Europe 40 Under 40 Awards Tell a friend
ARCHIVE 2014
40under40
BACK TO ARCHIVE
Britta Knobel Gupta - Studio Symbiosis - Allahabad Masterplan - India
 |
 |
Biography
Britta Knobel Gupta, is the co-founder of Studio Symbiosis Architects. She is known for her dynamic and pioneering works with a focus on creating spaces that exist in equilibrium with their surroundings. The project portfolio displays the wide repertoire of design exploration ranging from Master plans, Hospitality, Mixed use development, Offices, Housing and Villas.
Britta studied Architecture at the university of applied sciences in Konstanz, Germany. For her diploma thesis she was awarded the "Contractworld Newcomer Award 2002" for Emerging talent in Europe. Following this she attended the Architectural Association for her masters in Architecture and Urbanism in the Design Research Lab program with a scholarship from DAAD, Germany, and graduated in 2006. She went on to work with Zaha Hadid Architects and was associated with the practice till 2010 as a Lead Architect designing a number of highly acclaimed visionary projects. She co-founded Studio Symbiosis Architects in 2010.
Britta has taught at the University of Brighton as a Unit Tutor for the Masters Studies, along with University of Stuttgart and School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi.
Britta's focus at Studio Symbiosis lies in creating designs that are an outcome of interfacing the various elements of program, site, context, landscape and climate, thereby resulting in the amalgamation of these design considerations in one coherent design and resonating the term “symbiosis” in the design.
Britta's portfolio of projects at Studio Symbiosis include; Double tree by Hilton (Ahmedabad, India), Double Tree by Hilton (Kathmandu, Nepal), Hotel and Service apartments (Mundra , Gujarat), Kanpur Riverfront Development, Trans Ganga Master plan, Allahabad Master plan, Taj Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Taj Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Information Directorate Headquarters (Lucknow, U.P.) and Punjab Kesari Headquarters(Delhi NCR), to name a few.
Studio Symbiosis projects have attained international acclaim with her designs having been awarded the German Design Award (Winner, Best Urban Design Project of the Year, 2015), Iconic Design Award ( Winner, Concept, Best Master Plan of the year, 2014). In 2014 Britta was recognized as " iGen 2014Architect of Future”. Amongst other recognitions her project for Allahabad Masterplan was recognized by WAN 2014 as being long listed for best urban design project of the year along with being shortlisted by Leaf Award for best residential project of the year.
The projects from Studio Symbiosis have been published widely; Yahoo Homepage, Puls Magazine, Architecture into the future, Architect and Interiors India, Times of India, WAN, Arch Daily, Construction Opportunities, MGS Architecture “People Watch”, ANC Korea, Design Matrix, I&B, along with various Indian and international publications.
Allahabad Masterplan
Architect:Studio Symbiosis
LOCATION: Allahabad, India
Client: UPSIDC
Architect:Studio Symbiosis
LOCATION: Allahabad, India
Client: UPSIDC
SANGAM
Located in Allahabad the master plan takes into account the single most important feature of the city “Sangam”. It is the meeting point of the three holy rivers of India; Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati. It’s not just a spiritual marker but also a significant geological phenomenon and defines unity and amalgamation.
The concept of “Sangam” has been integrated in the master plan as a diagram of connectivity and unity. The universal symbol of unity creates a continuous loop defining three zones. These zones depicting the trinity has been inscribed as a formal as well as a programmatic element of the master plan. It is grafted in the heart of the master plan and acts as a melting point for the city as a commercial and recreational hub.
Located in Allahabad the master plan takes into account the single most important feature of the city “Sangam”. It is the meeting point of the three holy rivers of India; Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati. It’s not just a spiritual marker but also a significant geological phenomenon and defines unity and amalgamation.
The concept of “Sangam” has been integrated in the master plan as a diagram of connectivity and unity. The universal symbol of unity creates a continuous loop defining three zones. These zones depicting the trinity has been inscribed as a formal as well as a programmatic element of the master plan. It is grafted in the heart of the master plan and acts as a melting point for the city as a commercial and recreational hub.
SITE
The site is interrupted due to the existing settlements and ponds that cannot be moved. The design creates a sweeping gesture combining the site into one entity and still accommodating the villages on the site. This results in creating a comprehensive connected scheme.
The site is interrupted due to the existing settlements and ponds that cannot be moved. The design creates a sweeping gesture combining the site into one entity and still accommodating the villages on the site. This results in creating a comprehensive connected scheme.
Amalgamation
The brief requires for a mixed use master plan consisting of Industries, Residential, Housing, Institutional, Commercial and Mixed use. The various typologies have been morphed from one to another and corresponds to the zoning, this results in amalgamated master plan design whereby the perception during movement is a gradual change in the form resulting in a sense of unity of the diverse typologies.
The brief requires for a mixed use master plan consisting of Industries, Residential, Housing, Institutional, Commercial and Mixed use. The various typologies have been morphed from one to another and corresponds to the zoning, this results in amalgamated master plan design whereby the perception during movement is a gradual change in the form resulting in a sense of unity of the diverse typologies.
Unity
The built and the green have been designed as one system. Green network and the built environment are integrated into one, which seamlessly flows on the site. This unified system of built and green was important to create a city level and neighborhood green, which creates a sense of living within the nature in the master plan along with a layer of pedestrian network. The star form of the green transforms from unbuilt to the built feature of the buildings in the central Sangam area, along with the neighborhood green morphing into urban green plazas.
The built and the green have been designed as one system. Green network and the built environment are integrated into one, which seamlessly flows on the site. This unified system of built and green was important to create a city level and neighborhood green, which creates a sense of living within the nature in the master plan along with a layer of pedestrian network. The star form of the green transforms from unbuilt to the built feature of the buildings in the central Sangam area, along with the neighborhood green morphing into urban green plazas.
Skyline
The functional diversity has been unified by a seamless skyline. This undulating skyline merges the various functional requirements of the master plan into a visually coherent system.
The functional diversity has been unified by a seamless skyline. This undulating skyline merges the various functional requirements of the master plan into a visually coherent system.
Sustainability
The master plan is designed as a Sustainable master plan and a zero discharge city. At the planning stage the green percentage, porosity of the materials, transportation network and walking distances have been accounted for. In the second stage of the design implementation elements of Energy, Water and Waste management systems have been embedded in the planning bylaws.
The master plan is designed as a Sustainable master plan and a zero discharge city. At the planning stage the green percentage, porosity of the materials, transportation network and walking distances have been accounted for. In the second stage of the design implementation elements of Energy, Water and Waste management systems have been embedded in the planning bylaws.
