Portfolio 2016-2022

VANI JAYASANKAR

Portfolio | 2016-2022

project at Bangalore,

03.

Abode in the hills Luxury residence at Shivamoga, Karnataka

the garden at Bangalore,

06.

Workspace renovation Interior renovation project at GNA, Bangalore, Karnataka

BKT Farmhouse

LUXURY RESIDENTIAL PROJECT AT NEW DELHI

Professional practise at Gayathri and Namith Architects, Bangalore

Collaborative work : Team of 3

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Technical drawings, Interiors, Site planning, Floor planning, 3D modelling, Vendor consultations and co-ordination, Site assistance.

Softwares : and

This housing complex is one of India’s largest; accomodating residential blocks with 20 bedrooms, living and recreational spaces, and the North block, dubbed the “Host block” accomodating living rooms, bars and dining spaces. The brief specifies that the clients, three generations of a prominent business family, wanted a house that brought them together while having their own private housing blocks along with ample options for recreational activities and informal and formal conference spaces.

The resulting design is a complex divided into 3 residential blocks, one for each brother and their families connecting to the host block that accomodates the only indoor dining space in the complex to cater to their belief that “a family that dines together, stays together”. The design is equipped with latest technology including heated floors, temperature controlled spaces and swimming pool, a buggy path connecting the entire site and even a personal nurse’s room for the elderly making it the ultimate luxury pad.

Basement was provided for parking and services connected by ramp and staircase

The blocks are topped off with a sloped roof with a climate control technology and landscape elements were added.

Apart from landscape elements, a spa, security and utility room, and a home office were placed around the site.

North block lateral sections

North block lateral sections

Residential block lateral section

Corridor Corridor

All blocks ground floor plan

First floor

Ground floor

A typical residential block concept

All residential blocks are 2 floors, ground and first excluding the east block which is attached to a basement for parking, service rooms and servant’s quarters.

The ground accomodates the first generations’ bedrooms and personal spaces and the first floor accomodates the second generation. All residential blocks have a climate-conscious louvered facade that wraps around the front elevation. The exteriors are dry-cladded with locally aquired non-polished stone.

The main circulation between the blocks is through the connecting corridor. Owing to the size of the site, a buggy path has been provided around the site with multiple break points to access the axillary buildings including the spa, home office, barbeque and fire decks, zen gardens, open-air theatre and entertainment decks.

Cladding details as shown below:

North block entrance

North block living room and deck

South block from central garden

The oasis

RECREATIONAL FARM PROJECT AT BANGALORE

Professional practise at Gayathri and Namith Architects, Bangalore

Collaborative work : Team of 2

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Technical drawings, Site planning, Floor planning, 3D modelling, Vendor consultations and co-ordination, Site assistance.

Softwares :

The Pai family’s house, completed by GNA in 2006 has been used as a farmhouse and a destination for photo shoots and weddings since 2010 due to its popularity amongst the family’s guests. Therefore they requested for a post-pandemic explansion of the farmhouse with a bar and entertainment deck facing a pool to offer a wide-ranging list of recreational activities. They also specified their keen interest in the bar deck not being modern and in the same design language of the existing house. The site was a vast piece of land with a central walkway lined with palms on either side leading to an arch-pavillion at the end ot the same used for photo shoots.

The final design outcome was created in collaboration with Mr. Ankon Mitra, founder of Hexagramm (specialising in “oritecture”; a unique blend of origami and architecture) who worked designing the roof of the bar deck and customised origami lighting fixtures along with a team of event planners for a tailor-made getaway farmhouse experience in the city.

Abode in the hills

LUXURY RESIDENTIAL PROJECT IN SHIMOGA, KARNATAKA

Professional practise at Gayathri and Namith Architects, Bangalore

Collaborative work : Team of 2

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Technical drawings, Site planning, Floor planning, 3D modelling, Client interaction, Vendor consultations and co-ordination.

Softwares :

The design for this house amidst the hills of Shimoga, the city dubbed “Gateway to Malnad” stemmed from the client ( a nuclear family’s ) need for a fun extroverted house while protecting their privacy. Their existing house did not match their modern and gregarious outlook on life and hence needed a change for their new permanent home.

The resulting design is the epitome of contemporary residential design with multiple volumes worked into the design. Since the area receives dense ranfall, protection was imperative. Hence, the ground floor is elevated and enhanced with a natural stone staircase and multiple overhangs morphed into the elevation. Apart from a complete self-care terrace floor with a swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi, bar and party area, the master bedroom is cantilevered to create a ‘bower’ underneath to recreate the comfort of shade on a good rainy day.

Front elevation

Axonometric section 1

The house wraps around a central garden with large openings while the living room flanks one side of the garden, the bower area flanks the other end. The house is elevated 3 metres above the ground level and this basement is used for parking, servant’s quarters, storage and a home theatre. The master bedroom also features a master lounge stepping out of the bedroom corridor onlooking the garden.

Bower

Staircase core

Axonometric section 2

This section represents the central staircase core which wraps around to form an atrium. The pooja room is designed as an individual floating piece of art. Large openings and wooden louvers are worked into the elevation for maximum ventilation and views while ensuring maximum protection from rain. The swimming pool is placed on top of the double height living room to ensure space for pool servicing.

Lakeside residence

RESIDENTIAL PROJECT AT MANIPAL, KARNATAKA

Internship practise at Gayathri and Namith Architects, Bangalore

Collaborative work : Team of 2

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Technical drawings, Floor planning, 3D modelling, Illustrations and presentation.

Softwares :

A family of 6 with business associations to the Manipal academic group needed an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the tropical university town of Manipal. The client’s request was a holiday home tucked away in the woods overlooking the Manipal lake where they could enjoy quality family time while also being able to focus on their individual academic pursuits. The clients also mentioned their love for traditional and local materials and methods with a modern twist and this was adapted for the elevation of the project. A cozy space to host guests, celebrate, study and bond.

The solution was an introverted open floor-plan house that blurred the lines between the outdoor and the indoor. The house swoops maximum wind and light in from the lake front while maintaining a closed off apperance towards the main road. Owing to Manipal’s humid and hot climate, it was imperative that materials chosen be capable of tackling harsh weather conditions. Therefore, true-to-South Indian materials like laterite bricks and wooden louvers were combined with the modern sleekness of glass and steel to create this epitome of modern nature-living.

4. Ground floor

6. Second floor

House in the garden

RESIDENTIAL PROJECT AT BANGALORE, KARNATAKA

Internship practise at Gayathri and Namith Architects, Bangalore

Collaborative work : Team of 2

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Technical drawings, Floor planning, 3D modelling, Illustrations and presentation.

Softwares :

The site is nestled amidst a coffee plantation and silver oak trees and the clients, a family of four, wanted a house that respected the natural habitat. The primary preference of the clients was an open-plan house with large sliding doors and openings to allow the garden to come into their house.

The overall design principles taken during the design process was to preserve and conserve the existing trees around the site and design the house around the garden. Care was taken to preserve majority of the existing trees on site. Thus, the final shape of the house is dictated by the truculent path one might take if navigating through a dense forest. This creates a sense of surprise and excitement with each twist and turn. The architectural aesthetic of the residence follows a Mediterranean style with design elements taken out of Greek island homes. The subtle intricacies tie the residence together and bring life to the floor plans turning the residence from a house to a home.

Ground floor plan

The main approach to the house is planned between the trees reflecting how it is nestled by the site’s vegetation

The foyer is at the first turn and the primary circulation from here is linear and extends to the depth of the site. Pockets of green spaces between trees allow the passage to branch into the study and living volumes.

The progression is with respect to the existing vegetation on the site. Carefully orchestrated turns in the plan ensures little to no intrusion into the natural habitat of the site.

Narrow openings give way to passages that weave between the trees allowing nature to spill in from both sides. The passage continues towards the East creating unique vistas of the landscape around.

The design culminates with the spilling out of volumes for the staircase dining and bedrooms in open pockets towards the East.

House in the Garden is a playful composition that embraces its context by intertwining the built with its natural setting.

Workspace renovation

RENOVATION PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT GNA, BANGALORE

Professional practise at Gayathri and Namith Architects, Bangalore

Collaborative work : Team of 2

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Technical drawings, Project planning, Budgeting, Vendor consultations, Material selection, Site assistance and supervision.

Softwares :

GNA is renowned for their use of natural elements in design and incorporating the same as aesthetic elements; which was missing form the GNA core design teams’ workspace. The renovation project focuses on the interior remodelling into a space that nurtures and promotes creative collaboration while respecting the privacy and need for personal space of each employee.

Design story

The existing team workspace did not carry the same design spirit as the rest of the office building. Although functional, it lacked in collaborative and creative spaces which is an essential quality for an architecture workspace. The plan for renovation was conceptualised around creative spaces. The workspace was divided into 2 distinct areas - informal lounge and formal workstations. The informal lounge, equipped with a small library space and a chairman’s workdesk became the hub for all discussions.

Material selection

The ceiling was retained as polished exposed concrete as a backdrop for the artwork and bamboo

A bamboo false ceiling over the workstation bay with a lighting rack in the center

A piece of art work by a local artist in the quintessential GNA colour orange - representing optimism and positive energy

A central area between the workstations is used as a planter bay as an homage to GNA’s affinity for natural design elements

Before : Space divided into 3 working bays for senior staff. Zen court and built-in storage spaces are inaccessible. There is no assigned space for team discussions or a proper order of seating. Furniture has been chosed haphazardly with a non-flexible plan.

Before : Working space facing outwards with central discussion area therefore, lacking proper collaboration space. Individual workspaces have little to no personalisation possibility. Transitionary pathway is cluttered. Wall surfaces have been left unused since it is not accessible

After : The open plan informal lounge provides multiples possibilities of collaboration. It doubles as a meeting space, a reading corner and casual conversation area. The furniture stays true to GNA’s cultural roots and is made with coir and jute. The shelves and the zen court is easily accessible.

After : Workstations facing each other to promote team work and collaborative work. A central planter bay featuring an art piece by a local artist is installed on a bamboo false ceiling. Clear transitionary space around the work space with multiple pin-up and glass boards.

Miscellaneous works

NON-ACADEMIC AND FREELANCE WORK

Scope of work : Conceptualisation, Sketching, Collaboration, Team management, Model making, Communication and Co-ordination, illustrations.

Softwares :

Workstation design competition

Attached on this page are posters and work from a design competition curated and hosted by a team of 2 including myself during the pandemic for Afyun Plywood, a start-up safe plywood manufacturer from Mangalore, India. As part of their advertisement campaign to increase social media reach since everything was going online, we were asked to design a pandemic conscious competition to involve students and professionals. The competition brief was to design an at-home workstation while solving an everyday problem the participant faces during work due to the paradigm-shift due to the pandemic. Professionals and authorities were appointed as judges and cash prizes were given out.

Scope of work : Poster design, Writing, Competition rules and regulations, Communication, Social media managing.

Softwares used :

Sketches : Lala’s cafe, Leh market, Ladakh

Sketches for intracollege competitive fashion show

Theme : Household materials as fabric

The Pantheon section sketch for history of architecture - Semester 4, year 2

Rocking chair made of cardboard strengthened using tongue & groove joints

+91 73493 37832 vaani.jayasankar@gmail.com