A Place for Prosperity

The first interactions of a child with its environment can have lasting impacts on its world seeing and psychoanalytical state. In Mumbai, bad responsiveness to urbanisation has, however, left these environments in terrible conditions. The research question arises: How can a dense, affordable alternative for the chawl redevelopment be established, that can foster childrens development and create a sense of community and identity?

The urban block is defined by the basic building element, a 3-courtyard cluster, which is positioned into the urban fabric. Every block is characterised through its communal -floodable- public playground and the color of its brick facade. When walking through the block, the inhabitants pass a hierarchical sequence of spaces, following the idea of Charles Correa. The cluster shows responsiveness to the urban orientation it is facing, e.g. setbacks for commerce, work-life units, location of amenities, etc. The building is organised by 26m² modules and corner units. Water storage and good ventilation were some of the crucial hard factors. Also, it is characterized by a palace theme such as the interior arches, taken from old Indian havelis, but brought into a modern lowcost surrounding. Social corridors, double height spaces and other dwelling elements create livable environments.

"Domestic places shape and hold our dreams and memories".

Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space