Temporal Parasite(s)
State Change // Graduate Thesis
Shravan S Iyer
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Michigan
Instructor - Irene Hwang
Produced as a part of State Change: A Thesis On Architecture As Catalyst (ARCH 660 – F’23) Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (University of Michigan)—
A thesis studio led by Professor Irene Hwang, focused on architectural research, iterative design, and experimentation across multiple states of transformation.
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All drawings and photographs are by the author, except where otherwise noted.
Temporal Parasite(s)
Temporal Parasite(s) represents an exploration into how architecture and community engagement can activate public spaces, making them flexible and not built for just one intention, but for a variety of programs and iterations. The parasite adapts to and grows around existing host buildings in two culturally distinct urban settings in Tokyo and Mumbai. The host allows the parasite to evolve, grow, and change according to the changing needs of its users over time and the needs of its environment. The spaces are designed with respect for the local architectural language and material heritage, where each intervention is a reflection of the city’s cultural identity and contributes to the larger contemporary urban landscape. This also becomes a reflection of society and deploys cultural programs where each site, though programmatically the same, operates differently through differential use of space.
At the core of this project lies the concept of temporality. Festivals, cultural events, environmental conditions, and social practices are principles that guide the design of the parasitic structures, defining the temporal nature of these spaces. It challenges the traditional notions of permanence in architecture, advocating for a more flexible, responsive approach to urban design. In a way, this serves as a mediator between the past and the future, not just built for today but designed to evolve with tomorrow.
Use of space // Cultural Identity - self-discipline, respect and collectivism
yet silent, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Shot on 11/08/2017 at 5:55pm, Author
Narrations of situations and temporalities | Tokyo, Japan
Use of space // Cultural Identity - impatience, collective individualism, survivalist
Commuters
Narrations of situations and temporalities | Mumbai, India
Use of space // Cultural Identity - organised
Cycle Parking, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan
Shot on 01/03/2018 9:0pm, Author
Narrations of situations and temporalities | Tokyo, Japan
Use of space // Cultural Identity - organised, self-discipline
Walking in a straight line, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan
Shot on 01/03/2018 9:0pm, Author
Narrations of situations and temporalities | Tokyo, Japan
Use of space // Cultural Identity - Orderliness, self-discipline (Tokyo), defiance, non-chalance (Mumbai) Following rules, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (left), Shot on 01/07/2018 11:36am, Author Mumbai, India (right), Representation Image
Narrations of situations and temporalities | Tokyo, Japan (left top), and Mumbai, India (right bottom)
Mumbai
Resilience
Jugaad – A Hindi word for innovative problem-solving or resourcefulness, often used to describe finding a way, even if unconventional.
Survivalist
Defiance
Adaptability
Collective Individualism – Balancing personal goals with the shared chaos of the city; looking out for oneself in a crowd while still being part of it.
Tokyo
Politeness
Collectivism – A societal focus on the group over the individual.
Orderliness
Self-discipline
Respect
Cultural identities determine how spaces are used and perceived, reflecting the unique norms and pressures of living in a city. With high population density, both Tokyo and Mumbai face similar challenges in addressing the scale of a place, sometimes evolving and improvising to meet immediate needs, bending formal rules as in the case of Mumbai. Tokyo’s cultural emphasis on order and respect helps structure a more predictable and regulated environment. These factors help shape the temporal and functional characteristics of urban spaces.
Offices and Cafeterias 2. Exhibition and Gallery
3.
Host Building 01 - David Sassoon Library
1. Offices and Cafeterias 2. Exhibition and Gallery
Parasite Growth | Diagram
a. Office and Information
b. Cafe and Gather (Kala Ghoda, Diwali)
c. Entrance Arcade
d. Exhibitions and Gallery (Temporary)
e. Reading Corners, and High Tea evenings (left to assume program use)
Isometric View Exploded | Host + Parasite
1. Elphinstone College
2. Army Navy Building
• Westside
• Art Entrance Art Gallery
1. Elphinstone College
2. Army Navy Building
• Westside
• Art Entrance Art Gallery
3. David Sassoon Library (Host) Parasite
a. Cafe and Gather (Kala Ghoda, Diwali)
b. Exhibitions and Gallery (Temporary)
c. Play and Gather (left to assume program use)
1. Elphinstone College
2. Army Navy Building
• Westside
• Art Entrance Art Gallery
3. David Sassoon Library (Host) Parasite
a. Cafe and Gather (Kala Ghoda, Diwali)
b. Exhibitions and Gallery (Temporary)
c. Reading Corners, and High Tea evenings (left to assume program use)
2. Army Navy Building
• Westside
• Art Entrance Art Gallery
3. David Sassoon Library (Host) Parasite
a. View (David Sassoon Statue)
b. Exhibitions and Gallery (Temporary)
c. Reading Corners, and High Tea evenings (left to assume program use)
+ Host | Tokyo - Isolated module + Diagram showing growth inside Host
4.
5.
a. Tea Room and Screenings (Temporary)
b. Origami and Movie Screening (kids)
c. Cafeteria / Office
d. Exhibition and Gallery (Temporary)
e. Play and Gather
f. View (Cherry Blossom) (left to assume program use)
3.
Parasite
2. Tokyo Metropolitan Archives
3. Kokubunji Park
Parasite
a. Origami and Movie Screening
b. View (Cherry Blossom)
c. Parking - Coutyard
(left to assume program use)
1. Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Library (Host)
2. Tokyo Metropolitan Archives
Parasite
a. Origami and Movie Screening (kids)
b. View (Cherry Blossom)
c. Tea Room and Screenings (Temporary)
d. Play and Gather
(left to assume program use)
Parasite
a.
Taubman
Shravan S Iyer Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
College of Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Michigan