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Prakalp

Smart means being logical and applying common sense and defining appropriateness for the end-users.

India is witnessing increasing urbanization with the current level of 30% expected to reach 50%+ in the next 20-30 years. The new government in India has initiated Smart Cities as a response to this increase in migration. Over 100 new Smart cities are expected to come up. Though not designed & planned from the start, most of these cities would have the opportunity for being developed almost afresh.

Increasing urbanization, however, has its challenges on providing housing for the migrant populations who may not be able to afford a house otherwise available in the cities. The primary reasons for the increasing numbers in urbanization are the job opportunities and the standard of living, amenities, etc. that the city has to offer. But this migration is also causing a drop in the quality of life and a loss in the sense of socio-cultural belonging. The housing will be exclusively for the migrant population, looking for employment in the city. The housing complex will thus inculcate the philosophy of a smart city-LIVE-WORK AND PLAY.

The spaces in the cluster have been moulded in a way to make the Habitants feel like they were in space from their hometown

Tot-lot spaces form the core of the cluster layout, overlooked upon by the Senior Citizen Space under the stilts ensuring the security of these small children. The junction between four cluster layouts celebrates the neighbourhood space. Parking is along the 9 m wide internal peripheral road.

Staggering form of the cluster derived to create a venturi effect to respond to the hot and humid climate of Mumbai and to achieve maximum natural ventilation for the Habitants.

The right side of the site faces a Monorail Station and the adjacent sides have bus stand which is lacking on the Monorail Side hence this edge is Isolated and is with very little human footfall, hence our intent was to change this situation and create a Socio- Economical street with Transit hub which linking the Monorail and the other Public Transit Modes.

Currently, the Daily need shops like grocery and ration stores are 5 km away from the bottom edge of the site, hence we have designed a Shopping complex inside the housing site as an Amenity and near the entrance on the bottom edge so that it is accessible for the Mahada colony people as well.

A dedicated Waiting and Buffer zone has been designed between the housing and shopping complex.

A school has been provided facing this edge because this School will be beneficial for the Habitants of the site as well as the neighbourhood, and the 33 m wide road can provide easy access for all. The cafes on the street will add a Social layer to the students of the School as well as the Travellers on the Highway.

prakalp (social mass housing for smart cities - wadala) | typology: residential | date: march 2016 | location: wadala, india | team: ashish dalal, abhilash rahane, pinak bhapkar | student design competition: third prize | client: ethos transparence | built-up area: 90,000 sq.mts. (2000 residential units) |

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