Shreya Sudeep Jain

ID4041

One of the most valuable lessons was understanding how materials are not just finishes or structural components—but carriers of meaning, values, and pedagogy. Through the use of wood, bioplastic, jute, and modular joinery systems, I learned how to: Use material tactility to influence behaviour and comfort. Embed sustainability directly into the design process through biodegradable and local materials. Let the construction logic of materials (like exposed joinery or frame repetition) become a visible language in the space. 2. Modularity as Spatial Intelligence Designing with rectangular cubic frames taught me how modularity supports adaptability, both functionally and pedagogically: It enabled me to design spaces that can change function without reconstruction, which is crucial for evolving educational formats. I explored how open-ended systems invite users to reinterpret spaces over time—creating rooms that teach flexibility, not fixed behavior. It introduced me to the precision and discipline needed in designing joinery, grid coordination, and scalable spatial systems. 3. Spatial Typologies for Contemporary Learning The studio allowed me to reimagine educational typologies beyond traditional classrooms: I learned how archives, theaters, and studios could become collaborative and immersive learning spaces. It became clear that circulation and in-between zones (like corridors or frames) are just as important as primary rooms—they’re places of informal learning and exchange. Working within a heritage site emphasized adaptive reuse—how to insert new programs with sensitivity to architectural history and context. 4. Systems Thinking and Sustainability Through the BOQs, services, and technical detailing, I was exposed to how design decisions impact real-world execution. I learned: How material efficiency, detailing, and services coordination contribute to sustainable construction. That thinking modularly leads to economic use of material and less site waste—aligning ecological and practical outcomes. Overall Reflection This studio has fundamentally reshaped how I approach design—not just as an act of form-making, but as a layered decision-making process that brings together space, user behaviour, material ethics, and pedagogical intent. It has prepared me to think of architecture as a living system—adaptable, meaningful, and deeply connected to how people learn, gather, and grow.