Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

Varsha Prasanna

Architecture Student

DOB:

17th April 2002 I Bengaluru, Karnataka

As an aspiring Architect, I am driven and imaginative, with a keen interest in discovering fresh and creative design approaches. Often taking up group and individual projects, I have evolved as a team player with competent leadership and communication skills. With a passion for innovative and vernacular design strategies, I look forward to taking up roles that would enable me to gain exposure and experience as an architect.

About

Contact Number: +91 9686440232

Email: varsha.p1704@gmail.com

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varsha-prasanna-kumar-9a862a21b

Instagram: https://instagram.com/_scribble.diaries_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Languages: English, Kannada, Hindi

Education

2020-present

School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada

Bachelor of Architecture, 8.77 CGPA

Roles and Responsibilities

2021-present 2015-16

Class Representative (SPA Vijayawada)

House Captain (Sri Kumaran Children’s Academy

CBSE)

Managed day to day school events

Achievements

2022

The Cafe Interiors (Archdias Competition) Top 50

2020

Sri Kumaran Children’s Home Composite PU College, Bengaluru

Second Year Pre-University (Karnataka State Board), 92.8%

ANTARA Magazine, The Indian Institute of Architects, Andhra Pradesh Chapter Design and Editorial Team

2018

Sri Kumaran Children’s Academy CBSE, Bengaluru Class 10 (CBSE), 95.2%

Software Skills

2D Drafting

3D Modelling

Adobe

BIM

3D Rendering

Others

AutoCAD SketchUp, Revit Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom Autodesk Revit

Lumion, Enscape MS- Word, Excel, PowerPoint

2021-22

Louis I Khan Trophy (NASA) Special Mention

Mohammad Shaheer Landscape Trophy (NASA) Participated

GRIHA Trophy (NASA)

Participated

GRIHA Trophy (NASA)

Participated

120 Hours

2022 2021

Vertical Design Studio, Dessynth (SPA Vijayawada)

Ar. Sanjay Mohe Keynote ANC (NASA)

“To see our future through our past” Ar. Nandini Sampat (SPA Vijayawada)

Third Rank B.Arch II Year

Subject Topper (SKCH-PU College)

Mathematics Centum

2020

Sustainable Engineering Series (ACCE)

Clay Sculpture Workshop (SPA Vijayawada) 2020

2020 2018

Best Outgoing Student (SKCA CBSE)

Mathematics Centum

“An idea is salvation by imagination”

-Frank Lloyd Wright

SketchUp I Lumion

Sammelana

Semester IV

Community Center Design

Location: Thagachagere, Karnataka

Mentor: Mr.Venkata Krishna Kumar Sadhu

The community centre has been designed to promote social interaction and hierarchy, incorporating traditional elements such as ornate wooden columns, jaalis for ventilation, burnt clay bricks for walls, and teak wood. The structure also includes reinforced concrete and a slate roof for durability. The courtyard garden serves as a welcoming gathering place for residents and visitors. The open-air stalls with traditional Indian colonnade offer a unique shopping experience, blending contemporary and traditional design.

AutoCAD I SketchUp I Revit I Lumion I Photoshop

Channapatna is a small town located in the Indian state of Karnataka, known for its unique wooden toys and handicrafts. The town has a rich history of craftsmanship, dating back to the 18th century.

Channapatna Toys: A Study

Thagachagere, a small rural village near Channapatna was chosen for the study. Thagachagere is home to several small-scale industries, including the Channapatna Toy Making and handloom weaving.

Traditional House: Tottimane

This 80-year-old house characterizes a central Courtyard called as Totti in local language which gives it its name. It is built using traditional methods, with mud and stone used for the foundation, and mud walls and timber for the structure. The roof is covered with terracotta tiles and the floor is plastered with cement. The house is designed to provide insulation from the heat using local construction techniques. There are few windows, which helps to minimize heat gain and maximize natural light and ventilation. Overall, the Totti house is an excellent example of sustainable and functional vernacular architecture.

After studying the village of Thagachagere, a need for a Community Centre was identified. The purpose of the centre is to provide a space for the villagers to come together on a larger scale, as their current gatherings are on a smaller scale. Additionally, the centre can be used as a platform for promoting and raising awareness of the Channapatna toys that the villagers produce.

Form Development

for the Community

The use of height variation in this composition creates an engaging and dynamic form, drawing the viewer’s eye and establishing a clear hierarchy within the design.

Concept

Familiarity

Playing with Heights for the form

Elements

Intricately crafted traditional Indian windows made of wood

Indigenous ornate wooden columns

Traditional Indian jaalis that provide ventilation

Blending contemporary and traditional design with louvers

Materials

Reinforced Concrete for strengthening the structure

Indigenous Teak Wood used widely for various Elements

Durable and weather-resistant Slate Roofing

Vernacular Burnt Clay Bricks used for the Walls

Combining the beauty of traditional architecture with the vibrant energy of a bustling marketplace.

Welcoming and inviting: Community gathering space in the Courtyard Garden.

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation

Semester V

Municipal Corporation Design

Location: Vijayawada

Mentor: Mr. Karthik Chadalavada

The design of an office space for Municipal Corporation officers and a commercial frontage area in Vijayawada was inspired by the linearity of the site and a fusion of traditional and modern construction technologies. The building features a shaded, triple-height grand pedestrian walkway and entrance that provides a sense of grandeur and importance. The design reflects a fusion of the old and the new and aims to provide a calm, organized sense of functionalism to its users.

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Site Analysis

Abutting Roads

Road 1: 16m wide

Road 2: 6m wide

Proximity

Bus Station: 1km

Railway: 1.6km

Auto Stand: 4km

Hospital: 3km

Temple: 7.7km

Airport: 21.5km

Vijayawada is a city located in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, India, situated on the banks of the Krishna River.

Wind

Predominant wind flow is from the South

Noise

1. Noise due to traffic on the Kanaka Durga Flyover

2. Noise from the Railway tracks on the East

Design Process

Inspired by the linearity of the site, a basic rectangular form was used at the beginning for massing. This form evolved over a long journey, incorporating inspirations from the organisation pattern of the Undavalli Caves in Vijayawada to the modern day construction technologies rapidly being practiced in this city.

The aim was to design an office space for the Municipal Corporation officers as well as a commercial frontage area that would be an income generation zone. A shaded, triple height grand pedestrian walkway and entrance has been incorporated at the heart of the design to provide a sense of grandeur and importance.

Site Context

Vijayawada is known for its historic significance, cultural heritage, and modern amenities, thus making it an important commercial hub in the region. The aim was to design an office space for the Municipal Corporation officers as well as a commercial frontage area that would be an income generation zone.

Site Plan

Total Site Area: 17,088.69 m2

Total Built Up Area: 5,381.39 m2

Ground Coverage: 31.49% Green Cover: 52%

Setbacks: 7m on all sides

Entrance Road Width: 7m

Legend

1-4

VMC Entry/Exit

5 Service Road for Commercial

6 Commercial Block Entry/Exit

7 Staircase Headroom

8 Lift and related machinery

9 Security Office

10 Over Head Tank

11 Sewage Treatment Plant

12 Sump

13 Surface Parking

14 Seating for Corporation

15 Commercial Outdoor Stalls

16 Pathways with Pavers

17 Municipal Corporation

18 Commercial Block

19 Bandar Canal

20 Towards Flower Market

21 Rajiv Gandhi Park

22 Krishna River Ghat

23 Existing Open Parking Area

24 Towards One Town

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Council Hall

The council hall has been designed in a stepped fashion to allow for better visibility of the council members and the proceedings for the audience or the public. he stepped design also allows for more people to be accommodated in a relatively small space, making it easier to hold large gatherings or events.

Courtyard

The 9 by 9 central courtyard harnesses the natural ventilation and lighting to the non-air-conditioned interior spaces. The have been designed to be flexible and have provisions to be closed during heave rainfall. The central triple height portion is visually accessible from all floors and acts as an anchor point in the design.

Key Plan

The objective was to design an office space for the Municipal Corporation officials along with a commercial frontage area that could generate income.The central aspect of the design is a shaded, three-story pedestrian walkway and entrance that adds a touch of grandeur and significance. The entrance has been meticulously designed to create a cool zone by utilizing the venturi effect and channeling cool winds from the nearby canal. The inspiration for this design was drawn from traditional Indian homes, where one can feel an instant drop in temperature upon entering.

The massive front façade, with its horizontal design, gives a sense of visual weight, and the entrance’s scale and structure create a feeling of significance for those who use it. This design blends the old and the new, providing a sense of calm, organized functionalism to its users.

Jaalis

To beat the high intensity heat of Vijayawada, terracotta jaalis have been incorporated to a major area of the façade, and they function as a passive cooling strategy. The inward staggering form helps to provide shading and the traditional Indian columns lining the entrance walkway add to the heritage of the structure.

Materials

Vijayawada is a growing hub for education and business. In this current day, this structure stands as a medley of the past and the present with its material usage. From traditional Andhra Kadapa Stone to the modern-day glass curtain walls, the façade treatment is a response to the climate and the people of the city.

Semester III

Primary School Design

Location: Vijayawada

Mentor: Ms. Joyce

A school instils an urge to learn, interact and develop a positive social relationship. A well designed educational space not only raises the standard but also positively impacts pupil performance and behaviour. A major aim during my design process was to create spaces that create learning opportunities even outside the typical classroom. Since primary school students are innately curious and fascinated by an array of topics, their learning atmospheres had to be designed to encourage academic exploration and nurture creativity.

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Site Conditions

The Site is located in Kanuru, Vijayawada, A.P.

South-East, South are the predominant wind directions.

The primary water source is the Krishna River. The Site is levelled with a minor slope towards North.

Concept and Form Development

Predominant soil type is Alluvial Soil.

The industrial areas surrounding the site are a major source of noise.

Initially, a base grid of 70m x 70m was used.

Projecting the grid, a basic mass was created.

The common learning area, The Library, was added in the form of an interlocking circular mass.

With additional spaces, the final form was thus developed.

Vruksha

Taking inspiration from the traditional Indian Education System where all learning was centred around a focal point, generally trees, my design aimed at creating a similar singular focal point that would form the heart of the school, facilitating a better, more relaxed learning and interaction.

Site Plan

Total Site Area 15000 m2

Total Built Up Area 3990 m2

Ground Coverage 26.6%

1. Bus Entry 6m

2. Pedestrian Entry 2m

3. Vehicular /Pedestrian Entry 5m

4. Vehicular /Pedestrian Exit 5m

5. Bus Parking

6. Parking

7. Pedestrian Pathway 4m

8. Main Entry 7m

9. Main Built Form 2758 m2

10. Kindergarten Play Area 450 m2

11. Assembly Area 1232 m2

12. Primary Playground 1714 m2

13. Open Learning Space

14. Kanuru-Autonagar Road 18m

15. Road 12m

16. Industrial Zone

17. Residential Zone

18. Vacant Land

Ground Floor Plan

1. Entry

2. Lobby

3. Principal

4. Vice-Principal

5. Waiting Area

6. Pantry

7.

8.

9.

13.

Nurturing Young Minds: Innovative Classroom Design to Foster Intellectual Curiosity.

Beyond the Classroom Walls: Embracing Nature and Creativity in the Courtyard as a Learning Space.

Material Palette

Classroom Modules

Architecture can create an interesting learning environment that uplifts the spirits and aspirations of students and provide them with facilities that are fit to purpose, inclusive, interactive and safe. The classrooms and furniture have been designed accordingly to fit children from the age groups of KG I to Class V in such a way that the space is enjoyable and not overwhelming to the child.

Concrete Grass Block Pavers for Parking

Granite Flooring 20mm for Corridors

Tensile Fabric Roofing for Assembly Hall

NITCO Vintage Pearl Vitrified Tiles for Classroom Flooring

Precast Cement Concrete Blocks for walls

Modular Carpet Tile Flooring for the Library

Semester II

Residence Design

Location: Bengaluru

Mentor: Dr. Srinivas Daketi

The design of a house should fulfil the standard needs of individuals and their way of life while reflecting cultural and social surroundings. This house faces North, which helps keep it cool during hot weather and allows for a shaded garden suitable for plants that prefer cooler temperatures. Traditional design beliefs have also been incorporated into the design. Overall, this design addresses the first design problem presented.

Uttara

Design of a house must be considered as that which is a multifunctional unit consisting of mutually interconnected architectural elements which constitute the cultural and social milieu. The House must cover all standard needs of the individual (and community, at times), expressive of one’s way of life.

The house faces North and has gardens mainly on that side. Because the North side of the house gets less direct sunlight, it can help keep the interior of the house cool during hot weather, thus reducing the need for air conditioning. Additionally, the Northern side of the house is often the coolest and most shaded area in the garden, which makes it suitable for plants that prefer cooler temperatures or partial shade. The house also incorporates various traditional design beliefs.

Concept and Requirements

The site is in the composite climatic zone of Bangalore.

Emphasis on the connection between interior and exterior spaces.

Maximised openings on East and North side for daylighting. Several library nooks have been designed.

Design Considerations

A play of levels differentiates the public and private spaces. Open plan livingkitchen area to create a close-knit space.

Materials Used

Energy Efficient Glass for Curtain Walls and Windows

Stucco used as a decorative coating the Walls and Ceilings

Precast Autoclaved Aerated Concrete blocks for the Structure

Indigenous Teak Wood for Doors and Window Frames

Tranquil Reading Alcove for Bookworms.

Patio Garden for Post Pandemic Rejuvenation.

Inspiring indoor Reading heaven.

Living Area with an Inviting Step-Down Design. Exploded View

Combining Sustainability and Elegance: An EcoFriendly Building Design with materials such as Energy Efficient Glass, Teak Wood among others.

Ground Floor Plan

Section X-X’

Inviting, Airy, and Bright: A Double-Height Open Plan Dining Space with Abundant Natural Light.

Unwind in Style: A Spacious Master Bedroom with Walk-In Closet and Luxurious Ensuite Bathroom.

Working Drawings

This portfolio comprises a collection of working drawings created during Semester V for a residential design project. The working drawings consist of various technical illustrations, including site plan, set-out, column centerline, foundation, plinth beam, beam, roof, brickwork, electrical, plumbing, staircase, and door and window details. From this comprehensive set of drawings, a few selected ones have been included here.

Brick Wall Layout Plan Ground Floor

Bathroom Plumbing Plan

Section A-A’

Section B-B’

LIK Trophy

NASA Competition Documentation

Location: Rishikesh

Special Mention

At the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is a city that has a characteristic spirit influenced by centuries old tradition and culture.

Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand was designed on a 100m contoured land by Edifice architects. The site, its surroundings, history and architecture were thoroughly studied and this formed the essence for the project. This is apparent from how local materials, construction techniques and architectural features were used in the design. The river and mountain elements have been incorporated efficiently to appeal to the users. The planning of the pathways and site as a whole was inspired by the town planning style of Uttarakhand and the curves of the Ganges. In this process, this project became an example for infill architecture.

The design celebrates local traditions while incorporating a modern influence. Staying true to the roots of the region, the resort harmoniously blends in with the spectacular panorama that surrounds it. Therefore, rather than the building outstanding the surroundings, Taj connects with the neighborhood.

For the complete submission Click Here.

The Café Interiors

Archdias Competition I Interior Design I Location: Mangalore

Top 50 I Team of Three

Taking cues from Malgudi, a fictional South Indian town featured in the novels and stories of R.K.Narayan, this quaint cafe on the serene beach of Mangalore, Karnataka features traditional elements with a modern twist. Depicting the story of the lavish vernacular architecture of Mangalore, the cafe offers a transformative experience to the visitors. Columns made of rich teak wood reflecting the old style houses of this region, in combination with the minimal seating areas near the entrance offers a nostalgic experience in recollecting those happy childhood memories spent in their grandparents’ place. From little details such as vintage photo frames offering a glimpse of Mangalore’s history, to design elements inspired by the vernacular architecture, the Malgudi Cafe seeks to connect a visitor to the local stories as well as the ethereal natural beauty of Mangalore.

Art Work

A curated selection of artworks, each created using unique mediums, from the bold strokes of oil paint to delicate watercolours.

Clockwise from top left

1. Still life composition with pencil shading

2. The Stone Chariot of Hampi with pen and ink

3. Oil Painting composition of Lord Ganesha

4. The Dancing House depicted through a watercolor medium

Photography

Each photo captures a unique perspective and invites us to see the world in a new light. Here are a few selected captures.

Clockwise from top left

1. A hidden Hoysala Gem at Nuggehalli, Karnataka

2. The Magnificent Mysore Palace shot at sunset

3. A world of grandeur - The gates to the Mysore Palace

4. Nature’s way of showing us the power of contrast