Priyanshi Shah

CFP004

UAR23180

The CEPT Foundation Programme studio is an introduction for students fresh out of school to the rigor and work habits required by an undergraduate degree at CEPT University. The studio is conceptualized as a series of sequentially planned exercises, through which students develop skills and abilities, which are then deployed to address increasingly complex problems falling in four broad categories: visualize and draw, make and learn, anayse and interpret and conceptualise and represent. The exercises are designed to provide foundational skills for students across disciplines at CEPT, between which they maintain a balance. They also reflect an understanding that at the foundation level, these skills overlap to a large extent, and a varied array is of benefit to all students. The studio is taught through intensive 1–2 week long modules, focusing on a particular skill or ability, and a process that emphasizes ongoing feedback in addition to expert faculty lectures.


Report Content

Our analysis explores the transformation of Lalita Ghat following its redevelopment by the renowned architecture firm HCP. Through unfolded elevations, isometric views, and plans, we have visually depicted the changes. To reconstruct Lalita Ghat’s pre-redevelopment state, we utilized diverse sources such as Google Earth photos, HCP website plans, and local interviews.

Upon entering the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, we also encountered partially demolished buildings, shops and houses lining both sides. We have represented these changes by present and old elevations of the Lalita Ghat, unfolded elevations, 3 dimensional views and plans of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor along with the streets surrounding it.

The module ‘Understanding Structures’ had us dive deep into the building elements like columns, beams, lintel of any structure, be it natural or man-made. It also gave us an insight of various load transfer paths in building structures. To develop a better and practical understanding of the same, we built a Cantilever Plate using Reed sticks without using glue and simply using thread joinery.

The making of this model helped understand the ways of working with different materials and introduced us to wood and metal workmanship. It provided us with an opportunity to engage with the workshop and learn processes like cutting, drilling, bending, riveting, threading and sanding using hand and power tools.

Exploring different technologies like Laser Cutting and 3D Printing and softwares like RD Works.

Measured drawings of the site- Chinmaya Mission.

Sectional model representing the site. Model made using MDF by laser cutting.

A game was designed to understand a design process. This was not a linear process, it involved a loop of ideations and improvisations. A low fidelity prototype was made so the game could be tested and the mechanics could be finalized.

Once the mechanics of the game were sorted after several rounds of feedback from our peers, the graphics were finalized. The game board was hand-painted and a royal color palette was chosen to resemble the context.