Architect Deepankar Sharma Suggests Ways To Enhance The Living Environment For the Residents at Kumbharwada | Dharavi | Mumbai

The Informal Surgical Insertions in Kumbharwada – The Potters’ Village in Dharavi, Mumbai

Informal Surgery is an urban design proposal, in which a series of architectural objects are surgically added after a critical examination of Kumbharwada – the potters’ settlement in Dharavi - the largest informal settlement in India. The purpose of this is to enhance the environment for the residents of Kumbharwada, to thrive and prosper. The added objects are Sanitation Facilities reminiscing “Baoli” - Indian Stepwells, Residential Units recalling “Haveli” - Traditional Mansion, Smoke Infrastructures following the traditional construction methods and Public Spaces inspired by “Baithak” - A Communal Space. An eager endeavour is made to address the issues at the site and formulate an environment that the residents rejoice and relish. The operation is conducted in four blocks of the settlement and proposes “a base model” that can be expanded to all the blocks in the site. Architect and researcher Deepankar Sharma provided more details about the proposal to SURFACES REPORTER (SR). Take a look:

 

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proposed master plan

The proposed redevelopment plan is an intermediate alternative between the existing informal settlement and the state’s proposal for total clearance of the informal settlement. Similar strategies can be adopted in all the settlements in Dharavi to rehabilitate the environment for residents in dire need of upliftment through an upgraded neighbourhood. 

Rules for Urban Insertions

Keeping the current density, this research endeavours to make rules to intervene at the site surgically:

1. Maintaining the individual plot boundaries.

2. Retaining the block dimension.

3. Conserving the streetscape.

The research operates on four blocks in the site. The process initiates with identifying the dilapidated and temporary structures to perform urban surgical insertions then. 

roposed Block Plan_4 Blocks_Kumbharwada

Sanitation Facility

An architectural object is surgically added to provide sanitation facility in the block for the residents by replacing two identified units.

Sanitation Facility Insertion

Sanitaion Facility Insertion

While the object's framework is designed to facilitate sanitation, the spaces can be customised by the residents through their own colours, textures, and patterns.

2_Sanitaion Facility.jpgThe facility reminisces traditional Indian stepwells as a classical precedent of a bathing space with strong communal characteristics. 

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Sanitation Facility Interior

Residential Units

The second surgical insertion is an object that facilitates three residential units and working spaces.

interior view residential Facility.jpg

Interior view residential Facility

An operation on the existing dilapidated unit is conducted to inject the residential facilities. The inhabitants are envisaged to bring the object to life through their distinguished colours, textures and spaces.

Residential Facility Insertion

Residential Facility Insertion

The proposed residential unit recalls traditional Indian havelis with embedded courtyards. This is done to translate its qualities at site. Individual units are 6 meters high and follow the examined incremental principles at the site.

courtyard viewCourtyard View

The aim for the proposed stairwell is to expand the transitional qualities and incorporate a sense of community observed in traditional Havelis. 

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Smoke Infrastructure

The third surgical insertion is a chimney to all the kilns to reduce the amount of smoke experienced by the residents.

Chimney Insertion

Chimney Insertion

The incorporation of the chimney follows the traditional construction methods in India. 

Public Space

This surgical operation is to plant a communal space in the place of an obsolete residential unit.

Communal Space Insertion

Communal Space Insertion

This intervention reminisces “Baithak” – a community gathering space where people share and discuss ideas, issues, learnings and teachings.  

Street View_Communal Space

Street View-Communal Space

“When I’m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. But when I’m finished, if the solution is not beautiful I know it’s wrong.” - Buckminster Fuller

Video: An Informal Surgery by Deepankar Sharma in Dharavi, Mumbai

*The text, images, video and drawings are provided by Deepankar Sharma

About the Architect

Deepankar Sharma is an architect and a researcher who strives to produce architecture that is user-centred, possesses humanitarian values and aims to make a difference to the social infrastructure. He pursued his Master of Architecture from RMIT University, Australia where he received a Future Leaders Scholarship. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture from Sushant School of Art & Architecture, Delhi, India. He was a recipient of the scholarship offered by Architectural Association, London for a visiting school in Stuttgart, Germany in 2017. He has won an international award and multiple national awards for undergraduate architectural research “Resurrection & Reinterpretation of an Architectural Icon”. This includes NIASA Undergraduate Awards for Excellence 2016 by Council of Architecture, India. His work has been published and featured on numerous platforms including in a book by the Council of Architecture, India.

deepanker sharma

Architect and Researcher Deepankar Sharma

 

More Images and Diagrams

street view

Street view
 

Ground Level_Sanitaion Facility

Ground Level-Sanitaion Facility
Sanitaion Facility
Sanitaion Facility

Street View_Sanitation Facility

Street View-Sanitation Facility

Top View_Communal Space

Top View-Communal Space

 

Street View_Communal Space

Street View-Communal Space

Section_Sanitation Facility

Section-Sanitation Facility

Ground Level_Sanitation Facility

Ground Level-Sanitation Facility

Upper Level_Sanitation Facility

Mezanine Level_Working Space

Mezanine Level-Working Space

First Level_Residential Unit_Residential Facility

First Level-Residential Unit-Residential Facility

Kumbharwada_Dharavi

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