G5A Introduction CityLab is a key initiative of G5A that helps create systemic solutions to make our cities more livable: by generating and facilitating ideas, initiatives and interventions that build ownership, empower communities and promote good governance. CityLab’s guiding tenets are inclusivity, innovation and sustainable living, and its enablers include a deep understanding of individual and community needs and the building of a partnership network through participatory, equitable and collaborative processes. Academy of Architecture’s philosophy lies in constant excellence, sustaining and improving the quality of teaching programmes in order to ensure a well structured, organized and better learning environment. Academy would like to further its endeavour by becoming a stake holder in the immediate surrounding (through various mapping/research oriented processes) and become a centre/hub for archiving/implementation of policies that work for the betterment of the city. The collaboration between G5A- CityLab and Academy of Architecture would be the first step to achieving a larger goal. It will entail sharing of ideas and resources and active involvement of the faculty members and students: •
Ideation and conceptualization
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Expert Resource Persons
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Best Practices
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Design Inputs
PUBLIC, WORKS! There’s a problem with toilets. There aren’t enough; people don’t like the public toilets run by the government as they are in disrepair or extremely poor condition and under-maintained. People mostly don’t use the toilets at all, but do their business in the open, near sewers. On the other hand, people use the cleaner, well-lit pay toilets run by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). As a result, these toilets are over-used and therefore, need functional improvements at many levels. Number of Students: 40-45 Methodology
G5A Sites selected for study are as follows: •
Toilet opposite Phoenix Mills
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Worli Fort
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Navkar
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E Moses Road
G5A The process to be followed during the two weeks of the Vertical Studio (January 13-28, 2013):
1. Documentation of the existing structures •
Data Collection will include maintenance systems, number of users, quality of service, revenue models, etc
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Photo documentation
2. Research •
Best Practices
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Technological innovations
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Functional and aesthetic benefits
3. Exchange •
Other NGOs working in the field
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Government Agencies
4. Outcome: Create a Design Handbook •
Functional and Aesthetic
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Recycled and sustainable material
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Innovation (Design and Technological) or additional value
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Implementation and Intervention
Each module would be studied with respect to its users; the design factors, its immediate surroundings and its impact on the same. Post this research/documentation other activities (water recycling, compost gardening) would be identified that could be plugged in to the existing design that would help make the structure a part of the city fabric. The second level of design inputs could come from the end users (floating and permanent) Basic improvements to elements such as Door/Sanitary Fittings and Plumbing fixtures could help in
G5A making the structure a more functional space. Parameters •
Sustainable recycling using innovative/indigenous systems
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Universal design for blind, old & infirm, disabled (access & amenities)
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Women’s & children’s needs (toiletries [soap, hand-sanitizer, toilet paper etc], hand-bidets, changing stations, condoms)
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Men’s needs (soap, hand-sanitiser, condoms)
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Amenities: Toilet type (urinals, western, indian), showers (where applicable), drinking water, toiletries, sanisettes
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Design & aesthetic: (considering water management, gardening and zero waste agenda)
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Lighting (skylights)
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Ventilation (brick jaali for ventilation & plant structure)
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Privacy
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Plant usage (medicinal, aromatic, air-purifying)