M/S. PRABHAKAR B. BHAGWAT​
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MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA
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The studio works in landscape, architecture and interior design across India on a variety of scales. With a strong emphasis on responsibiility and process, the role of a junior architect requires conceptualising, creating elaborate presentations and discussions with the principal architect, interaction with client teams, working drawings, site supervision and correspondence. I learnt to organise and trust the process of design and learnt the value of sketching and iteration.
Meditation Centre
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Multi-faith prayer space
400 sqm
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The brief was to create a subtle, yet deeply suggestive prayer space, which was mostly to be used by Muslims. It steered the design towards finding a rather modernist perspective on the elements of a mosque, while at the same time keeping the focus on the feeling of being inside some of the inspiring, older types of such spaces. A design matrix was laid down to create a thorough exploration of order, form, light and material. I was brought onto the project from the very beginning and was to submit timely presentations to seniors in the Ahmedabad office using hand-drawing, physical models and 3-D modelling. Owing to the special structure of the design, considerable correspondence was done with multiple teams to thread in their input. The design iterated after client discussions and was detailed with guidance from a senior architect. Elements of the design required lots of iterations in terms of design and material choices. The challenge was to make it a complex structure, yet feasible to build and imbibe service requirements within the footprint available. The landscape design proposed tried to work with the idea of delaying gratification and creating a sort of ritual or a path to leave the ground plane and reach a plinth on which the building sat.
Entrance and Dining Pavilion
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Dining Pavilion + Entrance Pavilion
1500 sqm + 500 sqm
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The brief was to create an iconic structure to welcome visitors and workers into the campus of a large multi-national company. Another pavilion, much larger in size was to be made to accommodate dining for workers and dignitaries. I undertook the conceptualisation and prepared a design document, which essentially involved diagrams to make explorations of formal gestures. The design was in dialogue with the landscape design proposal - where the two pavilions shared a central landscaped area - which was being undertaken at the same office, both giving clues of geometry and form to each other. Studies were done for different layouts for seating in both areas. I further worked on the architectural drawings for the same.
School Landscape ​
School landscape design
4800 sqm
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The brief was to conceptualise landscape for a school catering to students from KG to tenth grade. The program development looked at creating a vibrant, multi-use space for learning, recreation and play. Various zoning layouts were tried and assessed to arrive at design components, which were further explored in plan iterations. Case studies were done to create an inventory of activities and play spaces, which are usually scaled down in areas due to space constraints. The program statement looked at creating multi-purpose spaces for: outdoor sports, outdoor play, spaces for kindergarten and explorative play; outdoor classrooms, educational sculptures and urban farming; social congregation spaces, lunch break seating, bleachers and leisure games.
Miscellaneous
Regional ​mapping, site report, architectural design, landscape design, graphical representation, 3D modelling, research
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Apart from these projects, I worked on a bunch of others, in small parts or in a group. I did site-supervision for a mud and bamboo framed building, making reports of ongoing work and discrepancies. Another project I worked on was the landscape design of a small commercial building in Mumbai, which required careful site monitoring and discussions with the site team to adapt the design along with site conditions. I helped with design of a scientific research campus, regional documentation and mapping for a university project, making and structuring presentations for the same. I helped with working drawings for a large commercial landscape design project, structuring a research book, making 3D models and meeting with site teams to take cognisance of their input.
That is how it was at PBB