“To provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history but to articulate it” –Daniel Libeskind
As an architect, I firmly believe that design can offer creative solutions to make the world a better place to live thereby making a difference. I thus, aspire to be that change. As a design student my interest is to maximize learning experience and seize the opportunity to gain knowledge of the new concepts in design. It is in my strong belief that design is fundamentally directed towards humans, To design is to solve the problems of the users by identifying them and providing with a best solution. Design is thus a medium of communication between people and an artistic solution. It is inherently interested in the future, and as designers, I believe, that we are constantly trained to envision the world not as it is but as it could be.”
Exploring the Tangibles through Architecture
Architecture of the liminal identities: A case of the Tibetan Diaspora in India
Echoes of cinematic enchantment : An architectural sequel to OMA’s Casa de Musica
Re-imagining the workspace of tomorrow
Fractal Foundations : constructing collective living
Mumbai’s Sassoon Docks - A reflection of changing times
The Shaded Paradox - designing comfort in urban shadows
Collective Constructs
The Dharavi Project
Nestopia - Fabrication
GG - Commercial - Urban Studio
Miscellaneous
Architecture for Limininal Identities : A case of the Tibetan Diaspora in India
Type : Academic Studio, Design Dissertation
Location : Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India.
Program: Institutional and Urban Design
Semester : B.Arch - IX & X , 2021-22
Guide: Tejashree Lakras
Currently over 60 million people remain displaced either within their own country or globally. Cohen argues for a more expansive definition of diaspora by introducing the notion of “imperial diasporas,” “trade diasporas,” and “labor diasporas,” and “cultural diasporas.” He further directs attention to two important but not mutually exclusive features of contemporary diasporas: the first is the forced and involuntary dispersal from an original homeland
Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale.
to two or more foreign regions characterized by traumatic experience as a result of cataclysmic events, and the second is more voluntary dispersal in pursuit of work, trade, or colonial expansion (1997:26)
Khaled Hosseini
AIM
Rethinking the identity of the Tibetan Diaspora’s in India and availing platforms for rejuvenation of the same along with economic mobility, cultural viability and social interactions. Thus, making the community self –sustainable.
Starting with a linear planning and courtyards as found in Tibetan architecture as well as the local architecture around the site.
To break the linearity, volumes of semi open (exhibition spacespublic) spaces and closed spaces (studios - private) were intersected in plan and oriented in a way that they form a central open space that can be used for various activities.
Establishing pathways and ramps as points of access and adding an element of the curved wall that runs across most of site as exhibition spaces.
Design Functions
Design Development
Admin Statue Making Block
Carpet Weaving Block
Open Museum Open Museum
Section highlighting the level differences of the final proposal
Knotting the prequel with the site and program
The process initiated with the selection of a prequel. In this case the Casa de musica, the original was studied and an argument wad developed to further justify its selection, what it offered to architectural thinking, and how its sequel will honor it while moving its ideas into new spatial, social, and architectural territory. This is started by doing what they do in the movies: open up a casting call to see what’s out there, and audition a series of hopefuls. While working on the ‘sequelize’ of the chosen original, the design addresses new pressures of site and program. A series of options are developed on the different sites, later one is selected to further work on the final proposal as the sequel.
Placing simple block and creating a central open space.
“As architecture shapes spaces, cinema sculpts moments, both dancing in the rhythm of time and movement.
Echoes of Cinematic Enchantment : An Architectural sequel to OMA’s Casa da Musica
Type : Academic - Architectural Design Studio
Location : Ann Arbor, Michigan
Program: Institutions - Theater
Semester : MArch, Taubman, Fall 2023
Guide: Julia McMorrough
From the early nickelodeons to the opulent and transformative experience of movie palaces, from inexpensive drive-in theaters to tech cinerama domes, from dine-in theaters to luxury boutique cinemas. No matter how much the movie-going experience changes, one condition remains intact: it’s the one building that becomes completely invisible once you’re in it. In architecture, we don’t start from zero, and one thing always leads to another.
‘The show starts on the sidewalk,’ a prologue to the cinematic spectacle that transcends physical structures, inviting us into the immersive realms of storytelling
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Orienting the blocks and creating one central open space, thus breaking the linearity. Developing the central access.
Intersecting volumes of spaces to the main blocks on different levels.
The project aims at acknowledging this practice while asking what might happen if, borrowing more explicitly from the film industry, we claim the sequel as an operative design model? What will it mean to propose an architectural sequel? A sequel is not a re-make. It is tied to, but continues, expands, even re-interprets, an earlier work.
Mise
Theater
Film Library
Screening Rooms
Exhibition Spaces
Coworking Spaces
This aim is to gradually update the somewhat outmoded image of the chain of cinemas, transforming them into cultural venues, animated day and night and sufficiently flexible to accommodate a varied programme. Unlike its prequel the Casa de musica, the design has simple geometry in plan. Each block is independent from each other with a central access that connects to it on different levels. The blocks in the south side have one theater each, in the basement. Blocks on the northern side are connected via a bridge on the upper level. This bridge acts as space for informal projections and gatherings. Every block is designe to have such spaces that boost interactions and gatherings. The entrance ramp has a series of walls staggered. The openings in these walls create a sense of curiosity in the users by revealing smaller parts of the structure at any given point of time. The southern side is designed to have an informal open air theater that also act as another access point and a space to interact when not in use.
The collaborative zone, promoting discussions and collaboration. Brainstorm areas with shared workspaces.
zone for relaxing between work.
The productive zone, privatised spaces
Democratized Schemes that formed the basis of the Design
A collaborate culture is best nurtured by a flexible environment with an organic layout, medium levels of enclosure, informal spaces and a low ratio of individual to group spaces.
Re-Imagining the Workspaces of tomorrow
Type : Academic, Architectural Design Studio
Location : Rabale, Mumbai, India.
Program: Commercial
Semester : B.Arch - IX , 2021
Guide: R. Venkatesh
The building campuses environment with an ecosystem of spaces that support diverse activities and work style preferences. The typical layouts for various different typologies of offices that can be fit onto the flexible floors of the building. The scheme facilitates various space requirements of an office as well as controls the balance of work and distraction/therapeutic escape. The scemes also supports horizontal as well as the vertical synergy.
The design of this workspace aims to create a perfect balance between heads-down focus work and layers of collaboration to improve the productivity and general wellbeing of employees.
Flexible working with rest areas Break Spaces & Motivating Environment
As the history of office design continues to unfold, today it has reached a point where the modern workplace takes inspiration from home, through the use of warm colours, intimate lighting and soft seating. It also continues to focus on the comfort and wellbeing of staff as companies have become aware that the office is an important tool that can be used to attract and retain the very best talent in a competitive marketplace.
The design follows a concept of staggering volumes that are stacked one above the other, creating green terraces which makes up the sustainable office environment. The shape adds fluidity to the space, creating a panoramic view. The ground floor has the common areas and amenities integrated with biophilic environment. Idea was to create a “breathable mass” for quality life of the people in the office.
The diagram tries to visualise how the building fits into the context.The facade is a combination of ETFE sheets stretched across an edge frame and pushed into tension by steel tripod. Each of the ring like element has a through bolt and articulating connection that allows it to be stretched outside. Capsule like structures are provided for ventilation through sheets. A steel tensegrity frame and an
ETFE membrane that subtly permits views into the interior without revealing too much.
Section showing relationship of the built with the surrounding context
How Four Users share one office space?
Fractal Foundations : Constructing Collective Living
Type : Academic - Architectural Design Studio
Type : Teamwork with Anvesha Mulasi and Manit Patel
Location : Los Angeles
Program: Collectives - Housing
Semester : MArch, Taubman, Winter 2024
Guide: Jonathan Rule
This project challenges the conventional notion of housing as static, uniform cuboidal masses that prioritize basic functionality over human flourishing. Traditional housing often caters to mere survival, neglecting the dynamic and evolving needs of its residents. In contrast, this design envisions housing as a living, adaptable framework capable of fostering personal growth, community connection, and holistic well-being. By embracing the concept of dynamic prefabricated module aggregation, the
Mobile Architecture is the “dwelling decided on by the occupant” by way of “infrastructures that our neither determined nor determining.” Mobile architecture embodies an architecture available for a mobile society. To deal with it, the classical architect invented “the Average Man
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project seeks to rethink these cuboidal entities through innovative strategies. Techniques such as creating voids within masses, stacking units to form layered spaces, and staggering elements to introduce spatial diversity enable the design to transcend traditional limitations. These strategies not only optimize spatial efficiency but also carve out meaningful communal pockets, terraces, and courtyards that bring people together.
To soften the built fabric, organic free flowing forms are used for landscaping. use of native vegetation ensures climatic adaptability, responsiveness and low maintenance. To further respond to the context of the site, open spaces like the major entryways, the plaza and the pathways have been designed so that the residents as well as the non residents can quickly traverse to and fro between crenshaw rd and wiltshire rd without compromising the privacy of the residences as the site is situated at the intersection of these two roads.
The prefab aspect of construction further enables this structural components be it the timber post and beam modules, facde panels, windows or glazings, all are majorly repetitive prefab modules. This not only accelerates the pace of construction but also ensures cost effectiveness. The units range from studio to multiple bedroom apartments to accomodate families of varying sizes. As the project is situated in LA, climate responsiveness to combat passive heat gain becomes a key requirement. Active and passive strategies like cross ventilation, self shaded courtyards and terrace gardens have been incorporated that respond to the climate to a great extent.
Developing a Housing neihbourhood or Fishing Community that accomodates residents of diferent skillsets and allows technological interventions in its building design.
Mumbai’s Sassoon Dock : A Reflection of Changing Times
Type : Academic, Architectural Design Studio
Location : Sassoon Dock, Mumbai, India.
Program: Housing
Semester : B.Arch - VII, 2019
Guide: Kavita Sawant to the public nearby that boosts intra-community interaction.
Sassoon Dock is Mumbai’s one of the oldest dock and one of the few dicks that remain open to the public. The idea of this project revolved around developing a Housing Neighbourhood that allows technological interventions in its building design, economic base and management and a design a smart housing community for future generations with different interventions in various aspects of community development and also make the site open
Developing an App
An app that lets the user stay up to date on the latest news, events and community happenings with the fishing community of Sasson Docks. View and create posts, share latest news, share your ideas with the community, catch-up and participate in all events support the commuity.
Pedestrian intensification
Green Cover
Vehicular Movement
Active Frontage Figure Ground
Sun-Shade Analysis
The model is a depiction of the ideologies that formed the basis for design.
The idea was to develop the housing blocks along an inner street. This street would acts as a connectivity between all the three different target groups and their households. The site has been majorly divided into two zones the fishing zone and the non fishing zone. In order to bridge the gap between the two zones outer street acts a central spire which is designed in such a way that it is has different spaces which area created for social interactions or as various gathering spaces, thus making it accessible only by foot.Further for the housing typology the idea started with the use of shipping containers, this would differntiate every household from one another. Due to the height restrictions of these containers are replaced with precast units that are stacked on one top of the another in such a way that the either create courtyards or terraces.
Creating social nodes, that shall at as activity extensions areas, benefiting the people of the place. The idea of this design is to operate as an element of social infrastructure. It serves as a social connector where the people can come together for various activities. The zig-zagging linear structure and graphics imply a variety of smaller spaces within the pathway towards the docks, breaking down the overall space into a series of more intimate spaces.
Majority of the users are bonded with fishing and related activities as a common economic base. They work in a community either within their home or a common dedicate workspace. The design concept revolves aroud creating a typical indian village, staggered units interconnected with lively gali’s, shared spaces where the inhabitants can socialize, work or play.
Connected by open staircases, the community housing consists of a series of units of precast concrete that are staggered on top of one another. A cluster of four to five houses share a common courtyard that can be used for various activities. Some of the houses share a common plinth that acts a common working
place in the mornings and the same space can be used as an interaction space in the evenings/nights.
The Shaded Paradox : Designing comfort in urban shadows
Type : Academic - Architectural Design Studio
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Location : Midtown Manhattan, NYC
Program: Urban
Semester : MArch, Taubman, Fall 2024
Guide: Claudia Wigger
In the dense urban fabric of Midtown Manhattan, shadows promise reprieve from the relentless heat, yet they often fail to deliver. Instead, these shaded spaces mask the insidious presence of heat radiating from asphalt, concrete, and reflective glass surfaces, exacerbated by emissions from subway vents and air-conditioning units. This convergence of factors intensifies the urban heat island effect, transforming shadows from symbols of comfort into zones of stagnation and discomfort.
Thus art and industry find remedy for the drawbacks of the environment, and in each region a pleasant temperature is assured for the dwellings by exposure adapted to their position on Earth
The Shaded Paradox seeks to reimagine shadows as active, multi-functional agents that regulate urban microclimates, foster social engagement, and enhance the public realm.
An in-depth microclimate analysis—mapping heat sources, shadow patterns, and airflow dynamics—laid the foundation for this design strategy, pinpointing critical zones where interventions could have maximum impact. The interventions are a symphony of design strategies that address the challenges of urban heat, stagnant air, and public engagement. Misting pavilions, through evaporative cooling, convert oppressive heat into an inviting sensory experience. Wind catchers, reminiscent of vernacular strategies, restore airflow by displacing stagnant hot air with cooler currents. Meanwhile, cooling roofs and living facades transform the built environment into dynamic ecological systems, mitigating heat retention, improving air quality, and reintroducing greenery into the urban skyline. Permeable pavements contribute to ground-level cooling by fostering water infiltration and managing stormwater runoff. These interventions are complemented by speculative, interactive elements like heat-sensitive bubbles, which rise to signal critical heat levels while releasing mist to cool their surroundings.
Urban Interventions
Section highlighting the vertical analysis of how heat interacts with the built environment
Exploring relationship between shadow, heat and human behavior
The section demonstrates a harmonious integration of these interventions within the urban fabric, illustrating how each element contributes to enhancing thermal comfort and fostering social engagement.
Misting pavilions are strategically placed throughout pedestrian zones, offering immediate relief from heat and serving as vibrant gathering spaces for the public.
Wind catchers positioned at key intersections or above subway vents enhance airflow, alleviating heat stagnation and improving ventilation in densely packed streets. On rooftops, cooling roofs and living facades
counteract heat retention, introducing green spaces that not only improve the ecological quality of the skyline but also create visually inviting environments. At street level, permeable pavements reduce surface temperatures and manage stormwater, nurturing a microclimate that supports natural cooling. “At its core, this project is about redefining the role of shadow in our cities. Shadows are no longer passive, but active agents of cooling and comfort. This project offers a model for addressing urban heat while creating spaces that connect people and nature.
Section highlighting interconnectedness of these interventions
Collective Constructs
Type : Academic : High Density Elective
Location : Mumbai, India
Program: Urban, Hosuing
Semester : MArch, Taubman, Winter 2024
Guide: Claudia Wigger
Collective constructs seeks to transform the historic district of Kalbadevi into a dynamic vertical city that celebrates the essence of Mumbai’s urban fabric while addressing contemporary challenges of density, diversity, and community. Inspired by the layered gradients of spaces found in traditional chawls, the design prioritizes publicness and collectives, providing shared terraces and open spaces as opportunities for residents to shape their environment and foster a sense of belonging. Taking cues from the adaptability of chawl
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Narrow streets packed with goods, people, vehicles and business signs add a rich character that exemplify the intensities of life within Mumbai and its way of living for its residents.
corridors, the approach ensures that spaces are flexible and responsive to the needs of residents, allowing them to create their own unique identities within the vertical community.
Drawing on William Whyte’s studies, the project leverages street corners to create shared collective spaces, promoting social interaction and community engagement. At the same time, smaller private courtyards at the back offer intimate retreats for residents to unwind and connect with nature. By strategically stacking smaller sections of floors separated by outdoor void spaces, the proposed building harmonizes with its surroundings and maintains a human scale. Commercial amenities are dispersed throughout the building, fostering a lively mix of uses and supporting local businesses. Housing is strategically placed adjacent to these amenities, promoting a vibrant and walkable community.
Proposed conceptual section
Proposed statistics and plan
Analysing kalbadevi’s built environment
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Reinventing Dharavi: an Ideas Compendium
Type : Competition - Team of 3
Semester : 2021
Location : Dharavi, Mumbai, India.
Program: Institutional
The slums of Mumbai play a pivotal role in the economic expansion of Mumbai and one major contributor being Dharavi. The proposed community centre is a reflection of these urban slums, the expressiveness of the design lies in its geometric form. The stigma of Dharavi being an urban chaos between the commoners is quite usual because of its industrious nature but on the contrary it shows us how highly functional and capable these slums are in action. Spaces in Dharavi unfold only through exploration, every nook and corner is utilised in a way one would only imagine. This regulated the design distinctly for
“The competition aimed at developing a place making project that will act as a Centre for change and community empowerment, in the heart of Dharavi, that will be wholly and truly owned by the people there. his will be a project that has the potential to become an umbrella institution for initiating change in Dharavi from within.
“its chaotic geometry and clashing forms making it evidently visible in the context yet submerging itself in the urban realm.An individual’s exploring instinct leads oneself into the structure and hence the spaces unfold for itself bringing in the urge to assimilate one’s personal growth as the building interacts with its people developing their skills, teaching one another and learning by catering to the overall growth of the community.
Design
Nest Box
Type : Academic - Fabrication
Location : Ann Arbor, Michigan
Program: Fabrication
Our design draws inspiration from the efficient and secure locking systems found in traditional stacked tiffin containers. The final design consisted of CNC cut hexagon like plates stacked on top of each other with circular cutouts in the center. These plates each have 3 groves. The joining system consisted of a three - 3D printed supports with an interlocking system that was used to lock the stacked plates in place. Later, a single rod was inserted on the top of each of these 3D printed supports, which is then used to hang the nest box.
Semester : MArch, Taubman, Fall 2023
Guide: Tszyan Ng, Carlie O’Geen, Rachel Henry.
The prototypes of different shapes were crucial in refining the concept, allowing for adjustments and improvements.
Interlocking of CNC - Cut plates and 3D printed support
Connection between the rod and 3D printed supports
GG Commercial
Type : Professional Work at Urban Studio
Location : Mumbai, India.
Program : Commercial - Office Space
Year : 2022
“Everybody shares the same table”. In the typical open office plan, the work table becomes the central organising piece in the office, making a new datum of 30 inches height. Individual work stations are then eatenaway from this object which also houses the main storage of the office. By using the one-deskfor-all device, corporate hierarchies are flattened and work spaces are shared. The luminal office spaces are punctuated with curated art and sculpture.
