My Life journey to Urban design
INSPIRATION TOWARDS ARCHITECTURE:
Against the sands of time, stands the majestic Brihadeeshwarar temple (Dravidian architecture) built during the 9th century, recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in the Southern part of India (1). Such a grandiose structure captivated my interest towards architecture by making me wonder how the 80-ton capstone sits on the Vimana (Pyramidal tower) without any technological aid. Many such incidents kept me absorbed in magnificent structures’ working and construction techniques. This is where my love for architecture unfolded and drove my imagination in creating various spaces, forms, and masses. To satisfy my curiosity and to explore more about the built environment, I pursued Architecture.
LIFE AS AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT:
During the first year of my course, we explored the various techniques in sketching, prototyping, and many other experiments that lead me to the understanding of various Principles and elements of design. Consequently, I started noticing the nuances in the design of my neighborhood, which grew my interest further towards architecture. As a result of my great perseverance and determination in academics, I was privileged enough to be awarded as “The Batch topper of the year 2017-18’’. This to a greater extent motivated me to expand my horizon.
URBAN DESIGN BEGINS……….:
At the time of my 4th year, the prospectus of the urban design studio intrigued me. We were assigned to document Thiruvanmaiyur, an urban space in Chennai, India. Learning about the strategic planning of the city through its historical timeline delighted me to work furthermore in the urban context. My analyses and interpretations of the physical, cultural, historical, and social aspects of the urban space informed my creation of interventions that solved issues faced by the city. My final year thesis project was “The Revitalization of Chennai fishing port”, which was mainly an Urban scale project. This hugely inspired me to continue my journey of learning Urban design.
MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
After finishing my degree, I was positioned as a Junior architect at an architectural firm called “DESIGN WORKS ” in Chennai, India. I specialized in designing high-end residential projects. My position included various tasks like:
Emerging creative concepts and producing design drawings using softwares like AUTOCAD, SKETCHUP, VRAY, AND 3DS MAX, Attending client meetings and analyzing their requirements to produce the design, Site supervising, and handling vendors.
MY JOURNEY FROM INDIA TO NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND:
While working as a junior architect at DESIGN WORKS, I received my offer to pursue Masters in Urban Designing. I realized that would be my life-changing journey.
I landed in Newcastle on the 9th of September, 2022. I’m enjoying every moment of my life working towards my ultimate goal of touching every life with my skillful design is one that I am more than prepared to accomplish.
AND THE LIFE AS AN URBAN DESIGNER STARTS………
REFERENCES:
(1)- https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250/
Figure 1- https://steemit.com/worldsheritage/@sk2045/how-216-feet-height-temple-constructed-without-foundation-how-an-81-tons-temple-top-or-head-single-stone-kept-on-216-feet-high
