The studio is strategised as a series of analytical tasks interspersed with short design exercises that will prepare us for the final battle. The tasks are centered around identifying and critiquing the transformations in the unit [house/home] and the block through the lens of society, culture, technology, regulations, and delivery. The short design exercises act both as a measure of analytical understanding and as dry runs for the final project.
This final month long battle will be on a 1.5 hectare battlefield in Ahmedabad.
Image: STUDIO STRUCTURE | MONSOON SEMESTER 2019 | JULY - NOVEMBER
Attack of the Clones
Episode II of Oikopolis
The housing clones are increasingly becoming sophisticated by hiding their repetitiveness under the facade of variations. This has struck at the heart of human existence- that of a social being. Our counter attack, therefore, shall aim at the core of the clones- the prototypical unit in the garb of a 2/3 BHK, the standard point/slab block tower and a checklist of amenities. This counter attack will require us to go deep into enemy territory to understand the inner workings that produce such banal environments, and this comes at the risk of becoming one with them.
PREPARATIONS FOR TIME PROBLEMS
'HOW MUCH AND WHAT CAN ONE DESIGN BEFORE ONE GETS THE PROJECT?'
THESE PREPARATIONS INCLUDE CHECKLISTS, GUIDELINES, STRATEGIES, PRE-DESIGNED COMPONENTS, CONFIGURATIONS AND MANY MORE.
IT IS NOT MANDATORY TO USE THESE DURING THE TIME PROBLEM, PROVIDED A BETTER SOLUTION IS ACHIEVED.
30 AUGUST 2019
TIME PROBLEM 4
An overhead water tank came crashing down on 24th August 2017 at Ekta Apartments, Shastri
Nagar [linked article]. Shaken by this occurrence, 72 home owners decided to redevelop Ekta apartments.
The new rule of 4 F.S.I. near transit corridors has allowed them to finance the reconstruction through sale of extra flats. The project is under the auspices of the affordable housing mission and will be done through a PPP model. [contd..]
Duration - 24 Hours
27 JULY 2019
TIME PROBLEM 2
Design housing on the given plot. The plot measures 100 X 100 metres. Both roads [to the south and to the west of the plot] are 18 meter roads. The design should be building regulation compliant.
Unit plans, floor plans [including basement parking if any], and site plan are required.
Duration - 24 Hours
08 AUGUST 2019
TIME PROBLEM 3
Both Gota and Ognaj villages were once considered outside the city. The development of Vasantnagar Township, however, is symptomatic of the relentless spread of the city towards outlying villages.
Given this site context, the developer proposes to build small houses at a price range of 20 lakhs.
The developer has no plans to purchase the additional FSI due to current market prices in this area [approx. Rs.3500/sq.ft super built up].
Duration - 24 Hours
THE FINAL BATTLE
BRIEF
A green belt was earmarked at the outer edge of Ahmedabad in the mid twentieth century. The city has expanded considerably and this green open land is slowly being built over due to urban pressures. Propose a scheme on this 1.1 hectare land which has a permissible F.S.I. of 1.8 with a possibility to purchase an additional 0.8. Developer approaches you to suggest a scheme. The developer intends to select an architect based on your presentation.
CONTACT
PEOPLE
PROF. VISHWANATH KASHIKAR | Tutor
Vishwanath Kashikar is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and is currently conducting design studios for Bachelors and Masters of Architecture at CEPT University. He completed his Diploma Architecture degree from CEPT University in 2000 and an M.A.(Arch) by research degree at N.U.S, Singapore in 2006. Vishwanath has been a visiting faculty at CEPT since 2002 and joined as a full time teacher in 2008. His main area of interest is urban housing and he has conducted and guided several research projects in housing.