Building Making

Updated: Mar 30, 2023

Aanganwaadi, Garbage Collection, Community Toilet & Pathology Lab

at Trombay, Cheetah Camp

Building Making

Atisha Bhuta | Semester 6 | 2022-23

Introduction.

Spaces within public institutions and urban contexts are designed through the standardised logic of “public.” But they are often produced and lived through several subjective contestations which blur, defy, subvert, disregard or occupy them in awkward ways. What In is an architecture which is localized (detail-ed) through the act of responding to and allowing for such unanticipated multiplicities?

While addressing the above social formulations as physical design manifestations, the course will explore and expand the notion of “detail” in architecture. Detail here is understood as a structural thought that may be conceptualised at different scales and levels of abstraction that hold together the architectural idea.

Site, Site Forces and Context.

In 1976, between 55,000 and 70,000 people were forcibly moved overnight to Cheeta Camp from the Janata Colony slum by 12,000 police. The surprise eviction of Janata Colony was to make space for the expansion of the BARC.

In 2001, the Indian Navy raised concerns that the slum was too close to an arms depot. At this time, it was estimated there were 10,000 shacks in Cheeta Colony. There were five schools, a graveyard, a crematorium and four toilet blocks were being built. As per the current estimate, more than 1 Lakh people live in the Cheeta camp. The development in this area is restricted and the navy depot which resides in the north of the Cheeta camp raised concerns regarding the building infrastructure's Floor levels which were limited to two floors.

The site we are working on consists of an Aanganwaadi, Garbage Collection, Community Toilet & Pathology Lab.

Existing Site Plan

Pathology Lab
Public Restroom
Aanganwaadi
Community Space

Programme, Scope and Design Intent

To redesign and reconfigure the existing programmes to provide spaces that are more functional and 'localized' by studying the existing site conditions and surroundings. Applying those learnings to better facilitate the current programmes and add value by creating better open/community space.

Conceptual Design

Observation-

The houses are arranged on three sides of the community toilet forming a 'courtyard' space in the middle. The houses are arranged linearly in blocks back to back such that only one side of the house opens up to an extremely narrow lane. Thus this 'facade' becomes very important.

This facade then becomes their social space, storage, space for services, space of shade, washing or utility space and the only space for expression.

Thus the intent was to use these learnings nuance them in terms of use, materials and space and use them while redesigning the existing programmes.

Design Development and Detailing

Initial Design Plans

Construction Management and Planning.

GENERAL NOTES :

ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN MILLIMETERS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
ALL THE WRITTEN DIMENSIONS ARE TO BE FOLLOWED.
DRAWINGS TO BE SEEN WITH RESPECT TO ALL OTHER DRAWINGS.
P.C.C. IS IN THE RATIO OF 1:3:6 (CEMENT: SAND COARSE AGGREGATE).
ALL LEVELS ARE SPECIFIED IN METERS.
ALL DECISIONS REINFORCEMENT CALCULATIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN BY STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
DO NOT SCALE THE DRAWING.
ALL DISCREPANCIES SHALL BE BROUGHT TO NOTICE TO THE ARCHITECT BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY WORK.
RICHER CONCRETE MIX TO BE USED FOR THE FOUNDATION AND M:30 MIX TO BE USED FOR THE SUPER STRUCTURE, ALL MIXES SHALL BE SUGGESTED, EXAMINED AND APPROVED BY THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
VERIFY FIELD CONDITIONS AND COORDINATION WITH THE PROJECT DOCUMENTS PRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH THE WORK.
WORK WITHIN THE FIELD BOUNDARIES AS SPECIFIED IN THE PROJECT DOCUMENT AND COMPLY WITH ALL THE APPUCABLE BUILDING CODES, REGULATIONS AND ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.
OCCUPANTS ON THE ADJACENCIES TO THE PROJECT AREA SHALL CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED/UNDISTURBED OCCUPANCY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT