Rashmi Bhatia | Architecture Portfolio

About

Finding perfection in the imperfect

As an architecture student at the University of Oregon, my design principle is simple: find perfection in the imperfect. I seek to find beauty in everything around me, bringing that perspective into every space I design. My work bridges hand-crafted techniques with advanced digital tools. I love balancing analog methods — graphite, charcoal, plaster casting, and physical fabrication — with precise digital workflows using AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, the Adobe Suite, and emerging AI platforms like Raven AI. Before UO, my background was shaped by rigorous training at Ichen Art Academy, an architecture workshop at Cal Poly SLO, and founding my graphic design business, Brushmi's Designs. Today, I channel my passion for community into roles with AIAS, the UO SACA Promo Committee, and as a co-creator of Bottu Mag. Above all, I design with compassion, joy, and an absolute dedication to the craft.

4 Courses

4.1 GPA — Dean's List

30+ Studio Projects

Design Studios

Five courses, one design journey

01 ARCH 222 Computer Graphics Studio Digital · Rhino · Grasshopper · AI 02 ARCH 284 Design Studio II Foothills Field Institute 03 ARCH 283 Design Studio Spatial Thinking Through Making 04 ARCH 202 Design Skills Orthographic · Paraline · Model 05 Studio From Concept to Model Photography · Models · Long Span · City

Studio 01 — ARCH 222 — Intro to Digital Design Methods

Computer Graphics Studio

A workflow-focused studio bridging hand-crafted design and digital practice: Rhino modeling, Grasshopper parametric generation, laser-cut fabrication, photoreal Rhino rendering, and AI-assisted visualization with Raven AI / ChatGPT / Gemini (Nano Banana) / Adobe Firefly.

Module 01

Digital Model & Laser Cut

Rhino & Laser Cutter

Module 02

Grasshopper Fence Generation

Rhino + Grasshopper

Module 03

Topography & Digital Frames

Rhino & Physical Models

Module 04

Studio Project & AI Rendering

Rhino Render & AI Image Gen

Course Booklet

ARCH 222 — Full Course Booklet

View Booklet Download PDF

ARCH 222 • University of Oregon 83 Pages

Studio 02 — ARCH 284 — Architectural Design Studio II

From Concept to Habitable Form

Building on ARCH 283, this studio advances from abstract spatial exercises into an integrated building proposal: the Foothills Field Institute, a public biology research center for students and teachers sited in the foothills. The project resolves a real program through a butterfly roof that harvests rainwater into a site water feature, a rooftop garden, reworked circulation that opens up initially-cramped spaces, and a considered material palette — evolving through midterm and final pinups in response to review feedback.

Midterm Pinup

Photo 01

Mixed Media Midterm

Midterm Pinup

Photo 02

Mixed Media Midterm

Final Pinup

Photo 03

Mixed Media Final

Midterm Summary

Foothills Field Institute — Midterm Booklet

View Summary Download PDF

ARCH 284 • University of Oregon 11 Pages

Studio 03 — ARCH 283 — Architectural Design Studio

Spatial Thinking Through Making

This studio fundamentally shifted my perspective on architectural representation, challenging me to view it not merely as a documentation tool but as an active and critical method of spatial analysis. By balancing precise technical hand drafting with atmospheric explorations in charcoal, plaster, and mixed media, I discovered that representation is the foundational language of environmental design.

Observational Drawing

Hand Drawing Studies

Time-pressured studies capturing the hand in 30-second, 5-minute, and 15-minute intervals, culminating in a 60-minute study drawn entirely from memory — a test of mental mapping and the courage to trust one's own hand.

Graphite 8.5" x 11"

Assignment 01

Seven Points in Collaboration

Collaborative drawing exercise exploring how multiple hands and perspectives can converge on a single composition through shared spatial logic.

Micron Pen 11" x 17"

Assignment 02

Line Composition

Translating linear relationships into three-dimensional form through chipboard and cardstock, exploring how lines define and divide space.

Chipboard & Cardstock 7" x 7"

Assignment 03

Plane

Investigating how planar elements create enclosure, threshold, and spatial hierarchy through paper and cardboard constructions.

Paper & Cardboard 7" x 7"

Assignment 04

Canopy

Designing an overhead structure that mediates between interior and exterior, exploring shelter, shade, and the filtering of light through mixed media.

Mixed Media

Assignment 04b

Landform

Sculpting terrain to understand how topography shapes architectural decisions — from drainage to views to the experience of ascent and descent.

Cardboard & Foamboard 7" x 7"

Assignment 05

Mass — Inhibited Wall

A plaster casting exploring mass, weight, and the carving of space within solid form. Understanding how walls contain, direct, and reveal.

Plaster 4" x 7"

Midterm Review

Gate, Path, Garden, Room

An integrated spatial sequence exploring threshold (gate), movement (path), enclosure (garden), and inhabitation (room) — the fundamental elements of architectural experience.

Mixed Media Midterm

Final Review

Gate, Path, Garden, Room — Final

Refined iteration of the spatial sequence, resolving the relationships between threshold, circulation, landscape, and shelter into a cohesive architectural proposition.

Mixed Media Final

Studio 04 — ARCH 202 — Design Skills

Foundations of Architectural Representation

This course transformed my perception of the built environment, highlighting the minuscule architectural details that many overlook. By engaging with techniques like orthographic and paraline projection, color media, and physical model making, I came to understand how aesthetic beauty can coexist within a structurally sound, livable space.

Assignment 01

Line, Tone, Color, Perception

Explorations in graphite and colored pencil examining fundamental elements of visual perception and architectural representation.

Graphite & Colored Pencil 11" x 17"

Assignment 01 (cont.)

Line, Tone, Color, Perception

Further investigations into how line weight, tonal value, and color interact to create depth and spatial understanding.

Graphite & Colored Pencil 11" x 14"

Assignment 02

Analytical Diagrams

Digital diagramming exploring architectural analysis through abstraction. Translating spatial relationships into clear visual communication.

Adobe Illustrator 11" x 17"

Assignment 02 (Model)

Analytical Diagrams — Physical Model

Three-dimensional interpretation of analytical diagrams, translating 2D analysis into a physical cardboard and paper model.

Paper & Cardboard 10" x 8" x 4"

Assignment 03

Orthographic I

Plan, section, and elevation drawings rendered in graphite. Understanding how buildings are documented through precise orthographic projection.

Graphite 19" x 25"

Assignment 04

Orthographic II

Advanced orthographic projection exploring more complex building forms and the relationship between plan and elevation.

Graphite 14" x 11"

Assignment 05

Paraline Projection I

Axonometric and isometric drawings combining graphite precision with colored pencil to reveal three-dimensional spatial relationships.

Graphite & Colored Pencil 18" x 24"

Assignment 06

Perspective Projection I

Perspective drawing enriched with paper collage, bringing depth and materiality to architectural visualization through mixed media.

Graphite, Colored Pencil & Paper Collage 18" x 24"

Assignment 07

Orthographic Projection III

Transitioning from hand to digital: precise orthographic drawings produced in AutoCAD, bridging traditional skills with industry-standard tools.

AutoCAD 18" x 24"

Assignment 08

Digital Collage

Compositing imagery in Photoshop to create evocative architectural narratives through layering, texture, and digital manipulation.

Adobe Photoshop 11" x 17"

Assignment 09

Paraline Projection II

Advanced paraline drawing in graphite demonstrating refined technique and deeper understanding of three-dimensional representation.

Graphite 14" x 14"

Studio 05 — Architecture Studio

Design Studio — From Concept to Model

Studio coursework ranging from photographic composition and diagramming to physical model building, city design, and live-work structures. These projects explore materiality, light, spatial sequence, and the relationship between people and the built environment.

Photography

Framed Composition

De-objectifying everyday imagery through careful framing and composition, rendering objects practically unrecognizable and unique in their own way.

Photography 2024

Analytical

Diagramming

Exploring intricate structural details through stippling and cross-hatching on transparent paper, reimagining how objects are perceived.

Transparent Paper & Markers 14" x 17"

Model Building

Surface-Plane

Exploring the dynamics of surface planes through triangular forms, creating a sense of movement with floating elements that evoke balance and tension.

Bristol & Applicator Sticks 7" x 3"

Model Building

Light Box

Examining how light transforms space. A sun-shaped cutout casts light while purple paper behind a Bristol moon creates atmospheric color — demonstrating light's impact on the built environment.

Cardboard, Bristol & Construction Paper 8" x 9" x 4"

Model Building

Site Integration

Intentional structure placement with a sun-lit pathway, light box on a hill, and applicator sticks symbolizing trees — integrating architecture with landscape.

Chipboard & Cardboard 12" x 24"

Collaboration • Model Building

Long Span

A functional 3-foot bridge built entirely from applicator sticks. The hexagonal base piece was replicated and connected to create a structurally sound, aesthetically cohesive span capable of rolling a basketball across.

Applicator Sticks 3 ft span

Collaboration • Urban Design

[RE] Defining City — Cataracta

A sustainable rainforest city where humans and animals coexist. Featuring eco-friendly homes, treehouses, gondola systems, hydroponic farming, and wind/hydro turbines. Complete with map, diorama, and physical model.

Bristol, Construction Paper, Wood & Cardboard Map + Model + Diorama

Model Building

Live — Work — Share

A to-scale live-work structure featuring an innovative triangular solar panel walkway, open gable roof, and pyramidal side roofs — designed for living, working, and sharing with loved ones.

Basswood, Bristol & Applicator Sticks 4" x 7"

Personal

Little Black Sketchbook

My most prized possession. I take it everywhere — whenever I see something interesting, I sketch it. I'm more likely to remember the beauty of a place I have drawn than simply photographed.

Pen & Paper 6" x 4" — Ongoing

ARH 314 — Art History

Architectural Research & Writing

A scholarly analysis of Rani Ki Vav, the 11th-century "Queen's Stepwell" in Gujarat, India. This research paper examines how the principal sculptural forms, religious context, and site converge to celebrate femininity, solidify beauty standards, and define the roles of women in Indian society — connecting art history to questions of power, identity, and architectural purpose.

Research Paper

Rani Ki Vav — The Queen's Stepwell

Built in 1063 CE by Queen Udayamati as a memorial to King Bhimdev I, Rani Ki Vav is an "inverted temple" descending seven levels into the earth in the Māru-Gurjara architectural style. My paper argues that the stepwell's commissioning by a widowed queen, its imagery of apsarās and celestial women, and its location on the sacred Saraswati River together create a powerful statement about women's agency in medieval Indian architecture.

The comparative analysis places Rani Ki Vav alongside the Kailasa Temple (8th c.) and Jagannath Temple (12th c.) to demonstrate how architecture achieves unity through different means — from water access and pilgrimage to carved cliffside excavation — while sharing a common purpose of bringing communities together.

ARH 314 • University of Oregon Fall 2025 11 Pages • 15+ Sources

Publication Design — Cultural Storytelling

Bottu Mag: The South Asian Zine

Created for SACA's Utsav programme, Bottu Mag is a creative exploration of cultural identity. It serves as both a personal artistic journey and an educational platform designed to connect students with the rich history, everyday rituals, and vibrant arts of South Asian heritage.

The South Asian Zine

Bottu

The bottu is more than a mark; it is a gateway. This magazine reclaims a symbol of memory, identity, and cultural pride while inviting readers to truly see South Asian culture.

View Magazine

Editorial Strategy • Illustration • Visual Identity

A publication that turns heritage into an accessible design experience

The magazine translates cultural memory into a student-facing resource: part art book, part guide, and part invitation. Across its pages, personal essays sit beside illustrated explainers, food spreads, architectural research, and social observations that make South Asian culture feel tactile and alive.

Employer-facing skills Publication layout, visual systems, copywriting, cultural research, illustration, art direction, and audience-aware communication.

Community purpose Distributed as an Utsav resource to help participants learn, share, and celebrate South Asian culture beyond the event.

Identity essays Cuisine across South Asia Spill the Chai Eating with hands Jewelry & fashion Westernization Architecture precedents Unspoken rules Ramadan reflections Urdu dialogue Bhaiya / sibling bonds Nani's lessons

Magazine / Zine SACA Utsav 28 Pages Student Resource

Fine Art

Charcoal Portraits

Trained at Ichen Art Academy, I've created over 35 oil paintings, charcoal drawings, and digital art pieces. These charcoal portraits hold deep personal meaning — each capturing not just a likeness, but the warmth and spirit of the people I love.

Nani

A portrait of the light of my life, my grandmother. Her wrinkles represent her everlasting smile and her eyes shine with pride. She is what I see when I hear the word love.

Charcoal • 12" x 14" • 2023

Bliss

She represents the feeling of wind running through your hair — absolute calm and contentment. Light moves across her face while dark values define her characteristics.

Charcoal • 12" x 14" • 2022

Ms. Khan

A memorial portrait for my friend whose mother passed away. I hoped to capture her mother's warmth and patience. This piece taught me that art can heal — and that everything I create should have meaning and purpose.

Charcoal • 12" x 14" • 2024

Skills & Experience

Tools, Training & Background

Design Software

AutoCAD
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Rhino
Revit
Procreate / Canva

Hand Techniques

Graphite Drawing
Charcoal Portraiture
Colored Pencil
Oil Painting
Physical Model Building
Paper Collage

Architecture Skills

Orthographic Projection
Paraline / Axonometric
Perspective Drawing
Site Analysis
Concept Modeling
Digital Collage

Other

JavaScript / Python
Graphic Design
Publication Design
Photography
Teaching
Leadership

Education & Experience

2025 – Present

University of Oregon — B.Arch

5-year professional architecture program. Dean's List, 4.1 GPA. Executive Chair, Public Relations — South Asian Cultural Alliance (SACA). Created Bottu Mag for SACA's Utsav programme. AIA Student Chapter.

Summer 2024

Cal Poly SLO — Architecture Summer Workshop

4-week intensive in design fundamentals, structural engineering, site/community planning. Final gallery exhibition.

2023 – Present

Brushmi's Designs — Founder

Graphic design business specializing in logos and merchandise. Clients include school teams, student coalitions, and a medical podcast.

2021 – 2024

Ichen Art Academy

Mastered charcoal portraiture, oil painting, and digital art. Created 35+ pieces across multiple media. AP Studio Art Bootcamp.

2019 – 2025

Boy Scouts of America — Distinguished Eagle Scout

Co-founded an all-female troop (60+ members). Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Eagle Project: community mural at Fremont Christian School.

Resume

Download My Resume

One-page overview of my education, skills, design experience, and leadership.

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Contact

Let's Connect

Interested in collaboration, opportunities, or just want to chat about architecture and design?

✉ bhatiarashmi857@gmail.com ● LinkedIn — /in/bhatiarashmi ★ @brushmiii