Portfolio

tanita choudhury

gsapp

2012 msaad graduate school of architecture, planning & preservation

studio INSTITUTIONAL 02

camouflage

ENVIRONMENTAL 10 12

dismountable shelter environmental learning center

MASTERPLAN 15

revisit buriganga

PRESERVATION 18

observation & documentation

24 26 32

club oh six bengal cultural center khulna shilpakala academy memory, memorial & memorialization

visual studies & product design 43 44 45 46 50

dormitory unit digital craft animated computation parametric realizations artwork

contents

CULTURAL 22

INSTITUTIONAL

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DEGRADATION

CAMOUFLAGE IN ARCHITECTURE

studio critic: Phu Hoang site: Canal Street, New York studio objective: an architectural proposal that integrates camouflage strategies into the conceptual argument for the design of Research and Design a Remote Sensing Lab & Data Centre (RSLDC).

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CAMOUFLAGE - A PHENOMENON OF DEGRADATION Degradation is an inherent phenomenon of camouflage. It is the incessant change that occurs from one state to another.

Degradation is a transformative system of merging and overlapping of spaces evoking spontaneous complexities of heterogeneity. It is the transitional space between the systems of order and disorder. While typically degradation is considered as a negative phenomenon it is in fact a productive and positive entity generating events that form in the margins in between.

Taking degradation as a key occurrence of camouflage, the design proposal follows a series of guidelines and strategies extracted from the diverse forms of camouflage.

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AERIAL VIEW OF THE SITE DEGRADATION AS A STRATEGY DEGRADATION

PROGRAMMATIC ANALYSIS LIBRARY + MEETING SPACE ISOLATED LAB INTEGRATED LABS

ISOLATED LAB

ADMIN

AUDITORIUM

CAFE

DEGRADATION AND POCKETS

DATA

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DATA

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DEGRADATION OF IDENTITY

DEGRADATION OF IDENTITY

“DEGRADATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS OVER TIME”

1969

PRESENT

DEGRADATION OF BOUNDARY TRANSFORMATIVE

STRUCTURE

AIR FLOW

MODULAR INFRASTRUCTURE

“DEGRADATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS OVER TIME”

DEGRADATION OF BOUNDARY WITH EMERGING POCKETS

DEGRADATION SYSTEM

DEGRADATION

CIRCULATION

POCKET

COMPOSITE SYSTEM

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LAB

AUDITORIUM

DATA

TRANSVERSE SECTION

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DATA

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ENVIRONMENTAL

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DISMOUNTABLE SHELTER

FLOOD IN BANGLADESH

concept With growing natural disasters like Sidr in Bangladesh, innovations regarding shelters are vital. The disaster shelter is inspired from the familiar mechanism of a rickshaw-a common vehicle used in the country. Thus the shelter is both easy to make and accessible by the common people.

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03 ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTRE

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A STROLL AROUND THE CENTRE LEARNING DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES AS ONE CROSSES THE DIFFERENT SPACES OF THE CENTRE.

THE ROOF GARDEN

THE ENTRANCE

SOUTH ELEVATION

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MASTERPLAN & PRESERVATION

Growth of Dhaka along the banks of Buriganga

04 REVISIT BURIGANGA

Buriganga is subjected to high and low tide, which allows heavy ships to come upstream whereas preventing enemy attack during low tide. Civilization began growing along the banks of the river and a number of forts were built.

River Morphology 1650 AD

Pre-Mughal

During the Mughal period, the Buriganga river skirted the entrance of the Katras. Gradually, as the river shifted its course further away from the Katra, the use of the Katras began to decline.

Human settlement grew and extended on the newly formed land. This is at present a comparatively dense commercial zone and the main source of activity is trade.

An axis straight from the Central Jail, through Boro Katra, terminates at a point near the river which is at present a marshland.

This was an attempt to revive the environment of the Mughal era. The axis leading from the Boro Katra has been designed according to the plan of the Mughal garden.

The structure at the termination point, near the river, may serve as a modern Katra or resting place for passers-by. A square plaza surrounded by shops recreates the Chadni Bazaar of the Mughal period.

1962 AD

1850 AD

2008 AD

Old fort (Central Jail) Swarighat & Katras Katras

Lalbagh Amiligola

Lalbagh

Lalbagh Chor Kamrangi Chand Khan’s Bag Sadarghat Keraniganj

Chor Bagchand (Present Kamrangi)

Keraniganj

Chor Kamrangi Jinjira

Lalbagh

Farashganj Keraniganj Sadarghat Keraniganj Jinjira

Jinjira

Jinjira

Keraniganj

Sadarghat Farashganj

Sadarghat FARAJGONJ

Farashganj

Sadarghat Farashganj

River boundary 7500 ft away from Katras River has become narrower and shifted to the south

River skirting the entrance of Katras Parts of Jinjira was later washed away and added to Dhaka mainland

This island later merged with mainland This island later merged with the mainland of Jinjira

Old fort (Central Jail) Swarighat & Katras Katras

Old Fort (Central Jail) Lalbag Fort

Swarighat

Jinjira Palace

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“Katra” originated from the Arabic word ‘katrar’.

It is assumed that there were numbers of Serais along the trade routes during the Muslim period.The Katra exhibits the patterns of the central asia’s Caravan Serai .

In the Mughal period, shops were located inside the complex and the income generated was used for its maintenance. The Katra was used as free accommodation for the merchants. Chawk Bazaar, previously known as Chadni Bazaar was an elite market place.

land use pattern

population density

traffic congestion

Residential Commercial Religious Institutional

heavy vehicle

night

light vehicle

noon

Heavy pressure Medium pressure Light pressure

PATTERN

Heavy pressure Medium pressure Light pressure

8 persons/ 40 sq ft 4 persons/40 sq ft 2 persons/40 sq ft

8 persons/ 40 sq ft 4 persons/40 sq ft 2 persons/40 sq ft

Redesign Conservation Relocation

Fishmarket

ACTIVITY

Sawmill Launch Terminal The Katras Water Taxi Terminal

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WATER TAXI TERMINAL & THE FISH MARKETl

Launch terminal shifted to Sadarghat.

Boating facility to encourage travel via river.

The annual Nouka Baich (Boat Race) festival may be held here

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05 OBSERVATION & DOCUMENTATION HISTORIC PRESERVATION

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CULTURAL

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06 CLUB OH-SIX

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stairs connecting each levels

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1ST FLOOR PLAN

exhibition

auditorium

SECTION AA’

A'

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

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raked decks for people to enjoy the lake at different levels

A'

The club is conceived as a communal space where people can interact at different levels of the club with the adjacent lake. it also tries to create an awareness of the concept pf global warming through the metaphorical representation of an ice cube melting and eventually joining an adjacent lake.

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LIBRARY

AUDITORIUM

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07 BENGAL CULTURAL CENTRE Most cultural festivals of Bangladesh are held surrounding a central point (eg- a tree). This center serves as the focal point from which this spirit of culture radiates. Using this as an inspiration, my design tri ed to create a central space about which all the functions are arranged. A water body is created to reflect the country’s traditional ways of living with the rivers.

ADMINISTRATION EXHIBITION

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

derivation of the spaces

from a central space, the influence of culture spreads radially. the radial progression is then transformed into orthogonal progression where each of the spaces are allocated and designed

SOUTH ELEVATION

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08 KHULNA SHILPAKALA ACADEMY CAMOUFLAGE IN ARCHITECTURE

Design considerations The complex will act as a breathing space where culture will be nurtured, practiced and promoted.

Establish a public dwelling space A lively point of space Maximize open spaces through the use of terraces.

Outdoor space leaking through the interior.

Balcony and courtyard Flexibility of maintaining privacy while keeping visual accessibility of the exterior and public.

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B

A

A’

C’

C’ PRANGAN

CAFÉ GHAT

B’ MUSIC/ INSTRUMENT DANCE/ THEATRE

LIBRARY LIBRARY

ART/ RECITAL

LIBRARY EXHIBITION

CAFÉ

AUDITORIUM

GUEST HOUSE

PARKING & SERVICES

ZONING

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

WEST ELEVATION

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B LIBRARY

A’

A ART GALLERY

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ART CLASS

C’

ADMINISTRATION

B’ OUTDOOR CLASS

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

SOUTH ELEVATION

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SECTION CC’

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MEMORY, MEMORIAL & MEMORIALIZATION A RESPONSE TO THE TRIPLE DISASTERS IN NORTHEASTERN JAPAN ON 11.3.11

studio critic: Lynne Breslin and Kunio Kudo site: Japan studio objective: an architectural proposal that responds to the triple disasters on 11.03.11 project description: “A 9.0 magnitude undersea earthquake off the coast of northern Japan, followed by a 40-meter-high Tsunami, resulted in the malfunction of the Fukushima Daiichi seaside nuclear power plants.

Haunting memories of silent bodies, disrupted communities, and shattered homes remain. We will examine these memories, as they exist in the places, debris and fragments that were left behind, and design a repository for these memories and artifacts on a site now sacred to a small community. Memory, Memorial and Memorialization will be re-imagined by questioning a basic, fundamental motivation of architecture - to accommodate the ephemeral, eternal and spiritual.

This studio urges to respond.�

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- Memory, Memorial and Memorialization Studio, 2011

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EMORY, MEMORIAL & MEMORIALIZATION 3/11 DISASTER

100,000 structures destroyed

30,000 human casualties

8 million people affected

400,000 people evacuated

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MEMORY, MEMORIAL & MEMORIALIZATION THE THEORY OF LOSS - AN ANALYSIS OF A PERSONAL MEMORY

MONSOON OF BANGLADESH. A PERSONAL MEMORY

The rattling sound of bracelets herald the arrival of the monsoon wind as small drops of rain start falling. Soon after, the electricity goes away and what is left is a chance for a family to come together , enjoy drinking tea by the warmth of the candlelight. At the same time, a woman rushes home to keep her loved ones safe. While this monsoon becomes a time for rejoice for some, it becomes a haunting experience for others. It becomes the reason for natural disasters and floods. The dichotomy of emotions monsoon produces makes it a beautiful, yet sad memory for me.

The sweet smell of grass, the soft touch of the breeze on the skin, the whistling sound of the breeze characterizes a Bangladesh monsoon.

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MEMORY, MEMORIAL & MEMORIALIZATION

3/11 DISASTER

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO THE WALL?

BREAK IT?

LEAVE IT?

INCREASE HEIGHT?

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MARCH 11, 2011

THE WALL FAILED TO PROTECT

WHAT SHOULD THE INHABITANTS DO?

37 ON TOP OF THE WALL?

BEHIND THE WALL?

INHABIT THE WALL?

MASTERPLAN

MEMORY, MEMORIAL & MEMORIALIZATION

3/11 DISASTER memorial walk

broken wall

entrance memorial archive

trees in memory of the loved ones

walkway

line of trees as natural wind/wave breakers

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l ria mo me

ive rch la ria is mo debr me en of

entrance

gard

lk wa

l ria mo me

lk wa

libra

op

n hibitio en ex

f roo

ry

en gard

open exhibition

cafĂŠ

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECTION THROUGH THE WALL GATE

library

memorial archive submerged ground

garden of debris exhibition

SECTION OF THE OPEN EXHIBITION

SECTION OF THE OPEN EXHIBITION

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THE WALL AS A HARBOR FRONT GARDEN OF DEBRIS

WALKWAYS

GARDEN

STEPS

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VISUAL STUDIES & PRODUCT DESIGN

A’

DORMITORY UNIT

BED 1

DESK 1

DESK 2

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B’

BED 2

L

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N A

P

SECTION AA’

SECTION BB’

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01 DIGITAL CRAFT

THE BASE - SUPERMACHINE STUDIO

course instructors: Josh Uhl & David Fano case study: The Base, Supermachine Studio, Thailand software: 3DS Max, Rhino, AutoCad, Photoshop, After Effects

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02 ANIMATED COMPUTATION course instructors: John Whitelaw software: Autodesk Maya brief decription: Using a precedent inspirational image, students are asked to make a departure to make from the image to formulate and realize a new, intuitive form.

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03 PARAMETRIC REALIZATIONS SIT..stuff.it.table material: dimensions:

birch

sit table

sit bench

sit credenza

plywood 14”Wx16”Hx18”L

Designed to be multifunctional, SIT is a response to today’s small living environment. The stuff.it.table is not only a coffee table; it also has the ability to store items such as books, magazines, wine bottles or any other nick-nacks. SIT is a modular system, so it works as a single piece, or can be extended depending on the number of pieces you choose to put together. It also double functions as a bench!

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13SB

9ST

11ST

21SB

16SB

9SB

14 RIB

7SB

8 RIB

13ST

6SB

3ST

4ST

12SB

18ST

23ST

19ST

2ST

23SB

11SB

2SB

20 RIB

22ST

12ST

15SB

10 SOLID

24 RIB 22SB

5 SOLID

7ST

3SB

17 SOLID

4SB

1 RIB

15SB

21ST

19SB

16ST

6ST

18SB

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SIT..stuff.it.table

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SIT..stuff.it.table

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04 ART WORK

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