Architecture and Urban Design portfolio

2018

2021

PORTFOLIO Architecture and urban design

VINAY GANDHI UPPU

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CONTENT

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BIOPHILIC WORKSPACES Thesis project | individual

SHANKARA MUSEUM COMPLEX Competition conceptual | group

COFFEE CRUSH II year design studio | individual

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KURUPAM MARKET Urban design studio | group

RAISING CURTAIN III year design studio | individual

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Biophilic workspaces

Location - Tirupathi, India Type - office building IT Individual work (2021)

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BIOPHILIC WORKSPACES a productive infrastructure for the well-being of the people & nature. keywords - biophilic | productive | sustainable | publicness | officespaces Thesis project Project The design is going to be the first IT infrastructure of my city Tirupati, which has been promised by the Govt. to the IT companies in and around the city. Tirupati is a smart city, and its proximity and midway between the Indian silicon valley Bangalore and Chennai made it a budding IT hub of AP. Background The general visualization of an IT office is a glass building, that tries to be commercial at every inch of the design, they look modern for many, but actually, they are cool concrete boxes covered in glass with hardly any life within them.

Concept Biophilic buildings focus on the performance and neuro systems of their occupants, they “increase productivity and creativity and decrease employee absence.

The more the office doesn’t look or feel like an office, the better the results are”.

Being the first IT infrastructure of the city, I wanted to take a chance in setting a benchmark by creating a healthy working environment, which will further inspire the upcoming infrastructure in and around and results in a humane & eco-friendly IT hub, as an architect I must have empathy towards my city & it’s people in creating the most responsible architecture, unlike other IT developed neighboring cities like Chennai, Bangalore where one finds tall glass structures which give the least importance to the humans and environment. Biophilic designs also increase the performance of the building in terms of energy and waste management, indoor air quality, though they increase the budget of the construction, their long-term savings will make that increase a negligible amount and makes them cost-effective and ecofriendly.

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Biophilic workspaces

Publication

IIA AP chapter

inaugural magazine

2021

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Biophilic workspaces

Research findings on Biophilic workspaces

The post occupancy survey results from the Titan integrity campus employees, which is a designed biophilic campus at Bangalore, India. The major findings of the research paper are that biophilic workspaces can improve the physical and psychological well being of its employees, the more healthy the more attentive will be the employees and the more beneficial to the organization. They are also the most sustainable and green buildings.

Site and its context showing the access roads, views, winds, topography

Peripheral vehicular movement leaving central part of the site for better pedestrianized spaces

Zoning of blocks forms a semi enclosure for the Central plaza and has the views of airport

Centralised core with office space surrounded More natural light, exterior views Better managment of services Flexible internal floor space fits any kind of layout

Curved balconies adds biomorphic forms Balcony landscapes views into the interiors Projected balconies acts as shading elements & plants as the filters of daylight

Facade with openings allows to use the natural wind supported with HVLS fans Natural ventilation is better during pandemics, also reduces the overall HVAC load

INCUBATION CENTRE CELKON

EMC zone

IT zone sez & non-sez

AIRPORT

SITE

6.4acre

Institution

Site context:

750 MTS

Air lounge

The site selected a part of IT zone Tirupati, of around 6.4 acre, adjacent to the airport, which can cater the current IT requirements of the city.

Design requirement : The current IT companies in the incubation center are around 5 with a strength of around 500 employees. A 3000 occupancy campus can help the current companies to expand their strength twice and also caters new companies and startups. Low-raised development fits better for the current requirement there is no need for heavy vertical development.

Site Justification: • Plot chosen is the closest part of the IT zone to the airport runway, where the site will have some building height restrictions related to airports, so this results in low raised development on that particular plot, which best suits for the current design requirements.

• In future the IT hub develops where there will be requirement of taller structures, so the plots which are a bit far from the runway can be better for the future IT developments, these are the reasons for choosing the plot.

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Overall massing encloses in SE to catch summer winds & airport views Blocks are connected in a way to have maximum surface area exposed to the surroundings for better daylighting , ventilation & views Air lounges connecting the blocks as a means of interaction spaces

Circular and playful landscapes with unobstructed vehicular movement Oval gallery forming the nucleus of the site and design Well connected active paths as higlighters of landscape Weavy green balconies seems like running all along the site

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Biophilic workspaces

Exploded view & spatial organisation

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Biophilic workspaces

Ground floor plan

Dining interior view

Legend Food courts & Dining - 750 pax Startup office area - 1000 sq m Entrance lobby Gym & fitness clubs Gallery area

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central plaza view from the dining 7

Biophilic workspaces

Typical floor plan - core and office

Typical floor plan - mixed office layout

Floor plate efficiency Tower A Floor plate area Services area Leasable area Efficieny

- 2411 sq m - 500 sq m - 1911 sq m - 79.2 %

Core detail - tower A

Legend Tower B & C Floor plate area Services area Leasable area Efficieny

modular furniture layout open office layout free standing layout cubic office layout small team cluster layout team cluster layout

- 1625 sq m - 295 sq m - 1330 sq m - 81.8 %

Tower occupancy Tower A1 Tower A2 Tower B Tower C

Typical floor plan - open office layout Portfolio uppu vinay gandhi

- 131 - 131 - 180 - 180

Terrace floor plan 8

Biophilic workspaces

Basement floor plan

Energy & Water sustainability

Percentage of water savings - 34.95 %

Total area of the basement Total 4 wheeler parking Total 2 wheeler parking Specially abled parking

- 11571 sq m - 211 - 237 -6

The parking slots are equipped with power sockets keeping in mind about the sustainable eco-mobility.

The structural grid of 11.20 m x 11.20 m has been adopted that allows for efficient car parking and flexibility for all types of internal office planning.

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Percentage of Annual power savings - 29.40 % 9

Biophilic workspaces

Cordyline

Raphis palm

Cucad

Chalk sticks

Gymea lilly

Rhoeo

Grass tree

Philodendron

Liriope

Giant Brom

Selection of landscape on balconies:

Section BB’

All are lowest maintenance, so disturbance free maintainance during on office hours.

They all are tropical plants with a variety of leaf forms, patterns, colors, and shapes, sizes and tree forms.

When collectively planted they look so dynamic with their physical features which can impact the mood of employees..

The drip watering and most of them need a yearly trimming for fresh growth, eliminates daily care.

Some of them are short bushes and some can grow to a floor height of around 3-4 m, which allows different patterned and filtered light into the interiors.

Glazing detail

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Kurupam market

Location - Vizag, India Type - public market square Group work (2020)

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KURUPAM MARKET revival of the heritage site and the mother of markets in Vizag keywords - heritage | revival | socio-economic | sustainable | publicness Urban design studio Project Kurupam market is a revival project of a vulnerable heritage site in the city of Vizag.

The design is a result of thorough urban analysis of the neighborhood context and its people. Its a socio-economic and cultural urban public space which suits best for the people, and syncs perfectly with the context reviving the glory of the site.

It can be a prototype solving the urban problems it has, and can contribute for the urban renewal plan of the old city Vizag.

Background Kurupam market is a gift by the local king to Vizag municipality in 1914 during the coronation of King Edward VII of Great Britain. It was the first market setup in Vizag city. The market was a rectangular courtyard with four huge arches as entrances.

Natural calamities, encroachments by the locals, and the setting up of new markets ruined its function and glory. The huge arches are shed down to earth and the leftover rooms are occupied for living and small workshops, currently the site is in its most vulnerable condition.

Concept After about a century the current context has the least traces of the kurupam market, the neighborhood is a densely packed commercial area with many architectural and urban problems that need to be addressed, commonly the traffic congestion, lack of parking, shopping experience, visual and social ambiance, public realm, etc. The idea is to address these neighborhood issues with the opportunity of reviving the Kurupam market’s glory and creating a space for better social, economic, and cultural livelihood for the people.

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Kurupam market

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Kurupam market

Introduction

Vizag is a port city with the only natural harbor on the east coast of India which attracted foreign traders for 400 years from dutch to the British. It started becoming an important trade and administrative center in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. Development of the port by the British and sequential industry development saw a migration of people from near and far in search of livelihood.

This resulted in a space for the exchange of economy and goods. Kurupam market hosted these activities due to its proximity to the port and harbor.

Urban analysis

Neighborhood charecter

Since the neighborhood is one of the earliest settlements in the city, it has the most historic buildings of the city, which includes the very old schools of Vizag like Queen mary, st. Aloysius and many other religious buildings. It is known as the gold spot of the coast due to the presence of traditional gold markets for years. Most of the livelihood is based on economical activities merchandise, fishing, port labor, etc. The character of the neighborhood is old but historic and economic but rich.

Neighborhood evolution

The neighborhood evolution has been understood with the help of historic building timelines and the network connection between them. It started from the rose hill and extended north along the harbor.

Urban layers

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Kurupam market

Urban analysis inferences

Timeline - earliest settlements of the city Climate - Warm and humid coastal climate Architectural impact - local, traditional and colonial Urban fabric - very dense, low heights dominated with commercial activities and residential zones Roads - narrow, no parking, pedestrian lanes, street vendors on either sides Open spaces - hardly any green or public spaces or spaces for religious activities Visual perception - streets look colorful exhibition with gold and textile shops Heritage structures - a variety of structures like religious, institutions, town clubs, markets People - high population, low literacy rate, mostly engaged as daily labor, fishing, etc Activities - mostly socio-economic and socio-cultural Culture - mixed cultures with more significance for religious activities Identity - traditional gold merchendaise, textiles, harbor

Design intervention structure plan

Site morphology

2004

2010

2013

2020

In the early 2000s, the rectangular market block was in its actual form then by 2010 north and south arches and blocks were demolished and during 2013 most of the market blocks and the rest arches were demolished by GVMC, and then constructed the new rooms for activities.

As it was

Going

Gone

Currently the arieal view of market

Interior perspective of market once it was

Site analysis inferences strengths Ease of accessibility.

Strong socio-cultural and historical significance.

Strong architectural impact.

Defined boundaries.

High footfall rate at peak hours.

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weakness Losing its identity after the unruly construction works in the old fabric.

Lack of basic amenities in the site.

Unhygienic conditions.

Failing to attract customers due to it’s unappealing environment.

oppurtunities To improve livelihood around the market and bring back the essence of the old market.

Scope for better crowd management among the neighboring markets.

Betterment of pedestrian experience and scope for public realm in the neighborhood.

threats Encroachment of market space.

Poorna market formation and its easiness made it a threat to the Kurupam market.

Aging and deterioration of older structures.

Vulnerable to manmade and natural calamities.

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Kurupam market

Design development

Basic rectangular form as the old layout

courtyard subtraction for light and wind

Outer courtyards subtraction for visual axis, transtion, monotony breakdown, wind tunnel effect

Entrance courts subtraction as the voids, representing the 4 arches of old layout

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Kurupam market

Legend

1 - Administration 2 - Gold & textile shops 3,4- Groceries 5 - Butcher shop 6 - Temporary stalls 7 - Public toilets 8 - Metal workshops 9 - Storage 10 - Parking 11 - Housing for illegeal residents

Legend

Site plan

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1 - Gold & textile shops 2,3 - Groceries 4 - Butcher shop 5 - Temporary stalls 6 - Side courtyard 7 - Inner courtyard

Ground floor plan

Section BB’

Exploded view 16

Kurupam market

Time space analysis

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Top view showing all the different spaces

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Shankara museum complex

Location - Omkareshwar, India Type - museum complex Group work (2021)

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SHANKARA MUSEUM COMPLEX a serene setting on a serene island_Mandhata at Omkareshwar keywords - philosophy | interpretation | organic | sustainable | museum Conceptual Competition Project Acharya Shankara museum complex is a conceptual attempt with an in-depth understanding of the site and its context. The complex has an interpretation center of his theories, philosophies, life, and his journey in a futuristic way. Along with the museum exhibition, the complex has huge OAT, an auditorium, light, sound, and water shows, public spaces, view spots, and other amenities which get the attention public.

Background Acharya Shankara is a famous Indian philosopher of the 8th century with the concept of Advaita Vedanta, his teachings are based on the unity of the soul and Brahman. “Lord Brahma and men are of one essence and every individual should try to develop this vision of oneness.” The disciples of Shankara at Madhya Pradesh have decided to spread his philosophies to the present world, as a part of this they announced a competition to build a sustainable museum complex to interpret Acharya Shankara and his ideologies, with a huge 108 ft statue of Shankara.

Concept The design evolved out of Shankara’s philosophy and modernism. The island site and its context helped in the initial idealization of spaces with 360-degree serene views of Narmada and other religious spaces that oriented the structure’s design and forms. The circular museum form is inspired by the sacred object called “Kalasha” which is meant to carry the holy water and the podium base is inspired by the geometry of “Yantra” which is used in worship deities. These geometries are developed with a touch of modernism and the functional aspects of architectural design.

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Shankara museum complex

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Shankara museum complex

Site planning & site sustainability

Conceptual development

The philosophy of Advaita venta recognizes a unity in multiplicity, where Brahman is the only reality and all underlying objects are the experiences of it. The multiple paths and choices that we choose and follow in our lives are all meant for one reality which is for the inner soul of an individual.

Legend 1. Museum Complex 2. Boat Museum 3. Light, Sound & Water show 4. Cafeteria 5. Green park

The site planning and organic landscaping is not just going with the form fo the museum complex, they are actually flowing with the natural contours that the site offered and the OATs are also positioned at the steaper portions, which eventually helped in retaining the natural topographic features of the site, and that’s how the beauty being sustainable was achieved.

6. OAT 7. Outdoor cultural walk 8. Parking 9. Ticket & cloack rooms 10. Drop off

Area statement Paved surface: only walkways-15% of site area Unpaved surface: only soft scape-40% of site area Ground coverage: 40% of site area Open space: 60% of site area Vegetation Tree 1: axle wood(80) Tree 2: madhuka(9) Tree 3: babul tree(160) Tree 4: palm tree(30) The yantra podium with its symmetrical multiplicity allows a boundless centrality, which allows better crowd management in the museum, and also the circulation pattern represents the concept of unity.

Nagar ghat

Boating

Narmada bridge

The Kalasha form with the holy 108 ft statue at the center feels so eternal with the kind of volume and experience it creates inside. Circular geometries help in reducing solar heat gain.

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Parking & elevated park

Open air theatre

View points

Museum complex

Boat museum

Light, sound & water show

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Shankara museum complex 45m

65m

Central star base

Plan at +4.5 m level

Plan at +8.5 m level

Podium plan at -1 m level

Central statue base with triangles as elements of nature and spherical interactive pods as agumented galleries above them. Statue at the centre with mandu water channel fountain

Section - AA’

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Shankara museum complex

Design in layers

Exploded view of museum block

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Raising curtain

Location - Vijayawada, India Type - Auditorium Individual (2019)

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RAISING CURTAIN from a dead to an iconic auditorium of the neighborhood keywords - performance| art | waves | sustainable | auditorium III year design studio Project A redesign project of a college auditorium for both campus and leasable purposes with a capacity of 500. The design has all required amenities with a touch of modernism with the aim for better leasing to generate income for the trust based college.

Background Andhra Loyola College of Engineering Vijayawada is a very old trustbased campus with an auditorium which has been not serving its purpose. So the management decided to rebuild a new one in the same location for both college and commercial purposes.

Concept Every performance reveals with the raising of the curtains, and it creates enthusiasm in the audience, So the idea is to bring up that enthusiasm from within to outside of the auditorium so that the auditorium Itself becomes a stage with its curtain covered and looks as if it’s going to reveal the performance.

As the plot is surrounded by active areas like playgrounds, the site has more potential to be active even on non-performance days. A decent cafeteria proposal within the auditorium can be used for catering during the performances and as a cafe to the players on the grounds.

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Raising curtain

Conceptual development Area statement Site area - 8000 sq m Built up area - 2200 sq m Parking - 1800 sq m Circulation area - 2800 sq m Parking Four wheeler - 52 VIP & performares - 10 Two wheeler - 100 surroundings North - football ground South - cricket ground East - main road West - basketball & tennis

a simple cuboidal form

cube under the unveiling cloth

Sloped from stage towards the house with smoothened edges to make it look more fluid

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Site plan

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Raising curtain

Legend 1 - multiple entries 2 - entrance foyer 3 - waiting lounge 4 - reception 5 - pantry 6 - stair case 7 - box office 8 - toilet unit 9 - AHU 10 - VIP zone 11 - storage 12 - performers zone 13 - back stage rooms 14 - stage of 16 x 7 m 15 - house capacity of 500+ 16 - service lift 17 - cafeteria

Ground floor plan

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Legend 1 – lobby cutout 2 – projector rooms 3 – stair case 4 – lifts 5 – AHU 6 – entry into house 7 – toilets 8 – administration 9 – press room 10 – house capacity of 500+ 11 – stage 12 – performers toilets 13 – rehearsal rooms 14 – dining area 15 – pantry 16 – hand wash area 17 – janitor room

First floor plan

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Raising curtain

Louvered facade design

Acoustics design

Section - XX”

Circulation design

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Coffee crush

Location - Vijayawada, India Type - cafeteria Individual (2018)

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COFFEE CRUSH A refreshing break out for SPAV campus keywords - love | coffee | organic | sustainable | cafeteria II year design studio Project The project is a cafeteria proposal for our newly built SPAV campus. A quiet contrasting sustainable space within the concrete SPAV campus breaks the bounds of forms and materials of the campus with keen knowledge the context.

Background Before the SPAV campus, the site was a green pocket in the heart of the city where people used to spend their time in the morning and evening. Now it is a concrete mass after the construction of our college (SPAV) and this has taken away the quality of the site and made people forget about it.

Concept A space to break for a coffee, after long boring hours .usually we see canteens in offices and colleges. The love of coffee makes one drive towards the canteen. So taking coffee crush as the concept, the form of the cafe imagined as coffee beans in the form of a heart.

So the feel of individuals towards coffee can be seen in the form of the building.

Also going out of the context of our college design to bring a very unique sense to the site through this cafe using very the least concrete and more natural materials to bring back the natural feel of the site as before, also sustainable. So that outsiders start coming back to the site and their bonding with the site gets recreated.

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Coffee crush

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Coffee crush

Concept developement Informal dining above

dining

kitchen pantry

Formal dining below

Coffee heart beans

Tilted dome for the nearest hill views

spatial segregation

Site context

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Coffee crush

Ground floor plan

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Section - XX’

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