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SAHIL JIARUL SHAIKH

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE REPORT

DEC 2022 - APR 2023

AR. SHABBIR UNWALA Sir completed his bachelor’s from Rachna Sansad, Mumbai in 1986. he had done a brief task with Nachiket and Jayoo Patwardhan in Pune, besides perusing architecture Sir also had his cameo in Canadian movie called ‘Bye-Bye Blues’. Sir started his own practice in 1989 in lonavala and has been creating a belief of relationship between man and nature, and it is sought in process rather than the product, and its responsiveness to both time and place. Imagine you are sitting on a train where you dont know

-“I don’t have signature I have Thumbprint”

the destination, thats how the practice is started, because you dont have a masterplan its like life. Tomorrow whats gonna happen we dont know, so we sit on a train and we dont know where the destination is, because life is not in our control. But you have a control what you want to do that is your commitment, so if a client comes to you and says that i wanna house like this, you have a control to say no, so all the journies are like this you really dont know whats gonna happen. So the whole point is to get a job when you are taotally abled, because if you are not abled and intellectual prepared to do it, if you dont know how to do it, you will be messed up & you dont want to mess up with your first project. Your first project is your calling card. Every evening I use to sit and I would think about Lonvala.

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What is Lonavala?

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What is the main feature of Lonavala?

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What is it?

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If you see Lonavala what do you see?

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Mountains isnt it?

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So what does the mountains define?

So you see a mountain you see the sky line, because mountain meets the sky. So I realized most important thing is to do in Lonavala is to define the skyline of the building. The more intresting it is the more beautiful it is. So I’ve resolved the most important part and when the opportunity came I was ready and that one house became my calling card, so everybody came and see it, it became a landmark “Stone house became a landmark” and from there I did not look back, i had so much of work after that. But as I said when you sit on a train you dont know where it is going, it could be going to Chennai or it could be going to Kashmir you really dont know. But the only thing is what is in your hand is what you want to do and how you prepared yourself. If tomorrow you decide you will climb Himalayas, will you climb Himalay? So you will work on yourself, you will do excercises, you will increase your stamina, you will increase your lungs capacity. So architecture is like that, imagine its a long marathon race that you have to run and you have to be intellectually ready for it, so thats the most important thing.

A BROAD PHILOSOPHY OF THE FIRM. Architecture is not just the physicality of a structure and space, but an experience. An amalgamation of numerous forms of art, science, design & technology. When all of these disciples sing together in harmony, it results in a melodious, aesthetic and glorious experience. Here, at Design Workshop, I learnt the responsibility of an architect; which is to be a sensitive choirmaster. One who is able to use his technical knowledge & creative skill, coordinate with various other agencies such as the structural, MEP, Landscape & Civil consultant, Contractors and Vendors; Negotiation, understand the requirements of his clients and translate it into a unique design. Driving through the winding Ghats of Lonavla, we eventually land in the commotion of a market street and into a cosy community housing. One is always surprised the very first time they come to the office, since they aren’t able to anticipate what lies ahead. In the backyard of a simple 2 storeyed building, is the office, which is a maze in itself. You walk on stepping stones over a fish pond and are surrounded by books, magazines and physical models of ongoing and completed projects. Adjacent to Sir’s cabin is a lush green lawn with all sorts of birds and animals coming down for a visit. Architect Shabbir Unwala started this firm in 1988, with the zest to apply his proficiency in art, literature, film, building material, structures and music into his buildings and spaces. His first project being The Stone House where he challenged the very nature of an arch, and gave justice to the materiality, that is Stone, he is now recognised as the Master of Materials and Landform. The range of projects undertaken by this firm span from Residential to Hospitality; from Private to Public Utility to Government and from Landscape to Interiors. “Form follows Function” but at Design Workshop, I learnt how form also follows materiality, contours, sustainability, biomimicry and nature. While the Stone House seems as though it’s emerging from the Earth, and the Machan gently preached on the hills, the buildings constantly respond to the terrain they’re built in. The Wright House tests the shearing forces of an arch (made in laterite stone), and The Waterfall House plays with the structural strength of steel. “I don’t leave a signature, but a thumbprint on my buildings”, is a quote Shabbir Sir applies in his practice.

NATURE OF PRACTICE UNDERTAKEN IN THE OFFICE. The firm Design Workshop undertakes various projects and responsibilities that includes Designing, Project Management, Technical expertise, Communication, Sustainability. Residential projects consisting Bungalows ,Villas , second home and community housing, it also does projects like Resort, Hospital, Auditorium and Educational Institute. The firm also offers high-quality and exhaustive services in all disciplines of architecture. The firm mostly emphasizes on providing residential and hospitality services. The site context and climatology continue to be the main focus of all design, and careful detailing is done to capture the best daylight factor and make sure all habitations are naturally ventilated. Study models in 3d visualisation softwares are created in order to comprehend the context of the site, ensuring that the structure so constructed adapts to the context of the site very well and does it justice in all regards while maintaining its unique character and aesthetic value.

Discussion table for client meetings at back lawn

Ar. Shabbir Unwala’s Office

HIERARCHY IN THE OFFICE. Speaking about the hierarchy there is Ar. Shabbir Unwala the Principal architect, besides him one senior architect Ar. Gouri S.G. who tends to look over all major working. The senior architect worked in this firm from 18 years, she knows all the projects very well and she has been gone through every projects in detail. Gouri maam majorly handes all the contactors, market surveys, rate specifications and BOQ’s; whereas there are his two sons working as an architects in the firm. Two brother handle the firms silently and smartly, the elder brother manages mostly all the on site projects and site surveys and the younger brother manages all the office work. Shabbir sir mostly handle the client meetings in the office and on the site as well. 3d model maker (Bhau) whole firm calls him as bhau, he is continuing the profession from past 30 years. Besides this architects join for a tenure of minimum 2 years and trainees join for a tenure of 6 months and this continues as a cycle.

Daily discussions with sir

Physical Model making explanation

HOW PRACTICE RELATES TO AN ARCHITECTURALLY BUILT ENVIRONMENT. DesignWorkshop’s practise and the built environment are intertwined. The built environment is shaped by buildings and other structures that are designed and built by architecture practises, and the quality and effectiveness of those practises may be seen in the quality and effectiveness of the built environment. Design Workshop projects blend in with the built environment without being noticed.

Eye on the lake (Khadakwasla)

Stone House(Lonavala)

Eye on the lake (Khadakwasla)

ANY PARTICULAR NATURE OF WORK SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO TRAINEES. The office works on trust and responsibility. Everyone here is accountable for the projects they’re handling. Hence, knowing the project inside out becomes indispensable to each individual regardless of their qualification. Interns are given responsibilities as that of an architect, such as Concept Development, CAD drafting, 3D Model Making, Software Rendering, Presentation Drawings, Client Meetings, Making of BOQs, Tenders, Work Orders, Working Drawings, Design Details, etc. This makes the working atmosphere very open and friendly. Everyone is approachable and willing to help each other.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN THE OFFICE. As our firm had the system of co-working with an architect, every intern is assigned to an jr. architect, sr. architect or else the principal architect himself directly guides to the interns in few projects. At first I use to do small works like changing some minor changes in drawings or in 3d model as per discussions. Later on when i got used to the office standards I got to do full working drawings of particular structure. When the working drawings were done i use to get 3d modeling at conceptual stage for discussion purpose with sir. It helped me with my sketchup skills. When the 3d models were finalised we have to do the presentation drawings for the client meetings. If the client approves the design in the meeting itsel then we have to do the full working drawings of that particular project and send the drawinngs to the structural engineer. We have to check the mails for update on design changes or any other suggestions given by clients or structural Engineer. If the drawings were ready then we have to release the drawings for approval purpose later on the execution drawings have to be sent to the on site contractor. If the on site condition changes the design while execution, we have to make the changes and release the drawings again.

simultaneously work on 2d and 3d

WORKING ATMOSPHERE IN THE OFFICE, YOUR LEARNING BESIDES THE WORK ASSIGNED TO YOU. The mentor-mentee arrangement in the workplace emphasizes progression and productivity, while the employees’ youth creates an energetic and cheerful ambiance. Socialization is facilitated by the sharing of meals at a central dining table, and regular documentary sessions keep the workforce up-to-date on worldwide developments. Nearby accommodations enable flexible working hours, although pre-client meetings may necessitate working late. In addition, design workshops taught problem-solving and stress-management techniques it gave me a boost in confidence.

Discussions after office hours

Tracing the sheet of older hand done sheets

HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE HELP YOU IN SELECTION OF YOUR DESIGN DISSERTATION TOPIC AND FURTHER IN ITS PROGRESS. We had informal discussions with the architects who had already completed their thesis when I was doing my internship. We had to work with a particular architect who always guided me during my office job. They are describing what they did in their thesis in terms of the social challenges that are becoming more prevalent today. They advised me to go around, gather specific details about the difficulties that exist, examine them, and determine whether I could address this issue architecturally. Due to thought my thesis topic could be the redevelopment of slum area which is situated near the big drainage, because of that drain they faced a lot of problems in monsoon season. The problems like flooding, kids drowning in the drainage, etc. these were the problems which i thought i could solve architecturally and i can prpose a idea for their betterment.

Alumni lectures for masters thesis topics

WHAT IS THE FINAL TAKE HOME FOR YOU AFTER THE TRAINING? I gained an understanding of the responsibilities of an architect through the Design Workshop. An architect must be able to coordinate with a variety of other agencies, including the structural, MEP, landscape, and civil consultants, contractors, and vendors; negotiate; and comprehend his clients’ needs in order to create a distinctive design. “Nothing is perfect, yet everything is perfect in nature. Trees can be mixed up and twisted in odd ways and still be lovely, according to Alice Walker. Firms typically concentrate on practices that cause little to no harm to mother earth and incorporate the design concept with consideration for the site environment. The ideal method to approach it and get the finest results, as suggested by sir, is to visit the site, chat to it, and then be by yourself for a bit. And a lots of memories from the firm.

SITE VISIT.