Snehal Oswal_Urban Design Portfolio_Oxford Brookes University

A R C H I T E C T U R E

A N D

U R B A N

D E S I G N S n e h a l

W O R K S O s w a l

Urban Designer // Architect Design at any scale, as small as a building on a street to a large city with several streets, creates an impact on the user as well as, is impacted in return by it’s users.

Thus a piece of design should be lively and timeless, both at the same time.

Life is created in the overlapping, connecting and un-named spaces between private and public around us.

Further taking my curiosity to undertsand architecture and urban designing as a whole.

Contents

(My growth as an architect // Urban Designer // Human)

Introduction to architecture Architecture for people, architecture for social eq-

Understanding concepts of architecture in a Brit-

uity, inclusive architecture and generating respect

ish Context.

for all through design are the terms learned in this

Exposure to learning new concepts and imple-

project.

menting already learned concepts of Architecture

A sensitive approach to the harsh and practical is-

and Urban Design in the context of the UK.

sues of developing countries. First impression of

Understanding design principles and methodolo-

urban design.

gies in the UK.

Slum Redevelopment

Community Upliftment Implementing contextual design for a social cause Huamns and thus the community they form, are subconciously connected to the surroundings they are brought up. Thus the health of human psyche is directly propostionate to the space they dwell in.

Recreating and uplifting the community life for the artisans and thus their lifestyle and economy.

Masterplanning - Oxford

Testing timelessness and flexibility of the duo (city’s identity and city’s context) Forming and testing a frame structure to analyse, and design cities to form healthy identities. Contextual refernce or vernacular being the suggested solution for the research.

Place Identity - Mexico

Vernacular Urbanism

Psychogeography

Drawing parallels between contextual design and

Understanding impact of development on Human

Place Identity

Psyche

A practical and global issue of densification is ob-

The term has been used a several times as an an-

served in this project. A rapid increase in popula-

alyzing tool for cities across the globe by different

tion often leads to haphazard growth of a city thus

designers.

hampering it’s identity.

This paper proposes the term Psychogeography as

An attempt of introducing vernacular planning in

a designing tool and attempts to draw a rationale

modern vertical growth as a solution is tested.

for the same theory.

Urban Design - Slum Redevelopment Social Equity IV Year - B.Architecture

A project based in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India.

About the Project - This project is based in a highly crowded region of the city, with people dwelling in unhygienic conditions and living an under-privilidged lifestyle. A re-organised plan is proposed for this congested area occupied by slum dwellers, in order to better utilise the potential of land than its present day scnario.

Need of the Project - in this project an unorganised but structured space is achieved with an improved sense of :

living conditions and spaces

social equity

hygienic environment

Approach - The proposal focuses on elements of design as well as user psychology; with obtaining equal distribution of resources on one hand and, on other hand, a redevelopment proposed without relocating the users thus responding to the user’s sentiments and their attachment to the land and house.

Design Concept - A solution oriented towards the issues faced by slum dwellers The user type being socially complex, the design concept evolves in two stages, one at the individual level of the person or family residing and second on a community level. A complex layer of social and communal impact is observed in this area.

A social, cultural and functional milieu is achieved in the proposed design.

Individual level

inadequate openings to houses

Common area on terrace for the building members

unhygienic common shared areas

Balcony forming an area for interaction and also a future extension.

Balconies proposed for upper floors against the open spaces on ground floors

uneven distribution of semi-private spaces Private utility area for daily chores

Semi public area inviting interaction

unsuitable spaces and lack of utility spaces

Community level Small niches designed to create shaded interaction spaces

Semi public space for residents and utilities like water tap and vendors

public community area with elements like religious structures or a sitting area, forming social and cultural epicentre of the residing community

schematic distribution of open spaces

Plan showing uneven distribution of green spaces throughout the region.

A detailed study and analysis of the above mentioned data was done in group of 2 and can be found here - Factual Data

Design Proposal

Overall Area considered - Organised organic planning

Green Space distribution - Improved hierarchy

Road Network and Layout - Improved connectivity

Current development

Proposed development

Design Thesis - Cultural Upliftment Of Art Communities Final Year - B.Architecture

A thesis project based in rural area of Kutch, Gujarat, India.

About the Project - Art and it’s required skill sets evolve over a period of time, influenced and inspired from its surrounding materials and context. Any art form is very local and original to the people and region it originates in.

Due to the current escalation and prosperity of an urban dweller against almost no growth in the rural art villages, practice of these art forms is wilting with time. The ever successful life in urban cities has enticed the younger generation of artists to abandon their practice and migrate, thus leading to loss of culture, art and tradition.

Need of the Project - is twofolded, one being retaining the art of the communities and their linked traditions and culture. Second is the economy and quality of life for the communities residing.

Approach - In this thesis, one proposes upliftment and propogation of the art and the community performing it through various modes of design and policies for rural development.

Site Analysis - Nirona Village

Studying it’s Vernacular

Site Development - Zoning

Ludia Village Pritvate Semi-Pritvate

Infrastructure for resident artists and outsiders on the rear, away from tourist services

Semi-Public Site Context Public

Sun Path Aanalysis

Hierarchy plays an important role in evolution of clusters and villages. A chaotic order in formation of open spaces and their utility is observed from the study of ludiya village.

Residence for visitors on oposite side thus marking privacy for local community

Proposed residential merged with the existing settlemnet to strenghthen the community

DhordoVillage Datum Line or Axis Main movement path

Existing Structure Parallel entrance wall created

Access to Site

Line Datum organizes the elements in a linear fashion. In the layout of Dhordo village - the main open spaces fall on the line, axis or road network forming a regular geometry.

The line of axis originates from the main open space. Thus socialy binding the communities and reviving their community living.

Access to Site from National highway

Final Proposal - Main Centre

11

Growth of Developemnt on District Level - Kutch, India Main Center

12 10

Primary Centers

8

Secondary Centers 3 5

Wildlife Sancturies

9

1 6 4

7

2 Proposed ProposedNetwork NetworkofofCenters Centers

1. Exhibition Area

2. Entrance

3. Amphitheatre + Periodic (Baazar) Market 4. Souvenir Shop 5. Community Space for locals

6. Auditorium

7. Luhar Community (Blacksmith’s)

8. Visitors Stay - Dormitories

9. Khatri Community (Painter’s)

10. Cafeteria for visitors

11. Jat Community (Wooden artwork)

12. Fascilities for visitors

For detailed look in Project click here - Cultural upliftment of Kutch

Famous Religious spots Art PractisingVillages

Masterplanning - Oxford Urban Design - Postgraduation

An introduction project to the british rules, regulations and principles of Urban Design and planning.

About the Project - A project done in two stages, first being the overall masterplanning and in second a part is conceptualised in detail based on the design principles and vision of the overall planning.

Need of the Project - A dead space is created in the selected area, with no character and identity for the region, unlike rest of the Oxford city. Oxford being a vibrant and lively city this dead pocket neede upliftment through planning and detailing.

Approach - A mixed-use design typology is proposed, creating spaces for huamn interaction involving movement and activity for the user.

An interactive space in order to stimulate the townscape of the area and create interest for the user is suggested.

Proposed Masterplan - along Oxpens Road, Oxford SWOT Analysis - Selected Area Strength

Active road edges along main road

Mixed-use proposed, thus active surroundings

Well-distributed blue & green Network

Efficiently designed mobility and legibility

No importance to the historical structure

Movement pattern not established

Weakness

Blocks blocking the view Block the connecting of natural water body path to city Opportunities

Water Body - Sensually active area

Historical and vernacular richness of the area

Number of foot bridges - Thus improved pedestrian connectivity

Threat

Risk of Flooding

To read entire Report click here - Master Plan Report_Oxpens Road_Oxford

Huge high end shopping mall - impact on local retailers

Detailed Concept - Selected Area Townscape Proposed 1 1

2

3

2 3

Entrance to the Amphitheatre - Direction Created The location of amphitheatre being same, blocks obstructing the view are removed in the proposed plan. Also, the bigger block is split into two for better connectivity and services

Noisy

Dark

Natural

Movement along the path - with user engaging activities

Curiosity created at the end of path - Opening into a grand amphitheatre

Ambience Mapping of the movement spine

Curiosity Historical Context Soothing Curiosity Interest Calm / Refereshing

Interesting Calm Cheerful

Tenderness Fresh

Issue - Densification of Mexico City Place Identity as Design Principle Urban Design - Postgraduation

A project based in La Condesa region of Mexico city.

About the Project - Densification, place identity, migration to urban land, urbanisation, exploitation of resources are few of the many problems faced by almost all the urbanised areas across the globe.

This shift of humans from rural to urban areas and an ever increasing pressure on comparatively smaller portion of urban land has created an imbalance between the demand-supply ratio of natural resources. Quality of life led by the residents or locals is hugely impacted, which has tangible as well as intangible impacts on the users.

Need of the Project - In this project the author throws light on the intangible aspect of place identity which is negatively impacted by the increasing pressure levels on urban land.

Land being the most important of all the resources has had major effects on development of a society as well as an individual.

Approach - This project deals with the issue of no land and loss in identity. Thus proposing a vertical configuration of street life and bringing life in the vertical developments around the world.

Thesis - Vernacular Urbanism Urban Design - Postgraduation

About the Thesis - This research intends to introduce, explore and derive from the term of vernacular urbanism in context to the issues of globalization and loss in place identity. The aim of the research is to define a frame structure based on the concept of vernacular urbanism, which is further used to analyse a city’s urban fabric. Globalization is promoting homogeneity in identity all over the world, thus making the world feel single entity.

The identity of a city generates from human psyche based on tangible and intangible factors forming a city. In order to retain or restructure the unique image of any region or city, the best possible place to find the answer would be its local surrounding.

The vernacular of a region gives the area its distinctiveness, thus making each city, town, village or region stand out in its own way.

An attempt of deriving vernacular factors affecting a city’s fabric from those affecting the architecture of a city is displayed in the research, in conclusion of which a list of relevant factors have been discussed further in this paper.

The research uses a contextually modified version of Sinek’s theory of golden circle in order to evaluate a city against the proposed frame structure of vernacular urbanism.

It also discusses and suggests the best possible way of designing with a sensitive outlook towards concepts of place identity, place making and sense of belonging.

For the entire Research Thesis click here - Vernacular Urbanism

Photography Understanding Architecture and urban Design through photography

Travelling and Learning

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