Design portfolio shail joshi

sh ail Josh i D e s i g n & P l a n n i n g Po r t f o l i o 2010-2017

Por tfolio Nar r ative 1.0:

Architecture and Tradition 1.1:

Globalization and Indigenous occupations A case of Handloom weavers in Madurai, India

1.2:

(Dis)placed- (Re)placed

1-6

Low cost Housing for Riot Victims, Kandhla, India 7-10 2.0:

Architecture and Ecology 2.1:

The Land of Urban Wilderness Restructuring Mahim Nature Park, Mumbai,India

2.2:

Eclectic Aqueous Peripheries

11-13

Fishing Harbour Reconstruction, Calicut, India 14-18

A compilation of diverse stories about urbanization processes, the narrative of this por tfolio transitions from urbanism being

3.0:

Architecture and Urbanism 3.1:

State of Housing Qualitative v.s. Quantitative assessment, Chennai, India

a facilitator of cultural and traditional growth of indigenous

19-20

occupations and demographics in India, to urbanism being a negotiator between humans and nature and finally, urbanism

3.2:

The Commons Middle income group mass housing, Chennai, India

being the agent responsible for catalysing positive change in the

21-24

infrastr uctural and housing sectors of urban landscape.

3.3:

The Toilet Project Public toilet planning, Mumbai, India 25-27

P.S. 1) All drawings, images and texts in this por tfolio have been produced by the author.

2) For group and professional projects, only the drawings, images that were produced by the author have been displaced.

If other wise, credits have been mentioned.

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Project type: Academic Organisation: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture Year: 2014-2015 Project Type: Architectural Thesis Project Location: Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

“Weaving delivers the poor from the bonds of the rich and creates a moral and spiritual bond between the classes and the masses. It restores to the poor somewhat of what the rich have taken from them.�

-Mahatma Gandhi

1.1: Globalization and Indigenous occupations Housing Master plan for Handloom Weavers Investigations into the effects of Globalization and myopic government policies on the housing and work infrastr ucture of Handloom weavers in Madurai, India, were dealt through this architectural thesis. The thesis proposed to revive this dying ar t form by developing planning processes and techniques that would weave the new restr ucturing of this handloom

community

into

the

existing

development, thus integrating the community back within the urban fabric and enabling a self sustaining future for the handicraf t and traditional occupations.

1

Production, Distribution and Retail of Handloom cloth

The research intent of this drawing is to understand the mode of transports involved in the complete supply chain of handloom cloth i.e. From procuring cotton from farmers to the final product displayed in shops. Each mode of transport helps to inform the planning of the Housing scheme.

The Hand woven cloth passes through a chain of production stages before it reaches the wardrobes of the customers. Each stage demands specific spatial conditions either in terms of the floor area or in terms of the lighting conditions. However, due to partial implementation of planning policies, the infrastructure proves to be non-conducive for the occupation.

Exisiting Site Condition: Section

2

Masterplan Strategy Diagram

Institutional landmarks

Cluster Design in existing plots

Restructured roads within the existing network

Masterplan

Site Context

The Masterplan aimed to establish three

but also the city; thus bridging the gap between

strategies :1) Allowing housing to grow

the city dwellers and the neglected handloom

incrementally and without any supervision

community. 3) Providing conducive housing

by an architect or a planner. 2) To propose

units that enable an increase in production by

institutions related to handloom, that would

appropriating floor area, light and ventilation

not only provide incentive to the community

according to each weaving stage.

3

Unit Morphology Diagrams: Incrementality of Housing Units- Floor area and Population wise

Type A

Type A’

Type A- one room added

Type A- one room added

Type B

Type B- two rooms added

The housing units have been designed to accommodate the ever changing and increasing needs of this industry.

Each unit’s configuration allows for incremental growth of rooms as well as per unit population. The form is conceptualized to be a cluster of interchangeable cubes that could be positioned according to the work and climatic requirement.

Road Sidewalk

Shop

1 housing unit

Courtyard

Cluster Courtyard

Cluster level workspace

Courtyard

Cluster level plaza

Road

Proposed Cluster Design: Sectional View

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Handloom Institute cross section showing the relationship between the built form and the open spaces.

Handloom Institute section showing the transition of spaces from open to semi open to closed

In order to allow for equitable growth of the handloom community in the city, programs like the handloom training and exhibition centre, that would benefit the community as well as the city have been proposed. This would allow for breaking the ghettoization of this community within the urban landscape.

Wall section

5

Through this architectural thesis,

Simultaneously,

on

a

personal

it became imperative to assert the

front, I wanted to explore the act

importance of the vital role that

of designing though hands on

indigenous occupations play in

processes using materials like teak

the building of Indian economic

wood and stainless steel. Teak wood

system. Additionally, it was also

was used to make the Handloom

aimed at spreading awareness of our

trade centre model, as it was

occupational heritage in a society

conceived to be constructed out of

mimicking the west.

rammed earth and exposed brick.

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Project type: Professional Organisation: Hunnarshala Foundation Year: 2015 Location: Bhuj, India Project Location: Kandhla, India Role: Architectural Internship Duration: 5 months Team: Sandeep Virmani, Hardika Dayalani,Shail Joshi

“Ideas in buildings respond to prevalent problems society faces from time to time.”

-Sandeep Virmani, Founder- Hunnarshala Foundation

1.2: (Dis)placed - (Re)placed Low cost housing for riot victims A rehabilitation project was under taken by Hunnarshala Foundation for the sur vivors of the communal riots that disr upted eight villages in nor thern India. The process followed to engage with the community and to build their homes, was that of par ticipator y planning. To enable people to be equal contributors in the designing and making of their homes and narrowing the planner ’s role to that of an advisor/ consultant, was one of the impor tant agendas of this par ticipator y planning methodology. It was also impor tant to

acknowledge

and

incorporate

their

aesthetical and cultural histor y into the design of their new homes.

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Stor y Board: A collage of migration to rehabilitation

INR (Indian Rupee)

Cost of one Housing unit: stagewise

The

primary

empower

and

concern build

to

confidence and faith to aspire again

strong

for a better lifestyle and economic

was a

community by engaging with the

prosperity for themselves.

displaced people not only through

Brick being a locally common

architecture but with rather holistic

material,

planning of every aspect of their lives.

building block. Experiments with

Architecture became a facilitator of

bricks were extensively carried out

new identities and a container of old

to reduce the total material quantity

wistful memories. Teaching them

and the eventual cost of the house.

construction techniques to build their

This allowed for the house to be built

own houses, gave them the

economically and at a fast pace.

became

the

primary

8

Base Unit Morphology: Effect of culture and religion on constr uction elements.

Masterplan

vision inside

Every element used or designed

the community. Every house was

was in accordance with and by the

constructed by the actual house owner.

community’s

and

This process truly allowed for the house

culture. Hence elements like arches,

owners to build elements and organise

shallow domes that had religious

the house in ways that would allow for

significance were used. Also elements

recreation of their familial identity and

like jali walls and sloping roofs for

also bring back buoyant memories of

bedrooms were incorporated, as they

their past homes.

belief

systems

were symbolic of affluent families to

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One of the most primordial aspects of an owner driven

It is the per fect example of a real time physical archive of people’s

The eventual vision in of this project was to rehabilitate

housing project is that people take design decisions

desires and memories of past and the current status of their society.

the victims by not just enabling the constr uction of their

themselves.

initiated

Also this process is more socially democratic compared to the typical

homes but also rehabilitation in other aspects such as

making elements in their houses in accordance to their

Many

of

the

house

owners

constr uction methods which place the designer or the planner at the

school admissions for children, women empowerment

fantasizes about an ideal house or to their nostalgia of

apex of the design process, which is a rather authoritarian planning

and supply of basic water and electricity needs.

their ancestral homes.

approach.

10

Project type: Personal Organisation: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture Year: 2016 Project Type: Architectural Competition Location: Mumbai, India The entrance folly is imagined to be a porous structure, allowing not the just physical but also a visual connect between the pedestrians on road and the forest.

1

Entrance, Information centre and Administration

“Nothing is Ar t, if it doesn’t come from nature.”

-Antonio Gaudi

This folly juxtaposes art exhibition spaces along with cycling routes, thus allowing a nuanced perspective of the program and a surreal experience of the forest.

2

2.1: Land of urban wilderness Ecological reconstruction of Mahim Nature Park

Exhibition centre and elevated Cycling Track

Mahim nature park is a beautiful patch of urban wilderness nestled in middle of the island city and suburbia Mumbai. It is a place where people would find solace from their ever yday lives and discover the pleasures of an urban forest. I imagined this fragment

The Seed bank folly makes a rather passive positioning of itself with this urban forest, so as to allow the visitor to enjoy the experience of the wilderness without any jarring visual obstruction.

3

Seed Bank and Nursery

of urban wilderness to be woven into the rhythms of ever yday lives of the city dwellers through following strategies: Stitching the site to the city, expanding the forest ground cover, Porous inter face with the city edge, a knowledge centre. The street edge, is developed as public promenade, housing the various programs of the knowledge centre.

11

Barren Land

Defecation

Barren Land

Forest

Forest

Built mass

Public inter face

Urban Farming

Existing state of the Nature park

Proposed restr ucturing of Nature park

River front Promenade

Walking track Nature trails Follies

Proposed Walking routes and trails

Proposed public programs- follies

The existing landscape of Mahim Nature park consisted of barren lands and spaces used for open

5

defecation,

garbage

disposal,

leaving less than half the land for forest cover. The primary intention was increase the forest cover to the maximum, provide public toilet

1 3 3

8

9

facilities and convert the barren land

5 1

2

into an urban farmland.

4

6

Being flanked by the Mithi river on one side, the proposal aimed at creating a riverfront promenade that would not only increase the importance of

7

the river but also add value to a rather Masterplan

redundant nature park.

12

To accommodate and nurture existing

4

5

The cycling track encircles the spider

urban agriculture prevalent within

like amphitheatre, that becomes the

the park, a farmer’s market was

epicentre for all performance arts in

imagined to carter to the farmers as

the city of Mumbai.

well as organic food enthusiasts.

Amphitheatre and Performance Space

7

Farmer ’s Market and Restaurant.

The city’s urbanism would prove

It became imperative to use this

to be more inclusive if we imagine

oppor tunity to provide a public

public

an

librar y amongst the array of

amalgamation of multiple communal

follies proposed in the park,

programs to increase programmatic

due to the dear th of public

efficiency of the building.

libraries in Mumbai.

infrastructure

to

be

Public Toilet with an Amphitheatre

8

Public Librar y and Cafeteria.

The park being close proximity to the one of worlds largest slums, that produces leather and pottery for exports, a workshop centre was

This particular folly was purposefully

developed to provide infrastructure

made to look sculptural so as to

to the children of potters and leather

add value and meaning to a rather

makers for learning this art.

mundane program.

6

Waste Management centre

9

Workshop spaces for rent

13

Project type: Academic Organisation: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture Year: 2014 Project Type: Architectural Design Location: Calicut, India

Infrastructural upgradation and knowledge transfer is key to move towards a sustainable fishing industr y and for conser vation of aquatic life. Other wise a ‘tragedy of the commons’ is due if effor ts are not made towards sustainability.

- Business World (newspaper)

2.2: Eclectic Aqueous Peripheries Fishing Harbour Reconstruction The Beypore riverine edge is the intersection where fishing occupation meets trade, where transpor t meets infrastr ucture manufacturing transpor t, where purchase meets sales and where machine meets human labour. These activities continue to operate in tandem with each other, growing in magnitude and pace due to small infrastr uctural inter ventions by the por t authorities. Hubs for fishing centres, por t harbour, cold storages, boat making workshops, occur at diverse and near by locations, maintaining a larger network of ship travel routes, timings and the quantum of vessels. The river is a site of dense trade activities that involve methods of wooden craf t and fishing that have evolved over time.

14

The collage, along with the pictures showcase the nuanced and eclectic tectonics of the riverine edge. The seemingly

chaotic

fishing

harbour

functions with a rather strict, unwritten and unseen protocol within the boundaries of the backwaters. The proposal intends to capture this dynamism.

Drawing conceptualized in collaboration with Chetan Kulkarni

15

Tectonics of the riverine edge: Section

The Beypore river lies at an intersection of

most of the sea food to the city of Calicut

maximum access and maximum potential

and its peripheries. This important port is

for fishing and trading occupations to

managed, worked on maintained by and

flourish as it offers space for a crossover

survived upon by local fishermen. Hence it

of stock, people and daily provisional

offers a broadened scope to intervene with

supplies. Managed by the port trust

a cooperative approach between the state

authorities, Beypore harbour employs

and the many fishing families.

fishermen from nearby villages to supply

Existing Site: Plan

16

Masterplan

The intervention consists of programs

with restrictions to enter its space.

whose spatial characteristics are of

The Master plan aims at integrating

contrasting nature. Fish market, a

all these programs and allowing

program extrovert in nature, allowing

this edge to behave in a cohesive

the advent of public and the locals

manner, which in turn will increase

who reside on the Beypore river edge

the efficiency and productivity of this

as oppose to the distribution centre/

fragmented edge.

cold storage an introvert program,

Sectional Perspectives

17

It is important to view infrastructural

In this context, the proposal aimed at sinuously

systems

and

conglomeration programs,

rather

institutions of

multiple than

just

as

a

creating spaces that would blur the boundaries

public

between infrastructural systems and recreational

service

public programs. Additionally, to evoke wistful

providing entities, so as to create far more

memories of traditional architectural elements of the

inclusive and vibrant spaces in the city.

state of Kerela, vaults and brick walls were used.

1. City viewing spot

2. Street edge of Fish market held by exposed brick walls and filler vaults

3. Market interiors

Activity char t: Exploded Axonometric

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Year wise Growth Mapping: Chennai, India 1995

1999

Project type: Workshop Organisation: Charles Correa Foundation Year: 2013 Project Type: Housing and Urbanism Location: Goa, India Project Location: Chennai, India Team: Mahesh Radhakrishnan, Shail Joshi, Ronak Gangdev.

2002

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the housing crisis. From an urban design and planning point of view, a well-connected city with ample open and communal space is a power ful paradigm and an engine for integration and inclusivity.�

-Richard Rogers

3.1: State of Housing Quantitative VS Qualitative assessment Chennai, a quaint city in southern India, has seen an exponential rise in constr uction of newer buildings in the last decade due to the advent of IT companies and large special

economic

zones

being

planned

in and outside the city. As a result of the increase in population and decrease in limited land resources, the per capita open space has seen a sharp decline. The aim of the workshop was to understand the growth and state of housing in our cities through mapping its boundaries, housing numbers and open space issues.

2004

2006

2013

19

The theoretical framework of this research aimed

to

understand

the

Housing Typology comparison: Per capita open space.

governing

principles behind housing development in a

Qualitative VS Quantitative Assessment.

city, the problems associated with housing and also envisages a vision at suggesting

Typology

No. of Floors

solutions and remedies at urban level in the

Ground cover/ Site Area

Open Space/ Built Up area

Quantitative

Qualitative

Open Space/ Person

Quality index of open spaces

11.75 sq.mt / Person

Low quality of communal spaces

3.75 sq.mt / Person

Very Low quality of communal spaces

7.75 sq.mt / Person

Good quality of communal spaces

10 sq.mt / Person

Very good quality of communal spaces

housing sector. It also intended to produce a nuanced debate on housing and the current scenarios prevailing in the country.

1 High Rise Tower Typology with 3.5mt setback

2 Perimeter block Typology with 3.5mt setback

3 Podium tower Typology with 3.5mt setback

4 Hybrid tower Typology (1+2+3) with 3.5mt setback Proposed

15 Stories

5 Stories

9 Stories

7 Stories

19%

47%

Ground Cover: 19% of Site Area

Open space: 47% of Built up area

65%

15%

Ground Cover: 65% of Site Area

Open space: 15% of Built up area

55%

35%

Ground Cover: 55% of Site Area

Open space: 35% of Built up area

45%

40%

Ground Cover: 45% of Site Area

Open space: 40% of Built up area

20

Project type: Professional Organisation: architectureRED Year: 2016-2017 Project Type: Housing and Urbanism Location: Chennai, India Project Location: Bangalore, India Team: Biju Kuriakose, Shail Joshi

“People make cities and it is for them and not buildings, we must fit our plans” -Jane Jacobs

3.2: the COMMONS Middle income group housing Simply defined, ‘commons’ means resources accessible to all members of a society, but there is much more to it. A more comprehensive interpretation would be that the ‘commons’ are the tangible spaces and intangible experiences a community can offer, bringing people together and imbibing a sense of natural and cultural belonging.

The spirit of the ‘commons’ essentially encompasses the notion of shared land, shared infrastr ucture, shared spaces ad shared living. An impor tant aspect of the project was to create humane open spaces that encourage community living at an urban level.

21

Site Footprint The proposed roads and power line cutting at angles across the site creates inefficient land parcels for development.

Sequencing open spaces The irregular land parcels are defines by creation of open spaces, stitched together by a wide and linear green axis

Creating strong linkages The building corridors are an extention of the external green space and creates a strong connect the built and unbuilt.

The planning principles aimed to achieve adequate per capita open spaces, along with curating strong communal spaces that would make this development a communally sustainable model. Another important aspect was Masterplan

of increasing the green cover in a rather

Rooftop green spaces Extending the green linkages to the roof tops ties the skyline through

barren landscape.

stepped terraces and community spaces.

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Conceptual Diagrams: Evolution of block morphology

Lack of community interaction

Private + Community Space

Floating Space

a space to connect

The typical doubly loaded corridor design of

The corridors are articulated to transform into a

This floating central community ties back to

Individual foyers crucial community connectors,

apartments doesn’t promote social spaces.

vibrant public space, infusing air and light into

the external green spaces, connecting linkages

while providing an opportunity for personalising

The poorly lit and ventilated corridors provides

the building, creating a vital community space

between the building and the landscape.

the experience of entry to each resident.

potential to be activated.

within the built form.

Re-inventing the typical doubly loaded corridor typology, helped in maintaining

Conceptual Section

the same amount of population and also providing highly rich and vibrant common spaces for interaction. The experience created is unique, since every apartment gets a ‘verandah’ in the form of a bridge connecting the house and the circulation spine.

Typical Floor Plan

23

In conclusion, this nuanced model of

declining quality of indoor and outdoor

housing development was imagined

spaces in housing projects provided by

to be an alternative to the mundane

the real estate developers. It became a

developer funded buildings that have

point to prove that even with concepts

plagued most of the mega cities in India.

of

It was also used as an opportunity to

sustainability, housing projects can be

emphasis on the importance of open

economically viable and functionally

spaces in housing and a critique of the

efficient.

inclusivity

and

environmental

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Existing Public Toilets in K-west ward, Mumbai

Project type: Academic Organisation: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture Year: 2013-2014 Project Type: Public toilets- Urban Design Location: Mumbai, India Project Location: Mumbai, India

“You will never solve pover ty without solving water and sanitation.�

-Matt Damon

3.3: The Toilet Project Mapping the state of public toilets in Mumbai Public sanitation index determines the health of a city and its citizens. In Mumbai, the public toilet infrastr ucture remains neglected while there are clear improvements in other aspects of urban living. Apar t from the poor quality of the toilets, there is a massive shor tage in number of public toilets for the population of each ward of Mumbai. The studio was focused on individual mapping of public toilets in various areas of the city.

Architectural design quality, accessibility, foul odour and policy level amendments were the aspects tackled to provide a framework for improving the state of public toilets in the city of Mumbai.

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‘K-west ward’ - Mumbai Walking accessibility of toilets

1 circle= 100mt

Working condition of toilets

Existing Toilets

Proposed toilets w.r.t. to major transport corridors

Non- Functional Toilets

Functional Toilets

Proposed Toilets

Each circle 100mt wide determines the walkability between two given

This map showcases the actual distance between only the functional

Approximately same number of toilets have been proposed as the

public toilets.

toilets in K-west ward.

existing ones on strategic locations near major transport routes.

25 20% of Population

375

5.8lac

Toilets required vs Existing toilets

lac

1.4

6.25% of required toilets

Total population without access to toilets

12

55% of Toilets are nonfunctional

3

7 13

Functional vs Non-Functional toilets

24% Toilets are unapproachable

24% Toilets are unapproachable

18

22

Reachable vs Non-Reachable toilets

Male vs Female friendly toilets

26

7 point Planning strategy Planning framework for improving public toilets

After extensive mapping and identifying issues, seven important urban level strategies

were

proposed.

From

treatment of inlet and outlet water supply to making toilets handicap friendly and also safe for women, were part of the framework solutions Rain water Harvesting

Reed bed Filtration System

Urban Communal Spaces

Handicap Access

2 wheeler Parking

Proximity between toilets

proposed.

Using bold signages & Planning street lights near toilets to make them safer.

27

List of additional projects that dealt with social issues.

Academic Project Type: Academic, Individual

Project Type: Academic, Individual

Project Type: Academic, Group

Project Type: Academic, Group

Project Type: Academic, Individual

Year: 2010

Year: 2011

Year: 2011

Year: 2012-2013

Year: 2013

Project For: Fishermen living in slums

Project For: School for underprivileged

Project For: Portable Medical Clinic for

Project For: Mapping Mithi River edge

Project For: Housing for Railway staff

Description: This house was designed

Children

rural India

Description: In this Landscape design

Description: This project investigated

to be dynamic in nature, changing it’s

Description: The school was developed

Description: Owing to the dearth

studio, we mapped Mumbai’s most

the issues around open spaces in

orientation and layout according to the

as an open school, where the ground

of medical clinics in rural India, we

disputed water entity and intended

Mumbai and provided solutions to

climatic and domestic needs.

floor would always remain accessible

designed a portable medical clinic

to provide sustainable solutions for

combat low per capita open spaces in

to the underprivileged community for

which could be used by doctors while

reviving the river body.

housing projects in the city.

various activities.

travelling from one place to another.

Project Type: Professional Competition,

Project Type: Exchange Program,

Project Type: Professional Competition,

Project Type: Professional Competition,

Project Type: Volunteer Group,

Group, Year: 2012

Group, Year: 2012

Group, Year: 2014

Group, Year: 2014

Year: 2014-2015

Project For: Restructuring Kalanagar

Project For: Shikumen Housing

Project For: Innovative housing design

Project For: School children in Rural

Project For: Handicraft workshop for

Traffic Junction

Description: The project was based in

Description: This project relooked at

setting

kids in rural areas.

Competitions + Exchange + Volunteer work

Description:

behind

Shanghai, documenting and mapping

the system with which housing is being

Description: The main idea behind the

Description: The primary aim of this

redesigning one of the most congested

The

idea

the historic Shikumen housing. We

bought and sold as a commodity. The

design of this school was to assert

volunteer program was to empower

traffic junction was to incorporate

intended to showcase the importance

proposal allowed the developer to sell

the importance of schooling through

school kids from economically weaker

multiple public transportation systems,

of preservation of historic buildings

specific area on each floor, and the

juxtaposing functions of the school

sections, by teaching them various

through tunnels and overhead bridges.

through street art.

apartment to be made by the resident.

with functions of public life.

handicraft techniques and occupations

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The End

S ha il J os hi D e s i g n & P l a n n i n g Po r t f o l i o 2010-2017 Architect, Mumbai,India

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