Architecture & Urbanism Portfolio

|portfolio| ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM Sheeba Amir

Stilt houses in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, Studio Fieldtrip 2015

CURRICULUM VITAE Sheeba Amir Architect, Urbanist

sheebaamir@gmail.com PROFESSIONAL COOPERATIONS

Abhikram, Parul Zaveri & Nimish Patel, Ahmedabad - Jan - May 2009, Architecture Internship FAB Interiors, New Delhi - June 2009 - Feb 2011, Architect Jasbir Sawhney & Associates, New Delhi, Feb 2011- Aug 2012, Architect Ekatra, New Delhi, Aug 2012 - Feb 2013, Principal Architect Genesis, New Delhi, Feb 2013 - Aug 2014, Architect INTACH Heritage Division, New Delhi, Dec 2016-Feb 2017, Urban Consultant Luit Valley Engineering, New Delhi, March 2017-Jan 2020, Urban Planner

EDUCATION

Bachelor in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Jamia Millia Islamia, India - 2009 Masters in Urbanism & Strategic Planning, KU Leuven, Belgium - class of 2014-16

PUBLICATIONS

‘River & Road as Warp & Woof ’, Vol-1, II , Water Urbanism Studio, MAUSP, KU Leuven, 2015 -Landscape Urbanism Explorations for Southern fringe of Kathmandu Metropolitan area, KU Leuven, Faculteit ingenieurswetenschappen, 2016 -Public Spaces & disaster recovery - Bungamati, Nepal, My Liveable City, Jan-March 2018 (author) - Watersacpe-The landscape of water access within Delhi, My Liveable City, Oct-Dec 2017 (Co-author) -Reclaiming a city’s Industrial Backyard- Park Spoor Noord, Antwerp, My Liveable City Apr-Jun 2016 (Co- author) -Mitigating Climate Change and Increasing Urban Resilience, My Liveable City Apr-Jun 2018 (Co- author)

AWARDS

ERASMUS MUNDUS AREAS+, Masters Scholarship, Belgium - 2014-2016 Udayan Shalini Fellowship, India, 2002-2007 Merit Scholarship, Jamia Millia Islamia, India, 2008

SKILLS

Software - AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, illustrator, InDesign, Sketchup Pro-Vray, MS-Office

LANDSCAPE URBANISM EXPLORATIONS for southern fringe of Kathmandu Metropolitan area Master’s Thesis, 2016, KU Leuven & UN Habitat,Kathmandu, Nepal in collaboration with: Ashim Kumar Manna, Isabelle Matton, Valentina Amaya

Existing land occuption patterns

Bungamati

Khokana

This thesis analyses the fast urban and ecological transformations of Kathmandu Valley and investigates an opportunity to incorporate alternative strategies in which landscape becomes the carrying structure for further urban development. Looking at a context of rapid urbanization, the southern fringe of Kathmandu Metropolitan Area was selected as a study case of a transitional landscape which stands as the current “front of urbanization”. An area in which important infrastructural project are envision in an overall process that consume important amount of valuable productive lands and forest areas as well as it set great pressures and radical transformation over the landscape. The vision focuses on the resilient aspect of urbanization, preservation of productive landscapes and ecological perspectives that can strengthen this region for a more sustainable urbanization.

The area under focus is framed by three important rivers and three movement corridors. It is witnessing fast urbanisation with new housing developments coming along the mobility infrastructure and brick kilns dotting the landscape to feed the demand of new constructions. Post-earthquake rebuilding and new proposed infrastructure projects will lead to further restructuring of the landscape. There is need to address these transformations to find an alternate future for the territory. The frame is explored with four themes water, infrastructure, urban patterns and resources to get a complete understanding of the territory.

LEGEND

What can we think as strategies in adaptation and mitigation concepts framed in terms of a transforming landscape? What if we imagine buffers zones where landscape provides the tools of healing, protectig and preparing the territory for future challenges guided by water?

Can new infrastructure play a multi-functional role to the city, along with supporting the growth where simultaneity of exchange, celebration, communication and community can coexist at multiple scale?

Can we imagine new alternatives settlements, which integrate lessons from traditional settlements and accommodate the changing needs of the valley, providing settlement preparedness toward the increasing environmental risks which this region is facing?

Can the ‘local’ resource system be enhanced, play an important role during the periods of scarcity? In the context of a climate change scenarios. How can new patterns of resource consumption be imagined with interdependent economies, efficient resource utilization?

Thesis proposal were developed in two parts - 1-An vision developed in a team for the chosen area, 2-Proposals based on specific themes by individuals As an individual proposal, I worked on theme of urban development, based on research questions, Can the inherent logics of traditional settlements be inter-weaved with present challenges to prepare the future grounds for urban growth?

What are the alternative design approaches which accommodate landscape qualities and aspiration for the modernity along with platforms for future urban growth of the valley?

DESIGN INVESTIGATIONS - TEAMWORK

Khokana

Bungamati

To address at regional scale we contemplate different scenarios about the possibilities the southern fringe of Kathmandu can hold. In future We have tackled spatial questions regarding the accommodation of coming urbanization, water scarcity, mobility infrastructure, and resources needs. and wasted resources These are the key conditions that are currently putting this territory under enormous environmental pressure. As reaction to the masterplan, we have explored alternative scenarios integrating environmental issues where landscape is the backbone and carrier for development. Collectively the landscape (elements) provides the main structuring devices, pursuing more resilient systems that have the capacity to adapt and respond to the challenges of this sensitive region.

Landscape urbanism strategies enhance and reactivate the existing natural systems, creating momentum for modernization, food security and energy production. Restorative cycles for water and resources work hand in hand along with dense new urbanization, along a more topographically and landscape embedded east west network. By identifying right conditions, we envision that urbanization in close relationship with existing settlements, and preventing sprawls in agricultural lands. This renewed conditions provides for better agriculture, new markets, shorted resource cycles provide socio-economic opportunities to the expanding population.

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COLLECTIVE Strategies

Landuse typology

New institutions

Productive landscape

Ponds and lakes

Bus stops

Markets

Shops along the street

Public transport

Courtyards and kitchen gardens are important part of traditional houses. The food grown are used for local consumption, making the settlements self-sufficient and less resource consumptive. In disaster scenarios, Courtyards can be used for shelters, organising community meetings, distribution of food and storage of essential supplies like water, medicine and food.

Forest on the slope

Intensity of urban activities

STRATEGIC PROJECT

DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR STRATEGIC PROJECT- SHEEBA AMIR

An overlap of different analysis like slope, soil, hydrology etc provides four potential locations, which can be envisioned as dense building platforms embedded in the system of valleys with minimized impact on the surrounding landscape. Design strategies for the new development emphasis on a resource conserving and collective typologies, with public spaces providing the structure for development.

The concept of clusters as practiced in traditional settlement becomes inspiration for the proposed collective typologies. A cluster combines residential, small scale commercial, institutional plots as well as collective open space. Existing public spaces, like existing temples, recreational facilities are recognized and integrated in new development. New public spaces take inspiration from traditional squares in their organization and integration in urban tissue. Public spaces play an important role for disaster management, they should be well equipped and flexible enough to accommodate changing needs at the time of disasters.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION RAIN WATER & STORM WATER COLLECTION

Kitchen gardens, community farms

COLLECTIVE LIVING

SHARED RESOURCES

PUBLIC SPACES

IDENTIFYING EXISTING

Temple in community square

Institutional buildings

Section through community square and ponds as soft infrastructure and public space

LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION

storage tanks, community ponds bio-swales, community ponds decentralized waste treatment, energy from solar panels & bio-gas

COLLECTIVE TYPOLOGIES

Shop house

WASTE & ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Bamboo forest on the sloping edge

Community pond

COMMUNITY GREEN SPACES

WELL INTEGRATED NEW PUBLIC SPACES

Path

Community pond

PUBLIC SPACES AS DISASTER PREPARDNESS COMPONENT

LIVING ON THE EDGE

METROPOLITAN CONTEXT

HOUSING TYPOLOGIES

Concepts & Analysis Studio, Brussels, Belgium Masters of Urbanism & Strategic Planning, KU Leuven, Belgium, 2016 in collaboration with: Caro Vermeiren, Jens De Ketelaere, Le Minh Ngoc

Enterance to the City

Social Housing quarter

EVOLUTION OF URBAN LANDSCAPE RED SPINE

GREEN-BLUE SPINE Productive Landscape & Periphery

Old & New City poles

Social Housing Apartments

Commercial Big Boxes

STUDY AREA

System of Valleys

Dominated by big infrastructure like E40 highway and commercial big box typology, the site lacks good neighbourhood qualities. E40 creates a gap between two sides of the site. Cars are main mode of transport and lack pedestrian friendly atmosphere.

EXISTING INSTITUTIONS

PUBLIC GREENS

NON RESIDENTIAL FUNCTIONS

FARMLAND

EMPTY BUILDINGS

SEMI-EMPTY BUILDINGS

The Valley of Woluwe has rich natural heritage.

Series of public parks, castles and is part of historical Leopold II park structure. In the 50’s however, motorways started to dominate the landscape and by the 80’s the entire area was taken over by over dimensioned infrastructures, logistics functions, industries and office buildings.

Economics & Education

Tower Apartments

Closed Blocks

AGRO CORRIDOR

PROPOSED DESIGN STRATEGY

Restructuring Mobility System

Proposal includes removing the E40, restructuring car mobility from E40 to Leuvensesteenweg and introducing public transport.

An extension of the public transport network will be provided by a cargo tram, which not only transports people but also goods. These cargo tram-cycles are well connected to productive landscapes on the in- and outside of Brussels.

With the downscaling of the Woluwelaan, the river is able to reclaim its original space and can recreate a larger integrated green blue network..

Cargo tram as new transport connection, links farmers to more markets in

Readapting and densifying

Reviving the valley

Restructuring the landscape

Light industries for agriculture &

NEW MOBILITY PLAN Care Centre

New transport connection also bring people to farms for outdoor recre-

Agriculture research & technique Cultural Centre

Agriculture research & technique school and Light industries for agriculture & food processing provide new public functions while supporting economy

Urban Plaza

URBAN GREEN CORRIDOR

New tram connections provide accessibility to the open green spaces and new public functions for the people from city as well as neighbourhood

New tram connections provide accessibility to the open green spaces and new public functions for the people from city as well as neighbourhood

GREEN URBAN CORRIDOR

AGRICULTURE CORRIDOR

NEW SOFT CONNECTIONS

EXISTING FARM LAND

EXISTING GREEN SPACES

SOCIAL HOUSING

NEW TRAM LINE

EXISTING INSTITUTES

TRAM STOP EXISTING BIKE ROUTES

NEW PUBLIC/ECONOMIC PLATFORMS

NEW DENSITIY PLATFORMS

PROPOSING E40 AS A GREEN URBAN CORRIDOR

PROVIDING MORE SPACE FOR VALLEY

Bio Swales collective gardens

Green public spaces

living & working

NEW CARGO TRAM LINES AS NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Active streets

NEW CARGO TRAM LINES AS NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public Greens Agriculture School

Public Greens

RECLAIMING THE VALLEY

Urban plaza with cultural centre | New development | Recreational Node,Care centre | Light Industries

sports facility

Urban Plaza

Public Greens

New Developments

Public Greens

PROPOSING NEW ACTIVITIES IN CONSIDERATION WITH EXISTING FUNCTIONS

PROPOSING NEW ACTIVITIES IN CONSIDERATION WITH EXISTING FUNCTIONS New Cultural centre as city level public space

Reuse, Refurbish and new development for new densities

Landscape as base for recerational & sports facilities

REVITALISING BUNGAMATI

Summer Workshop 2015, KU Leuven & UN Habitat,Kathmandu Valley, Nepal with: Annelies De Nijs, Ashim Manna, Isabelle Matton, Stefanie Dens, Valentina Amaya 1967

1991

2014

URBAN GROWTH- Kathmandu Valley

Urban revitalisation of the traditional settlements of Kathmandu Valley in the aftermath of the 2015 April earthquake AIM

HOW ?

- reconstruction - densification - extension: urban growth - economic revival

- look at bigger picture - work on different scales - work on different themes - work with different communities

TOWN SCALE

shelters Shrestha Nyae Udaya Kapali Gathu Guvaju Bharamacharya Shakya Jyapu

HOUSING TYPOLOGY

REGIONAL SCALE 5 linears that host and structure historical cores: 1- Bagmati River, 2- Ekantakuna Road, 3- Nakhu River, 4- Satdobato Road, 5- Godhawari River

Courtyard House

Action for Revitalisation

ROUTE 1 : MONASTERY TO MONASTERY

3 ROUTES

that strengthen and install public functions and densify and program/ upgrade the historic tissue of the town

ROUTE 3 : SQUARE TO MACHHINDRANATH

PROPOSED PUBLIC ROUTE inserted or enhanced collective functions

priority project

armature project AMENITIES religion educational wood crafting groceries pati other shops

DESTRUCTION entirely collapsed badly damaged

ROUTE 2 : DENSIFYER TO MACHHINDRANATH

DENSIFYER

courtyard housing and rotation units

PROJECT AIM : Free the squares to prepare them for construction site purposes, foresee housing units for the owners of the plot. Densify the tissue by building with the clans rather than seperate families. Vocational school project: Newari architecture technical knowledge.

PROGRAM : Housing units, rotation units. Wastewater cycle, alternative energy.

CARPENTER’S HOUSE

building knowledge, Newari architecture

PROJECT AIM : Learning by doing, building with the knowledge of skilled carpenters, masoners, ... craftsmen. Train the neighbours on building techniques and water cycles on the scale of a household.

Vocational school project: Newari architecture technical knowledge.

PROGRAM : House and workshop ( for the carpenter)

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RIVER & ROAD as WARP & WOOF Water Urbanism Studio, Banjarmasin, Indonesia Masters of Urbanism & Strategic Planning, KU Leuven, Belgium, 2015

in collaboration with: Danny Andres Osorio Gaviria, Elena Kasselouri, Tarek Morad

CHALLENGES

Banjarmasin is located on confluence of Barito and Martapura river. Its a water based city with an elevation of 0.16m below sea level. Banjarmasin port is one of the most important ports of the country. With climate change, growing population and unsustainable practices, city is facing continuous threat of flooding. Banjarbaru is located on higher lands and connected with Banjarmasin with road infrastructure. With continuously growing economy, increased population and in the abscence of an urban structure, Banjarbaru is growing as dispersed city. Abscence of water management and growing urban sprawl pause a threat to productive landscape of the region.

Product flow Map

Showing export and import of products from Banjarmasin to Indonasian & to Internation markets

SITE PLAN

Banjarmasin Martapura River Riam Kanan Dam

Banjarbaru Ahmad Yani Road

Showing the link between Banjarmasin, as the low city and Banjarbaru, as growing higher city.

With Ahmad Yani, as the only connecting infrastructure between two cities, a sprawl is growing along this spine. In abscence of a planned development, it is taking over the precious productive landscape

FRAMING THE ADHESIVE GREEN ARMATURE

Coherence, density and porosity: preserving space for water while forming a collective space

URBAN GREEN NEW DENSITY

NATURAL GREEN

PRODUCTIVE GREEN

WETLAND GREEN

SOCIAL FORESTRY

LOW VEGETATION

The existing green flows inside the city of Banjarbaru are currently part of this fragmented dispersion, or being suppressed from the expanding urban tissue. The hidden potential of these flows is crucial for the existing and emerging city, as they can constitute the new adhesive public spaces of porosity in a dense structure.

They form the ecological corridors and work together with the drainage system, while at the same time, connecting with the waterscape. The main guideline for these flows is the hilly topography that creates a complex terrain of ridges and valleys.

The green armature is integrating urban agro-pockets with a series of green boulevards and a network of linear transversal parks. The green lines are interconnecting elements of multiple urban scales while stimulating high density around.

AGRO POCKETS DENSITY NEW FUNCTIONS

Airport City

Administrative City

Agro City

High density & collective space - Mosque as a catalyst for new urbanization

Airport City - Green boulevards connecting multiple urban scales

Agro City - New typologies combining housing and agriculture

Wetland Park - The gate to water purification area

Natural Greens - Dense forest / ecological areas within the city

A GUIDE TO THE DAM

Spatial Planning Studio, Antwerp, Belgium Masters of Urbanism & Strategic Planning, KU Leuven, Belgium, 2014

in collaboration with: Ashim Manna, Spandan Das, Sven Mertens ,Tarek Morad, Thierry Iraguha PROCESS

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

Feedback

Internal Design Charette

Collaboration + Studio

Overlapping Values Living by Water & Heritage

Advice to City

Equity

Advice as reference

Integrated & Productive

Self-sufficient

Safety & Comfort

Internal Design Charrette Some Values can not be expressed

Activism + Studio

The studio can be divided into phases. The initial phase of communicating with the neighbourhood, understanding the impacts of large projects and understanding the character of the neighbourhood culminated with an Open house Mid-review. The Open house was a critical stage to receive inputs from the Residents on the scenarios prepared by us.

The second phase brings the question of how the process could be extended with socially innovative tools, such as public participation. Initially we started using the key spatial elements and their impact on the project, at a later stage the feedback and the advice become an important part in giving direction to our work. The second phase culminates, with the booklet as a important tool, which we believe paves way to continue the participatory aspect of the spatial planning studio. I t is very important to consider the timeline of the project, and we do believe that the finalization of the project definition from the city will trigger the events such as selection of designer and so on.

The booklet will be a handy tool in maintaining a dialogue during the project development.

CENTRE FOR HERITAGE INTERPRETATION Bachelor Thesis , Jaipur, India Bachelor of Architecture, Jamia Millia Islamia, India The final year design thesis focuses on one of the prime heritage site within Jaipur, the project attempts to orient people towards the preservation and continuum of cultural heritage.. the centre interprets the natural, historic and cultural values by incorporating the elements present in the city.

Site Plan Traditional Architectural Elements

Site Surroundings

The interpretation centre wood allow the visitors to have first hand expperince of what Jaipur is. The need for awareness about Jaipur’s built heritage and value addition of the mansagar Lake precincts was looked as a challenge in the design.The vision for creation of the Intepretation centre was seen as an anchor for the larger development vision of the surrounding lake as a combination of Institutional and recreational public space.

Ground Level Plan

ELEVATION

SECTION BB’

SECTION AA’

AMAN CLUB, Noida

Jasbir Sawhney Associates, New Delhi, India

Club is a part of jaypee aman group Housing. centrally located on site, surrounded by landscape, club provides entertainment spaces like coffee shop, theatre, game rooms along with sother relaxing and sports actiivities like wimming pool, yoga pavillion and tennis courts.

FAMILY COURTS, New Delhi Jasbir Sawhney Associates, New Delhi, India

District court is an institutional building proposed in New Delhi, to resolve family disputes.

Spread over a site of approx. 2800 sqm., building is arranaged arond a courtyard, with more transparency towards the courtyard.

While the lower levels are utilised for public court functions, middle levels are for offices. Public facilities like day care and cafeterias are planned on top levels.

An automated multi-level parking facility is design on underground levels, considering the amount of cars expected to enter the institutions.

DUTTAPUR SCHOOl, Kolkata Ekatra, New Delhi

The existing school requires development and expansion to accommodate for new classrooms for students, a bigger play field.The school in future wishes to accommodate a higher learning centre to impart vocational and technical education to needy students.

Dattapur Lions School, A school for the poor and underprivileged in west bengal, being funded by the Lions Calcutta. Through a benefactor I am providing freelance consultation through simple, cost effective solutions for the school to increase it intake, by making alterations, building few additional buildings.

Impression of the ‘Complete’ development of the school

Duttapur Lions Woodland Vivekananda Vidyapith - Site layout and existing facilities Construction of Phase 1 in Progress

The ‘complete’ development of the school keeps in mind the available land and the recently acquired land for a complementary development Thus the Institute’s vision to develop a bigger school and training institute would be fulfilled to a greater extent.

Expansion of School over existing school Phase 1Expansion of School

Existing playfield

Existing playfield

north

north

Phase 1 development

north

Phase 2 development

Light weight construction for additional two floors over existing G +1 Structure of the school A football field/play area between the existing and future wings of the school.

Additional building will allow the school to expand with an additional built up area of 5000 Sqm. This would allow additional class rooms and adequate space for setting up Vocational/ technical training institute.

New Play field in centre of existing and future wings of the school

Existing two storied strcuture Land available for expansion Existing school play ground Land for future expansion Mid day meal distribution

Final phase development

PILGRIMAGE FACILITATION, MEGHALAYA Under PRASHAD Scheme by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India Luit Valley Engineering, New Delhi

A-Nongsawlia Church

C-Aitnar Sacred Pool

NONGSAWLIA CHURCH Proposal for development of road leading to the church includes pedestranization, food cafe with resting space and information boards for pilgrims, landscaping and public space amenities to make it safer and more comfortable for the pilgrims.

PRASHAD is a central government scheme focussed on domestic pilgrimage tourism. Aim of the scheme is holistic development of pilgrimage destination to provide basic amenities and enhanced visitor experience. Proposed project includes development of 4 sites in state of Meghalaya as a tourist circuit.

B-Nartiang Durga Temple

D-Charantala Temple

CHARANTALA TEMPLE Proposals include basic facilities like facilitataion centre, accessibility improvement, information signage & landscape development.

NONGSAWLIA CHURCH Proposal for development of road leading to the church includes pedestranization, food cafe with resting space and information boards for pilgrims, landscaping and public space amenities to make it safer and more comfortable for the pilgrims.

NARTIANG TEMPLE Proposals include facilitation centre with gallery space for visitors to see and view temple ceremony, entrance gate to the temple, basic facilities like toiles, parking and landscaping of temple compound.