Thesis Guides: Prof. Manoj Mathur , Mr. Shiresh Malpani
Thesis coordinator: Dr. Prof. Jaya Kumar
Thesis Proposition
Mixed Income Housing Project at one of the last leftover land at the Worli Tip. Abutting the tip is the Koliwada urban village where the early fishermen, the original dwellers of Mumbai settled before Mumbai became a port city. The project looks at waterfront strategies and adheres to the historic Worli fort, and aims at making it an inclusive public space with flexible housing modules
Aims and Objectives
01. What might a successful mixed dwelling development look like in Mumbai? Is there a way to capitalize on the city’s rich traditions and history without destroying it?
02. Can it become a prototype for the City? Suggesting a new way of construction that is resilient, sustainable and accommodating of public components.
A solution towards providing Accessible Inclusive Housing and necessary infrastructure on demand.
Deployable "Eureka" clusters are prefabricated components that provide the basic buoyant infrastructure. These are Off-Grid clusters which will attempt to generate food, electricity and harvest rainwater. The Clusters adapt to the urban fabric of the region, more like an extension to the city fabric.
In this Particular case, the street character of the Worli, Koliwada is extended onto the pontoons which open into varying courtyards and cul-de-sacs. Deployable clusters can break the hierarchy of Land value and give subsidized rental housing at various city nodes in Mumbai.
Thus, creating a blue grid around the city that can respond to housing and other public requirements on demand.
Research
At 21.4 million people, Mumbai is the fourth largest metropolitan region in the world, and more than half its population lives in slums. Majorly due to inflation of land prices.
With around 600 Million people to take part in Urban Migration to Urban India by 2030, there is an acute shortage of Affordable Housing in the mega-city. The current housing deficit in India stands at 19 million units, which, in the absence of any meaningful intervention, is slated to double to 38 million units by 2030. 95% of this deficit is around the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) and LIG (Low Income Group) segments, which technically puts the figure at a staggering 18 million units in this category
The housing crises in Mumbai can be seen most clearly in the proliferation of slums, which house an estimated 62% of those in the city proper
Adding to the problem of affordable housing in these mega-cities there is also a lack of Open Space/Public space. Urban public space includes streets, playgrounds, natural assets and parks. In Mumbai, shrinking open space is of particular concern as open space per capita is just 0.88sqm per person, compared to Newyork city at 2.5, Tokyo at 6, and Delhi at 15. The problem also lies in the fact that currently available 30sqkm only 40% is usable public space in Mumbai.
Mumbai being a coastal city also faces the problem of flooding. The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) study had estimated a 1.5m sea level rise by 2100, which could inundate 40% (190 sq km area) of Mumbai.
Koliwadas of Mumbai and the Kolis
The Kolis are the indigenous fishing communities of Mumbai, living in gaothans also called Urban Villages. They claim to be the original residents in the political realm, but their distinct voice is often not heard by the capitalist economy, which often contradicts their affinities. In class terms they occupy a broad spectrum of identities, from the poor to the middles class to the rich, even though their habitants are often perceived to be on the edge of being a slum
But soon adding to their troubles their dependence on the sea for sustenance was rapidly eroded by the declining quality of the ocean’s waters. Consequently, many of the Koliwadas were treated like other so-called slum neighborhoods.
The Worli Deck
In response to the constraints of space and the need of increasing exchange between the community and the Public, the Deck looks to become a monument for the Public, a true democratic space.
The site being located in prime tourist scenic views, the deck looks to attract tourists and visitors not only for views but to engage with the fishing community.
It behaves as a multi-functional space where various activities can be conducted or engaged. Community related functions act as an exchange point too, where the footprint of the deck provides shaded spaces for fishing related activities to happen. thus layering the Worli tip into a vibrant tip with various activities. It opens the potential for informal markets to be setup on the deck too.
Eureka Housing
The Housing modules in order to attain a dynamic Koliwada like organic settlement are interspersed with balconies with defragmenting the modules up to its last bit. This helps in developing varying facade designs thus breaking the regularity of Modular construction.
Eureka Series clusters have various possibilities within the module, providing 60+ options thus bringing variety to the clustering adhering to the Worli Koliwada character of spaces.
Out of the 60+ options, the viable options can be chosen based on requirements, proximity and design on demand.
