abinaya rajavelu urbanism portofilo
Contents social planning urban mapping urban research urban design urban planning community engagement
Eyes on the canal
Kochi muziris biennale impact assessment
Uok participatory neighbourhood revitalization
Siruseri watershed management plan
Masterplan for public housing
Lomprc research exhibition
Wroclaw, cultural design strategy
Washermanpet market redesign
Place anatole city activation
Other studies & publications
Eyes on the canal type: policy & research + documentation + stakeholder engagement + community participation + design + public exhibition + liaison with govt. + competition + urban design date: apr 2018 to mar 2017 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, gis, indesign place: Buckingham canal, Chennai, India
The Buckingham Canal is a man made, saltwater, navigation canal that runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast in the north-south direction. Today, the canal is faced with severe pollution woes with untreated sewage and solid waste finding their way into its waters. The numerous encroachments too have severely compromised its width and carrying capacity over long stretches within the Chennai Metropolitan area. Over the years, various governmental agencies have struggled to revive the canal but continue to do so even to this date. Eyes on the canal is an exercise in participatory planning to make the canal a livable place for the residents of Chennai. The initiative involves various activities such as awareness walks, community mapping exercises, stakeholder engagement meetings and an openideas competition to generate interest and ownership towards the canal, which has suffered from collective abandonment. Eyes on the canal project was a collaboartion between Urban design collective, GIZ Germany, Federal republic of Germany and Corporation of Chennai.
Nature trails
Cycling tracks
Swimming
Fishing
Bird watching
Boating/ kayaking etc.
Water transportation
Parks/ gardens
Fruit/ vegetable farms
Art projects/ events
Eateries
Pedestrian bridges
Washing clothes
As a source of potable water Educational activities
Desired activities along the canal identified through extensive community surveys
Section at Kotturpuram MRTS
Section at Kasturibai nagar MRTS
Section at Indranagar MRTS
Section at Thiruvanmiyur MRTS
Tracing history Identify gaps in canal management Mapping & Research
Expert interviews Documentation of the canal Mapping of issues Community driven neighbourhood mapping
Branding
Public walks
Social media campaigns
Stakeholder engagement
Periodic progress meetings with government officials Periodic engagement meetings with community Perception surveys
Competition brief Public exhibitions & ceremonies Volunteer management
Exhibitions & Events
Competition
Management of competition - 81 entries - 3 winners Hand-holding winning entries towards implementation
Eyes on the canal involved documentation of the existing conditions of the canal, archiving its past and collectively plotting the canal’s future through various stakeholder engagement exercises. The year long project resulted in generating over 200 design-based submissions for the revival of the canal from professionals around the world. Three chosen winning teams were hand-held in making a detailed implementation report that integrated with the city’s plans for revival of the Buckingham canal. The eyes on the canal initiative was centered around creating a sense of ownership towards the canal through several public walks and mapping exercises to engage the public with the canal. This resulted in the publication of rapid neighbourhood assessment reports, where opportunities for development were identified within neighbourhood and community owned projects were proposed to the city government.
Engaged with
2 resident welfare associations 3 partner organizations 3 neighbourhoods 6 government departments ~ 30 field experts ~ 50 architects & designers ~ 3000 community members Conducted and managed
1 national-level urban design competition 3 public walks 3 mapping exercises 5 community meetings Resilience
6 public exhibitions
Sustainability
Environment
Culture
Inclusivity
Equity
People
Built form
Viability
Economy
Community and stakeholder engagement
Ideas generation, public exhibitions and expertise conferences
for more details about the project click here
Impact assessment Kochi muziris biennale type: research + documentation + stakeholder engagement + community participation + impact assessment + design + reporting date: mar 2017 to jun 2017; nov 2018 to jun 2019 tools: autocad, illustrator, surveymonkey, indesign place: Fort Kochi, Cochin, India
Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) is India’s first biennale for contemporary art. The impact assessment for KMB was conducted for two editions of the biennale, 2016-17 and 2018-19. It attempts to capture the wide-reaching impact of the four editions of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale that have transpired. It aims at covering Kochi’s rise as a creative city, a city that is emerging as a forerunner in writing its story of economic growth by leveraging the power of the creative economy. The framework for impact assessment was explored and presented under three heads • Socio-cultural impact • Economic impact and • Impact on the physical form of the city Owing to the extensive impact assessment undertaken for both editions of KMB, this portfolio only showcases a few snapshots from both the reports combined.
Economic boom
Flow of people
Sphere of social influence
Network of venues
Children Household surveys
Fort Kochi & Mattachery Students
Visitor surveys
Artists Volunteer surveys
Volunteers Artist surveys
Qualitative interviews
News archives
KMB foundation records
Ernakulam
Visitors
Local residents
Kerala
Government hospital patients
Marginalized communities
India
Socio-cultural impact
World
Vendors
Shop owners
Hotels
Home stay owners
Income surveys
Expenditure surveys
Construction agencies
Government records
Tourists Perception surveys
Local residents
KMB crew
Local labour and industries
Travel agencies
Real estate agencies
Tourist destinations
Economic impact
Road, ferry and airline records
Qualitative interviews
Property rate records
KMB foundation records
Building permits
Godown owners Retrofit surveys
Government agencies Local residents Tourists KMB crew
Spatial impact Footfall records
Perception surveys Qualitative interviews KMB foundation venue records
Visitors from Kerala
Visitors from other parts of India
Visitors from other parts of the world
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Creating ecosystems for various actors to increase value across the board Kochi-Muziris Biennale attracts new and diverse audiences and brings in unprecedented national and international exposure for the city of Kochi. Through this exposure that KMB garners, it nurtures the larger arts infrastructure in the country by enabling links between organizations, driving a collaborative agenda, developing talent and capacity through residencies, job opportunities, and volunteer programmes. This in turn, attracts funding through patrons of art that are willing to partake in the creation of this ecosystem. Across its 4 editions, so far the work of over 350 artists representing more than 50 countries has been presented. 70% of artists responded positively to whether participating in Kochi-Muziris Biennale allowed them to develop their body of work significantly. 61% responded positively to whether taking part in Kochi-Muziris Biennale was a good opportunity to meet and work with peers and other artists indicating a potential for future collaborative projects. KMB also contributed positively to the careers of volunteers who associated with it. 33% found jobs in the arts sector after the volunteering experience. 20% of volunteers who previously worked in other fields have shifted career paths and found
Striving for resilience through a creative economy The first edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale attracted a footfall of 400,000 people and the 2018 edition saw close to 7,00,000 over a period of 108 days. This number is only set to increase for future editions. Visitors came from 36 countries and 89% of all attendees were from various Indian cities. While Fort Kochi in particular has been a popular tourist destination in Kerala for many years now, 38% of KMB visitors stated that this was their first visit to Kochi and the biennale was their main reason for visiting, indicating its reinforcement of the tourism economy. 22% of local business reported a doubling of income per day during the biennale.10% of vendors set up shop exclusively
Renewing the cityscapes of Fort kochi through creative placemaking strategies KMB attracted a relatively diverse audience to engage with a broad range of diverse spaces across the city, including many that are not regularly open to the public such as Aspinwall House. 50% of KMB visitors stated that they think more positively about Kochi and are sure to visit again after the biennale experience. In doing so, KMB opens up the city and inspires various stakeholders to participate in the city building process whether it is through sensitive restoration of heritage buildings or introducing new typologies into old spaces. A visual survey of the biennale environs indicates that over the years, KMB has been subject to ‘soft urban renewal’ wherein its environs and buildings have been gradually rehabilitated
jobs in the arts sector. An overwhelming 96% of local residents stated that it was a good thing that the biennale is happening in Kochi and 94% said they will definitely attend future editions. 90% said that it had good variety of content and 64% said that they learnt something new from the experience. Some identified the graphics and presentation as a selling point. In addition, various groups such as children, senior citizens, special children and the LGBTQIA were able to identify with the biennale as a place of acceptance and engagement. 92% of visitors to KMB reported high levels of satisfaction with their overall experience. More specifically 97% thought it was an interesting concept and 91% said the choice of venues was interesting. The data on reasons for attending showed that KMB’s core audience comprised of those who wanted to learn about art and be intellectually stimulated. 57% attended to be intellectually stimulated; 53% attended to learn about art; 18% attended for professional reasons; 50% were repeat visitors. This is a huge achievement considering that, as per Government of India’s Ministry of Culture annual report, in 2015, many of India’s government-run museums had less than 100,000 visitors each, despite offering entry tickets for locals priced at INR 20. With KMB too being a Governmentsupported initiative, it is a clear indication of the success of the format that KMB offers.
during the biennale’s 108 days. Residential rental values see a spike of 30-40% during biennale season. Additional trains, flights and ferry services to and from Kochi were launched and attributed to biennale crowds. Multiple biennale venues were restored and continue to be prepared during each edition leading to direct benefits to the local construction industry. In summary, through a multiplier effect spurred by the creative industry, KMB strives to create a new economic trajectory for Kochi. This economy is responds positively to the pressures of national and state level policies, supports living and working locally, uses limited resources efficiently and is based on a community approach. This new economy is resilient because it combines the power of the arts, technology and civic engagement.
without the residents having to face inconveniences in their daily lives. Despite not being starkly deliberate, the various efforts of KMB most definitely translate to ‘tactical urbanism’ an approach to neighbourhood improvement that uses shortterm, low-cost, and scalable interventions and policies to catalyze long term change. With each edition, there is pressure from the public sector to allocate funds for physical improvements to abet the boost to the tourism economy. The increased dispersal of KMB venues with each edition across the fabric of the city is therefore a good sign for further such development measures. Through its clear placemaking role, KMB is continually adding more layers to make Fort Kochi a more vibrant and livable city with a renewed identity.
for more details about the assessment click here
UOK Participatory neighbourhood revitalization type: research + documentation + stakeholder engagement + community participation + urban design date: feb 2016 to mar 2017 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, gis, indesign place: Urur Olcott Kuppam, Chennai, India
The Urur Olcott kuppam project is a community-driven participatory initiative for improving the quality of life in underprivileged urban settlements with a focus on basic infrastructure - access to water & sanitation and reimagining the neighbourhood as a community space. It aims to enable and arrive at a road map for a sustainable future of the informal and under privileged settlement and has the following main focus areas: • Water & Sanitation • Waste Management • Community Spaces • Place-making This project was a collaboration between MOAD architects, Urban design collective, Vettiver collective, Coastal resource centre and the village administration of UOK. It was implemented by the Greater corporation of Chennai, India.
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Bay of bengal
Urur Olcott Kuppam
Area 65,716 sq.m
Population 1798 persons
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Creative sanitation systems were designed using the existing infrastructure to address the mounting sewage problem in the kuppam. Open pockets in Through the initial study of the kuppam, it was identified that there was a severe lack of data about the kuppam were re-designed to accommodate its demographics, existing infrastructure and services. social activities and to increase the aesthetic value Therefore, a detailed documentation process was and promote the monetary value of the land parcels. undertaken to study and further analyse the needs These designs were presented to the community to of the residents. The urban documentation included two components - urban mapping and household appraise them of what the future holds for their survey + analysis. neighbourhood given their continued engagement and cooperation. Data pertaining to source of water, water consumption and discharge were collected and This community initiated and driven project was overlaid on the physically documented maps of then presented to the government authorities and the kuppam to generate several spatial data maps implemented by the city corporation. This project of the area. These maps were validated through is a model on the capacity and opportunities of a engaging the community in a meeting, where their collaborative exercise between residents, planners needs were reinforced and there was a collective re- and designers. imagination of the physical fabric of the settlement. Kuppam - Tamil word which historically denotes a fishing settlement by the beach.
Plans and policies implemented as part of the project Unrestricted access way
Equitable water distribution
Upgradation of existing infrastructure
Sustainable infrastructural development
Solid waste management
Siruseri Watershed Management plan type: research + documentation + stakeholder engagement + community participation + urban strategy date: feb 2019 to may 2019 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, gis, indesign place: Siruseri, Chennai, India
Siruseri is located on the outskirts of Chennai. The neighbourhood is bordered by three large water bodies/ lake/ tank systems that are part of a larger watershed. Historically, these tanks have been a source of water, livelihood and recreation for the communities nearby. However, rapid urban development has severely depleted the water levels in these tanks and the neighbouring tech industries continue to exploit it. The Siruseri watershed management plan is focused on the revival of these tanks/ lakes through employing a community owned and driven approach to ensure the long-term sustainability of these water bodies. The social & community strategy for the project involved active stakeholder engagement, awareness drives and campaigns.
Siruseri urban village Siruseri lake / tank system
KNOWING THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND APPRISING THE COMMUNITY OF THE PROJECT Demographic data was used to create a community profile of who lives and works in the village and the surrounding gated communities. This knowledge was used to identify groups and individuals who will affect or be affected by the project as well as to ensure that no group, organization or minority is excluded in the planning process. A preliminary understanding of the demographics was derived from the census data and further strengthened through input from community leaders and members.
HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEYS & FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS A household survey was designed to capture insights into the level of basic services, needs and priorities of the residents. The survey was also useful in recording the varying viewpoints of the different communities residing in the region.
Demography analysis
1 2
Identifying local champions and community networks
3 4
Organizing data
Household questionnaire surveys
Gathering history and community stories
5 6
Listing needs, issues and challenges
In the later stages of the household survey, the mode of data collection segued to focus group discussions because residents were more comfortable sharing their views in groups rather than as individual households. The surveys however worked well as a format for engagement with residents of gated communities who were reluctant to meet in person but willing to fill out a form in anonymity.
IDENTIFYING LOCAL CHAMPIONS, COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATION CHANNELS The household surveys yielded a number of positives that shaped the trajectory of further engagement with the residents of Siruseri. We identified local champions who helped us in mobilizing various groups and organizations towards crafting a vision for the twin lake systems. These champions are people who are trusted by others in Siruseri to provide sound counsel, useful information, and help link people to each other. These champions provided insights into the community and became ideal people to help spread the word about the project to people that we were unable to reach through our round of household surveys.
GATHERING STORIES THROUGH FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS After identifying local champions, community networks and communication channels, a revised approach was adopted to gain insights into the past, present and future prospects for Siruseri. Having segued from household surveys to focus group discussions, storytelling was encouraged as a mode of engagement as it seemed a less intimidating method to get people to share their views. Stories were collected and recorded in written and video format. Some residents and children also sketched out their visions for Siruseri lake systems. When speaking in groups, stories were corroborated by others present. This enabled an opportunity to collectively reimagine the future of Siruseri that is informed by its past.
ORGANIZING DATA Evaluating needs
7 8
Reviewing and confirming priorities
Storytelling may have been an effective approach for engagement but a master plan also needs to be backed up by data. The next stage therefore was to distill the stories for data and organize them in a manner that can inform the master plan particularly with regard to programming based on current needs, issues and
Amphitheatre Bank / atm Bird watching area / ghats Boating/ coracle ride Bus service Children’s park Co-operative milk society Cricket ground / sports area Eateries Eco park & nature trail Farmers market Fishing area Flower garden Fruit trees / orchards Hospital / phc Island temple Job opportunities Library Medicinal garden Open event space Organic vegetable farm Outdoor gym Public toilets Ration shop School Seed bank (nursery) Swimming area Swm facility Toy train Tuition/ learning centre Viewing tower Walking trail Water slide Women’s skills training
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SIRUSERI ECOLOGICAL WATERSHED MASTER PLAN | MARCH 2019
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This stage was essential to inform the community in subsequent meetings about the varying levels of feasibility for their desired programs. This also gave a cue to how soon these could be realized on the ground. Level of investment Level of maintenance required required ★ ★★★★ Flower Garden ★ ★★★★ Fruit trees / Orchards ★★★★ ★ Ration Shop ★★★★ ★★★★ Island Temple ★★★ ★★★ Boating/ coracle ride ★★★★★ ★★★★★ SWM Facility ★ Cricket Ground / Sports Area ★ ★★ ★★★ Seed Bank (Nursery) ★★ ★ Fishing Area ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Hospital / PHC ★★ ★ Walking trail ★★★★ ★★ Amphitheatre ★★★★★ ★★★ Outdoor Gym ★★★★★ ★★★ Water Slide ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Toy Train ★★ ★ Swimming Area ★ ★★★★ Medicinal Garden ★★★★ ★★★★ Co-operative Milk Society ★★ ★★ Open event space ★★ Women’s Skills Training Centre ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★ Farmers Market ★★ ★★★★ Organic Vegetable Farm ★★★★★ ★★★ Library ★★★★★ ★★ Viewing Tower ★★ ★★ Birdwatching area & Ghats ★★★ ★★ Children’s Park ★★★★ ★★★★ Eco park & Nature trail ★★★★ ★★★★ Public Toilets
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Six broad themes were extracted out of the data, all of which have a direct or indirect impact on the hree Jayas ecology and conservation of the lank/tank systems. The themes are: • Conservation of the sh Internally, we evaluated the programming natural resources and options under three ne Di heads as shown in the table below: the environment, while • Level of capital required the exploitation • curbing Level of maintenance requiredand • extraction Stakeholder roles and responsibilities of ground water envisaged as a ratio of Public: Private: People for monetary benefits.
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LISTING NEEDS, ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
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challenges. Salient points and indicators were sieved out of the stories and information collected to form a data backdrop of the community.
• Development in infrastructure focused on transport connectivity, sewage and water drainage systems, playgrounds and parks, and secondary facilities like ATM, fuel station , etc. • Reintegration of the community with the Siruseri lake through new activities and placemaking. • Creating livelihood opportunities for the community members through the project employing their traditional knowledge of farming, medicinal gardening, forestry, carpentry and sculpting. • Involving the youth of the community.
REVIEWING AND CONFIRMING PRIORITIES As a final essential aspect of the communication strategy, a large scale community meeting was organized. A visioning exercise was also organized where children had to imagine what the lake systems could look like in the future. This had a two-fold purpose- one to seek the views of this demographic and two, to ensure full attendance; parents need not worry about childcare while attending
the meeting. Thirty two children participated and all their drawings were mounted on the walls for everyone to see. Senior members of the community were called upon to pick the best prize-worthy drawings. The meeting itself was structured loosely on the themes of Past, Present and Future of Siruseri. We started off sharing memories of the lake and its environs and moved
onto discussing its present state. The main purpose of hosting this meeting was however to review and confirm the priorities of the residents with regard to the various programmatic requirements that were identified in previous stages i.e. take decisions with regard to the future. Posters with images of all the 28 identified program requirements were mounted on the walls of the meeting hall. All the attendees were given 5 sticker dots
and each of them had to walk up to each poster before deciding on which 5 out of the 28 desired programs they wanted most. In conclusion, the meeting ended with everyone enthusiastically pledging their support towards the revival and upkeep of the lake systems and leaving with hope for a better future. The output from the community strategy was integrated into the masterplan for the watershed management.
Masterplan for public housing projects type: research + masterplanning + urban design date: may 2019 to jun 2019 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, indesign place: Chennai, India
This high-rise and high-dense public housing project is located in the northern districts of Chennai near the Ennore ports. The project included laying out the masterplan and designing the high-rise apartments for 7000 families. The housing settlement includes various social amenities like schools, hospitals, child care centres, community halls, skills training centres, supermarkets, etc. The masterplan was centered around creating an inclusive green hub for the future residents with a focus on nudge theory. The vision of the project was to minimize the carbon consumption of the residents and therefore the masterplan leveraged the neighbouring railway station in creating a transit hub, which then through a green pedestrian spine provides connectivity to all other social amenities in the site. It also involved programming the carefully located open pockets which would result in the creation of an integrated, walkable and happy home for all age groups.
Integrating with nearest railway st forming a transit hub
Creating a green buffer
Creating five distinct micro neighbourhoods
Creating an end-to-end green pedestrian spine
Maximising green linkages
Even distribution of social amenities
Creating statement multipurpose nodes and frontages
Green activity spine
School Ration Shop Healthcare Center Police Station Road Railway Bus stop
Transit hub leading to the railway station
Multipurpose overlooking t
MC 1
Unit A - Faces green
Unit B - Faces the road
MC 2
Unit C - Corner plot
Unit D - Faces social amenities
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Childrens’ community center
MC 3
MC 4
50 m walking distance from community facility 100 m walking distance from community facility MC - Micro neighbourhood
Dedicated pedestrian green spine with bio-swales for water retention Green linkages
Lost opportunities, Mixed priorities & Resilient communities
(LOMPRC)
type: research + documentation + community participation + design + content writing date: nov 2018 to dec 2018 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, gis, indesign place: Mattancherry, Kerala, India
LOMPRC is an empirical research-based exhibition focusing on the suburbs of Mattanchery in Cochin which explores the time-line of urban development in the area plotted against a corresponding political agenda. Building on on-ground research over a period of 45 days, the exhibit is an unbiased and critical narrative on the politics of development that define our cities using Mattancherry as a case example. The exhibit is an attempt to raise questions, open up conversations, build networks and promote dialogue between various stakeholders. It also garners learnings from Mattancherry towards the idea of building resilience and co-producing cities. This exhibition was one of the seven opening installations at URU, a cultural hub in Cochin.
Community built infrastructure Govt. built infrastructure Religious buildings 12,697 m 2,867 m 39,736 m
Tile + Concrete drain cover Concrete drain cover (wide) Concrete drain cover (narrow)
7,285 m 14,330 sq.m 17,291 sq.m
Open drain Road paved with paver blocks Concrete Road Asphalt Road
Water supply to Kochi city
OHT Over Head Tank OHSR Over Head Service Reservoir Existing 1200mm CI Pumping Existing 1050mm CI Pumping
Existing 900mm CI Pumping M
Existing Transmission Main (Va
Pumping cum Transmission (Va On going JNNURM Project Proposed under JICA
35000 k 30000 k 25000 k 20000 k 15000 k
Sector-wise overlay of funds spent since 2007-08 Roads and pavements Storm water drainage Solid waste management Water supply Street lighting
10000 k
Parks & gardens
5000 k
Hospital services General education
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The three story lines - LO, MP, RC After several interviews with public sector officials, residents, businessmen and relevant stakeholders; scanning through various documents and news archives; visiting various project sites and rigorous on-ground mapping, the Mattancherry story emerged‌ gradually but strongly. Over the decades and across various sectors of development transportation, social infrastructure, general welfare, housing and heritage- Mattancherry has constantly been at the center of multiple government initiatives
Civic amenities
but with very limited results to show on ground. A parallel narrative also emerged with projects that did get implemented but which did not necessarily respond to the more dire needs of the residents. And lastly, in direct contrast to these two narratives, a third storyline revealed that irrespective of state intervention (or lack thereof), the various individuals and communities of Mattancherry have always demonstrated the ability to organize themselves to produce or co-produce the city for its residents whether it be the built environment or basic services.
The irony of water shortage in a land surrounded by water. Kochi city residents get 90 litres water per person per day. Mattancherry residents get only 25-30 litres per person per day.
Lost Opportunities Fort Kochi Light Rail
Pressing issues
JNNURM Water Supply Scheme to Kochi City 201 crores
Muziris Heritage Project 140 crores
8 reasons
BSUP All Projects
Park John St.
93 crores
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40 lakhs
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- Jews Road Drainage of Market ion and Road Construct - outside Streetlakhs of Park Palace 34 Dutch Construction Mattancherry lakhs
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New Coast Guard Jetty
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Facelift of Nehru Park
s Hospital Maharaj’
124.04 crores
RAY Slum Rehabilitation Thuruthy 67.62 crores
Renova
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2 crores
Nehru
25
Public Toilets
2 croresKalyana
20 lakhs
Calvathy Toilet Lower
CTD
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Mandapam
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6 lakhs
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lakhs
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Heritage story
1945 crores
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Mattancherry introduction
Mixed Priorities 8
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1911
1912
1913
B
A
C D
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
4 1936
5 1937
1938
1939
1940
7
6 1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
9 1959
1960
1961
1962
19
963
77 78
35
79
36
80
37
81
38
Map of Mattancherry showing on-ground mapping of paved areas, drains + infographic pertaining to cost of paving and drains
Infographic pertaining to budget records
Water story
Working class story
Hous ing story
Water story
Map of Mattancherry showing social infrastructure
Resilient Communities 21
1966
71
85
40
72
86
23
31
41
46
73
87
91
32
42
47
50
54
58
65
74
88
92
33
43
48
51
55
59
66
75
89
93
24 28
57
26
16
1967
11 1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
12
13
1983
1984
14 1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
62 1995
15 1996
17 1997
84
39 30
25
10 1965
83 70
22
94
27
1964
82
18 1998
1999
19 2000
20 2001
2002
44 2003
63 29 2004
34 2005
45 2006
49 2007
52 2008
53 2009
56 2010
60 2011
61 2012
64 2013
68 67 2014
69 2015
95 76 2016
90 2017
96 2018
2019
2020
Wroclaw- cultural design strategy type: research + documentation + stakeholder engagement + city branding + urban design date: jan 2016 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, gis, indesign, sketchup, vray, procreate place: Wroclaw, Poland
Commissioned by the workshop “Urban Dimensions� in co-operation with the municipality of Wroclaw, the project addressed the revitalization of the city of Wroclaw, for its nomination as the European capital of culture 2016. Bearing in mind the cultural potential of the site, the neighbourhood Wielka Wyspa was chosen for revival through tactical urbanism. The neighbourhood is a great mosaic of numerous cultural bubbles with a void of character in the public realm. The project included detailed analysis of Wielka Wyspa through community engagement and a collation of their ideas to vitalize the public plazas and pathways. The cultural strategy addresses development at multiple levels including but not limited to branding of the city, rejuvenation of old infrastructure, design of public space, design of street elements and programming of events.
Existing user links Footfall origin
Footfall destination
Nodes for intervention
Proposed pedestrian links
The abandoned tram station together with the five student hostel buildings form the central bubble of the neighbourhood. The public realm connecting the two nodes is artistically designed with floor murals employing local artists and artisans from Poland. The hostel buildings also act as a canvas for seasonal murals forming an artistic panorama. The double winged tram station was proposed to be redesigned as a multipurpose centre with minimal intervention. The existing abandoned tram wagons are to be re-used as mobile cubicles for varying functions like student pods, student clubs, co-working spaces, libraries, art kiosks, clothing stores/ shops, food wagons, etc.
Wing 1 - Tourist information centre, events space, community hall
Wing 2 - Students centre, co-working spaces, art studios
Interactive pathways to lead pedestrians around designated culture trails. Rubix cubes with historical facts about Wroclaw dot these trails for a more engaging experience.
Wroclaw is world renowned for its unique cityscape. Rynek square is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the city. The profile of the buildings in this square have been adapted in the street signage for city branding and adding local character to these otherwise generic elements.
Market redesign type: research + documentation + urban design date: jan 2015 to may 2015 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, indesign, procreate, sketchup, vray, lumion place: Washermanpet market, Chennai, India
The washermanpet market is a historic marketplace in the northern district of Chennai and caters to four neighbourhoods around it. The market measures ~14,400 sq.ft in size and has close to 250 individual shops vending vegetables, fruits, meat, temple provisions and general groceries. Today, however, the market is in poor condition with various issues like dilapidated roofing structures, congested corridors, improper solid waste disposal systems, improper zoning of produce, encroachment by informal vendors, etc. The market redesign project included a complete documentation of the existing market and a detailed recording of the issues. It also involved mapping of activities and human movement patterns. Through thorough engagement with the users of the market a redesign strategy was put in place. The new proposal hinges on the idea of making the market a social place for the community through better design.
Unclear boundaries between vegetable and temple provisions
Unclear boundaries between meat and fish
Narrow congested pathways
Dilapidated roofs
Existing market layout
Phasing plan
Proposed market layout
The new market provides ample space for loading & unloading; parking programmes integrated with neighbouring buildings; clear entry and exit axis; de-congesting the space through vertical expansion and provision of green lungs. The re-design also included rerouting of traffic and pedestrianization of the market streets.
Place anatole city activation type: research + place-making + urban design date: sep 2015 to dec 2015 tools: autocad, photoshop, illustrator, sketchup, vray, procreate place: Place Anatole, Tours, France
Project Place anatole was envisioned by the council of Tours in France to vitalize the city center in the autumn months. This proposal was my submission for the open competition conducted by the University of Tours. Extensive qualitative surveys were conducted to ascertain the needs and wants of the users, and based on its results sensory urbanism was used as tool to create vibrancy. Activation of Place anatole was proposed through linking the commercial artery (Rue Nationale) to the river banks (Anatole France) with tactical interventions. The project focuses on using ‘interactive art’ as a medium to form a sense of place and belonging along this linear spine. This proposal has been taken up by the council of Tours in France and is being reviewed for implementation.Â
Tram line
Loire river
Open space
Road network
Built form
Improving connectivity of the river to the city
Improving pedestrian access
Connecting nodes
Parks Music Resting area
Urban Art Art kiosk
30 % 20 % 10 %
Water light grafitti using existing resources
Musical swings to foster social interaction
Sound based interactive installations
Reactive lights that draw people to the other nodes
Minimal interventions and low-cost solutions make the proposal an attractive and viable solution for the city
Based on the assessment of user movement in the urban square, four nodes were selected along the spine as sites for interactive art installations. The interactive art also forms a cultural backdrop for the upcoming art gallery that is situated on Rue Nationale. The project focuses on sensory interaction through the use of light and sound interventions. It aims to create a cohesive relationship between these places through the manipulation of spatial senses.
Other studies & publications Chennai photo biennale impact study 2019 • Design of survey methodology • Orientation and co-ordination of survey team • Research and collation of data • Data analysis • Graphics and presentations for technical report
Rapid assessment on solid waste management • Lead on the assessment team • Design of assessment methodology • Community engagement • Co-ordination of assessment team • Data analysis • Graphics and presentation • Production of technical report • Presentation to stakeholders
Pondicherry safe streets for children • Geo-mapping of schools • Identification and mapping of safe streets network • Multi-level schematics for road section redesign • Graphics and production of technical report
UN-Data Critical dialogue series for IASS, Germany • Research • Design of survey methodology • Survey of commuters and coordination of survey team • Data collation and analysis • Graphics and presentation • Production of technical report • Workshop • Presentation to stakeholders • Social media management
READY - Reckoner on
implementation of solid waste management in a community • • • • •
Research Data collation Implementation framework Graphics and presentation Production of technical report
Bypass Lab - Bypass infrastructure of the peri-urban fringe • • • •
Co-ordination of teams Co-ordination of experts Organizing team Moderator for the expert workshop