

Design Thesis: Tribal School, Banswara, Rajasthan

Chidren’s behaviour in built environment

School buildings can foster a sense of belonging and the opportunities to connect with the community, allowing individuals to engage in self-initiated activities.

This thesis begins by comprehending the behavioral responses of children within the context of the built environment It involves analyzing various elements of different education centers and studying a village to grasp their cultural and architectural essense. The goal is to design a school that reflects their culture and architecture, involving the community in a way that cultivates a sense of belonging.

School as learning environment:

The articulation and design of the spatial environment should be thoughtfully crafted to facilitate the seamless coexistence of numerous activities transpiring simultaneously.

This harmonious arrangement ought to cater to the dynamic needs of both communal gatherings and individual pursuits, affording each participant the freedom to engage in their tasks autonomously while still fostering a sense of unity and collaboration within the shared space.

Architectural and landscape built elements:

Walls play a crucial role as protective enclosures and defensive barriers for buildings. Beyond their utilitarian purpose, they also serve as visual canvases that allow for punctures, enabling the infusion of light, air, and access into the building’s interior.

Moreover, walls facilitate smooth transitions for vertical circulation, ensuring convenient movement between different levels. However, it is essential to note that this distance may vary and disperse horizontally in diverse ways.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

Section BB’

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

SECTION CC’

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

SECTION CC’

Section CC’

SAND PIT AREA

OTLO OUTDOOR TEACHING

LEARNING SPACES OPEN SPACE FOR ACTIVITIES

LEARNING SPACES

LEARNING SPACES

LEARNING SPACES

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

Detail A

TOILET

TOILET

LEARNING SPACES

SAND PIT AREA LEARNING SPACE

Section DD’

SECTION DD’

SAND PIT AREA LEARNING SPACE

SECTION DD’

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

Detail B

WASTE WATER CHANNEL

TOILET

Site model - 1:200

View of Aanganwadi in relation with primary school

Jodhpur: Climate, Culture & Community

The core objective was to delve into the intricacies of the walled city’s settlement, comprehending its unique topography, climate, and cultural facets. To achieve this, a methodology involving generative and metric diagrams was employed, focusing on cities of similar nature.

Through these exercises, a diverse range of maps was generated, including terrace connections, interdependencies, activity density, projections, residue spaces, cul-de-sac patterns, plinth heights, and urban grains.

Analyzing these maps led to insightful inferences. For instance, it shed light on how the degree of node influenced population density and how terrace connections transformed based on the arrangement pattern within a cluster. Such detailed analyses provided a deeper understanding of the walled city’s dy-

Generative diagram of Terrace Connection:

Physical Connection

Visual Connection No Connection

Typology analysis in terms of elements:

Inferences of different clusters:

Learning while Playing

A project to serve the underprivileged children and local women and provide them with basic health care, including education, nutrition, and supplementation with schooling activities

Aanganwadi basically means a courtyard of a house; this endeavor centers around fostering education within these nurturing spaces.

Addressing the unique needs and expectations of two distinct age groups presents an intriguing challenge. To meet this challenge, the design incorporates multifunctional spaces capable of adapting to various activities at different times. This versatility ensures the center’s utility for diverse purposes.

The site’s topography poses a significant hurdle, featuring a notable elevation difference from the two streets. A pivotal task is seamlessly integrating both levels on site. This integration serves as a conduit for local movement and facilitates circulation within the building, harmoniously uniting the community.

Design Concepts:

Site is sorrounded by dead walls

Connecting two streets of the site

Public and private space shares the same circulation element

Each landing provides entrance for the different floors and courtyard acts as light well

Services kept on the other side of the staircase

Site model (Marked area is the location of the site) Scale- 1:200

Site model Scale- 1:750

Site model Scale- 1:200

Design model Scale- 1:100

Zoomed in detail of a site model

Professional Practice (2021)

Firm name: Rajesh Desai

Kothari Residence

Kothari residence is a family home located on the periphery of rapidly growing Ahmedabad city. There is a gas line passing through the center of the plot, dividing it into half. The challenge was to design the house only in the other part, while accommodating all the client’s requirements.

Volumetrically, the house is divided into split levels. The discreetly submerged design gracefully conceals its presence from the roadside, directing attention towards a delightful vertical journey within the central court.

To add a touch of visual intrigue, services are cleverly tucked away within a circular wall, breaking the monotony of the structure. Additionally, the upper floor ingeniously captures abundant natural light from the enchanting rooftop, creating a luminous and inviting ambiance.

View from the front elevation

View of the house from the courtyard

Conceptual elevation from the front

Conceptual elevation from the main entrance

Professional Practice (2020)

Firm name: Saransh Architects

RF CORPORATE HOUSE

The RF corporate house in Mahuva, Gujarat was an ongoing project, designed to serve as a new corporate division for a peanut butter manufacturer. It features three cabins, a workstation area, a conference room, a reception space, service areas such as a kitchen and a toilet.

The space is thoughtfully divided into different areas, which are connected through passages and a central courtyard. The courtyard is a focal point here, visible from all spaces which is enclosed by glass walls and linked with the reception and a waiting area.

Privacy is ensured by placing all cabins away from the service area and the workstation.

Conceptual landscape layout of the ground floor of the office

View of courtyard from the passage

Metal screen to accent the outer concrete screen

AKSHATAM - 7

Akshatam 7 is a gated row housing project in the newly developing area of Palanpur in the district of Banaskantha, Gujarat.

The site has an IOCL line passing through it, so construction on the entire length of that part of the site is restricted. The common open space was designed in this restricted zone, and all the dwellings were designed in the remaining area. There are a few pockets of open space scattered planned to break the monotonous nature of a housing scheme.

For the units, a covered balcony acts as an extended recreational space to the bedroom. To incorporate and control the nature of light in the stairwell, breezer blocks are used as a part of the facade.

View of a front elevation

Conceptual elevation of a facade

Conceptual view of a club house from the landscape area

Conceptual sketch of a courtyard facing screen made out of breezer blocks to similar to the housing typology

Internship work - 2016

Firm name: Prabhakar Bhagwat

Life on the Street

Streets: Demonstrating a public place that spills over and infusing life as a living spine between Retail and the North Spine.

This is the first stage of design development and evolution of the street which shows the different possibilities that can be done on the pavement with these elements showing in the plan. While there are different edge conditions that can be seen in typical layout and section.

Maharashtra: Nature Park & Mithi River Bridge

The Mahim Nature Park Makeover- An ecological intervention for the citizens of Mumbai to understand and embrace nature amidst the busiest and most densely populated part of Mumbai city.

Visualized as a sustainable model for the conservation and restoration of the park, estuary, and mangroves with an extension of the park over the BKC side.

Presentation drawing of the master Plan

Section BB’

Section CC’

Personal Projects

Nook & Corners- Reshamwala’s house

Reshamwala house, nestled in Ahmedabad City. The design accommodates four bedrooms and a living space.

The idea was to utilize every corner of the house to reflect the client’s lifestyle. Traditional charm graces the living area, while each bedroom embodies a unique concept, reflecting user preferences.

Partition made out of wooden blocks to add the traditional touch to the living room

The harmony of materials and colors complemented by placing light elements in the living room

View of a Living room from a dining space

Related Study Programs

Tropical Wisdom, Sri Lanka

In December 2015, I embarked on an inspirational tour to explore the architectural marvels of Geoffrey Bawa, a renowned Sri Lankan architect and pioneer of ‘tropical modernism’

During this tour, I immersed myself in his iconic creations such as the Kandalama Hotel, the Sri Lankan Parliament, the Seema Malakaya, the Bentota Beach Resort, the Lighthouse Hotel and the Lunuganaga, meticulously studying twenty of his projects. Swift sketches captured the interplay between structure and surroundings

Bawa’s designs transcend boundaries, seamlessly blending the inside and the outside through artful courtyards and gardens, creating a poetic scene of interconnected spaces.

Plan of a Lunuganga garden

A tree by the lake side spreading out its arms to welcome the visitors

The collage of outside is created by cultivated gardens and uncultivated jungles.

Layer of in-betweeness

The water body gives a gesture of bringing the lake into the design.

Site section of a Naddi village

Plan of a Naddi village

Naddi Village, Himachal Pradesh

In December 2014, a study program was conducted in Himachal Pradesh to explore the proportions without any measuring tool and compare house forms between colder and hotter and drier climates.

Three clusters from the Naddi village and the Bal village were documented, showing variations in construction due to climate.

The traditional kath khuni technique was used, using stone and wood as primary materials. The program also highlighted diverse cultural aspects like traditional clothing, lifestyle, festivals, and religion, reflecting regional differences.

Elevation of a house in Bal village

Section of a house in Bal village