Oviya Elango Collection of work 2015-2022oviya.elango14@gmail.com
2 LandscapesMonsoonal Internship Healthscapes Santhome4 42 50 60
Santhome Place The terraces TheVillage Adayar River B.arch 66 70 74
Transitional Territories
Territorial Adaptation through Co-habitation in Critical Geographies
Monsoonal landscapes is a project contextualised in the southern peninsula of India across two different river basins originating in the Westernghats mountain range. The project explores how local adaptation through combination of integrated, multi-scalar strategic interventions can reduce risk associated with uncertainty that the Monsoon posses and further synchronise anthropogenic systems with ecological systems that evolve together overtime. It further explores the agency of urban designers to combat water stress emerging out of climate change in southern India along the Periyar and Vaigai river basins.
Composed of a largely agrarian society the region heavily depends on the Monsoon for its water. The region experienced extreme weather events in the recent past characterised by frequent flooding, landslides and droughts which has resulted in the loss of life, agricultural produce and property. Upon research, I found that anthropogenic systems such as grey infrastructure in higher altitudes and profit-oriented primary production throughout the river basin are the sole sources of water stress. Firstly the project aims to bring the region out of risk through territorial adaptation starting from the local scale to the regional scale, strategically intervening in vulnerable and urgent areas and designing safe areas for habitation and regenerative cycles of production. The project envisions the Monsoon as an activator of the adapted system, determining the state of the system for the following year. For example, the types of agricultural production, tourism and water management would be determined by the amount of rainfall, adapting from local scales building up to the regional scale. By releasing anthropogenic control over our hydrological systems, aligning our primary production practices to the natural hydrological cycle and valuing the services provided by a healthy ecosystem we could live with the fluctuations in the monsoon. By synchronising these various systems the project attempts at bringing back a dynamic equilibrium to this region.
Masters Thesis 2022
4
Monsoonal landscapes
Diego Andres Sepulveda Carmona Nikos Katsikis
8 damIdamalaiyar Kodanad These riverbasins are interconnected systems and considering problems of water shortage, deforestation, flooding, drought as isolated events and trying to solve them independently without their implication on another system or a region be unproductive. Periyar
Madurai Mullai-Periyar dam Periya reservetiger Theni Munnar Vaigai dam Vaigai
Ecological systems are not a first outcome of a design process, but have evolved out of multiple iteration and cycles of change which are defined by their past. Ecological systems react to change through stages of succession through time. Sometimes evolving into completely new states of a stable ecosystems, in a way encompassing the learning of the past to evolve into a resilient system capable of absorbing further change in the future.
10
Monsoon System Evolves and fluctuates to statesmultipleNatural system
Humans have altered the hydrological system to extract, exploit and accumulate natural resources for human consumption and profit. This accumulation is achieved by
LandscapesMonsoonal
regulatingthemonopolytransformationsusingoperationalisationlargescaleofterritoriesgreyinfrastructure,landandadministratveoverresourcesrenderingsystemofincapableofitsfunctions. alterationInfrastructural Functions in fixed states TourismDeforestation Extensive agricultureUrbanisation Monsoon Altered system
12 Monsoon as Matter
BasinRiverPeriyarVaigaiRiverBasin
The South west and the North east monsoon are the only source of water for the Periyar and the Vaigai river basins of south India. The Vaigai and the Periyar river basins have opposing relationship with the monsoon, the former barely receiving 850cm of rainfall on avg. per year while the later receives almost 30004000cm due to the presence of the Western ghats mountain range.
0 10 30 km20N
LandscapesMonsoonalTopos as Grey infrastructure Operationalising river basins with large scale infrastructure is characteristic of this region. The Vaigai depends upon the Periyar for over 80% of its water, through the construction of Mullaiperiyar dam in 1895 and futher building of tunnel connecting the riverbasins.two There exist conflicts between the two states with respect to the share of the available water during monsoon aswell as when they experience a failed monsoon season. 0 10 30 km20N BasinRiverPeriyarVaigaiRiverBasin
0 10 30 km20N BasinRiverPeriyarVaigaiRiverBasin Excessive disruptingthethethetourismplantations,bytransformationlandusecharacterisedindustrialagriculture,urbanisationandindustryhavepushedlimitsoftheresilienceofsystem,furtherincreasingneedforwaterandwaterbalance.
14 Primary production as Habitat 0 10 30 km20N
BasinRiverPeriyarVaigaiRiverBasin
TamilNadu and Kerala river basin
based on their administrative boundaries. These states have a long history of investments spent on grey infrastructure including more than 50 dams in Kerala. While investment is being increased water security is degrading at alarming rates.
BasinRiverPeriyarVaigaiRiverBasin
LandscapesMonsoonalGeopolitics as Power 0 10 30 km20N BasinRiverPeriyar 0 10 30 km20N
exercise power over the water resources of the
16 Pallakad 1412111054321678923 5 5 1 7 7 8 8 4 9 9 3 10 10 11 12 6 6 1903mappedCumulativeThrissurAllapuzhaKottayamKakkanadIdukkiTheni2rainfallfor100years-2013MaduraiVirudunagarRamanadhapuramTiruppurCoimbatoreThe variability of the monsoon mapped over 100 years shows its drastic fluctuation in the past 20 years. Although the region perviously experienced flooding and drought, the events of recent years are 500 year anamolies. Which is claimed to be more the norm of the day in the coming decades. TanksSystem 25.00%0.00%%2%1%1%50.00.000.005.00 UnimprovedimprovemensystemMainimprovementCourseWatersurfaWithincesystemssyrfaceOutsidesustemssurfaWithincesystemssyrfaceOutsidesustemssurfaWithincesystemssyrfaceOutsidesustems/lMediumargeSmal/lMediumargeSmal ReservoirssDWellugsDllpbetulswelallowShtubewellssSnkTaystemsNtankonsystemtanks IRR WellsDugwellsDeep tubewellsSmallTanksNon-System SmalllargeMedium largeMedium systemssurfaceOutside systemssurfaceOutside systemssurfaceOutside improvementcourseWatersystemssurfaceWithin systemssurfaceWithin systemssurfaceWithin improvementsystemMain ReservoirsUnimproved ratereturnInvestment5%10%15%20%25% managementCommunity of waterbody waterbodydetachedCommunityfrom The investment return rate of Dams and other largescale infrastructure is found to be 6-8% while the common wells, tanks and system tanks exhibit higher values close to 25%. This kind of comparisons gives economic value to indigenous practices allowing for its recognition and future implementation.
LandscapesMonsoonal The spices and other plantation crops grown in the ghats are monsoonthatevapotranspirationhavetheonofconsumption.forthegrownagriculturaltheinternationally,exportedwhilegrainsandothercropsincreasinglyinlowerbasinsaremostlyregionalWhileallthesehaveanimpactthewatersystems,lossofrainforestsdisruptstheattractstheclouds. Major/Medium projects Investment in million USd Minor projects 30 kmN Composition of flow of water accross different topography and diverse settlements ranging from plantations, agricultural feilds, villages and cities with water storage devices from dams, to system tanks to pipes and wells. The funds allocated for irrigation projects have not been utilised effectively to improve water management. The state which receives rainfall for 8 months in a year requiring such a huge amount of investment for irrigation projects is problematic at its root. 500 year maximum flooding extensiveshowsflooding in urban areas, aswell as in feildsagriculturealongthe floodbasins. 0 10 30 km20 N Pallakad 1412111054321678926 1903mappedCumulativeThrissurAllapuzhaKottayamKakkanadIdukkiThenirainfallfor100years-2013MaduraiVirudunagarRamanadhapuramTiruppurCoimbatore International Tourism National consumptionProductionconsumptionProductionTourismforlocalforInternational
Vaigai
From a natural state of the hydrological flow of water, humans have appropriated these systems through time.
Starting from the 12th C inscriptions found along the river Vaigai talk about the efficient water management systems devised by the Pandiya Kings. The Pandiya Kings constructed many check dams across Vaigai river, some of it recorded in inscription in temples. They understood the importance of water management living in a largely agrarian society.(The History of Water Management - The Hindu, n.d.). Cascading tanks system as viable infrastructures, they store water , percolate into the ground and are connected with a series of other tanks which are linked through canals. The construction of the Mullaperiyar dam in 1890s linking the Periyar and Vaigai river basins to supply additional water required for irrigation and domestic purposes. Further the British era brought in a significant change by bringing in macro-level planning and management of water resources, stripping the relationship people had with the water bodies and disrupting the functioning of the tank system. Post-independence the construction of Vaigai dam in 1959 led to the reduce flow of water to the network of tanks downstream and water became increasing inaccessible and centrally managed. Kings and periyar
river watersheds.
18 3 23 Vaigaitanks12Ccondition2022WaterwaysDamWaterbodiesinfrastructure:Riverincurrent-IntroductionofsystembyPandiyaKingsandperiyarriver3 12Ccondition2022WaterwaysDamWaterbodiesinfrastructure:Riverincurrent-Introductionofsystem 321 123 watersheds.Vaigaitanks12Ccondition2022WaterwaysDamWaterbodiesinfrastructure:Riverincurrent-IntroductionofsystembyPandiyaKingsandperiyarriver
123 Waterbodies Dam infrastructure Waterways 2022 : River in current condition 12C - Introduction of system tanks by Pandiya
LandscapesMonsoonal Periyar River Basin 2018 saw extreme events of precipitation in the Periyar river basin. Having recieved rainfall for over a month and additionaly recieving a month’s worth rainfall in a day induced a systemic failure resulting in opening of 54 dams in the state of Kerala. It wrecked havoc throught the state causing flooding and landslide resulting in loss of life, crops and property. Events like these have become extremely common and are expected to be frequent in the future. 2019Dams2018<78WaterwaysLandslidesRainfallDamWaterbodies(map)Slope Rainfall<15<33anomalies of X = X- 7 years mean daily rainfall KeralaMonsoon 0 2 4 8km N Periyar River Basin DamWaterbodies(map) LandslidesRainfall 2018<78Waterways Dams 2019 Slope <15<33 Rainfall anomalies of X = X- 7 years mean daily rainfall 0 2 4 8km N
1. Floodwater 2.Regenerativeretentionagriculture. Goals : PilotSponge1 Pilot 2NetworkMicro 1. Slope stabilisation 2. Agro-forestry 3. Eco-tourism Goals : Passage 20 How do we adapt uncertainties?for What if the anthropogenic systems adapts and follows the ecological systems? Seasons Fluctuations Risk Summer Extreme precipitation event Flooding High Drought Average Landslides ExtremeLow scarcity Winter Uncertainty Monsoon/Rainy season Territory Restore interconnectednessthe of the system and give time for systems to recover by performing regenerative Productionagriculture. at industrial scale may fall, but substituting them for less damaging/ ecosystemprovidedYet,theirofproductionregenerativeorothertypesproductionwillretaineconomicvalue.unlesstheservicesbyahealthyisvaluedin economic sense, profit will take over care for the ecological system. Hence a crucial step for the transition is to value ecosystem services.
Landuse Pilot 3 Pilot 4 Pilot 4 2 system states 1. 3.Eco-tourism2.Agro-forestryReforestation 1. Riparian restoration 2. Water storage & Aquifer Goals : Interception Goals : Mediator LandscapesMonsoonal Structure RiverTerritorialbasin Network Micro Program Practices Protocols of care Primary Production Habitation Recreation Agency Ecosystem restoration Ecosystem based Placingeconomycare on nature. Aligning to indigenousReintroducingPhenologyrelevantcultureAligningdailylifetoPhenology Adaptation Landscape Infrastructural ResultingMappingRiskdeviceszone landscape Program LowHigh EconomyPractice + Ecology $$ 1 2 3 4 5 6
22 NetworkTerritoryMicro DevicesLandscape statesSystem2 Systemic alteration to regenerate natural dynamic equilibrium + acretionSedimentTerracing Hard wood trees:stabilisationslope Agroforestry River retentionwater Gravel piles: stabilisationslope River storagewaterunits Aquifer recharge: system tanks
LandscapesMonsoonal + KeralaMonsoon KeralaMonsoon People and practices
The systemic transition is envisioned with a section that exist between the 2 extreme states of uncertainty using landscape devices for the transition. Gradually building up these resilient sections across the network to the river basin scale. The network scale is chosen with respect to similar morphology, character and composition of the initial section. Once the system is in place at the most local scale simultaneously engaging people in the transition of their profit oriented practices to regulating, regenerative practices to align human systems to ecological systems.
TamilnaduTamilnadu Harvest Festival
Kerala New Year Dreadging festival
24 Territory 1. Water Balance
The goal for the territory is to restore the water balance by shifting from the current, centralised water management system to a decentralised one through landscape as infrastructure. Releasing stored up water from the large scale dams by loosening our control over it, allowing the river to maintain its ecological flow to restore ecosystems that are dependent on it downstream. Thereby we can restoring the functions of the hydrological system. This requires multi-scalar analysis to determine the areas of retention, release and restore the rain intercepting forest to ensure evapo-transpiration and thereby attracting clouds, which is done at the river basin scale.
Infiltration Forestry2 2 3 411 Agro-forestry3 3 4 1 2AquacultureSponge:Water retention Passage: Release Interceptor Seasonal Agriculture Recreation Recreation 5
2b. Re-introducing nature in cities to By transiting primary production such as intensive plantations(upstream), intensive agricultural monoculture downstream by introducing regenerative agriculture. Allowing time for regeneration of the soil and sustainable methods of cultivation for example implementing Agro-forestry for Tea production.
5 6 Agro+Rain- forests4 Low irrigation Agriculture5 City green networks6 6 Recreation+production 4 5 Sponge SpongeMediator + Recreation
2a. Re-naturalisation : Transitioning intensive monocultures to dynamic production landscapes aligned to natural cycles.
LandscapesMonsoonal
structures.landslideriverbedofTestingtourismworkinglocalbyterraininislandforIdentifyingagriculture.safeslopesinhabitationleaveslikestructuresthemountainousinhabitedtouristandcommunitiesfortheindustry.micro-storagewateralongthecoupledwithretention Sponge Passage
26 Network: Patterns of territorialisation
Agricultural land in the foothills of the mountain follow the flood probability in 500 years, branching out along the creeks. Risk zones are identified and possible new habitation areas identified. The creeks flow through these low-lying lands which are taken up to test as a water retention area with wet
At the source of the Vaigai river in Megamalai, tea estates growing like fingers along the river streams are taken to be tested for agro-forestry and introduction of lessinvasive camping structures as opposed to bungalows and resorts are envisioned. At the city of Madurai, open spaces such as bus stands are identified to open up areas for green networks and roads for blue networks. Further reviving the river by getting rid of debris, formulating water retention at the rivers edge and reviving the system tanks. The river is also envisioned to provide the city with necessary infrastructure.recreational
LandscapesMonsoonal
Interceptor Mediator
Sediment is accreted at the rivers edge allowing water to flow inland filling low lying agricultural land which can be utilised as aquaculture areas during high water levels and exist as rice cultivation during the summer. Terracing the edges of these low lying agricultural area provides water storage infrastructure to capture water from- higher grounds , as well perform sewage treatment. Thus the landscape is used to perform the necessary roles of the systems, which is capable of evolving based on the availability of water. The program of these settlements will vary from Aquaculture to rice cultivation, livestock rearing and fruit tree cultivation based on the availability of water.
Kodanad
28
LandscapesMonsoonal Processing UnitAquaculture Fruit and Vegetable garden Rice cultivation Sewage treatment Water storage Production cycles Resilience Flood water storage Water TreatedUndergroundretentionwatersewagewater Production Aquaculture Rice/paddy cultivation Fruit ManufacturingProcessingtrees Tourism Eco tourism Knowledge Skill building Jan May SepFeb Jun OctMar Jul NovApr Aug Dec
30 High Monsoon: Resilience peak
LandscapesMonsoonalSummer: Production peak
32 Idukki dam
The design focuses on the settlements in proximity to the dam and devices zone for further inhabitation derived from combining highways, slopes less than 15 degrees and above riverbed. Slopes susceptible to fail are fitted with gravel piles and structural hardwood trees. Secondly, areas with the lowest contour close to the rivers edge are identified and built with water retaining boundary walls made of living blocks alternated with water retaining meshes to use as fresh water storage and also small scale fishing, energy production units in-case of optimal flow of water. Living modules are used to construct the walls of the water storage units to allow for plant and animal growth which would enhance the riparian biodiversity.
LandscapesMonsoonal Living units - Water storageFlexible mobility infrastructure Recreational area Energy generation Gravel piles for slope stabilisation Water storage Resilience Structural slope strengthening Strengthening using forestry Slow down flood water Water TreatedUndergroundretentionwatersewagewater Production Plantation CardamomPepperTea ForestryFishing Tourism Eco tourism Water Hikingsportspaths Camping areas Forest trails Knowledge Environmental learning center Jan May SepFeb Jun OctMar Jul NovApr Aug Dec Production cycles
The vision for the Vaigai river is the rejuvenation of the river through reforestation and sustainable agriculture to maintain ecological flow in the river. Large scale tea plantations populate the side of the river which are proposed to be converted into Agro-forestry. Shading trees which are found in-between tea-plantations are taken as starting points to transform the intensive mono-cultures. The tea has 2 pruning stages at which the distance between the shading trees are increased until the plants reach their maturity. This is used as an advantage here and agro-forestry is introduces to rejuvenate the forest thereby bringing back the rainfall to the region. To supplement the loss of productivity, woodland camping and hiking routes are introduce opposed to resorts and bungalow to minimise the human impact in these wild areas.
34 Megamalai
LandscapesMonsoonal 3. Forest + Fruit trees +Tea plants Year : 3 5. Tea plantations Year : 304. Perimeter forest + Mature tea plants + Tea Year : 10 stagepruningSecond 2. Forest+fruit trees Tea Nursery Year 1 1. Forest stagepruningFirst Resilience WaterAgroforestryretention downstream Aquifer recharge Borrow water from Periyar Production ForestryFishingTea Tourism Eco ForestCampingHikingWatertourismsportspathsareastrails Knowledge Environmental learning center Jan May SepFeb Jun OctMar Jul NovApr Aug Dec Production cycles
Due to large scale dumping of debris and garbage in the river, initial steps to clean the river are necessary. A solid waste management unit has been established which cleans the river and recycles waste. Water retention tanks along the edge of the river filter ans store water for summer, in case of dry seasons treated water could be used for minimum ecological flow in the river.
The river channel is designed to hold water in its lower point and introduces recreational zones, grazing areas which bring people to the edge of the river and encourage them to maintain it.
36 Madurai
The vision for the city of Madurai is to restore the traditional systems tanks capacity and to envision a riverine water storage system which would act as a recreational riparian edge.
LandscapesMonsoonal Grazing patch System tank networks Recreatinal area Cycling track Resilience Agroforestry Water retention downstream Aquifer recharge Borrow water from Periyar Production ForestryFishingTea Tourism Eco tourism Water Hikingsportspaths Camping areas Forest trails Knowledge Environmental learning center Jan May SepFeb Jun OctMar Jul NovApr Aug Dec Production cycles
Territorial River
The monsoon here acts as an activator to start the process, the cumulative rainfall in both the river basins determine the state of the system, in case of high rainfall in Periyar and low in Vaigai the system exists in an average state. Since the two river systems are linked to each other, until Vaigai river is restored to its original state of rainfall the systems will still be interlinked to ensure water security for the people downstream. The state of the system determines the composition of resilient, productive and skill building program for each of these 4 smallest sections which build up to the network scale and then the river basin as well. Each of these smaller sites are interrelated to the other in its own river basin as well as the whole system. For example the Resilience of Madurai (site 4) depends up the production in Megamalai(site 2). The inter-dependencies are not just in the same category but are across resilience and production.
38 High Monsoon LowAvg Monsoon state of the system.
Network Goals Monsoon High scenariowater High Flood
Water
For the critical sections to exist between the extremes (high or low precipitation), the program with respect to the scenario and time are highly important. Thus the project considers scenarios between High and low additionally a average rainfall year. For each year after the monsoon season from June to August in Periyar and from September to December in Vaigai the available water is determined and the plan for production is laid. Thus the cycles of production, regeneration and resilience are set, this in fact correlates with the traditional festivals found in the respective states. The harvest season is in August after the monsoon for Periyar river basin while it is in April for Vaigai. The adaptive pathways are determined for every year with consideration of past few years to determine the basin resilience Re-useretentionoftreated water scenarioAveragescenariowaterwater
Landslide WaterRestorationmitigationofforestsretentionLowLowAvgAvgHighLow
sewage
Along with construction of essential infrastructure at the 4 site, programmatic change is needed, meaning change in the way we take part in anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, housing, tourism etc.
LandscapesMonsoonal Phasing starting with pilot projects 30TransitionCompleteyears
Landslide resilience ES- reforested habitat, maintaining ecological flow in the river, resilience. Could ecosystem services be monetised?
Could the ecosystems western ghats mountain range be compensated for ensuring water security?
Could an upstream region which restores and safe keeps its ecosystem for the benefit of downstream consumers gain profit for the resources they provide?
40 Floodwater retention ES - Flood resilience Small scale aquatic habitat, water storage, groundwater recharge, Soilrecharge,revitalisation,regenerationESFloodplainAquiferhealthriverbasin
Could environmental stewards be compensated with so called capital?
v
ES Revive riverine habitats, Aquifer recharge, health river basin
Pilot 3 Pilot 4
Rejuvenation of Vaigai ES- reforested habitat, maintaining ecological flow in the river, Soil regeneration
Possible answer lies at the heart of an economic and behavioural transition.Care for nature, an economy which cares for stewards of nature, values the services provided and understands the long term implications of local intervention to regional systemic transition.
Rejuvenation of securityrecharge,groundwatermicro-climate,ES-VaigaiImproveswater
LandscapesMonsoonal
42
I found this experience opened up my insights on the parts and processes of Urban planning in an international context. The collaborative learning experience encouraged me critically think about current design practices.
Internship2021
I worked with PosadMaxwan as a part of Q4 internship, where I worked at the Regional vision and strategies team. Working with senior urban designers on projects which spanned from a railway station square in Romania to national maps for the Netherlands.
All images, graphics from Internship chapter are from PosadMaxwan
The Romanian city of Oradea close to the Hungarian border, is preparing to welcome more visitors travelling by train in the future. Famed as an Art Nouveau city it attracts lots of international tourist, hence there was a need to redesign the station area of Oradea as multi-modal node and a green city entrance. Working initially on this station project where we envisioned a station square which previously was used for parking and large car centric roads. This project embraced the possibility of encouraging public transport by introducing easily accessible bus stops and pedestrian streets connecting the station to the shop fronts opposite to the station. The design incorporates more greenery that will improve climate adaptation and biodiversity. Additionally it creates an inclusive and a safe public space. The proposal consciously imagines a natural habitat nested within an infrastructural project.
Station Oradea
44
Internship Legend pedestrian area / sidewalk covered pedestrian area / station bike bicycletrackparking varied vegetation with benches lawn green area outdoor terraces car access supply in the pedestrian area double tram line tram reserved area bus reserved area road traffic, taxi and bus traffic the access ramp to the underground short term parking / taxi parking lot supply Romanian Post Pedestrian zone and intermodal node Pedestrian area
46 The seven
inurbanizationregionalstrategiespicture
Landscape Economy Mobility Liveability
The Central government of Netherlands wanted to visualise the progress of urbanisation strategies in 7 different regions in the country. The goal of the project was to provide insight into the joint strategic spatial choices for urbanization in relation to other challenges, such as accessibility, energy, greenery and water. It was important for central government to map out the choices that we jointly make on a regional scale. There was a need for insight into the results of the seven strategies, how the choices are related and where urbanization will take place in the coming years. Hence we mapped their progress in different themes starting from Climate, Landscape, Mobility, Energy, and Economy.
Internship
48 Lincoln park
Internship
I was responsible for the visualisation of the Lincoln park project. The goal was an urban development plan and an image quality plan for the environmentally friendly Lincolnpark neighbourhood in Hoofddorp on behalf of the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer. Where, residents live in a green environment, enjoy a courtyard garden, and have easy access to parking structures.
50
The Netherlands has an extraordinary position in the global market and is globally leading in agricultural research, technology and innovation. Therefore it could prove to be fruitful to develop a regional sustainable agricultural model that could become a role model for sustainable agriculture globally. The vision is to reduce the spatial impact of our food system while discontinuing the destruction of new habitats. To achieve this, a healthy diet must be embraced, which not only proves to significantly improve our health but also facilitate a transition towards a healthier planet. By evaluating the spatial, environmental and health impacts of the current model, the negative externalities at each stage of the food sector are investigated. The diversification of the crops to be grown within South Holland is crucial in order to facilitate the transition from a food exporter to a self-sufficient region with respect to the food sector. To encourage more sustainable food production and enhance the relationship between people and their food production, it is invaluable to invest more power in the producers. Finally, the various steps involved in the food systems and the gap between people and the source of their food are reduced by initiating big food retail corporations to focus on food production. Thus, the transformation of the food industry through the integration of a sustainable agriculture model and reshaping the common perception of food consumption and dietary needs, will ultimately create a more healthy and balanced landscape, while aiming towards the collective goal of mitigating climate change.
Diet Transition Land Transformation environmentsustainableBiodiversity
Healthscapes2021 Q3 group work
The future poses a major problem of feeding 9 billion people by 2050, while the current system of agriculture in itself is unsustainable and demands resources which exceed the planetary boundaries. Further continuing this trend of exploitation and destruction of ecology will only worsen the planetary stresses the Anthropocene has established. Hence emerges the urgent necessity to reorganize and reinvent our current food system towards a sustainable and circular one to sustain life on our planet. Accordingly, the primary goal of this project is to achieve sustainability in the food sector, thereby achieving circularityandfoodsecurity.
Urban
of the food sector starts from import of Livestock feed, energy to the production centres, then the produce moves on to the distribution centres or processing units and ends up in the larger consumer zones namely the cities. Hence there exist a clear distinction between the consumption zones and the production zones. Thus there exist a disconnect in people’s relationship with their food.
2.The largest part of the crops that are produced in the region of South Holland is increasingly mono-functional and there can be found a rapid decline of (agro)biodiversity. (shown in the landuse 3.Logisticsmap).
52 Arable
4.The Waste from this region although being treated is not re-purposed.
1.The current agricultural model heavily depends on the import of fossil fuels, livestock feed, crops (grains, fruits, vegetables and other processed food).
CattlemonoculturefarmingGreenhousesFloriculture
Current
In South-Holland it is seen how the cities and hinterlands are synonymous to consumption areas and production areas respectively.
A large part of the exports is based on processing of imported goods. (shown in black and green arrows outside the ring in Fig. ).
5. Finally big-food corporations control the market in terms of what is produced and what is being sold with taking into consideration the sustainability of the products they produce and without consulting the farmers, people’s collective opinion. scenario
HealthscapesDistributionConsumersWater centers Urban areas Waste water Treatment Plant
54 LandBio-diversityTransformationBehavioralenvironmentHealthychange Healthscapes How can spatial strategies support the necessary transition to a more sustainable agricultural model and shift in dietary habits in South Holland? Diet Sustainableproductionfood Diet Transition21 Lancet Diet encomposes lesser meat consumption and massive reduction in landusage. Can we feed a future population of 10 billion people a healthy diet within planetary boundaries?”, the EATLancet¬ report stresses the urgency for change and proposes a healthy diet, sustainable food production and a set of actions to bringing this transition to realisation. Embracing the ideology from the Lancet the proposal moves forward to landuse Shifztingtransition.frommonocultural , environmentaly damaging agriculture to poly-culture, less invasive/damaging agricultural typologies which correspond to the geo-morphological compositon of the region.
Healthscapes Salt water farm Multilevel Greenhouses Cattle + GreenhousePolyculture+CattleArablepolycultureUrbanagricultureArableCattlemonoculturefarmingGreenhousesFloriculture Current Average Dutch diet Vegetarian diet Planetary boundaries Lancet diet Agro-forestry Duckweed FloatingProductivefarmroofProductiveparkgreenhousesSeaweedfarm
The initial outcome of the diet change translates onto the production landscapes to accommodate the proportion of the modified diet. The transformation of the landscapes will be derived from the tool kit of sustainable productive landscapes that has been formulated. Producers both in urban and rural areas would have a choice to choose from different models of productions from the tool kit to achieve the desirable sustainability standard mentioned in the policy. The tool kit will grow as new sustainable innovations in the food industry emerge. The Resulting landscapes of 2050 are envisioned to fall under 3 broad categories namely:
3.Urban Agriculture - The 3 main reasons for the introduction of urban agriculture is to create awareness by bridging the gap between producers and consumers. Secondly to reduce land dependency of agriculture and lastly to reduce food miles.
CattleDuckweedAgro-forestryfarmSaltwaterfarmGreenhouses+PolycultureArablepolycultureUrbanagriculture
56
1. Poly culture - Adding mono-culture farms with diverse crop mix, combining livestock and arable farming, intensifying production by incorporating diversity.
landscapeResulting
2.Biodiverse Landscapes - The remaining land gained from the diet transition is envisioned to expand protected nature areas and flood peat soil polders with water to grow duckweed which will serve as livestock feed there by reducing oxidation of peat soils.
Healthscapes Distribution centers Integrated production and consumption centers UrbanWater Protectedareasnature PROJECT B PROJECT C PROJECT A
58 A: Grow-Eat Rotterdam community garden vegetables + fruits + small livestock run by communitiesurban rooftop garden vegetables + fruits + insects shopsimmediatelydistributedthrough vertical farm (+LED light) hydroponics + mushrooms edible street fruits + collectednutsby nearby inhabitants pop-up vegetablestemporaryproductionfruits+gardens producersbecomeconsumersWhen
Healthscapes B: Sustainable biert C: Kinderdijk agroforest cropsagroforest+fruit trees+ livestock floating cultivationhydroponicgreenhouse+LED+aquaponics duckweed farm polyculture + livestock multi-level greenhouses arable polycultural farm
The proposal sought to fulfill the prerequisite requirements of a supermarket and additionally integrate Live - living pods, work - co-working spaces and Play - Badminton court and gym thus creating a socially and economically sustainable community hub module.
Population - 10.9 million Area - 1,189 sq km Chennai city 26,553 people /sq km
2019
60 Santhome Place Like most urban centers in India, Chennai falls short on its open public infrastructure when compared to its density. Santhome being an extensive residential area lacks a space that allows people to engage as a community. After initial research it was obvious that the neighbourhood lacked common amenities and place for the community to socialize. Taking advantage of the nature of a super market (i.e an essential amenity and people come their frequently), it was an ideal place to socialise and have chance encounters.
The built form encompasses spatial characteristics of street-shopping at the ground meandering from outdoor gathering spaces and indoor programs. Further builds up vertically while incorporating adequate open spaces at each level with varying activities. The roof is integrated with an amphitheatre for small events and opens out to the views of the sea.
Density -
62 Concept evolution Active rooftop
PlaceSanthome Multi-functional section PlayLiveShopWork
Worked as the project architect for high rise apartment building on of the begur lake in bangalore. architect which gave me technical numbers (efficiency, built-up) and of a unit. The mandatory 75m setback opportunity to develop close communal space. As the housing market ,proposal had to strike a for the built and the un-built.
bytheghats
64 theterraces ROW HOUSING HOUSING
Under the guidance of a senior architect, I was involved in a 25 acre row housing masterplan project. The project gave me insights on the development of working drawing, coordination and completion of construction. The proposal strongly showcases urban planning concepts in a challenging site which i have explained in detail in this portfolio.
ghats@begur
thevillage INSTITUTION
PlaceSanthome
HOUSING for a 1 million sqft affordable a 17.15 acre plot at the edge My First project as a lead technical knowledge in solving the and how it influences quality from the lake gave us an to 6 acres of landscaped housing was aimed at an affordable a balance between resources
Worked as the project architect for a campus master planning project in chennai, India. Working with an institution as clients and the impact of an institution on the city and its community. The proposal idealizes the concept of Campus as a communal space,where in the infrastructure and facilities offered by the campus is utilized by its immediate neighborhood. Thus creating a network of social spaces across the corridor enhancing the livability of these parts of the city.
The proposal strives to create nodes of communal spaces and parks which invite interaction between its residence and also is visible from the road,creating a inviting experience to the passer-by.
2017-2018
The design carefully places 2 units across streets, across communal spaces to create chance encounters. it focuses on the pedestrian user and establishes an organic street-scape.
The terrace ,a row housing project in the periphery of the city of Bangalore. This typology signifies a low rise,high density housing development. The site is set in isolation from any form of public or communal space. Hence the proposal respond by highlighting the nala as a focus. Spines of green emerge out of this focus and runs through the site fragmenting it into smaller livable clusters. Each cluster has its very own green pocket surrounded by units. Each cluster is connected by intimate streets with pockets of green emerging at unexpected turns. The terrace house ,owing to its name extends the green spine into courtyard and is translated as terraces in the upper floors.
66 The terraces
68 Unit
Interior view of the unit with a courtyard at the level differences. The unit opens out the ground floor with common spaces such as living , dining and kitchen on either sides of the courtyard which opens out to the backyard to connect back to the green spine.
terracesTheUnitStreet Communal spaces Unit
70 The Village2019
The proposal idealizes the concept of Campus as a communal space,where in the infrastructure and facilities offered by the campus is utilized by its immediate neighborhood. Thus creating a network of social spaces across the corridor enhancing the livability of these parts of the city.
The village is a campus master-plan project for Hindustan university, located in the outskirts of the city of chennai. It is located amidst high-rise residential gated community. The brief requested for 3 different schools within a demarcated portion of the master-plan,viz a law school,an architecture school and a liberal arts school each to be 1,00,000 sqft. The immediate context of the site gave incites of urban issues such lack of open spaces and informal social spaces. Hence The proposal strives to develop the campus as a part of the community without disturbing the culture and program of the university.
The axis extending from OMR road to the new by-pass road extends into the village and exists as a communal spine with common amenities such as the library. This 3 schools weave around this spine creating intermediate open spaces which varies in scale. These open spaces double-up as intimate spaces which encourage interaction between different schools.
72 The central common spine
VillageThe View from the Ecr
With the world’s cities growing at the rate never seen before,they are forced to deal with greater complexities and challenges. The act of urbanization has become synonymous with altering natural habitats to make way for new economic development and to house the people, destroying ecological systems and rendering the habitat dysfunctional. The thesis is a response to 2015 floods which affected the entire city of Chennai. The study kick-started with understanding the major causes of flooding then moved on to identifying the social & ecological systems which were affected and lead to figuring a direction for the future of resilient urban growth. The proposal intends to give a resilient zone (from comprehensive analysis of site data) which would act as a buffer /breathing space that the river could expand into during flooding. The project also identifies potential pockets of land along the risk zones to reprogram them with appropriate land-use changes and introduce ecological infrastructure to combat the problem of flooding during monsoon and drought for rest of the year.
2015-2016
All major civilizations of the world were found in close proximity to rivers undoubtedly due to the abundance of resources it provides. There existed a natural relationship between man and the river. Due to industrialization a former agricultural economy transforms into an industrial economy, which instigates a disconnect between people and the ecosystem (land,river,water etc..)they live in. There by see it as a wasteland used for dumping debris and letting sewage unaware of the implications.
74 Adayar River Ecology + Urbanism Bachelor Thesis
RiverAdayar MANIMANGALAMTHIRUMUDIVAKKAMMADANANDAPURAM MALAIPATTU ERICHEMBARAMBAKKAM 8210784231951977BOUNDARYCMDA THIRU-VI-KA BRIDGE EXTENTURBAN ADIGALARMARAIMALAIBRIDGEKOTTURPURAMMRTSKOTTURPURAMBRIDGE RAILWAY BRIDGE ALANDUR BRIDGE GRAND SOUTH TRUNK ROAD RIVER POONAMALEEBRIDGE HIGH ROAD AIRPORT RUNWAYSECOND CHAINAGE METERSINMOUTH-RIVER ADYAR
76 Extent1814 of urbanisation Inundation on Dec 04 2015 Elevation zoneregulationCostal Chennai had recieved above average rainfall for over a montha nd on Dec 01 2015 unprecedented amount of rainfall in a single day leading to flooding fro more than 2 weeks throughout the city. The average elevation of chennai city is 6.3 m while much of adayar, kotturpuram are lower than 1 meter in elevation. The 2015 flooding recorded an inundation of 0.5m up to 5m elevation,also taking into account 100year flood line(which is lesser than 5m). Hence considering elevation below 5m as vulnerable ,with exception of sites which adjoin wider parts of the river. 1909 1970 2015 Cumulative inundation [04 dec 2015] Inundation persistent Inundation as on 03 DEC m1 m-1m0 m-2 m-3m2m3m4m5m6m7m8m9m10m11m12m13m14m15m16m17
Risk line Mudflats
ActivityLeisureTemporary commercialResidential/ The risk zone is identified by combining outcomes of various analysis.
The land use planning in the floodplains of the adayar river must appropriated to levels of risk zones,ie. Residential and hospitals programs being of utmost risk has to be zoned in low risk zones and Robust recreational uses could be located in the most hazardous part of the site adjacent to the water course, In-case of adjusting the topography of the site, care has to be taken to retain at least the same level of storage capacity of flood water as the initial assessment identified. Ideally this capacity should be increased.
The grade change between upland infrastructure and the river should be lined up with resilient ecological infrastructure such as mudflats and Wetlands which offer a buffer zone to existing shore lines, preventing erosion and accommodating tidal changes. Mudflats or tidal flats are natural found exposed sediments /sand carried by a river and deposited in the estuary. They help growth of mangroves along the rivers edge and help sustain a flourishing estuarine ecosystem.
Series of Buffers
The extent of land falling under risk zone are high risk land-use types,such as housing,hospitals etc. Therefore there is a need to plan for resilience and develop this zone with appropriate programs.
WetlandsRisklineRiver
Buffer zone WetlandsSponge Mudflats
RiverAdayar
Risk Zone High risk program Parks, Temporary markets River research centers and checkpoints. Supplementary programs to the river such as fishing,aqua culture,Agriculture etc Low risk program
changeLanduse
78 The proposal aims to reactivate the rivers edge and connect the community back to the river. By finding potential sites for buffer zones, recreational activities, fishing areas and safe zones for housing the project focuses redevelopment of the floodplains. Environmental education centre Aquaculture farm Flood landscapesresilient Social housing researchEnvironmentalcentreRow housingIncrementaltrainingboatingcentre Proposal library/ workshop communal spaces admin
RiverAdayar
Mudflats workshop amphitheatrebio-swale Mangroove edge
The center is accessible by the public and is flood proof owing to the location of the site-River mouth which is 300m wide. Hence serves as a prefect site for environmental education center (institute),which is occupied only for few hours in a day. Moreover it lies in the estuarine part of the ecosystems,which holds as a base for study of the ecosystem and a leisure park with birdwatching areas.
The site - RDK Salai, lies inside the risk zone with residential community next to the banks of the River. Thus being at maximum flood risk. Resettlement of the housing above the risk zone.,also provided with flood mitigation strategies such as wetland and flood resilient landscaping bridging the gap between the housing and the river. Also water during the monsoon can be stored by means of ponds and tanks. The housing is proposed to have community center housed with women’s self help Center, bio resource center and a communityMangrovehall.edge
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