The site is located in Cheetah Camp, Trombay. It consists of a Municipal Toilet Block, Baalwaadi, and a Pathology Lab. Surrounding these on three sides are residential blocks such that it forms an 'aangan' in between where these institutions are located and other social and storage activities happen.
Observation Drawing
The houses in the camps are arranged back to back sharing a single wall in long linear rows. Hence the only open side is the side of the facade that is facing the narrow street. Consequently, the facade becomes an important part of the daily activities of the people. It is not a flat surface only but contains layers and life. It is used for storage, services, socializing spaces, etc.
The highlighted parts in the above images show in order- the structural components, the services(water taps, electric wires, pump/motor, etc), seating spaces(conventional and used), storage spaces, and spaces that offer shade.
The skin or the facade is thus not seen as a flat surface but as containing these components and how life happens around them. How the skin affords space and utility on both the inside and the outside and how then can a new structure be imagined where the skin can accommodate the programmes on the inside and better facilitate the activities currently happening outside.
Design Process
Second Iteration
Final Design Drawings
