Community in the time of market economy

This arrival city in northern Mumbai grew exponentially in recent years thanks to its train connection with the city centre. The railway lines, however, created a rigid boundary dividing Nalasopara into two separate worlds: the lesser-dense middle-income area in the West, and the extremely dense lower-income neighbourhoods in the East.

The proposal creates dwelling clusters that form public and collective spaces that enable income-generation and social activities. These clusters answer to both new developments (West) and urban renewal (East). By adapting to both scenarios, these clusters cater for social, economic and visual integration between the two currently segregated areas. The dwelling units are designed to be adapted by dwellers, allowing local patterns of inhabitation to flourish. The high density, scalability, and the use of local materials and techniques make the proposal affordable for dwellers and profitable for developers, permitting as well its replication in other neighbourhoods within Mumbai.