RESPONSIVE GEOMETRIESKarachi Circular Railway (KCR) Revival2 0 1 2 . U n i v e r s i t y o f To r o n t o . M a s t e r o f A r c h i t e c t u r e . T h e s i s‘Responsive Geometries’ aims to revisit advances in computation and fabrication as a cultural project within the context of Karachi, Pakistan; in an effort to produce formal and tectonic design logic that instill ‘civic memory’, therefore enhancing urban citizenship.

It addresses the challenges of design and construction in the construction environments where skilled labor has become a rarity. The project suggests to utilize the surplus workforce of information technology sector into the construction industry. It would enable production of parametric architectural systems that could pay homage to Karachi’s architectural heritage as well as enable unskilled workforce to construct complex structures.

This project proposes metro stations at three unique sites, while employing a single architectural system to create complex and performative architectural geometries with an ease of construction.

SALB StationEntrance

2km1:100000Public Transport Network

Intervention Site

KCR Station

Ground

Elevated

Trench

NProposed Airport ConnectionRail Line Typology

Intervention SitesKCR StationsGroundElevatedTrenchAirport Line

TRACK TYPOLOGIES

Intervention Site

KCR Station

Ground

Elevated

Trench

NProposed Airport ConnectionRail Line Typology

1

2

3

KarachiCircularRailway+3 Sites

KCR + PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

KCR has 3 different track typologies

KCR TrackCurrent Public Transport Routes

8

6

8Site Section 1:200Site 1: Elevated Site 3: Trench

BB21,6

6,5

5

12,3

BB

21,6

6,5

5

12,3

Proposed Site Condition 1:200

Site 2: Ground

Site Section 1:200

747

Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) came under operation in1969 but was discontinued in 1999 due to administrative mis-management and government negligence. As of 2009 a plan to revive KCR was put forward. Responsive Geometries builds upon the 2009 KCR Revival Plan, using it as a framework for new architectural exploration. As part of a public infrastructure, KCR stations are the perfect site to conduct cultural and architectural design experiments.

Three different sites (KCR Stations) have been chosen due to their unique track typology. These typologies include an elevated track, a ground level track and an underground track. This difference in sites will test the flexibility of proposed building system.

Design proposal for site 1 is produced in greater detail, while site 2 and 3 are quick design studies.

KARACHI

SALB | Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Station

NNS | North Nazimabad Station

GEJ | Gulistan-e-Johar Station

BuildingSystem

A B C

G H I lK 6m x 3m12m x 3m

D E F

J

BUILDING COMPLEXITY IN UNSKILLED ENVIRONMENT

K - L The precast beams are transported to construction site, limiting the beam dimensions to standard truck bed size.

A - C Precast beams are stacked, rotated (on z-axis) and mirrored (on y-axis)

D - F A cross shaped male/female plug allow the beams to snap in place for vertical stack. The female plug is rotated at a constant degree increment to create ruled surface. Rebar is added further to reinforce the beam stack.

G - J A circular plug system allow the beams to be stacked and rotated at a variable degree increment which helps create hyperbolic geometry. A guide line can be etched on each beam for ease of construction.

Over the past three decades Karachi has seen poor economic development, scretarian violence and increase in crimes. This has led to flight of human capital to Arab and European countries. The shortage of skilled labour as well as trained design professionals has partly resulted into stagnation of architectural development.

How does decline in skilled labour - due to lack of skill training and export of labour - effects architectural design practices

How can advancement in digital computation and fabrication help address issues of architectural design, construction and urban citizenship?

200m

SALB Station

KCR Stations

KCR Line

Bus Stops

Car Route

1. SALB | Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai StationCurrently a ground level track runs through the narrow railway corridor sandwiched between the industrial units. The 2009 KCR Revival Plan has proposed to elevate the track for road traffic mitigation.

The current light and heavy industrial landuse is transitioning to light industrial and residential. Therefore the program and station design anticipates increase in local population and possible building-use demands. SALB Station is designed to have a market area on the ground floor that extends out into a linear park area. The upper floor holds the railway platform and mechanical rooms. Station entrance is located on either side of the street with various entrances/exits from the ground floor market.

PROGRAM + SITE DESCRIPTION

SITE CONTEXT

SALBStationBird’s-eyeView

SITE PHOTOS

SALB Beam Design

Temperature 0

48

22.2

Aver

age

Reco

rd

30

Solar OrientationN

The 600mm beams are shaped to help articulate sunlight; protect from heat and attenuate noise.

Roof Beams

Platform

Track Beams

StructuralWall - Built using constant rotation method

StructuralArches - Built using variable rotation method

The outside face of the beam is cut away to better modulate light, this allows for the interior to get brighter without direct sunlight.

a

b

The Inside face of the beam is shaped to help attenuate excessive interior noise.

c

Roof Beams

Platform

Track Beams

Structural Wall

Track Beams

Exploded Axonometric

One & 1/2 Bay

SALBPlatform

Mechanical RoomMechanical Room

Market

Storage

Service

O�ce O�ce

O�ce O�ce

Concession Stand

Concession Stand

Kiosks

Kiosks

Tickets

Tickets

Storage

Service

Market

Ground Floor Plan 1:200

First Floor Plan

B

A

C

SALB metro station bridges over a major street while connecting both ends of the railway corridor. The building is configured to have station entrances from the street and market entrances from the sides. The market opens into a proposed linear park strategy that covers the length of the railway corridor.

Section A

Section B

1:200

Section C

Plans &Sections

Section A

Section B

1:200

Section C

Section A

Section B

1:200

Section C

Section A

Section B

1:200

Section C

Mechanical RoomMechanical Room

Market

Storage

Service

O�ce O�ce

O�ce O�ce

Concession Stand

Concession Stand

Kiosks

Kiosks

Tickets

Tickets

Storage

Service

Market

Ground Floor Plan 1:200

First Floor Plan

B

A

C

1st Floor

2nd Floor

Long Section

Elevation

Short Sections

SALBEntrance

Section Model

Section Model

100m

SITE CONTEXT

SALB Station

KCR Stations

KCR Line

Bus Stops

Car Route

2. NNS | North Nazimabad StationThis site is located in mid-town Karachi, where a ground level track runs through the railway corridor. The land-use consists of residential bungalows with high density residential towers along the major arterial roads. These towers also include commercial units on the ground floor. This site is also adjacent to pockets of high-density un-planned housing.

Since North Nazimabad station is designed to be a quick study, no additional building program has been included.

PROGRAM + SITE DESCRIPTION

32

NNSEntrance

33

Site 2 Beam NNSBeamDesign

RECURSIVE GEOMETRY + PERFORMANCENNS station contains five types of beam that are designed to have triangular openings. These openings sub-divide themselves into finer triangles as the beam type progresses towards the top.

These five different beams are aggregated to have a gradient from top to bottom - going finer to coarser grain respectively.

The finer grain of openings at the top allow for the structure to act as a rain screen and give shelter from hot sun. The coarser/larger openings at the bottom allow for daylight to come through during the morning and evening, as well as enables better ventilation. Inside the waffled structure acts to attenuate excessive noise from the trains.

1

2

3

4

5

BeamAggregation

NNSPlatform

Plans &Sections

Roof Plan

Elevation

Long Section

Short Sections

a c b

SITE 2

Section Model

SALB Station

KCR Stations

KCR Line

Bus Stops

Car Route

SITE CONTEXT 3. GEJ | Gulistan-e-Johar StationThis site is located in on the periphery of Karachi, where a subterranean track runs through Gulistan-e-Johar providing access to 3 stations. The land-use consists of residential bungalows with high density residential towers along the major arterial roads. These towers also include commercial units on the ground floor.

Since Gulistan-e-Johar station is designed to be a quick study, no additional building program has been included.

PROGRAM + SITE DESCRIPTION

GEJPlatform

GEJExterior

Site 3 Beam GEJBeamDesign

GEOMETRY + PERFORMANCEA single beam design has been used that is carved on the inside and it remains bare on the outside. The beams are stacked with an offset position on every other beam. This helps attenuate excessive noise inside the station. The lack of exterior openings helps avoid automobile pollution from adjacent streets that otherwise would settle down in the trench.

SITE 3 SUBTERRANEAN SECTION

Plans &Sections

Roof Plan

Long Section

Short Section

SITE 3 SUBTERRANEAN SECTION

Section Model

OtherExplorations

Structural Strategy

Concrete Structure

Steel Cables

Concrete Frame

Panels

Rain Screen

StructuralFrame

Light ModulatorNoise Baffle

Panel Layers

Panel Strategy