Hi, I'm Kahin
and these are some of my experiments.
I studied architecture at Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture, from where I graduated in 2019. After graduation, I have worked on projects at various scales, in several capacities - collaborative and individual designs, competitions, studies, and research.
I enjoy working with nature - designing and building microhabitats to house and study small ecologies. I've built several aquatic and terrestrial enclosures that mimic crucial relationships and balances in nature. More recently, I've experimented with aero-ecologies, (similar to the ecologies you find in "cloud forests").
I have also worked to create productive or functional ecosystems, such as vegetable and flower patches, greywater recycling systems, water retention landscapes, and pollinator-friendly landscapes. I hope to build these experiments up to the scale of ecological restoration.
Over the course of the pandemic, I've collaborated with various individuals on some extremely exciting projects, many of which I've featured in this collection of my work. Through these projects, and through great collaborations, I have been able to explore new forms of design and studies, and work with briefs that encourage me to think outside of the box. In every role I take on, I bring a particular set of skills that I believe would be indispensable to the project.
The practice I aspire to create is centred around four basic canons:
using crowdsourcing and mass collaborative efforts; building upwards from a hyperlocal, micro-ecological, or regional context; understanding and applying principles of natural systems to design; the free and open dissemination of information and knowledge.
This website is a tool for me to disseminate what I have learned, and the following projects are steps I am taking towards that ideal practice.
hand skills
Hand sketching
Digital drawing (tablet)
Digital drawing (computer)
Micro-planting
Aquascaping
Microhabitat setup
writing and speaking
Formal essays and instructional articles
Formal reports
Reviews and document synopsis
Correspondence and communiques
Blogs
Presentation and public speaking
Recorded narration
data collection
Quantitative data collection
Photo and video documentation
Archeological photo documentation
Photogrammetry
Audio Recording
Qualitative data collection
Questionnaires and surveys
Interviews
Secondary data collection from public records and websites
Geolocation and geotagging
Recording alternative location cues (landmarks and vectors)
works-in-progress
Google Earth API
Python for Data Analysis
ArcGIS
Blender
Meshroom
softwares
Microsoft Office Suite
Google office suite
Google forms
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Indesign
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Photoshop
iMovie
Google Earth Studio
SketchUp
Lumion
Rhino (limited workflows)
AutoCAD
Google Earth
QGIS
ArcGIS (limited workflows)
Google Maps (custom maps)
WIX Web Design GUI
Wordpress Web Design GUI
Blogger
Wordpress blog
Concepts
Adobe Illustrator Draw
Adobe Fresco
Procreate
data analysis
Data organisation, tabulation or collation
Qualitative data organisation
Mathematical operations on quantitative data
Data extraction using existing scripts
Quick visualisation with Excel or Google workflows
Visualisation design and production using vector and tools
Skillset
Workflows
landscape visualisation
> digital sketch on Concepts
> vector correction on Illustrator
> planting plans on AutoCAD
> detailed model on SketchUp
> terrain modelling on Rhino
> material render on Lumion
> material customisation
> plant layout on Lumion
> terrain design on Lumion
> plant layout on Lumion
> waterbody design on Lumion
> sun and weather effects
> photorealistic effects on Lumion
> photo export on Lumion
> walkthrough design on Lumion
> video export on Lumion
> video editing in Premiere Pro
architectural visualisation
> design drawing on AutoCAD
> colorification on Photoshop
> presentation on Powerpoint
> detailed model on SketchUp
> material render on Twilight
geospatial analysis (GIS)
> vector delineation in QGIS
> attribute assignment to vectors
> export attributes to CSV or XLSX
> export to SHP or DWG
> cleaning of vectors on AutoCAD
> vector drawing on Illustrator
> production of data + map on Illustrator
> data viz. of attributes on Excel
> combining vector maps + data viz. on Illustrator
> raster data addition on QGIS
> raster data extraction on QGIS
> raster and vector overlays
> raster analysis on QGIS
> water system scripts on QGIS
> open source raster tools on QGIS
> layout design on QGIS
> Georeferenced PDF export
> export layout to images on QGIS
> DEM data to grid data on QGIS
> importing grid data to Rhino
> exporting vectors from Rhino
> vector drawing production on Illustrator
data analysis and design
> survey layout on Illustrator
> graphic cue design
> Spreadsheet organization as per survey on Excel
> survey design on Google Forms
> data extraction from GF
> data viz. extraction from GF
> interactive data viz. publication on web using plug-ins
> tabulation of data on Excel
> data formulations in Excel
> basic data viz. export on Excel
> data viz. sketch on Concepts
> data viz. vector drawing
> vector export to Illustrator for publishing
> data viz. export from Excel
> data viz. design based on Excel charts on Illustrator/Photoshop
> vector data viz. on AutoCAD
> data viz. design on Illustrator
> presentation on InDesign
map design
> geolocation on Google Maps
> raster merging on Photoshop
> vector tracing on Illustrator
> layout design on InDesign
> digital trace on Concepts
> raster colorization on Procreate
> OSM/GE terrain data export
> analytical sketching on Concepts
> export to SVG or Illustrator
> vector exports on Illustrator
> interactive web map design on WIX with multiple vectors
architectural design
> digital sketch on Concepts
> drawing on AutoCAD
> volumetric model on Sketchup
> diagram design on Illustrator
Contents
01 the green loo deal
a competition entry to design a community toilet using a closed loop water recycling and large rainwater harvesting facility
03 monsoon mumbai
a data-driven project to analyse flooding and inundation patterns in the city of Mumbai
05 ecological mapping
ecological mapping and tree delineation for my design dissertation
07 data design and retrieval
miscellaneous strategies to retrieve and visualise data for various projects
09 plantscapes and microhabitats
projects where I have designed small-scale closed loop ecological systems using microplanting
02 alternative mapping
an experimental project to document more-than geographical data on maps
04 bombay: building a utopia
a project using open source geospatial information to index the microecologies of Mumbai
06 ecoremediation flow diagrams
a set of flow diagrams for eco-remediation of wastewater from the design dissertation building
08 fractal morphologies
a research project examining the effects of water and wind and climate on fractals in nature
10 landscape explorations
the design and planting of a pollinator friendly flower garden in Vapi
11 current projects
displaying visuals from two ongoing projects in Karjat and Vapi
Water supply pipes, following a fractal branching pattern
Greywater discharging into reed beds for each unit
The Green Loo Deal
type | ARCHITECTURE // RESILIENT DESIGN status | COMPLETED year | 2020
in partnership with | SAYALEE GOLATKAR / NISHANT PAI
Selected among the top 50 entries internationally
Designed as the entry for a competition to create a modular community toilet, we worked on a proposal to focus on a closed loop service system that bolsters water and economic resilience for the community.
The ideal of ‘hygienic sanitation’ is deeply intertwined with the notion of 21st century urbanity. Flushing toilets and a constant water supply necessitate the existence of a well-planned sanitation infrastructure. The high densities of urban areas call for a centralized system, with innumerable moving parts that require constant upkeep. In India, only 1/3rd off the population resides in an urban area, with the remaining 3/4th living in rural areas. As of 2018, 65% of the urban population had access to basic sanitation facilities, while in the rural areas, a meagre 34%. India is also home to various tribal and nomadic groups that live in isolated areas, without access to basic amenities. These vulnerable groups are where sanitation is most required. One such isolated area is Sanjay Gandhi National Park, an island of biodiversity protected from the concrete jungle of Mumbai. 2000 tribal (Adivasi) families call this place home, strewn around 50 hamlets (Pada), which are not connected to Mumbai’s sanitation grid. Most of the tribals living here belong to the Warli community, known as the protectors of the forest, depending on the National Park for their livelihoods.Navpada is one such hamlet, home to around 300 Warlis. The indigenous typology of the step well (kund) is used, with the rise and fall of the water level creating a dynamic community space. Visitors can learn about the Warli communities’ practices of forest conservation and sustainable management. The area around the toilet is landscaped using local plants and fruits that are sold at the community kiosk to visitors , making the toilet a source of income for the community, ensuring that it is maintained and well-kept so as to be a continuous source of income. The Green Loo attempts to create a closed loop sanitation system which can function off the grid, acting as transient community space for the settlement, and aid in building lasting water and economic security. This toilet is imagined as a set of systems and practices that can be replicated by communities throughout India, customising it to the geographic and socio-political context, using local material and labour to build it, with a zero-carbon footprint and complete independence from an external grid.
The materials used in this building are materials that are sourced from the local area. Clay bricks and mud plaster walls make the main body of the toilet. Earth extracted to create the stepwell is used to contour the surrounding landscape - this creates water pools in the monsoon that percolate into the ground gradually, recharging the groundwater.
Click on the image to magnify.
An exploded 3D view showing the various programmes, spaces, and technologies
Click on the image to magnify.
A section through the building with details of the various water collection and processing systems
views of what the functioning toilet would look like, with the community using the spaces
the closed loop services system
The closed loop system manages all the waste created in the toilet in a sustainable manner.
A composting toilet system uses bacteria that decompose human waste into dry compost that is used to grow plants along the berms. Processed urine is sent to a duckweed pond where the floating plants process the excess nutrients out. The greywater is flushed through a froth filter and into a constructed marshland where it is treated slowly, and finally used for cultivating plants.
Rainwater and dew is collected and funnelled into a stepwell (kund).
Collected water is pumped into the toilets for washing purposes.
Click on the image to magnify.
A schematic section showing the two movements of water within the building: rainwater collection and greywater treatment.
Click on the image to magnify.
A flow diagram showing the movement of waste material out of the composting toilet, and how each form of waste is processed and added to the local landscape.
landscaping with local flora
The landscaping around the proposed building serves several purposes: macrophytic plants are used to process the greywater runoff in the constructed marshlands, and shrubs and flowering plants are used to mask the odours of the waste created by the system. Flowering orchids and shrubs, and fruiting trees are cultivated using the compost from the toilet. These in turn help the community by generating a source of income for the local users, building economic security. The crop from the landscape is sold at the kiosk. Since this project is situated within a national park, we have only considered plants that are part of the existing ecosystem. Below are some examples of these plants.
ABOVE: The landscape incorporates a way to use the waste created in the toilets as a source of compost, on which a variety of local plants are grown to be harvested and sold to generate income for the maintenance and upkeep of the toilet.
BELOW: The plants chosen in the landscape consist of flowering and fruiting plants, all endemic or part of the natural ecosystem in the national park.
A site plan showing all the housing units clustered around the various scales of public spaces generated by the fractal form.
Alternative Mapping
type | Geospatial Design status | COMPLETED year | 2019
creating maps with more-than geographical data
This project is an attempt to create maps using vectors of movement and direction rather than ordinary coordinate grids. While coordinate grids are used to create the underlying framework of the maps, it is these maps can actually give a very accurate description of subject locations using directional symbols, vector descriptions and location details.
the tourist map of Kanyakumari
The promenade along the southernmost tip of India is extremely choreographed. There are beaches, temples, markets, hawker bazaars, pandals, observation decks, and parks. Being a "day trip", tourists flock to the importing sightseeing "points" - Sunrise Point, the Swami Vivekananda Rock ferry trip, the Temples and shrines, and finally, Sunset Point.
Navigating this part of the city may be a matter of following the neighbour - but, if you don't know which way to look, you may miss out on some great views.
I've created a map with coordinate data at specific points, with directions that orient you in the way you need to go and which direction you need to be looking in to see correct view. It also lists the different routes taken by various modes of transport, so that you can find your way to public transport if you are lost.
ABOVE: The map of Kanyakumari's promenade, including all the modes of transport, movement, and important sightseeing points, in a format accessible to anyone on social media.
BELOW: Details of the map styling, the vectors and directional arrows to guide tourists on which direction to look
the heritage tree walk by in the Fort precinct of Mumbai
This method of mapping is an experiment in using verbal or landmark based vectors instead of georeferenced points in a map ("turn right at the old building with the arches").
The Bombay Natural History Society, one of the oldest NGOs of India, organised a heritage tree walk, where the ecologist guided us through a series of trees brought to India or cultivated from Indian forests by British naturalists. The trees we observed with local or regional, naturalised, or exotic.
Since these trees were often planted near or around iconic buildings (such as the University Building or Rajabai Clock Tower), I used this as a lens to filter geographical position data; and create a instructional map to identify all the trees.
The locations of all trees were geotagged during the walk, and the position relative to the iconic buildings was noted. Furthermore, the vector of our movements along the roads was catalogued as well.
By doing this, we have a rather accurate geographical descriptor of the trees' locations. A photograph of the tree and relevant data is aligned with its location relative to the nearest recognisable landmark. This is "Line 1" of the tree's address. The vector of movement between two points along the roads is considered as "Line 2" of the tree's address. Using this method, all the trees along the walk can be identified multiple times from multiple locations without any coordinate data.
ABOVE: The strip of vector directions and plant details that would allow you to correctly locate and describe the trees the were shown to us on BNHS's heritage tree walk.
BELOW: Details of the map styling, the textual vectors of movement along the roads, the relative location of the trees the the nearest landmark or building, and the descriptors of the trees so that they can be correctly identified at the location.
Monsoon Mumbai
type | Geospatial Research status | ONGOING year | 2020
in partnership with | AKANKSHA KALA
using topographical, geospatial, and archival data to map flooding in Mumbai
Akanksha and I began experimenting with these mediums for data-driven studies after the monsoons of 2020.
I primarily used open access topographical and geospatial data to create various maps of Mumbai's natural geography and related watershed systems.
Akanksha used R, an open source software to retrieve data from archival internet sources such as newspaper articles and publication, tabulating the amount of "hits" (i.e., the frequency of flooding reported) a particular area gets.
Further, in this study, we plan to overlay the data from Akanksha's analysis onto the topographical maps of Mumbai. This will allow us to propose interventions where a flooding area is connected or opened into it's natural watershed to limit flooding and channel the water into collection areas or the sea.
water nollie - analysis of water and terrestrial areas
The first map in this project is a simple vectorised map based on Google Earth Data to look at the ratios of closed land to water accessible areas. As the next part of this study, we are creating a map delineating Mangrove ecosystems to understand the proportion of wetland areas to dry terrestrial habitats.
A grid-wise analysis of this map shows that most of mumbai's geography is linked to a major water system.
elevation models
Using raster analysis in GIS, we are able to determine the elevation (and frequency of elevation change) of various areas in Mumbai. We can see that the higher parts of Mumbai, i.e., the hills in Sanjay Gandhi National Park have a higher rate of elevation change as compared to the rest of the city. These landscapes are more resilient against floods since their natural terrain and watersheds are intact
inundation map
Using raster calculations in GIS, on open source DEM data, we can ascertain the probability of flooding at different elevations. For example, the light blue represents flooded areas when inundated 1 M above sea level. Upon comparing this to OSM Landscape maps, the majority of 1 M and 2 M flooding zones are within mangroves. However, The 4 M and 8 M flooding zones in blue can flood easier than the higher ground in purple and pink.
channels and drainage networks
Using raster analysis tools available on GIS softwares, we are able to create a complex delineation of drainage network and rivers of various Strahler orders from the DEM data. However, when this data is overlayed onto OSM's general use maps, there are deviations between the "geographical" river basins and the actual river basins. Understanding this deviation is key to restoring the natural watershed of Mumbai.
the Mithi river watershed and sources
Further raster calculations of the Strahler order channel data yields the major river networks throughout suburban Mumbai - studied closely, the Mithi river originates from the basins of Vihar Lake, along with an overflow from Powai Lake.
Overlaying this map onto Landscape maps, we see that several channels coincide with the locations of our drainage infrastructure. If we can further bolster this drainage infrastructure to cater to the extended watersheds of these areas, we could mitigate flood risks in several areas.
data analysis based of reporting of floods in online and print media
Below are two charts generated using code to retrieve, analyse and tabulate over 700 archived entries from the internet.
Akanksha has designed the code to look specifically for words such as "flood" and "under water", using the analytical software to extract location data from articles that contain these words. The software then creates a tally repeated location hits and runs a frequency analysis on the data which tells us how often a particular area is being flooded. However, there are issues with redundant locations - we are currently experimenting with a ward-wise collation of this data.
Although this is rather interesting, we also need to consider reporting bias when we look at these numbers: which is why it is important for us to correlate the elevation and inundation data created in using GIS with this data to filter it better.
TOP: The "location hits" or number of reportings of floods in a particular area in Mumbai
BOTTOM: An analysis of the frequency of flood related reporting from different news outlets
Bombay: Building a Utopia
type | Geospatial Research/Urban Research status | ONGOING year | 2015
in partnership with | APURVA PARIKH
Bombay: Building a Utopia - GARDENS
indexing and mapping ecologies in Mumbai
Apurva and I started this project in 2020, with the aim to document and virtually represent macro and micro-ecologies throughout Mumbai. Initially, this project was set to be a series of experimental exhibitions showcasing different ecological features in Mumbai, such as soil, rock, and plant morphology. However, during the pandemic, we decided it would be better to make this archive of information available to any users online.
Multidisciplinary collaborators would use the index map (the gridded map to the right) to identify their local context. The grids are subdivided into 9KM and 3KM grids and a person can identify the local ecologies that they would like to study within their grid.
The second part of this project in Indexing ecologies on open maps using Google Maps. We have identified over 200 individual ecologies in the city including parks, ponds, artificial lakes, tanks, nullahs, and estuarine ecosystems.
We have begun creating online hyperlinks to metadata that can be quickly retrieved through search queries. This metadata is to be built by the collaborators who would identify ecologies within their grids, and provide documentation and data related to these ecologies.
Over time, we hope to build this repository of data up to a point where we can use it to influence the way we design and think about urban spaces - working with the ecologies and not against them.
Bombay: Building a Utopia is a larger urban theory project created by Apurva Parikh, partner at aDRG. I worked on this project as a research assistant when it was being set up in 2015.
Bombay: Building a Utopia - GARDENS is a collaborative effort between Apurva and I to map local ecologies of Mumbai, and use it to drive urban and architectural explorations in the city.
How it works on the website
We have recently begun uploading all the maps we have created so far, including Estuaries, Freshwater Ecologies, Constructed Aquatic Ecologies, and Intertidal Zones.
As this website is not online yet, I have attached below a series of images that demonstrate how the interface that we have designed is to be used.
First, the user will find their locality on the map interface and zoom in to view the local ecologies that we have mapped and geotagged.
Next, upon clicking on a named point to select it, a tab will open to the left showing details of the location. You can use this to identify the ecology or find directions to this ecology.
However, for the metadata search, copy the CODE onto your clipboard.
Paste the CODE into the query bar beneath the Map and press enter.
Alternatively, you can search for the ecology by name, ecology type, location, or partial code to get an index of similar ecologies
The search query will return an exact match for the code you have entered and take you to an individual blog post. These posts will be populated with data from collaborators.
see the maps in action
These maps have been created using tabulated data from excel, uploaded to Google Maps.
The following map of freshwater ecologies lists 27 ecologies through the city of Mumbai. Each tab has data with the name, location, and coordinates of the closest accessible point. Click on an ecology to find out more.
Points that we have mapped are coloured squares.
When the Bombay: Building a Utopia site is live, it will be displayed on this page as a link.
Ecological Mapping and Visualisation
type | Academic/Geospatial Analysis status | COMPLETED year | 2019
using on-site documentation and secondary data sources to map the tree cover at my dissertation site in IIT Bombay
My design dissertation for B.Arch explored the idea of building an large-scale fabrication and research centre for IIT Bombay on a greenfield site. The key to this design would be ensuring that the building does not affect the ecological resilience of the site.
The site chosen was a strip of forested land between Vihar lake (north) and Powai lake (south). To better analyse the site, I subdivided it into various scales of grids and performed a visual analysis of tree cover, open space, and weed cover based on satellite images. Further, using open satellite data, I was able to perform a rudimentary temperature analysis.
Most importantly, I documented all the trees on site, and reproduced them at scale on the map. If you click on the map, you will find the trees are patterned according to their actual appearance on site. Further, the tree delineation analysis below identifies each of the trees on the map by their pattern of representation
tree delineation
As seen in the image above, the trees are delineated based on three factors: sub-system, frequency and proliferation of a species of tree found on site.
Sub-system refers to the number of interdependent species that are part of a particular tree's micro-ecology. Keystone trees are the most important of these.
Frequency is a measure of the number of trees on site.
Proliferation is the ability of the species to reproduce and survive till maturity, based on data from secondary sources
Using this delineation method, we are able to identify important trees and our attitude towards these trees is based of their ability to proliferate, the frequency on site, and the complexity of their sub-systems. Attitudes include replanting, keeping as is, and removing entirely.
Further, this delineation of trees helps inform the landscape decision to help create a healthy ecotone and successional ecosystem as part of the building's landscape.
The design of the building happens such that Keystone tree species from the forested region are planted as part of the landscape around the building. In about 250 years, when the building is dismantled, the landscape below the building creates an ideal place for a successional ecosystem to thrive. The keystone species bridge ecotone created by the building's landscape and it becomes one forest - effectively increasing the forest area.
Dissertation Design
the understory of a building
The building is designed as a series of elevated blocks containing climate-controlled laboratories connected to service cores by an elevated corridor.
Below the labs, however, a slender structure meets the ground. The majority of the ground beneath the building is soft landscaping including leaf litter, moss, and understory shrub growth, depending on the depth and light penetration of the area. This kind of landscaping allows the soil microbiome to stay healthy, aiding successional ecologies after the life cycle of the building.
You can see the this form clearly in the sectional drawing on the right and below. For more details, click on the plan above to magnify it.
click on the links below for a more in-depth look at my dissertation design project
Eco-remediation and Flow Diagrams
type | Academic/Biophilic Design status | COMPLETED year | 2017
using flow diagrams to explore the processing of wastewater and air using ecological processes
The building I designed for my design dissertation was a Nanotechnology Centre - to fabricate and conduct research on nanomaterials.
In these processes, a lot of processed air and water would have be cycled through the labs and lab equipment - and then disposed of. However, treating the water and air on-site would help reduce the ecological impact of the building.
water remediation system
For treatment of the wastewater originating from the nanofabrication labs, I considered the most water-intensive process as an example to work on a plan for the bioremediation of water.
The process considered used high amounts of purified water with a liquid film solvent to react with the nanomaterials. This water would be disposed of. However, since this contained heavy metals, it would not be directly disposed of: using a process known as biohydrometallurgy, the heavy metal content of the water could be removed by microorganisms, after which the water further enters a saltwater evaporator which removes dissolved salts from the water. This water can then be re-used for the climate control or cooling systems.
Furthermore, water that is not initially contaminated by processes is cycled back into a seperate water system to be used as coolants for various equipments. This system would require a far more complex system than general use buildings.
Finally, all recycled or treated greywater is pushed through a basic reed bed to remove chemical traces.
air remediation system
To maintain the pure air in Clean Rooms and labs (as little as 10 suspended particles per cubic meter), the air in the building is repeatedly cycled through an HVAC system with arrays of HEPA-filters and ULPA-filters. This would lead to a gradual build-up of chemical volatiles in the air that is being circulated within the spaces.
I explored the idea of using plants of different types to remove some volatile molecules in the air and re-oxygenate the air before cycling it back into the complex. However, secondary air would not make it to the ultraclean rooms - it would be cycled among the Clean Corridors and Class 1000 labs.
Ecoremediation of the Irla Nullah
slowing down water with the landscape
The Health Park was an academic project undertaken in the final year of my B.Arch programme.
In this project, I built a "park" along the Irla Nullah, which used super-sized portal arches to suspend screens and create temporarily covered spaces for use.
Crucially, my attitude towards the nullah was to remove the concretitized edge and build the landscape into a "soft edge". Using berms and mounds throughout the site, I created a water retention landscape that would work to slow down and soak up floodwater, rather than allow it to form a deluge across the site. The plants in the landscape kept the soil in place and created enclaves that could be used as outdoor recreation spaces.
Ideally, if this paradigm was replicated through the length of the entire nullah, this would help deal with flooding in the area.
Data Design and Retrieval
type | VISUALISATION status | ONGOING year | 2016 - Current
the mapping and delineation of amenities along the Irla Nullah
The Health Park was based on a mapping of the amenities in various neighborhoods in Juhu. We collected data for this from two sources: site surveys (qualitative data) and the Development Plan of Mumbai (quantitative data).
Using the form on the right, we were able to ascertain key features of each neighbourhood, including walkability, access to public transport, and access to amenities and infrastructure. We used this data to generate "cards" that made it easier to visualise the entire neighbourhood in terms of these key elements.
Taking this a step further, we tabulated Land Use data from the DP to determine the amount of land allocated to each public amenity, and create visualisations of this data. The resulting data helped us create a planning strategy that allowed us to insert public infrastructure and amenities on a neighbourhood-basis.
The Data cards created for each zone of the area we studied, tabulating the walkability and accessibility of each site based on the survey forms
A visualization of the amenities prescribed for each zone by the Development Plan of Mumbai. The existing amenity density is compared to the actual amenity density on the left.
quantitative data retrieval from site observations
As part of the NACTO GDCI initiative to make more parts of the city accessible to pedestrians, we performed a study to quantify the number of vehicles and type of vehicles passing through the intersection at different hours of the day. Since we are counting large numbers of vehicles during rush hour, NACTO had designed a graphic shorthand to help record the numbers.
The form on the right is an example of quantitative on-site data collection.
online surveys and data tabulation
In 2020, I created a survey to quantify the amount of resources households use. This included water, energy, and food.
Within each category, I structured the questions such that they could have multiple choice, numerical answers that could be easily tabulated.
Using google forms, I was able to get a basic visualisation of the data collected in these forms. The data can be exported to sheets and processed further to get a better idea of how the data can be analysed.
Creating forms often requires "beta testing", or a few controlled responses to re-formulate and structure questions to get the most effective data.
Some of the graphics generating using Google Forms can be viewed on the right.
You can also answer this form here.
topographical river basin visualisation of Ladakh
In partnership with Rhea Shah
In 2019, I assisted with creating graphic visualisations for an article by Rhea. The visualisation above is an example of using large-interval topographical data to create a 3D view of the landscape. The view is then exported as sections which are then superimposed onto a watershed and drainage map created using DEMs on GIS.
The resulting graphic as seen above sees the correlation between deep river valleys and the location of drainage channels according to geospatial data.
Click on the image above to see the details of the illustration.
an analysis of the riverbed of the Morar river
The visualisations above are from a group study conducted as part of a design studio in 2016.
The Morar river on the outskirts of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is little more than a glorified drain during the dry seasons. However, when it rains, the "channel" has a tendency to flood, depending on the amount of rainwater coursing through the storm drains of the city at the time. Based on this data, we created visual transects of the river at different points, identifying the likelihood of a certain area's inundation. This can be seen in the middle column of transects above. From these transects, you can also see the meandering of the channel within the full basing, and get an idea of the proportion of water to dry riverbed.
The set of transects on the far right delineate the land use of the river basin when there is no flooding.
Fractal Morphologies
type | RESEARCH/BIOPHILIC DESIGN status | ONGOING year | 2019
a study to understand the fractal forms in geomorphology, biology, and technology
In 2019, I started an exploration of fractals in botanical morphology. The way plants grow and replicate with the absolute minimum number of genetic commands was an area of interest to me. This stemmed from discussions with my friend of how fractals are the essential mathematical formulae for the universe to create and replicate processes easily. This works by scaling, self-similarity and repetition. I started documenting fractals see using satellite imagery, and have compiled a short study explaining the math behind fractal geomorphology and botany.
You can click on either of the links below to see this in detail.
Fractal morphologies observed in lichen growing on a dead branch Click on "Botanical Fractals" to learn more
Fractal forms in the fjords along Norway's coastline. Rivulets lead to rivers lead to small fjords lead to large fjords, as seen in the progression of images (bottom to top)
Generative Microhousing
Take our explorations of fractal morphologies a step further, we were able to design a mass housing project that was "generated" using fractal operations. The idea was that most mathematical fractals have properties such as "infinite surface area vs. minimal volume". We theorised that creating a building using a fractal would give us a great open-space-to-housing-volume ratio.
We used simple fractal commands to organise housing units (mirror, rotate and shift) in increasing orders of 3, 9, 27, and 81 housing units. The open space for 3 units was for "neighbours" to use, whereas the open space for 81 units catered to the entire community. Thus, we designed self-similar open spaces at each order of the fractal. This led to a form a seen on the right.
fractal services delineation
The fractal organisation of housing units also helped inform an intuitive fractally generated service network for water supply and stormwater drainage and water collection. As seen in the diagrams on the right, the service systems repeat themselves at smaller scales. This is a quick and easy way to delineate complex urban networks such as storm drainage and greywater recycling systems at a neighbourhood level.
Click on the link below to view the project in greater detail.
Public spaces and areas for generating income organised accommodating the scale of each cluster
Rainwater collection of the entire site including a small tank for three units, a mid-size tank for nine units and a cluster tank for the whole area
Selected among the top 50 entries internationally
type | ARCHITECTURE / BIOPHILIC DESIGN status | COMPLETED year | 2019
in partnership with | SAYALEE GOLATKAR / NISHANT PAI
Plantscapes and Microhabitats
type | NATURE DESIGN status | ONGOING year | 2019
betta habitat
In 2019, I took up the practice of aquascaping as an ancillary skill to learn more about the way ecological systems and feedback loops function. The first of these large - scale explorations was the conceptualisation and design of an aquatic microhabitat for the freshwater fish Betta splendens. Native to South-East asia, this fish is found commonly in pools of run-off water around rice fields. It creates bubble nests and takes shelter among the dense aquatic weed foliage that can be found in such pools of water.
Based on this, I designed a blackwater habitat (organic materials release tannins in the water, giving it a dark tinge.
Adding tannins to the water effectively changes the aquatic chemistry, making it easier for the fish to thrive. Most stagnant ponds and small water bodies in forests are effectively blackwater ecosystems because of all the organic matter that falls into them.
On the right, you can see the difference between clearwater and blackwater habitats.
The betta habitat was planted specifically with plants such as Cryptocoryne axelrodii and Anubias nana which grow into dense clumps under the surface of the water, giving the betta ample hiding space - and a low-flow area where it can build it's bubble nest without disruption.
The bettas fins are particularly delicate, so, in the design on the habitat, I took care to avoid using sharp objects just as lava rocks or twigs. The dense stems and moss beds allow the betta space to rest and watch the surface for prey (the betta diet consists mainly of surface-skimming insects).
experimental plantscapes
In 2020, I was able to explore a different kind of micro-planting: using epiphytic moss as a medium for water adsorption, I created a set of wabi-kusa setups that work like moss-covered tree trunks in cloud forests - supporting an aerial ecosystem entirely devoid of soil. As a medium, I used a clay pot produced in Japan - one which allows water to percolate through at different rates depending on the level of water available in the central reservoir.
Click on the sketch on the right to see more details of how this works.
This system is a great example of using moss as a "wicking" material for water - moss is a fractal plant with an extremely high surface area, making it a hydrophilic medium. The water that is soaked up through the moss forms a microscopic film the prevents aerial roots from drying out. This medium is used for epiphytic aquatic plants.
This concept was replicated on the surface of a lava rock (seen in the image below), where moss is used as a water wicking material to keep the air around the rock laden with moisture. The plant Anubias coffeefolia, a type of epiphytic plant grows in the crags of the rock.
the Indian pond riparium
In 2021, I conceptualised an put together a dynamic plantscape. The "Indian River" riparium is a micro-set up with plants from the Western Ghats of India.
The set-up mimics the conditions at the edge of a seasonal pond. Although the majority of the leaves in this set-up are emersed (i.e., grow above the surface of the water), these are aquatic plants that can be grown underwater. As this riparium is designed, the soil is kept moist through the year - this ensures that the plants don't dry out.
During the monsoon season, I begin inundating the riparium with water - eventually, the plants will be partially or fully underwater during peak monsoon. Once the dry season sets in again, the water will be drained out to slightly-below the soil surface.
This treatment of the plants will result in them building up resilience to intermittent flooding and dry spells, allowing them to thrive in either situation.
The plants I selected for this 'scape include:
Lagenandra meeboldii. v. Keralansis: a plant that grows in lakes and slow rivers in Kerala
Cryptocoryne spiralis "Tiger": a plant found throughout india in freshwater pools and streams
Rotala "Wayanad": a plant found in flooded rice paddies in Kerala
Landscapes
type | NATURE DESIGN status | ONGOING year | 2020
in partnership with | RHEA SHAH
designing the landscape for a pollinator garden at Vapi
The pollinator garden was designed for a small corner plot at the edge of a larger plantation. Using rock walls, the ground was built up to a slight elevation, giving the smaller garden a deeper appearance.
The highest wall behind the garden is the structure for a small circular seating area. In planning the landscape, we organised the plants such that taller, denser plants covered the seating area, giving the alcove additional privacy. Considering the climate in Vapi, we chose to use high-sunlight, high-heat tolerant plants. The ones farthest away from the canopy would have to be especially tolerant of extreme conditions since they would receive the full brunt of sunlight in the afternoon.
Furthermore, we tried to limit the plant species to local and locally available, naturalised plants that supported pollinators. In the planing plans, we considered the breadth of the garden and placed plants of the same species in two locations - this would encourage the pollinators to wake pollinate multiple plants across the garden.
Current Projects
Mango Tree House, Gujarat
type | RESILIENT DESIGN status | ONGOING year | 2020
in partnership with | RHEA SHAH | POOJA BHAVE
The "Mango Tree House" is a project I am engaged in collaboratively with Rhea Shah and Pooja Bhave. Located in a village called Sarodhi, in Gujarat, this project gives us the opportunity to design within a dense mango orchard. Since the site has quite a few trees, the layout of the building is split into two blocks - the living, dining and kitchen block, and the two-storeyed bedroom block. The two block are connected with a circulation corridor and helical staircase that wraps around a smaller mango tree - in effect, creating an indoor courtyard.
Based on the client's preferences and our material explorations, we've opted to use Stabilised Rammed Earth (SRE) and Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEB) as the primary building materials. Although we are using concrete for the lintel beams, slabs and parts of the roof, the use of mud-roll slabs reduces the amount of concrete used in the building, and thus lowers the carbon footprint of the building. Furthermore, mud-roll technology in roofs has been shown to reduce the heat gain of a building from direct and convective sources considerably. The SRE walls act as insulating bodies, reducing the heat gain of this building considerably.
More details about the design and impact of this building will be added at later stages of design.
