Project entry for Asia Pacific
-
1 / 10
Towers of Strength in India
The future landscape of Ambujwadi slums. This vision can be conceived as an alternative solution to the “Slum Situation” that our cities see as the problem. This vision can completely renew the idea of a slum by introducing multiple urban artifacts where the users express their identities. Eventually representing to the city that they are too a community of “hard working humans”, who are also the builders of the city.
-
3 / 10
Towers of Strength in India
The Urban tower: The identity of Ambujwadi to the city. A self-sustaining tower, with mixed use programs (as per the communities’ requirements) that follows the language of the street being coiled around and within, throughout the building. This is similar to their current way of living, where social/economic/political spaces spill out.
Last updated: June 18, 2021 Mumbai, India
Self-sustaining tower development typologies
The strategy here is to bring to attention that housing is not the only solution for the “slum issue”. Return of investment has to be provided to any developers, agency or investor; in order to manifest such structures. Hence the integration of systems that aid in generating some revenue over time, to cover up for cost of construction and provide for operation costs. Such systems are – photo-voltaic cells and wind turbines on the roof, rainwater harvesting systems, telecommunication cell towers to generate rent from providers, co-op Wi-Fi systems, certain percentage of area for rent/lease, public toilets generated income, advertisements on facade, etc. The buildings can be modified as per user needs. Each type (S, M, L) has its own limitations and possibilities (as mentioned in drawings).
Development with contextual resources
Developing these tower typologies in slums have to be done to the minimum footprint. The structures are 7.5m x 7.5m (S), 10m x 10m (M), 15m x 15m (L). The small & medium type can also be built in the negative spaces too. The structural systems vary as per the building size: Steel frame for the large type as we need the structure to occupy less area (also an opportunity to train the locals this construction method). RCC structure for medium and small types (familiar construction technique to the workers) with cheaper and sustainable nonstructural infills. Each tower will be unique to its context, as the slum users are highly efficient and creative in reusing materials. This process also leads to employment in the slums, as the majority are construction workers.
Urban artifacts
The lower working class struggle the most, survival in the city is so hard and frustrating for them: They have less or no social, political, or economic support. Space is scarce and too valuable to be given to them. Building a home is uneasy. No respect for their time and relationships. They have always been disunited within their kind and the city. The development of the “Urban Artifacts” not only fulfill the spatial requirements for the user, but they also act as platforms for the lower working class in fostering their society to form a strong unity within themselves. These are objects of expression in three scales: neighborhood (S), community (M) and the urban (L).