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Pooja Vaidya

Pooja Vaidya

Minneapolis, MN, US

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Courtyard bringing all ages of people together
Courtyard bringing all ages of people together
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Rethinking Shangri-La

The Story
When walking down the streets of most of the cities around the world, one is often made to wonder where exactly he or she has found him or herself  as the new urban centers closely resemble one another. The process of creating a ‘global village’ is the development of a symptom called ‘social and cultural homogeneity’  for which cities are losing its sense of place. Globalization and technology has infiltrated into the far corners of the world and Kathmandu hasn’t been left behind in this process of creating a ‘global village’ especially in the housing sector.
While these new urban centers have improved the lifestyle of people considerably, the vernacular architecture  which had been in perfect harmony with nature for hundreds of years ago has been neglected.  Vernacular architecture is a reflection of the climate, culture and society . The city can still maintain it’s identity as a sustainable city which it once was  by using the most progressive sustainable technology of today , and still keep keep its cultural values.

SOLUTION:
Row houses and apartments units are clustered in courtyards ad are designed according to the needs of the current day society to realize the importance of culture and amalgamating it with technology at the same time to be a part of the global world.

Software: Revit 2011, 3DS Max, Vue X-Stream, Sketchup

 
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Status: School Project
Location: Kathmandu, NP

 
Section perspective showing passive design principles of courtyard communities
Section perspective showing passive design principles of courtyard communities
Central community space/farmers market with sustainable photovoltaics space truss and bus stop
Central community space/farmers market with sustainable photovoltaics space truss and bus stop
Tectonics of solar panel on the roof
Tectonics of solar panel on the roof
Variations of spaces in similar floors plans achieved by different configuration of furnitures
Variations of spaces in similar floors plans achieved by different configuration of furnitures
Recyled zinc is used as the wall panel to reduce cost
Recyled zinc is used as the wall panel to reduce cost
Courtyard configuration study
Courtyard configuration study
Birds eye view of the unit prototype
Birds eye view of the unit prototype
Front view
Front view
Side view where the parti-wall is not shown
Side view where the parti-wall is not shown
The complete project display
The complete project display