Sneha B John _ Landscape portfolio

LANDSCAPE PORTFOLIO

Sneha B John

About me

Innovative and passionate architect, trying to explore more about landscape design, interested in research and conceptual development of landscape projects, conservation and enhancement of the ecology while providing and designing for people.

Languages

English

Malayalam

Hindi

Skills

Model making

Documentation

Research

Conceptual design

Cartography

Presentation design

Teamwork

Creative thinking

Problem solving

Interests

Music

Crafts

Sketching

Contact

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ar-snehab-john-74625a12b/

Email: snbj96@gmail.com

Softwares

AutoCAD

Photoshop

InDesign

Sketchup

V Ray

MS Power Point

Lumion

SNEHA B JOHN

Landscape Architect

Academics

• 2012 | ICSE | Bishop Moore Vidyapith, Mavelikara, Kerala

• 2014 | I.S.C | Bishop Moore Vidyapith, Mavelikara, Kerala

• 2014-2019 | B. Arch | KMEA College of Architecture | MG University

• 2020-2022 | M. Arch Landscape Architecture | CEPT University

Experience

• June 2017 - May 2018 | Intern Architect

Ebenezer Consultants | Kochi, Kerala

Contributed to conceptual design, preliminary designs and working drawings of various residential and commercial projects. Also worked on preparing estimates, site visits and client meetings.

• October 2019 - June 2020 | Junior Architect

MKJ Designs | Alleppey, Kerala

Worked on conceptual design, preliminary drawings, working drawings and detail drawings, site visits and client meetings of various residential, institutional and hospitality projects

• June 2022 - Present | Landscape Architect

Prakrti Living Environment | Kochi

Extra-curriculars

Landscape Architect, managing the studio team and coordination with the site. Worked on various sides of the project which includes, conceptual design development, design detailing, fine detailing of the landscape features, land development and planting plans.

Project

Competitions

• Annual NASA Design Competition |Annual NASA 2017

• SIDC Trophy | Annual NASA 2017

• House for Introverts | Architrail

Workshops

• Design + Build Kerala Workshop | Caukin Studio and Cardiff University | by Dr. Shibu Raman and Harisson Marshall

• Tactical Urbanism Workshop | Thanalkoottu | conducted by WRI India and Kochi Municipal Corporation

• Open Box Project | Annual NASA 2017

• Bamboo Workshop | arte barro | Holy Crescent College of Architecture

• Photo montage | Design Ecologies Studio 2 | CEPT University

• Paradigm Talk Series | EKC College of Architecture

• Design 360 | Government Engineering College | Trissur

• Rookie Workshop | Landscape graphics

CONTENTS

ZOHO IT CAMPUS

Madurai

MUTHOOT CORPORATE OFFICE

Palarivattom, Kochi

ZOHO IT CAMPUS, Mathalamparai, Thenkashi

Tamil Nadu

BROOKEWOOD ESTATES

Yercaud, Tamil Nadu

MUTHOOT KAYAL VILLA

Panangad, Kochi

MOMO RESTO BAR

Kanjikuzhy, Kottayam

Kerala

ACADEMIC WORKS

WOVEN GROUNDS DESIGNED ECOLOGIES ONE FOREST

01. ZOHO IT CAMPUS, MADURAI

The project aims in creating spaces for people within and existing natural landscape by lightly modulating the spaces as per the site conditions and rewilding the remaining spaces. The project aims to cover both valleys and the hilltops. The valleys are made into the natural landscapes by rewilding the altered landscapes and The natural slopes of the site being carefully treated without much cutting and filling and to naturally bring the flow of wat

WORKING DRAWING (REFERENCE ONLY)

SECTIONS

WORK

PLACE AT MADHURAI FOR ZOHO

CORPORATE OFFICE, PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI

The design stands to balance the corporate character of the building, with the landscape, hence providing spaces which compliments the buildings.

The landscape design carved out spaces for an entrance pavilion, and a walkway at the southern side of the site, to a seating space at the backside, which adds to the outdoor spaces for the users of the building.

Soling

Precast Concrete Kerb 25.5 x 20.5 x 9cm

8cm thick Grass paver

Soling for 15cm depth (4cm nominal size aggregate)

SECTION SECTION THROUGH RAISED ISLAND PLANTER @ DRIVEWAY Scale 1:10

SECTION E'-E' RCC INFILTRATION CHAMBER Scale 1:10

8cm thick Grass paver

CST as per Existing Pipe position

Soling for 10cm depth (1.2cm nominal size aggregate)

Slope down

Existing Pipe from Terrace

BL +98.70 lvl

PB +98.80 lvl

10cm dia Pipe

Slopedown

for 30cm depth (15cm nominal size aggregate)

Soling for 10cm depth (4cm nominal size aggregate)

Cyperus

Planting plan

Tradescantia spathacea 'compacta'

The entry to the building is provided with an avenue of trees and with a layers of large shrubs, small shrubs and groundcovers below that respectively.

Russelia equisetiformis Setcresia purpurea 'red'

Detail A

Arachis hypogaea

Sansevieria trifasciata 'laurentii'

Bermuda grass

Lantana montevidensis

Detail B

Excoecaria cochinchinensis 'bicolor' 'variegata'

Cyperus alternifolius

Excoecaria cochinchinensis 'bicolor' 'variegata'

Crinum xanthophyllum

Clerodendrum paniculatum

Thysanolaena latifolia

Detail A

Clerodendrum quadriloculare

Alpinia purpurata

Crinum xanthophyllum

Blechnum gibbum

Calathea lutea

Polyscias paniculata 'variegata'

Pseudomussaenda flava Randia macrantha

Leea coccinea 'burgundy'

Calathea loeseneri

Alpinia purpurata

Pseuderanthemum reticulatum 'golden'

Canna tropicanna black

'frosty'+ Pilea nummulariifolia

Pseuderanthemum reticulatum 'golden'

Murraya paniculata

Canna tropicanna black

Pseuderanthemum reticulatum 'golden'

Canna tropicanna black

Murraya paniculata

Clerodendrum paniculatum

Thysanolaena latifolia

Gynura segetum

Detail B

Dissotis rotundifolia

Polyscias paniculata 'variegata'

Jacquemontia violacea

Tecomaria carpensis

Jacquemontia violacea

Gynura segetum

Gynura segetum

Tecomaria carpensis

Calathea loeseneri

Hemigraphis alternata

Pennisetum rubrum

Colocasia esculenta 'black magic'

WYTE FORT HOTEL 47 BY- PASS

(VII/186-A) 2706475, 3958396

Canna tropicanna black prakrtilivingenvironment@gmail.com

BY

Calathea loeseneri

Hemigraphis alternata

Cordyline fruiticosa 'firebrand'

Osmoxylon lineare

Crinum menehune

Dissotis rotundifolia

Aechmea fasciata

Cyathula prostrata

Calathea loeseneri

Hemigraphis alternata

Plumbago auriculata

Terrace Floor

The space is planned with a large open party space in the centre. The terrace landscape is a conceptual approach showing a gradual transition from a western prairie garden to a much tropical, from the eastern end to the western side of the building. The garden gradually changes its kind, with respect to the planting and the kind of setting in which it is designed.

Party lawn area at the terrace space

Pathway from Directors room to the party space

ZOHO IT CAMPUS, MATHALAMPARAI

An IT campus, designed for Zoho Corporation at Mathalamparai, Thenkashi in Tamil Nadu. The workspaces are designed as 3 blocks with open spaces between them.

The open spaces are given much importance and are designed in such a way that the spaces acts as a transition space between different areas. The spaces are designed to collect and transfer the rainwater to a step well from where maximum water is seeped into the ground and if in excess overflows to an outer lilly pond, and from there to the existing canal flowing adjacent to the site.

View from the verandah to the waterbody

Courtyard 01

Courtyard with step well

Courtyard 02- Courtyard between block B and Block C

View from the south side of the site

View to the courtyard with step well

View to the courtyard between block B and Block C

DRESSED STON NATURAL FINISH CHAMFERED EDGE

+101.05 LVL

PAVER BLOCKS STONE)

FLAMED GRANITE FINISH

+101.05 LVL

- NATURAL FINISH CHAMFERED EDGE

FLAMED GRANITE FINISH

BROOKWOOD ESTATES - VALLEY GARDEN, Yercaud

The project aims in creating spaces for people within and existing natural landscape by lightly modulating the spaces as per the site conditions and re wilding the remaining spaces.

The project aims to cover both valleys and the hilltops. The valleys are made into the natural landscapes by re wilding the altered landscapes and allowing the natural vegetation to grow.

The natural slopes of the site being carefully treated without much cutting and filling and to naturally bring the flow of water. All the streamlines were enhanced with beautiful spaces at the edges which helps the users to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the space.

PARKLAND (GRASSLANDWITHSCATTEREDTREES)

VILLA,

The project aims to create and rewild the natural ecosystem in such a way that, the spaces can be used by the user group. The project was planned as two phases.

06.MOMO RESTO BAR, Kottayam, Kerala

The project speaks to bring a contemporary landscape with event spaces and party lawns to a kerala traditional architecture.

The project aimed to create small private outdoor spaces, to conduct different events and functions. One of the challenges of the project was to provide a dedicated parking space for the customers.

The spaces are planned as a series of open spaces connected b y verandahs and outdoor pathways. Small circles being taken as a vocabulary to the whole space design, and made patterns and spaces with the same.

The study area is located at Koteshwar village, near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. To the west side of the site flows the Sabarmati river, and the study area itself acts as an ecological corridor near the river.

The different communities living in koteshwar village including Patelvasis, Takurvasis and Rabari community, are segregated from each other even though they live closely. The key idea of the project is to connect these communities and create open spaces which they can celebrate in their daily life.

Chantings and bird chirps

Ringing bells and winds blowing With all its tranquil

Rustling in the winds

Drizzling drops of happiness Coming from the leaves.

Site plan

Elevation map

Sensory map

Mental map

Layers of Analysis

Haiku

STAKEHOLDER LISTING AND INTERACTION

PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS

cycling playing classes meeting friends

SECONDARY STAKEHOLDERS

farmers

farmers

drivers

households

maids to societies

washing

grazing

PATEL / TAKUR RABARI

PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS

farming cattle grazing

milk selling households milking cattle

cleaning staff of AMC

cart vendors

people who come to but milk

TERTIARY STAKEHOLDERS

communities moving through the roads

FAUNA

shrine visitors

resting

bathing of livestock cattle dogs

OTHER USERS

people who comes to flour mill

religious heads

Amul dairy milk van

nesting grounds feeding grounds guards at the watertanks

POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS

children playing children studying

milk selling people

children cycling

women going to shops

drivers

farmers

cattle- livestock and stray

goats - livestock

stray dogs

COMMUNITY

FAUNA

OTHER USERS

cattle herders

temple visitors

gated communities

jogging/walking people using dhobi ghat

religious heads

caretakers / guards

riverfront visitors avifauna

commutors to koteshwar temple joggers / walkers from the societies

STAKEHOLDERS OF INFLUENCE

Religious leaders Politicians Town planners/ Urban designers / Architects

STAKEHOLDERS OF INTEREST

Temple Priest Village heads Private investors Developers / Builders

Sarpanch Deputy Sarpanch Subordinates of MLA

Factories Industrialists Adani group

Developers / Builders

Vision Integrating communities together through a landscape mosaic of people, culture, lifestyle and ecology. Reviving the connection between the communities and conserving the ecology by providing solution for the pollution within the site.

PROJECT OUTCOME

project aimed to create interconnected spaces in between various communities. The project brought out the various spatial and mental attributes

road deck ecological area vehicular road ecological area maidan / mela ground

The

village diverse communities

community landscapes path way play area

The central plaza connecting the various communities while on their commute to the cultural ground.

brick paved pathway connecting to the settlements. acting as the connection nodes.

SECTION FF

SECTION GG

kids play area Rabari community livestock fodder farm park road

vegetation maidan/ mela ground ecological buffer road connection ecological area with stream attributes of the space and manages to connect between the communities

The entry into the communities directly leading to the central plaza, with flowering shrubs at both of the sides. settlements. The common trees within the areas

Avifauna plays an important role in the ecology of a place. And in cities, these faces a larger problem of habitat loss due to urbanisation and growth of the cities. The city of Kollam at the banks of the Ashtamudi backwaters has also undergone this urban growth and land reclamations and hence there is a large pressure at the edges of the backwaters, which makes the ideal habitat conditions for the terrestrial aquatic bird species of the region and hence leading to avi faunal habitat loss. Helping the birds in the area of the disturbed habitats, by creating the optimum conditions needed for them in a land patch which was once reclaimed from the edges if these backwaters and now being used as a dump yard for the city. Hence reviving this wasteland for bird habitats and calling the lost birds back.

Project brief- Revitalising a wasteland reclaimed from the backwaters to a wetland park which could help create the lost biodiversity habitats and bring back the biodiversity of the area lost to urbanisation and weaving together the ecologically and physically fragmented patches within the area. And restoration of a water channel polluting the backwaters with wastewater and encouraging people to understand the various ecological systems of the area and celebrate Ashtamudi.

Site plan

[google earth]

mangrove forest

childrens park park

asramam maidan

manichi thodu

defunct mill

Site Sections

jogging track

secondary conduit

primary conduit

maidan with tree cover at the periphery

parks with large trees

mangrove forest

lake edges

reclaimed land barren waste land

waste water flowing through to manichi thodu

LOSS OF BIRD HABITATS

Shallower portion of the lake being reclaimed for road development

deep water

Shallower water

shoreline / edges

reclaimed land backwaters

Reclamation at the edges of the lake at the east side

constructed edges of the park can be replaced with natural vegetation and board walks / trails through it.

eco trail through the mangroves as board walks where one could experience the biodiversity of the area, and understand the importance.

making the people aware of the mangroves at the edge of the water bodies which is a biodiversity rich area -

the constructed edge of the lake to be enhanced with street trees at intervals which also could help the birds for perching.

enhancing the conduits for connecting people to experience the various natural settings of the

enhancing the edges with more shrubs and grasses and natural slopes with vegetation. Also creating opportunities for people to celebrate the Ashtamudi.

the reclaimed land where avufauna habitats with shallow waters, grasses and shrubs can be

the thodu carrying wastewater to be cleaned before getting discharged into the backwaters

Design Development

the defunct mill area with a rich biodicversity which can be conserved.

Site area being divided into two zones, the public zone and the ecological zone which is completely dedicated bird habitats.

Creating a series of water bodies with seasonal changes and which helps clean the water of the thodu and lets its into the larger water body

Buffer spaces created around the site with grasses and shrubs patches within to enhance the conditions for the bird habitats

ASHTAMUDI BACKWATERS

DEFUNCT MILL PREMISES

waterlevel rises controlled inlet pipe through which water flows to the larger water body during the monsoons

waterbody fed by thodu and will have water throughout the year

sedges water body which gets up during summers

board walks which facilitates bird watching and provides experiential aspects.

LEGENDS

Waterbody 01

Waterbody 02

Waterbody 03

Waterbody 04

Boardwalk

Viewing deck

Flower garden

Water cascade 01

Water cascade 02

Water cascade 03

Pocket space 01

Pocket space 02

Viewing tower

Flower garden

Buffer trees 01

Buffer trees 02

Sewage treatment plant

Water inlet

Children play area

Snack bar / tea shops

Toilets /Sanitation

Car parking

Two wheeler parking

non channelised edges of the thodu creating roosting grounds for birds

the edges of the water body being optimum habitat conditions for the terrestrial aquatic birds

water made cascading at small height to increase oxygenation and aeration of it. dried

sedges and grasses at water body edges

EXISTING SECTION

PROPOSED SECTION

PROJECT OUTCOME

As an outcome of the project , the barren land, once reclaimed from the shallower portions of the Ashtamudi backwaters for the development of the link road, now used as a wasteland and where the waste of the city is dumped, can be made into an ecologically productive land by creating habitats for the birds which has started to decline in number due to the reclamation. And hence this land providin the essential habitat conditions, the lost birds of the Ashtamudi backwaters are called back, which adds to the ecology and helps to restore the natural settings of the place.

The creation of the lost habitats of the area, due to the reclamation of the shallower portions of the backwaters for the growth and urbanisation of the city, can be given back to the fauna whose life cycle has been disturbed due to this. Looking onto the further scopes of the project, it can be understood that this project can be taken as a model in creation of the disturbed ecological functions of a place in another method and to clean up the waste water before getting discharged into the backwaters, thus helping in reducing the pollution.

Duranta erecta Ixora coccinea Crepe jasmine

Typha angustifolia Canna indica

Nymphaeaceae

flowering plants and shrubs at the buffers

Ashtamudi backwaters

barren land once reclaimed for the development Link road

development of the link road

fruiting trees and trees with large canopies,nesting for

Alternanthera philoxeroides Acorus calamus Limnophila connata Ischaemum hirtum

Syzygium cumini Artocarpus Hirsutus

avifauna.

Forests are a primeval entity which have numerous interrelated systems functioning within. The water bodies and the swamps play a major role in the survival of the forest of Shendurney wildlife sanctuary at the southern western ghats. There are various systems hidden within, which nourishes the whole forest - the most critical one being the myristica swamps. The study is focused on certain zones within the forest which act as a threshold for these swamps. And hence, acknowledges the threshold of this delicate and fragile swamp which has the most intricate relation between the flora, fauna and moisture/wetness.

Aryankavu Reserve Forest

Kallar River

Thenmala dam

Kallada Reservoir

Thenmala Forest Division

Estate/ Rubber plantation

Shendurney River

Alwarkurichi peak

Kulathupuzha Reserve Forest

Sketches depicting the different characteristics of the various patches of the forest. The different characters of the forest such as light, volume, tree structure, and other components were clearly observed and recorded precisely.

Evergreen forest- darkness, thick foliages source : google earth

Evergreen forest - Shendurney wildlife sanctuary

trail through the semi deciduous patches bamboo groves in the deciduous forest patches

SHENDURNEY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

TRACING THE VALLEYS OF THE EVERGREEN FOREST

1.Expanding the forests through the lines of reconnecting the water bodies in the valleys and the evergreen forests.

2.Identifying the various orders of the water bodies within the forest and connecting them.

3.Finding the swamps in the valleys and near the waterbodies.

4.Understanding the network of waterbodies.

THE WATER NETWORK

Forest sections clearly depicting the scale and proportion of the various forest patches. The clear distinction between the upper storey, middle storey, under storey, and the grasses were clearly observed and recorded. The type of forest covers, its various layers and structure of soil were clearly analysed.

Kalakad Mundamthurai

Shendurney Wildlife

Kallada Reservoir

Periyar Plateau

Cardamom hills

Kallada river Kulathupuzha river Kalthuruthi river Kallada reservoir Shedurney river

pallenium mellua culenium series forest volume, ground cover, patches

IDENTIFYING ‘CHATHUPPU’

‘Chathuppu’ is the low lying area which is inundated throughout the year and are usually found at the valleys or in the foothills.

Myristica swamps are the characteristic edaphic formation found at the bottom of the valleys which are subjected to inundation throughout the year.

> found exclusively at plains and at lower elevations

> occurs in midst of west coast tropical evergreen and west coast tropical semi evergreen forest types

Semi evergreen forests getting degraded with plantations

Kulathupuzha River

First order streams

Valley

Ridges

Valleys

Lakes and rivers

First order streams

Moist deciduous

Semi evergreen

Evergreen

Evergreen

swamps formed at valleys where water and soil from slopes accumulates [source: googleearth]

Flat bottom valleys

Sloping valleys

HIDDEN IN THE REDWOODS - THE MISTY MYRISTICAS

evergreen found

When moving from the evergreen forests towards the swamps, the soil changes from laterite to swampy soil with all the nutrients and alluvium deposited from the hills presence of the rich and endemic species, can find the knee roots of the myristica trees emerging from the soil.

Semi evergreen

Semi evergreen

Evergreen

Kallada Reservoir

First order streams

Valleys

Semi evergreen forest

Wet Evergreen forest

Ridge

evergreen forest species are found in swamps also

hills and the slopes by the moving waters, one can find the

Red woods of the shendurney forest

Flat bottom valleys with myristica swamps

Steep sloping valleys with myristica swamps