Design By: Sindhuja Iyengar, V Semester
Studio Co-ordinator : Ar. Ravi
Abstract:
Housing was the major project in 4th semester. The design objective was to create community spaces for gathering and socialising of the inhabitants. It was not just creating tall apartment complexes, it was more about how every unit was designed according to the income groups, i.e., for economically weaker section(EWS) up to 25m2 per house (one multipurpose hall, toilet, bathroom and cooking area with utility/balcony) and for low income group(LIG) up to 45m2 per house (one multipurpose hall, bed room, toilet, bathroom and cooking area with utility/balcony). After each units were individually designed it was important to group it and make it into an apartment complex of not more than G+3, it was less about stacking it one above the other, interesting masses had to be created. Since the houses were very small and they had common walls, it was hard to give direct ventilation on all the sides and thus mass and void in the design played a key role for fixing daylight and ventilation inside the house. Massing was the key element in the design along with creation more positive spaces and well-treating negative spaces. Since the project was slum rehabilitation outdoor spaces mattered the most, like courtyards, petty shops, water taps, auto, cycle and mostly two wheeler parking (than car parking), provision of markets, designing spaces which are complementary spaces i.e., spaces which can be used by the inhabitants as well as the general public and so when latter use the spaces it can fetch revenue that can be used for slum development. Creating activity pockets in the negative spaces thus accumulation of filth or anti-social activities do not happen here.
It was very important for us to design it like our own residences, just because they are under-privileged people does not they do have the right to lead a healthy and a sound life, so as designer it was important to get to their lifestyle to know their requirements. Thus spending time in existing slums and mingling with the slum habitants helped to design a better housing for the habitants to live.
