Portfolio Summary

1. Kattankudy Town Regeneration Masterplan

Creating a new opportunity where it had not existed before comes after assessing and understanding the context. The Kattankudy Town regeneration masterplan is an interesting example. A masterplan was developed following direct consultation with community members, schools, and the urban council before designs began. 

New opportunities started with the idea of redevelopment where little attention had been previously been given to this site following the conflict in Sri Lanka. We had to create a situation where, previously there had been flooding annually, depriving the 80,000 strong community within 2.5km² of a sustainable economy. I had to bring a solution that gave assurances to financial stability, flood management, that would enable greater growth within the region that had become segregated due to ethnic greviances during the conflict. How could this be achieved by a foreigner and in a town with little in-flowing investment? 

It has been a forensic exercise, from the management of stakeholders, to the civil engineering proposals of flood management, to prove the value of scheme, from the number of people who’s lives we would save, to the economy of social and financial wellbeing within the scheme. Like a sand-castle, we play with the geology, ensure space for congregation, and not interrupt existing routes and key infrastructure. This platform then becomes a starting ground for further growth and harnessing of water that previously was causing such harm. 

The resilience for opportunity out of little to significantly increase value in Kattankudy presents a powerful lesson for how  my Architecture is approached. 

2. St. Luke's Sculpture Project, St. Luke's Primary School

Designing for inspiration and achieving successful results is a fundamental criterion for me. Despite the subjective, and often minimal opportunity for such scope within a design brief, a process can be developed. The strategy developed can instill legacy, that sets priorities for consultation, supports the general brief, and produces predictable results. 

The scheme for a sculpture at St. Luke’s Primary School set this very precedent - putting the experience of the students first, where the design process involved the entire school. And when I say entire - it was the whole school - Assemblies, presentations, fundraising, planning applications, design process, digging of the whole for the foundations, opening of the final sculpture (and drinks to go along with it).

It is fair to say that the legacy was, that, at 17,when I lead and designed the project, successfully completing this with the school was an achievement for us all - not that we thought it impossible, but we wanted to do it, and did - successfully. That made everyone happy. 

3. Book Publishing Centre and Library, Batticaloa Sri Lanka

When there are under 50 national unversities, and a total applicant population of 8 million, competition for university places is fierce. Add that to post-conflict suffering economy, the need for secure and safe preparation is key to help every child have equal opportunities. 

In Batticaloa, Eastern Sri Lanka, which was a primary battleground in the height of the civil conflict, it had become necessary to import books from abroad because of poor resources locally sourced due to broken regional links and issues of trust between communtiies. The family will to ensure the success of ones own child was there, but not the resources of the space to allow such progress. Working directly with schools in the region, and with local council officers, I persuaded the Urban Council for the creation of a new centre for recreational education, where books are published directly on site, to enhance learning for the entire region. 

The scheme was approved by the Urban Council, with the support of the EU High Commissioner for Sri Lanka. This was  helped by carrying out close consultation with local community members as well as diaspora in the UK who would eventually help with funding.  

The quick processing of construction drawing packages and council application packages relied on a clear knowledge of AutoCAD shortcuts and file management systems. By organising relevant drawings within an online server file structure between UK and Sri Lanka, drawings could be quickly produced without doubling up files between it’s different users. I used referencing, file attachments, component layering with different line properties, scaling difference references for A1 plot sheets, or A3 presentation sheets, ensuring the correct scale of Consultant ammended drawings (sometimes DWG files), and all the short-hand methods of composing or marking up a drawing. 

4. Temporary Medical Warehouse, Haiti

Following the devastating effects of a major hurricane in Haiti, there was mass cases of illnesses spreading, and many NGO’s were planning to send medical supplies that could help the affected peoples. The many sites where medical supplies were most needed however were remote and still in earthquake risk zones, therefore a need to deliver easy to erect temporary but sturdy and earthquake resistant structures was required. This scenario lead to the design of the deliverable and easy to build Medical Warehouse, using bamboo members, ties, and tarpouline (or thatch as shown in the model), in a method that provided shelter from rain, reducing risk of collapse with another earthquake due to the form, and reusability for different functions. The connections were the main design component, to be made as easy to use as possible, using a simple ball and socket system, which clips onto the bamboo piece.

5. Teamwork

I have accumulated over the years a group of students, professionals, and stakeholders whome share the same visions and ambitions for change through Architecture. We have carried out these ambitions in collaborative efforts, using design charettes, presentations, assemblies, and constantly questioning, so this ethic of discovery is imbedded within the design ethic. 

This helps me learn from what I do, where things have gone well and which areas need improvement. 

Each scenario is recorded, assessed for improvements, and is collected on the design blog which all members are involved. This ranges from schematic design proposals, to software development to facilitate a scheme. Each criteria is not separated due to them being individually integral to a greater design philosophy that is continuous and required for successful end design.

6. Professional Experience

Once the concept is developed, and ambitions for the brief are set into stone, the realisation through structural design to truly create new opportunities begins. The method of construction, materiality, complexity of the structure and choice of strategy directly affect where compromises must be made and how best to progress.

Ramboll UK Engineers were consulted on the Ely Music School design, a scheme where the biggest challenge included a vierendeel truss which accommodated the student practice rooms whilst providing tension to the erected student accommodation chapter facing a reservoir ahead. 

Liasing directly with Simon Smith, previous director at the company, we delivered a solution that was both practical, economic, and attractive, creating the opportunity for the best views in the town that was born out of the dense network of sycamore trees  surrounding the entire building.

References

“Naveen Anandakumar has worked with John McAslan + Partners as a Part I Architectural Assistant under my direct supervision. 

During that period Naveen has worked on a number of high profile education and cultural projects, with his involvement ranging from early concept development, to the latter stages of detail design development. His responsibilities have included the production of design and technical drawings and presentation material, and preparing and maintaining general arrangement drawings. Often the above have been delivered to tight deadlines that have required Naveen to work productively and conscientiously. 

Naveen is steadfast, hard working and conscientious individual who has made a valuable contribution to the projects he has been involved in. He is highly organised and has the ability to turn his skills to a broad range of activities. His interpersonal skills are excellent; Naveen is well liked and respected by both his peers and external consultants. 

Naveen has proven to be a very diligent and hard working member of our team. He works well on his own or within a larger team while delivering his individual responsibilities successfully. We wish him well in the future and would have no hesitation in recommending him to any future employer.”

Fanos Panayides, Director, John McAslan + Partners

“Naveen has demonstrated his competence in the architectural/ practical matters, as well as his capacity to mobilise the political capital necessary to achieve a project”.

Peter Carl, Lecturer and Tutor, Faculty of Architecture, University of Cambridge

“Naveen has always been a pleasure to work with and his project is a thoughtful response to the particular needs of the community in Kattankudy”.

Anne Markey, Director, Projects Office, Faculty of Architecture, London Metropolitan University