Specialization 2022-23
This course examined and researched the future fabric of a community through local interaction and government development plans. Ambawadi in Borivali East was the location we chose to research. This module lasted a total of five weeks. Our first week was spent on-site. This week's goal was to become acquainted with the fabric and how the settlement has grown, as well as the relationships and connections between the locals.
Ambawadi map:
Here are some photos of the location:
Speaking with the residents there allowed us to learn some fascinating tales about Ambawadi and the surrounding area. These tales also assisted in establishing ties within this large settlement. The entire Ambawadi was depicted on a drawing while the builtform and density were noted. A network map was also created to illustrate how individuals create a web of acquaintances in the community they reside in.
This drawing is stacked with several narratives. Zoom in to read it:
This illustration and network map made it easier for us to comprehend how the fabric and formed alleys. We also got a feeling of how residences frequently spill into their neighbourhood without any sense of alarm.
We spent the next two weeks speculating on how this current site will transform at various intervals. The interval were 5 years i.e. 2027 and 12 years i.e. 2034.
5 Year Speculation (2027): This forecast is solely based on the opinions and goals of the stakeholders. Planned behind Pragati Nagar is a 6.5 metre road. Two tall structures constructed by Chandak Builders somewhere in Ambawadi
12 Year Speculation (2034): Taking into account the development plan and some rumours. Pragati Nagar is more like a green area with a park. There is a hospital or a public school nearby. SRA buildings abound in the Ambawadi area.
The next step was for us to play various roles resembling stakeholders and present their needs and demands, which resulted in some negotiation between two stakeholders. This process is called BATNA. This step helped us a lot as it got us familiar with the problems faced by stakeholders such as floods, congestion, water storage, sanitation, etc.
Negotiation's Graph:
From this negotitions two views were formed:
1.What if development of this fabric happens?
2. What if it does not?
I played a rented stakeholder who doesn't want the existing fabric to get redeveloped as he will have to move out and pay a increased rent after the development and therefore voted for no development. Now came questions like:
How can a existing houseform be retrofitted for betterment of the settlement?
From here we started observing the existing fabric, house forms and poblems faced more closely. For this we selected a existing house which faces the frequent problems:
We tried retrofitting the house maintaining its original form and to face problems in a effective way. A manual is been made, a step by step drawing which can be followed by any house in the region to retrofit their respective houses.
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