A Place to call Home
Undergraduate Thesis • Architecture Research and Design • User Studies • Competitive Analysis
Project Overview
The dissertation delves into the infrastructure and services offered by Mumbai and New Delhi's municipal bodies to their homeless populations, exploring how they navigate their place within society and government structures. It also examines the role of architecture in shaping homeless shelter infrastructure in Mumbai.
May 2018-Apr 2019 • 1 year
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Awarded 3rd place for the thesis research by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, in 2018.
My Contributions
I conducted in-depth research, carried out on-site user studies, engaged with government officials in Mumbai and New Delhi, conducted site visits for practical insights, designed innovative solutions, and successfully presented my work to government authorities, contributing significantly to the development of urban solutions.
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Why India needs a strategic tool to cater to it's issue of homelessness. Read my proposal here.
Problem
As our cities rapidly expand, they are unable to provide adequate services and infrastructure for new residents, leading to significant health and infrastructure challenges. This has created a paradox in urban India: cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai lack basic accommodations and infrastructure for newcomers, while in cities like New Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, and Jaipur, homeless individuals face daily risks despite shelters remaining underutilized due to inadequate services.
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रेंन बसेरा = Shelter Homes?
Situation Analysis
In-depth studies were conducted on six shelters in New Delhi and three in Mumbai to gain insights into the on-ground realities of the crisis. Despite New Delhi having a significant number of homeless shelters (250+), many essential infrastructure services are still lacking. In contrast, Mumbai faces challenges related to space, infrastructure, services, and provisions for the homeless.
Solution: Program as a Spatial Analysis
The Design Intervention: A Prototype Strategy
In developing countries, a homeless shelter often ends up as merely a roof over one's head. However, a 'home' encompasses much more than that. Approximately 90% of the homeless population is actively engaged in the economy, and their needs cannot be overlooked. A comprehensive approach to providing safe and secure housing is imperative.
It is estimated that Mumbai requires 207 operational homeless shelters for its registered communities. Presently, there are only seven shelters available. In comparison, New Delhi, a city of similar size and greater population, boasts more than 250 such shelters. While both land and funds have been allocated to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), what is lacking is a viable strategy for the construction of these shelters. This strategy must not only be adaptable to the unique circumstances of Mumbai but also sustainable for ongoing implementation.
The design ideology centered on creating housing units as a prototype for other sites in Mumbai to emulate, within the broader framework of public utility functions. The goal was to establish a seamless design concept that integrates public, semi-public, and private interfaces, benefiting not only the residents but also the city's populace. Provisions for future expansion to accommodate unexpected population growth were also incorporated.
