Arogya
Rehabilitation for vulnerable women
“I believe the way people live can be directed a little by architecture� - Tadao Ando
CONTENTS ABSTRACT
WOMEN AND THE WORLD A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS THE IDEA THE WOMEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS THE AIM THE OBJECTIVES THE METHODOLOGY THE SCOPE AND THE LIMITATIONS
CURRENT SCENARIO THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN INDIA MAHILA DAKSHITA SAMHITI SNEHALAYA UJJWALA REHABILITATION CENTRE JIYA NARI NIKETAN NEWLIGHT ASHRAYA INFERENCE
HEALING THROUGH ARCHITECTURE HEALING SPACES, A THEORY ELEMENTS OF HEALING THROUGH SPACES
HEALING THROUGH ARCHITECTURE, IN PRACTICE SPACES DESIGNED TO HEAL SOE KER TIE HOUSE KWIECO SHELTER HOUSE INFERENCE
THE SITE UNDERSTANDING THE SITE KOLKATA PARK STREET PARK STREET AND THE URBAN CONTEXT PARK STREET, A CHARACTER THE SITE: 85, PARK STREET A STUDY OF 85, PARK STREET
THE SITE, AND WAYS TO APPROACH IT THE SITE AND HOW TO TACKLE IT ASHA NIKETAN NEUE STAATSGALERIE ZAMORA OFFICES INFERENCE
PROGRAMME
DERIVATION OF THE PROGRAMME WORK + SHELTER SAKHA CABS DURBAR UNDERSTANDING THE WOMEN UNRAVELING KOLKATA PROGRAMMES
DESIGN
WOMEN
N & THE WORLD India, has always treated its men with more respect and privilege than its women. Not just India, globally, men being superior to women is the popular belief; this notion has allowed crimes against women to grow on tirelessly. Centuries of this has led women themselves to belive that they’re less, weak, underprivileged.
The hard part of tackling the issue of gender inequality, is to make the oppressed women believe that they are worth equality. Even in urban cities, there are scores of such women – beggars, women rescued from sex-trafficking, women from abused backgrounds, uneducated women, in need of a safe haven. There are existing NGOs and agencies that rescue these women and often, successfully so. But the women inevitably end up going back to their origins because they aren’t educated/ trained to do be independent, they’ve never believed they are to be rescued and they’re used to it and don’t mind it anymore. A rehabilitation for these women would be more than just a roof over their heads and food for them; it would include basic education, employment opportunities and most of all the realisation that they are a wanted and needed part of society.
THE PHYSICAL SECURITY OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
HARMFUL PRACTICES Approximately 130 million girls and women in theworld have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting, with more than 3 million girls in Africa annually at risk of the practice. Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides, married before the age of 18, primarily in South Asia (31.3 million) and sub-Saharan Africa (14.1 million). Violence and abuse characterize married life for many of these girls.
Between 15 and 76 percent of women are targeted for physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the available data. Most of this violence takes place within intimate relationships, with many women (ranging from 9 to 70 percent) reporting their husbands or partners as the perpetrator. Across the 28 States of the European Union, a little over one in five women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a partner (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2014). FEMICIDE In Guatemala, two women are murdered, on average, each day. In India, 8,093 cases of dowry-related death were reported in 2007; an unknown number of murders of women and young girls were falsely labeled ‘suicides’ or ‘accidents’. In Australia, Canada, Israel, South Africa and the United States, between 40 and 70 percent of female murder victims were killed by their intimate partners. In the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, 66 percent of murders of women were committed by husbands, boyfriends or other family members. VIOLENCE AND YOUNG WOMEN Worldwide, up to 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16. An estimated 150 million girls under the age of 18 suffered some form of sexual violence in 2002 alone. The first sexual experience of some 30 percent of women was forced. The percentage is even higher among those who were under 15 at the time of their sexual initiation, with up to 45 percent reporting that the experience was forced.
TRAFFICKING Women and girls are 80 percent of the estimated 800,000 people trafficked across national borders annually, with the majority (79 percent) trafficked for sexual exploitation. Within countries, many more women and girls are trafficked One study in Europe found that 60 percent of trafficked women had experienced physical and/or sexual violence before being trafficked, pointing to gender-based violence as a push factor in the trafficking of women. SEXUAL HARASSMENT Between 40 and 50 percent of women in European Union countries experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at work. Across Asia, studies in Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and South Korea show that 30 to 40 percent of women suffer workplace sexual harassment. In Nairobi, 20 percent of women have been sexually harassed at work or school. In the United States, 83 percent of girls aged 12 to 16 experienced some form of sexual harassment in public schools. RAPE IN THE CONTEXT OF CONFLICT Conservative estimates suggest that 20,000 to 50,000 women were raped during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while approximately 250,000 to 500,000 women and girls were targeted in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Between 50,000 and 64,000 women in camps for internally displaced people in Sierra Leone were sexually assaulted by combatants between 1991 and 2001. In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 200,000 cases of sexual violence, mostly involving women and girls, have been documented since 1996: the actual numbers are believed to be far higher.
THE IDEA The purpose of taking up the project is to create a helpdesk, a support system, a healing environment for any women in need of it; to give any woman in need a chance at normalcy, may it be a victim of violence & abuse, a commercial sex worker or a woman seeking aid. It’s to challenge the very idea of “shleter homes”, that act as just that: a shelter. So why just a shelter? Why help just one catagory of “woman in need”? Why accept abuse? Globally, the only space created for these women are shelter homes, that more often than not, dont provide anything close to a healing space or even a comfortable one, for that matter. The women here are the victims, the ones who’ve suffered, and yet somehow they are the ones treated with disrespect, looked down upon, shamed and burdened with social stigma; locked up in terrible conditions and mistreated all over again, when they are the ones in need of help, support, understanding, hope and empowerment. The support and aid we could provide for them, as scope of the project would be:
REDEFINING A SHELTER FOR WOMEN
THE WOMEN Women irrespective of their social status, class, caste, acheivements are assualted on a daily basis, be it in the form of mental, emotional, physical, sexual abbuse or mere eveteasing , or objectification. these women are told it is “okay”, to not react, to not take a stand, driving the strongest of women into trauma and depression, among worse. So the term vulnerable woman in general could refer to any and every women in today’s society.
CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN
For the project at hand, the catagories of “vulnerable” women that will be mainly catered to would be battered women, comercial sex workers, and rescued commercial sex workers, crediting to the fact that these are the most common forms of crimes against women.
VICTIMS OF DOM VIOLENCE Domestic violence in India includes any form of violence suffered by a person from a biological relative, but typically is the violence suffered by a woman by male members of her family or relatives. According to a National Family and Health Survey in 2005, total lifetime prevalence of domestic violence was 33.5% and 8.5% for sexual violence among women aged 15-49. The instance of violence was reported to be lowest among Buddhist and Jain women, and highest among Muslim women in India.A 2014 study in The Lancet reports that the reported sexual violence rate in India is among the lowest in the world, the large population of India means that the violence affects 27·5 million over women their lifetime.
can erode a woman’s sense of self-worth and can be incredibly harmful to overall mental and physical wellbeing. Emotional/psychological abuse can include harassment; threats; verbal abuse such as name-calling, degradation and blaming; stalking; and isolation. SEXUAL ASSAULT Domestic sexual assault is a form of domestic violence involving sexual/reproductive coercion and marital rape. Under Indian law, marital rape is not a crime, except during the period of marital separation of the partners.
HONOR KILLING An honour killing is the practice wherein an individual PHYSICAL VIOLENCE is killed by one or more family member(s), because Physical injury is the most visible form of domestic vio- he or she is believed to have brought shame on the lence. The scope of physical domestic/intimate partner family.The shame may range from refusing to enter violence includes slapping, pushing, kicking, biting, hit- an arranged marriage, having sex outside marriage, ting, throwing objects, strangling, beating, threatening being in a relationship that is disapproved by the with any form of weapon, or using a weapon. World- family, starting a divorce proceeding, or engaging in wide, the percentage of women who suffer serious homosexual relations. injuries as a result of physical domestic violence tends to range from 19% - 55%.Physical injuries as a result of domestic violence against women are more obvious DOWRY-RELATED ABUSE AND DEATHS than psychological ones, and can be more easily Some newly married brides suffer domestic violence discerned by health professionals as well as courts of in the form of harassment, physical abuse or death law in the context of legal prosecution. when she is thought to have not brought enough dowry with marriage. Some cases end up in suicides by EMOTIONAL ABUSE hanging, self-poisoning or by fire. In dowry deaths, the Emotional abuse has been gaining more and more groom’s family is the perpetrator of murder or suicide. recognition in recent years as an incredibly common according to Indian National Crime Record Bureau, in form of domestic violence (and therefore a human 2012, 8,233 dowry death cases were reported across rights abuse) within the private home throughout de India, or dowry issues cause 1.4 deaths per year per veloping nations such as India. Psychological abuse 100,000 women in India.
MESTIC FOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL STAGES OF THE BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME: DENIAL The woman refuses to admit-even to herself-that she has been beaten or that there is a “problem” in her marriage. GUILT She now acknowledges there is a problem, but considers herself responsible for it. ENLIGHTENMENT The woman no longer assumes responsibility for her husband’s abusive treatment, recognizing that no one “deserves” to be beaten. RESPONSIBILITY the battered woman decides she will no longer submit to it and starts a new life.
UNDER-REPORTING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Earlier there is widespread hesitancy amongst the Indian women who experience domestic violence to report or prosecute against such crimes. Domestic violence was often not handled as a legitimate crime or complaint, but more of a private or family matter. But now this trend has changed. Section 498a introduced to protect women from Domestic Violence is the most misused law in India and accounts for the most suicide cases among Men in India. It is reported that every 9 minutes a Man commits suicide in India due to this.
EFFECTS Women suffer many types of physical and emotional abuse as a result of illegal actions taken within the private home, and those who have experienced some form of domestic violence tend to have greater long-term mental disorders and drug dependencies than those who do not.[55] In India, reducing domestic violence is imperative not only from an ethical and human rights perspective but also because of obvious instrumental and immediate health benefits that would be gained from such reduction. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: Safe go-to place for any battered women Safe shelter, short stay Medical and legal aid Empowerment through education/vocation Hobby development Help for the children Provision of jobs
COMMERCIAL S WOKERS The commercial sex worker has been a universal being throughout civilization as prostitution is the so-called “oldest profession”. The Indian Vedas, Vishnu Samhita and the Puranas abound in references to prostitution as an organized, established and necessary institution. Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra describes in detail various types of prostitutes, rules of conduct and the roles played by the procurer, pimp and brothel-keeper. Similarly, Kautilya in his Arthashastra declares the income of pimps, taxable. In the post-vedic era the custom of Devadasi (servants of God) system came into practice. Today, the word ‘devadasi’ is a euphemism for referring to a woman prostituting in the name of religious tradition. The law to tackle prostitution i.e., the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act ( ITPA), 1956 is often misused. Today sex worker’s unions have been formed. However, little has been and is being done to regulate or prohibit flesh trade, estimated to be a Rs. 2000 crore industry annually. Some of the main recommendations that are present in The Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2005 are:- # Permits soliciting by sex workers. # Punishment to human traffickers enhanced to 10 years’ imprisonment and Rs.1 lakh fine. # Provides for confiscation of property worth over Rs. 3 lakh, owned by traffickers and agents. # Definition of “trafficking in persons” widened to include clients; they can now be jailed for up to three ears. # Suggests increased involvement of NGOs in assisting the police. Around three million women are engaged in commercial sex work in India, a 50 percent rise from 1997, Over 60 percent of those trafficked into sex work are
adolescent girls in the age group of 12 to 16 years. More than 35 percent girls in India enter commercial sex activity before reaching 18 years. India has three lakh brothels in 1,100 identified red-light areas, housing nearly five million children in addition to commercial sex workers More than 25 percent women in commercial sex activity in India are in Maharashtra (14.20 percent) and West Bengal (13 percent), the report said. TYPES OF COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS “Cage girls” in “Pillow houses” The worst brothels are called “pillow houses”, where prostitutes are separated by cloth dividers in tiny rooms. Visitors are charged a minimum, and strict vigil is maintained to discourage prostitutes from talking to their customers. Point of no return Escape is never an option because there is a nexus between criminal gangs, pimps, brothel owners and the local police who share the major part of the CSW’s income. What trickles down to the hapless woman is a mere pittance. Call Girls Call girls are commercial sex workers who are part-timers and are usually more educated, carry cell-phones, and are well groomed and cannot be compared to those living in brothels. They have more mobility, earn higher incomes and have some freedom in choosing their clients. Escort girls The costliest end of the supply chain operates with
SEX high-class escort girls recruited from women’s colleges and from India ‘s burgeoning fashion and film industries. These CSWs offer services for large sums of money and usually operate by way of a discreet introduction service. Child Prostitution The ugliest face of the sex trade in many Asian countries is child prostitution. A 2004 UNICEF report estimates 500,000 child sex workers in India alone. Given the phenomenal increase in sex tourism, the number is bound to have risen to frightening proportions. Poor families are tricked into selling their children to such work for meager sums as 4 or 5 USD. Their family members thrust sometimes girl children who are victims of incest into this trade.
THE HIV RISKS More than 4.5 million people in India are infected with HIV, making it the second-largest HIV-positive population in the world, behind South Africa. Given India’s large population, a rise of just 0.1 percent in the prevalence rate would increase the number of persons with AIDS by 500,000. The World Health Organization estimates that 330,000 new AIDS cases occur in India each year and predicts that by 2033, AIDS will account for 17 percent of all deaths in India and will be a factor in 40 percent of deaths from infectious disease. India has drafted a five-year nationwide intervention program to combat the spread of HIV infection. The government has allotted $320 million in funds for health, education and treatment programs.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES: For the csws Secondary jobs, education, vocation for the csws Awareness programs for the csw Helpline for csws wanting to/willing to get out Medical, legal help provided Drug deaddiction program Psychological help FOR THE CHILDREN OF CSWS Education Safe shelter Prevention of second generation prostitution Helpline for abuse/coercion
THE AIM To create a rejuvination centre, for vulnerable women; a place for metempsychosis, to live, learn, dream. a safe haven for women in need. An abode that offers holistic healing, security, financial/legal aid aid and a shot a normal life. A happy place.
THE OBJECTIVES The rehabilitation must fulfill the following purposes: Psycological healing Host an appropriate set of programmes to rightfully empower the women The centre is as self sufficient as possible The centre must be able to act as an interface be tween the women and society Host spaces that promote hobby development To appropriately involve the dominant groups (men, unvictimised women) Integrate the women back with society The centre should be able to strive and respond to the immediate site context
THE METHOD Basic research on the problems faced by women, globally, and then specifically in India. Study the victims; their state of mind, their situation, problems faced by them, society’s reaction to them. Review the existing means of help provided to them, in india as well as abroad. Character studies and case studies on institutions dedicated to the cause of underprivileged women. Study of the political aspects, the laws and the oppurtunities for these women. Study the concept of “healing through architecture”. Literature study of buildings that work via the concepts of healing through architecture. Any good design must be sustainable, therefore in depth study of the site, on an urban level as well as neighbourhood level, its surroundings, scope & limitations, climate, topography, accesses, proximity, landscape, urban morphology, architectural style and context. Use the above analysis effectively to craete a building programme and hence a justifiable design satisfying the cause. The residents, the context, the programme as well as the public should be in perfect syncronisation with the design itself.
THE SCOPE & LIMITATIONS The thesis would effectively be a derivative of the live and literature case studies, proposing to create an healing environment using architecture and its elements as a tool to help the social cause of degenerative abuse of women; although the project may not the solve the issue, it aims to be a step forward towards a beter world for women. Aspects such as funding, ownership etc would not be dealt with within the scope of the thesis. Although architecture greatly influences the ambience of a space, the architect’s vision is not always garaunteed in the lifetime of the building. Therefore though the objective of the project is to stimulate healing through the architectural spaces craeted, the extent of that being successful is very much depended on each individual user and their mindset. A project like this one, is essentially an arguementatice project, which hasn’t been practically attempted before and thus has the possibility of being purely theoritical.
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN INDIA LIVE CASE STUDIES
The idea was to travel across the country to study the state of women rehabilaitation or shelter homes for the vulnerable women, in different places/cities, in different situations, catering to different kinds of women. There was also a need to study, or rather understand the women who’ve been through trauma, who live in these rehabilitations or shelter homes, who’ve lost interest in life and the joys it has to offer; since they are my users, my consumers. HenceI started by going to Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata, and gathered as much information as possible – about the women, their current lifestyle, their needs and wants, and the source of their happiness.
MAHILLA DAKSH SNEHALAYA, DE LOCATION: KARKARDOOMA, DELHI TYPE: SHELTER HOME TOTAL BUILT AREA: 260 SQ.M THE PROGRAMMES Associated with the police, active participation in rescue missions Provide the women with basic needs Provide education Provide medical assistance Provide food and accomodation free of cost Provide legal help Provide regular counselling and psychiatric help Provide vocational traing : Beauty courses Sewing/ tailoring Basic computer TRAINING Provide a stable job, via central government programmes. THE LOCATION The snehalaya (shelter home) is located in Karkardooma, ashoka vihar, in Delhi. The area around is an extremely crowded mixed land used area in the old part of Delhi. The immediate surrounding area mostly hosts schools and institutions. The site is located well within the city and thus is easily accesible, if the location is known.
CONSTRIANTS Extremely polluted and populated area No scope for future expansion Too closed-up an area, no exposure for women ADVANTAGES No local people around, since its a school zone Unexpected location, well hidden, thus safe ABOUT THE WOMEN The women here are from all backgroundsRich/poor Educated/ uneducated Rape victims Domestic violence victims Rescued sex workers Unidentified mentally untsable women They’re rescued to be brought to the centre or are recomended by other NGOs and are kept here till their police case is completed.
HITA SAMIHITI ELHI THE ARCHITECTURE BASEMENT LEVEL The basement is mostly a semi open area. It consists of a large vocational training space along with a medical examination room. The medical room is essentially a hall that is seperated into segments by the use of temporary partions. The vocational training hall is where the women sit around the most. The basement although has no windows, does have plenty of perforations looking out into the courtyard which is naturally lit and ventilated. The courtyard is the most essential element of the building, being not only the main source of light and ventilation, but also the most used recreational space. ISSUES FACED BY THE WOMEN AFTER BEING RESCUED Psychological trauma Frustration In some cases, need for immediate medical assist homesickness ACTIVITIES THE WOMEN ARE INVOLEVED WITH (DURING THE STAY) Vocational training (optional) Cooking daily meals Television Counselling sessions NO. OF RESIDENTS 2 staff 1 care taker 18+6 women 1 counsellor 1 visiting doctor
GROUND FLOOR LEVEL The ground floor hosts the main entry to the building it mainly consists of all the public functions, such as the meeting room – a spacious well lit room, for parents to meey the victims regularly, offices, a guest room for visitors, the counsellors roomand toilets. The rooms are flaked by a 1.5 m corridor that looks down into the courtyard. The courtyard’s surrounded by rooms on three sides, the one empty side has a series of perforations. protected by a mesh.
FIRST FLOOR LEVEL the first floor houses most of the activity areas in the shelter, for the women living there. The dining room is designed such that it gets amximum light and ventilation. The warden’s room is also situated here as a monitor for the women. The kitchen is small and dingy, but managed by the women. SECOND FLOOR LEVEL The second floor is the most private floor, as it house the bedrooms of al the women. There are 2 9-bed bedrooms, for the women, they’re well lit rooms with cupboard spaces etc. There is another 6-beds bedroom meant for the mentally challenged women, the room as well as the occupants are taken care of by special care-takers. The railings in this floor are replaced by ceiling high bars, to avoid risking these women’s lives.
INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE: The vocational training is’nt compulsory, hence most of the women prefer to laze instead of taking the training. The programme gets them to become dependent on the shelter, hence very few women leave. The staff is very hostile, there’s no room for kindness, compassion, thus making environment not a healing one. THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE: The centre is funded purely by the government, hence the funds are not abundant. The women don’t earn for themselves or contribute to the shelter. THE POLITICAL CAUSE: The government has a set of basic duties towards these women: provide them with shelter provide them with a job provide medical care and legal aid The centre takes care of the basic provisions and doesn’t overstep their boundaries to help the women. THE ARCHITECTURAL CAUSE: The place is very closed off, considering that the women aren’t allowed to leave the premises, more open spaces should have been provided in the premises. The room for the mentally challenged/ disturbed women isn’t designed as such. The use of natural lighting is admirable. The courtyard is an attempt to provide a welcoming, healing environment. The medical room isnt equipped for the purpose.
UJJWALA REHA CENTRE, BANGA LOCATION : MEDAHALLI, BANGALORE TYPE: SHELTER HOME FOR RESCUED SEX WORKERS TOTAL BUILT AREA: 156 SQ.M Vidyaranya Education and Development Society (VEDS) is a non-profit making and secular development organization. The organization also has a programme called “Ujjawala�. It is supported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, New Delhi. This programme being implementing in Bangalore Urban District and has been focusing on five components such as Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Repatriation. ACTIVITIES Formation and functioning of Balika (adolescent girls)/ Balala (adolescent children) Sanghas The organization has promoted 75 Balika and 75 Balaka Sanghas in various government, aided and unaided Schools, Bangalore. Regular meetings are being carried out for the Sanghas. These groups are made to understand the seriousness of the trafficking and work as a catalyst in the schools and also in their living areas. Sensitization Workshops/Seminars Many sensitization workshops and seminars on prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation are being carried in various places Bangalore Urban district.
Awareness generation through street plays This organization has been carried out street plays, Kalajathas, role plays etc in its operation areas of Bangalore East Taluk to create awareness on trafficking of women and children. It has made very good impact in general public and supporting the endeavours of this organization in curbing the trafficking. Development and printing of awareness generation material such as leaflets and posters Rehabilitation THE LOCATION The Rehabilitattion itself is located in Shantineketan layout, medahalli; which is a residential layout for individual homes situated about 10kms from the city of bangalore. the only way to access the area is through private vehicles/cabs. The main reason for the chosen location is to avoid the general public and for the security of the women. CONSTRIANTS: far away from the city very difficult to locate the women have no exposure to society ADVANTAGES: safe place for the women no question for social stigma
ABILITATION ALORE THE PROGRAMMES Associated with the police, active participation in rescue missions Provide the women with basic needs Provide medical assistance Provide food and accomodation free of cost Provide legal help Provide regular counselling and psychiatric help Provide vocational traing : beauty courses sewing/ tailoring basic computer training Provide a stable job, via central government programmes
ABOUT THE WOMEN The women here are mostly village girls sold into commercial sex work. They’re rescued to be brought to the centre. Issues faced by the women after being rescued: Psychological trauma Fear of new places/ people Social stigma attached to sex work Activities the women are involeved with (during the stay): Vocational training Cooking daily meals Cleaning the home Television Counselling sessions
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED Elementary brick and concrete construction has been used. Natural light and ventilation is well used in each room. Double height spaces used. The bedrooms are too small, since the building wasnt meant to be a shelter home. The halls are quite spacious and thus act as the primary gathering space/ activity space. There is no open/ outdoor area for the women excepting the backyard,which is used to dry clothes. A skylight has been used to light the stairwell, recreational area and the vocational training hall.
INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE: The vocational training is’nt very useful once the women leave the shelter. The programme gets them to become dependent on the shelter, hence very few women are able to go out and survive reality. The voactional training/ routine of the supposed proggramme is’nt taken very seriously. THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE: The centre is funded purely by the government, hence the funds are not abundant. The women don’t earn for themselves or contribute to the shelter. THE POLITICAL CAUSE: The government has a set of basic duties towards these women: Provide them with shelter Provide them with a job Provide medical care and legal aid The centre takes care of the basic provisions and doesn’t overstep their boundaries to help the women. THE ARCHITECTURAL CAUSE: The place was designed as a house and then converted to a shelter, thus isnt very user specific. The spaces allocated for each woman is barely enough. There are no healing elements. There are not enough open spaces. The use of double height space is awkward and unnecessary.
JIYA NARI NIKET LOCATION : VASANT KUNJ, DELHI TYPE: SHELTER HOME FOR DESTITUTE WOMEN AND OLD AGE HOME TOTAL BUILT AREA: 170 SQ.M The Earth Saviours Foundation is an Internationally recognized NGO, situated in Delhi, India. It was founded in 2008 by Ravi Kalra. The Foundation is dedicated to serve less privileged people and is making every possible effort to protect the environment. MISSIONS Old age home to look after homeless Rescue center to look after mentally disabled Rehabilitation center - school for poor children. shelter to look after deprived females. Battle to save environment and its habitats. THE LOCATION The shelter home is located in a community centre, in vasant kunj, which is vastly a residential area, the immediate surroundingsof the community centre is mainly small scale shops; adjoining the vasant square mall.the current location of the home is actually a temporary one. CONSTRIANTS Extremely polluted and populated area No scope for future expansion No safety/security ADVANTAGES Easy to access Open to public
THE PROGRAMMES Associated with the police, active participation in rescue and rebalitation. Provide the victims with basic needs. Provide medical assistance in cases of emergency. Provide food and accomodation free of cost. Provide recreational outings. ABOUT THE WOMEN The catagories of women here are as follows: Rich/poor Educated/ uneducated Rape victims Domestic violence victims Rescued unidentified people Unidentified mentally untsable Bandoned by family The organisation usually recieves a call to pick up unidentified destitute people on the roads, or is called in by the police with victims.
TAN, DELHI ISSUES FACED BY THE WOMEN AFTER BEING BROUGHT HERE Psychological trauma Loss of memory In some cases, need for immediate medical assistance Disabilities (physical/mental)
The podium was initially made for the purpose of special occassions, but is now used to dry clothes etc.
NO. OF RESIDENTS 2 staff 1 care taker 108 people The paved sit out on this side of the building is rarely used, due to the lack of shade.
The building on the inside is basically just an enormous hall for the people to sleep in, since the area isnt enough its primarily used by the bed ridden victims.
Towards the corner is a small residence that belongs to the caretakers of the community centre.
The paved sit out encircling the main building, is often used as the sleeping areas
The shaded green spaces towards the front is used for shaded seating, groups of people sit in these areas.
Under the tree is where most of the people like to sit and spend their time.
The front elevation of the community centre the building has been made in concrete with sand stone cladding.
The extremely poorly built and sanitised toilets are stituated further away from the main building.
INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE: There is no concept of teaching (education/vocation) involved. The victims are mostly abandoned, hence the stay period is infinite. There is no couselling, or reintegration with family. The staff is very compassionate, the whole group lives together as a family, helping each other, hence even in the terrible living conditions, some of them dont mind staying, since they’re loved and respected here. THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE: The centre is funded privately (by mr. ravi kalra) and is helped out by various non profit organisations, fund raisers etc. The shelter has no stable source of income, they’re constantly relying on other’s generousity. THE ARCHITECTURAL CAUSE: The place is not designed as a shelter home, its a community hall that has been converted into a shelter. The area is not nearly enough to accomodate the number of existing people. All the spaces in the complex (The sit outs, shaded areas, podiums, rooms) having been put to use as required by the users. The community halls insists dormitory living, which the care takers feel isn’t a good idea.
NEWLIGHT, KOL LOCATION : KALIGHAT, KOLKATA TYPE: SHELTER HOME FOR CHILDEREN OF COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS TOTAL BUILT AREA: 260 SQ.M New Light is a registered public charitable trust operating from the terrace of a temple deep inside the red-light district of Kalighat, Kolkata that offers comprehensive community development services. The project provides the children of sex workers a safe haven, particularly in the evening hours when streets are the most dangerous and the mothers are working. THE ACTIVITIES Safe shelter: In the lanes of many red light districts where the mothers need to work in the evenings and sometimes all night long children are often left with indifferent adult supervision or are totally unattended. newlight offers a safe shelter for these childeren
THE LOCATION The shelter is located inside a very prominent red light area in Kolkata, Kalighat. The main reason for placing the centre such is to tackle the problems involved in with commercial sex work from the roots. Its easier to help the women involved in sex work as well keep their children safe from well within the community. ADVANTAGES Tackeling the problem from inside Easier to understand the state of affairs Easier for the kids at the shelter CONSTRIANTS Dangerous place No public access
Education: Moving beyond the scope of regular school level education, New Light provides indivudualized university, professional and vocational education to its beneficiaries. Recreation: Dance, music, arts/ceramic, photography, theatre, boxing & football Healthcare & Nutrition Empowerment Gender based violence advocacy Rescue and rehabilitation Media advocacy centre
THE PROGRAMMES Mainly associated with the kids of the csw Prevent underage prostitution Prevent second generation prostitution Provide the childeren with education Provide the childeren with accomodation and food Provide legal help whenever required Provide counselling whenever required Provide vocational traing for the csw : sewing/ tailoring Sell the produce that the women make, ie provide income Awareness programmes for the women Income management help and programmes
LKATA ABOUT THE WOMEN The women here are commercial sex workers who’ve been in the business long enough for them to have gotten used to it. They only come for the vocational training to see their children. The reason these women refuse to leave sex work is, as follows: Good income as a sex worker No family to retuen to No education/ training to pursue another well paid job Stigma ISSUES FACED BY THE WOMEN HERE: Psychological trauma Extreme addiction issues Social stigma attached to sex work MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED The shelter survives on the concept of multifunctional spaces, the main area is the hall that acts as the sleeping area, vocational training centre, study area, activity area and so on. The shelter is an old ruined courtyard house that has been repaired one thing at a time, and expanded slowly with the help of available funds to create the shelter it is today. The house was constructed in Victorian style of architecture, prevelant in Kolkata. The style was conserved by Newlight, and built upon. The construction sees an avid use of arches, courtyyards etc
EVOLUTION OF THE BUILDING The building was just another old building in ruins inside the red light area of Kalighat. Newlight took over the building, and has been making necessary changes to make it into a shelter home.
INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE The vocational training is’nt compulsory, hence the only women a part of it are the ones whose children stay with the shelter. The programme is mostly for the children. The staff helps out any sex worker in need, wanting to get out, but statiscally there are very few such cases. They try to help the women by awareness programmes and such, but its difficult since most of them would rather spend on drugs than save for the future. THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE: The centre is funded purely privately, hence funds are not abundant. The women earn whatever money is made by selling the katha stitch work that they do, but that is mainly a secondary income. THE POLITICAL CAUSE: The government has no empowerment schemes for commercial sex workers. They are given no ration card, identification, worker privileges. These women depend solely on ngo’s for any kind of help. THE ARCHITECTURAL CAUSE: The place is very small, but well lit etc because the staff has been adding on to the existing building as per their needs. There are no private spaces. The use of old construction elements is admirable. The medical room isnt equipped for the purpose.
INFERENCE
HEAL SPA
LING THROUGH ACES, A THEORY Healing through the means of space and architecture is an experimental concept that could be well explored through the scope of this project. It would mean to create spaces that have a positive psychological affect on the women, i,e, provide psychological healing – a salient feature of dealing with trauma de-addiction or any of the psychiatric issues faced by the women. The idea would be to design a building that would play a primary role in the psychological healing and rejuvination of the users, rendering them capable and stable. Some of the basic concepts of the theory involve: Inducing serenity Providing a sense of belonging Subtle change, diversity Sensory healing Natural elements Reconnect to the environment
ELEMENTS OF H THROUGH SPAC SERENITY The sense of scale on mountains offers a perspective seldom achieved in other spaces. It offers the oppurtunity to see a lot without overloading our senses. The fusion of elements at a distance creates continuity and harmony. Serenity, be it in the form of architecture, landscape, or art, plays a very important role in the mental as well as emotional well-being of human beings.
BELONGING When looking out at a great landscape one notices that everything fits together. No pieces are juxtaposed. This brings the realization that we too, are part of that landscape. This togetherness reminds us that we belong here; it gives us a senseof value. These women have been shuffled from one traumatic post to another, be in the form of brothels, or in-laws homes, or police stations; it is extremely important to create a relatable space for these women, to feel connected to, to be able to identify with.
DIVERSITY Colors, shapes and forms fill the space, creating a rich environment. Diversity in the space provides joy to the eye and beauty to the soul. Diversity without confusion is the key to bring tranquility to a space.
THE IMMATERIAL When analyzing a space we must include all of our senses. Besides vision being the obvious, we use our other senses too to perceive a space. These are hearing, smelling, and touching. SOUND Sound healing is the use of specially crafted sounds to induce positive spiritual or medical effects. Sound healers claim to allow listeners to expand consciousness, “repair DNA�, or alter brainwave states, among many other claims. While studies using EEG and various neuroimaging techniques have shown that meditation may alter brainwave activity. Music therapy comes in two different forms: active and receptive. In active therapy, the therapist and patient actively participate in creating music with instruments, their voice, or other objects. This allows for the patient to be creative and expressive through the art of music. Receptive therapy takes place in a more relaxed setting where the therapist plays or makes music to the patient who is free to draw, listen or meditate. Usually the therapist determines the method unless specifically requested by the patient.
HEALING CES TRANSPARENCY How do you make a solid transparent? New perspectives and images are formed through the transparent liquid veil. The clear properties of the water plus the rushing nature of the falls creates a new vision. This may be one of the properties that makes people stare at waterfalls. Through them we discover new things, new reflections and in the process we may discover a new self.
LIGHT AND SHADOW Lighting is a basic humanizing element in the creation of a healing environment for a healthcare setting. It’s been proven that the control of natural light and artificial light sources have a direct positive effect on the body’s circadian rhythm, which impacts patient outcomes as well as family and staff satisfactions. Natural lighting and appropriate levels of artificial light, whether direct or indirect, can create a soothing environment, whereas the lack of natural lighting can have the opposite effect by causing disorientation and a feeling of institutionalism. As designers, the lighting factors we have to be aware of are glare control, intensity, dimming capability, color temperatures and color renditions.
WATER & SPACE It is interesting to note how popular waterfalls and other water features are. They usually are the central gathering area in squares and parks. The qualities of running water are very appealing to most people. Our physical and psychological dependency on this resource may help explain why we feel o comfortable with this element. Christopher Alexander, a California architect who as written several books on the quality of spaces, makes the case as to how our modern deprivation of water, as a city element, deteriorates our lives.
INTERACTION Waterbodies, like waterfalls, fountains etc., can offer a wide range of amenities: full interaction, playground, space to walk around and get wet, or just contemplate.
REFRESHING Everyone can argue that on a warm day a waterfall can be very refreshing. What about that feeling of refreshment that we get even in cold weather? A waterbody provides cool fresh air. This creates a healthy environment in which our brain receives fresh air, allowing it to think clearly. It allows us to relax from physical and mental stress.
SPACES DESIGNED TO HEAL LITERATURE CASE STUDIES
Healing through spaces, as mentioned before is a purely theoretical, experimental subject. That said, there are certain cases where the concept along with it’s previously described elements and features, has been attempted. Studying spaces designed solely for the purpose of healing the user, helped to get a detailed idea of how to go about user specific design, in such a delicate situation. It also helps with understanding the practical aspects of healing through architecture better. The study of two such cases, is mentioned here.
SOE KER TIE HO THAILAND ARCHITECTS: TYIN TEGNESTUE LOCATION: NOH BO, TAK, THAILAND CLIENT: OLE JØRGEN EDNA PROGRAM: 6 SLEEPING UNITS BUDGET: 68.000 NOK (APPROX. 10.000 USD) Tyin Tegnestue is a non-profit organization doing humanitarian work through architecture. It is run by five architect students from NTNU and the projects are financed by more than 60 Norwegian companies, as well as private contributions. In the fall of 2008 TYIN travelled to Noh Bo, a small village on the Thai-Burmese border. ABOUT THE USER The majority of the inhabitants are Korean refugees, many of them children. The main driving force behind the project was to recreate what these children would have experienced in a more normal situation. They wanted every child to have their own private space, a home to live in and a neighbourhood where they could interact and play. These six sleeping units were their answer to this. The six woven bamboo huts – dubbed Soe Ker Tie, or The Butterfly Huts because of their “winged” appearance – were designed with the children’s happiness and health in mind. As simple as these new dorms may seem, they provide something wonderful for a growing child – a space to call their own to learn, sleep and play in. The huts are accustomed with special flaps on the sides that open up to make little nooks of play area . Each hut is multi-level and houses 4 children each, with their own private spaces. Each opening or
perforation has been designed especially for these children. Other than the huts, the place has other activity generators for the children like: A chess table A stair of old tyres A bbq yard More semi-open and open spaces Seating A large open play area
OUSE , Some of the units opens out iinto these semi-open pockets, created primarily as a play area or a sit out space for the children. The space is designed to be narrow with low ceilings creating an illusion of a more private and secure space, it is just enough for the children to navigate through.
Hollowed peices of bamboo is used to create perforations along the walls of the huts, these act as ventilation and light source as well as create an interesting, engrosing space. The play areas that are created here are perfectly blended with the living space, thus negating the concept of a seperate living space and distant parks as play areas. Each unit uses the left over bamboo to create along the huts, interesting different play areas, may it be swings, slides, hanging ropes, or just mere sit out for the children.
The huts lead out to an open chess table for the children to play or just sit out
Each unit is has multiple levels inside, created such that though 4 boys live together in a single hut, each one of them has their own private spaces as well, providing the perfect kind of comfort zone for children living together.
The units are designed such that once fully closed up, the huts have ample amount of space for the children to run around and play. The lighting system that is used blends in with the architecture style and material used.
1. Rain water collection system 2. Openings that act as a source of light and ventillation , and also as an interaction stand or to play 3. Porch for the children to play or read or just sit out 4. The roof angled for maximum light and ventilation 5. Sleeping areas that are private for each individual but as the same time are also interactive
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES The bamboo weaving technique used on the side and back facades is the same used in local houses and crafts. Most of the bamboo is harvested within a few kilometers of the site. The special roof shape of the Soe Ker Tie Houses enables an effective, natural ventilation, at the same time as it collects the rain water. This renders the areas around the buildings more useful during the rainy season, and gives the possibility of collecting the water in drier periods. The iron wood construction is prefabricated and assembled on-site, using bolts to ensure reasonable precision and strength. Most of the materials is delivered by the Karen National Union on the Burmese side, and this dependency on tropic timber has led to a line of difficult and complex problems to be addressed. INFERENCE The houses are designed such that the children feel compeletly at home with the place and the surroundings, though the program has 2-3 boys staying together in one unit. Its designed such that the privacy of each child is maintained. The units have plenty of playful perforations, designed not only to let in light and ventillation, but also such that it acts as shelves, windows etc for each boy. The entire ensemble is designed very specific to the children, the playfulness and simplicity tends to distract the user from the harsh backgrounds they’ve come from, ie it forms a healing environment. There are far too few units, and the construction techniques used are complicated, ie involving skilled labours, thus making the project’ expensive.
KWIECO SHELTE TANZANIA ARCHITECTS: HOLLMÉN REUTER SANDMAN ARCHITECTS LOCATION: MOSHI, TANZANIA AREA: 423.0 SQM PROGRAM AREA : SHELTER HOME Kilimanjaro Women Information Exchange and Consultancy Organization (KWIECO) was founded in 1987. It provides advice on legal, health, social and economic issues to women. Violence against women is permitted by social and cultural attitudes; the law has failed to provide adequate safeguards against violence, nor has it been able to promote attitudes conducive to women’s enjoyment of their fundamental rights. In order to provide the clients of the Shelter with a safe environment for protection and healing, the Shelter is situated in the inner half of the plot .the design solutions are made to minimize environmental impacts, taking into account local conditions and making use of all possible resources. Large covered open air areas allow natural ventilation and free air movement within the building, providing shade and protection from rain. Covered outdoor spaces are used for meetings and seminars. Roof windows provide daylight to the rooms, thus minimizing the need of electrical lightning during daytime. ABOUT THE WOMEN The women here are from all backgrounds: Rich/poor Educated/ uneducated Rape victims Domestic violence victims Unidentified mentally untsable They’re rescued to be brought to the centre or can check in volantarily
THE PROGRAMMES Associated with the Kilimanjaro Women Information Exchange and Consultancy Organization Provide the women with basic needs Provide social and economic guidance Provide medical assistance Provide food and accomodation Provide legal help Provides safety
1.The main , huge public green space, used usually for gatherings and public awareness programmes the kichennette block, includes the main kitchen (where the women themselves cook and clean), the stores as well as a toilet. 2. Inner private courtyard, for the residents to sit out, talk and unravel the central dining area for the residents as well as the staff. 3. The adminstration block, includes the offices, meeting rooms, record storage and reception the counselling rooms. 4. Semi-public courtyard, for the residents and for the family/visitors. 5. Private rooms for the women in need of safety or shelter.
ER HOUSE, The design is well equipped with semi open areas that flow into open courtyards or private rooms, thus maintaining a delirible transition from private to interactive lifes of these women.
The shelter is flaked by outdoor paved seating/gathering areas on all sides. these spaces are maintained for visitors of the women residents or for public gatherings and awareness programmes.
The design is zoned carefully to subtly seperate the private areas (private rooms, private courtyard, bathrooms) from the counselling rooms, public spaces and the administration block, via connecting.
Semi-open passages and smaller in-between courtyards. This particular view boasts the private rooms and the smaller more private courtyard that is specifically used only by the rseident women and their children.
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES The architecture of the Shelter House is designed to respect the Tanzanian culture, climate and spatial hierarchy. Local materials, renewable energies, local manpower and know-how are of importance, as well as participatory planning to ensure the feeling of shared ownership among the people. Glass tiles are made out of recycled bottles, to create ambiance and bring colorful light into the toilets. The roof structure has an insulating layer between the corrugated iron roof and the ceiling. In some rooms the ceiling is made of banana leafs. The doors of the Shelter have a metal frame with bamboo as surface material. The main gate refers to a culturally important habit among the Tanzanian women: a kanga skirt with a printed message is worn to deliver a subtle message to her friends of a guest. INFERENCE The shelter is designed with an abundance of open spaces, green spaces, courtyards, thus giving the building a healing feel. The building is made entirely out low cost, local and sustainable materials. The shelter allows a certain monotony and eveness that creates a sense of familiarity among the women as does the usage of local materials.
ASHRAYA, BANG LOCATION : NEAR KOLAR, BANGALORE TYPE: SHELTER HOME FOR DESTITUTE WOMEN TOTAL BUILT AREA: UNKNOWN LOCATION : NEAR KOLAR, BANGALORE TYPE: SHELTER HOME FOR DESTITUTE WOMEN TOTAL BUILT AREA: UNKNOWN The organization was set up by a group of women, who were all Child Welfare professionals, with a view to bring in quality care for children in residential care, which at the time, was sorely lacking. The organization works on the firm belief that institutions should only be a temporary shelter for children. MISSION To provide non-institutional solutions for underprivileged, destitute and abandoned children. To empower abused, battered and abandoned women. TARA – ASHRAYA WOMEN’S CENTRE It is a spacious residential centre for destitute, abandoned and abused women, who are in need of shelter and protection. It is a two-year support programme for women to make them self-reliant, to be able to stand on their own feet and to care for their children. The multi-purpose Centre has 23 residential units for mother and children, a health centre, a day care centre for children, run by trained staff. It is a lowcost, innovative and attractive structure and the rooms are very spacious and well-ventilated. Women use smokeless chulas, for cooking and solar heating, for other purposes. Women are encouraged to start a savings account and most of them have substantial savings by the time they leave us, after a two - year stay. Earning
their own money and having the right to spend it the way they want, goes a long way in building up their self confidence. “International Women’s Day” on 8th March, every year, is celebrated in style at TARA to foster and reinforce the spirit of womanhood and the importance of their role in society. The women cook a grand meal together and invite TARA staff, social workers and board members of Ashraya to lunch with them. Some of them talk about their story and how Ashraya has transformed their lives for the better. THE LOCATION The shelter home is located somewhere between Bangalore city and Hoskote, the exact location of the shelter is confidential due to security purposes. CONSTRIANTS Too far away from the city Located such that is extremely hard to locate Too closed-up an area, no exposure for women ADVANTAGES Situated next to a textile industry, provides occupation Unexpected location, well hidden, thus safe
GALORE THE PROGRAMMES Provide free accomodation-individual rooms Provides educational facilities for the children Women are allowed to be independent in all ways Provides regular health check up and basic medical care Counselling Provision of permenant jobs Textile industry training ABOUT THE WOMEN The catagories of women here are as follows: Poor Uneducated Battered women Abandoned by family Women who’ve run away from home The organisation is usually reffered to by either the police or other ngos. Some women in need willing check themselves in issues faced by the women after being brought here: Psychological trauma Need for immediate medical assistance Badgering by family (in law) members
INFERENCE The social cause: No vovational training, instead they’re tied up with a textile factory
That trains the women and gives them permenant jobs The programme gets them to become independent, since they pay for everything aside from accomodation, they cook and take care of everything themselves They are taught to save money etc, skills that’ll help them once they leave the shelter Strict staff They take on only best case scenarioes, no legal/ major medical aid is provided THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE: The centre is funded by renting out a convention hall, and through well wishers; its abre minimum, but enough to survive The women earn for themselves, but dont have to contribute to the shelter THE POLITICAL CAUSE: The government is not involved at all, in case of any legal situation the case is reffered else where THE ARCHITECTURAL CAUSE: The place is very open, with plenty of green spaces, courtyards, etc The women have their own rooms which are satisfactorily big The use of natural lighting is admirable The courtyard acts as a gathering, celebration, hang out space There are also in house counselling and medical rooms
INFERENCE
UN
NDERSTANDING THE SITE
As seen according to the Indian statistics, it is West Bengal that has seen the most amount of crimes against her women. Further, the biggest red light area is also housed here in Kolkata, taking which into consideration, Kolkata seemed like a city crying for help. Analysing the city’s various red light areas and the NGO’s dedicated to helping them, a vague idea of a potential site was derived.
KOLKATA
Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly river, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India, while the Port of Kolkata is India’s oldest operating port and its sole major riverine port. As of 2011, the city had 4.5 million residents; the urban agglomeration, which comprises the city and its suburbs, was home to approximately 14.1 million, making it the third-most populous metropolitan area in India.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
EVOLUTION OF THE CITY
The city originated and developed around the hoogly river, slowly, haphazardly growing from there and spreading its wings to become one of the most populated metropolitians in the country.
THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
THE CURRENT SCENARIO Almost three-fourths of Kolkata’s women, the survey says, believe the city is unsafe or very unsafe for them, while as many as 31% feel it is just as insecure as Delhi. While an overwhelming majority (74%) said they don’t feel safe after sundown, 47% of the city’s women felt Park Street was unsafe. While 38% of them were working women, 31% were students and 31% homemakers. Even though more women (48%) still feel that the city is safer than Delhi, majority of the respondents said Chennai and Bangalore were safer than Kolkata. The threat perception rose as the hours ticked by.
PARK STREET In the 1970s and 1980s much of Kolkata’s night life took place at Park Street. Many noted musicians had played at popular night spots such as Trinca’s, Blue Fox, Mocambo and Moulin Rouge. Even before that, in the 1940s, 50s and 60s Kolkata’s prolific night life was centred on Park Street. The Park Hotel chain started with the opening of its first hotel, the 150 room, The Park on the fashionable Park Street on November 1, 1967. Park Street remains Kolkata’s foremost dining district, with many restaurants and pubs. It is often known as “Food Street” and “The Street that Never Sleeps”. Park Street has been the recreation zone for Kolkata people since the British era. However, in the last 20 years, many new restaurants, malls, 5-star hotels and nightclubs have opened in other areas of the city and Park Street has lost much of its earlier attraction as being the numero uno entertainment hub of Kolkata. Kolkata is no longer the safe city it was once perceived to be. Be it the streets of our friendly neighbourhoods, Metro stations or the fringes of Kolkata, women feel insecure to venture out after dark, according to a survey conducted by TOI-IMRB among 153 women in the city aged between 18 and 50.
PARK STREET A
AND THE URBAN CONTEXT
PARK STREET, A CHARACTER URBAN STRUCTURE It is the administrative and the commercial district of the city. Monumentals scale in proportion. The administratlve district along the four sides of the great tank, has a resemblance of london. The british have not done any compromise in their city road layouts. Visiting planner. drew on what theyknew of the west and their work inevitably reflected the planning theories and design guidelines that had arisen in tne western context. STREET PATTERN Main roads were wide carriage ways and were laid straight, which act as vistas. Even the lanes in these areas, where mostly the Europeans had settled, are wide enough for vehicular movements. Today, these roads see most amount of public as well as private transport movement. THE ARCHITECTURE Calcutta is one of the great cities of modernity, and Asia’s first cosmopolitan metropolis. Its cultural inheritance is contained not only in its art forms, or in its political and intellectual history, but palpably in its architectural ethos. It includes not only the Rajbari mansions and the grand colonial institutional buildings of central Calcutta, but the houses in which people have lived, and still live. PUBLIC SPACE Central kolkata has designed public open spaces. The open space of the great tank creates an ambi
encs of the area. The other one is the biggest open space of the city, the maidan. Central Kolkata also hosts the major tourist attractions like victoria memorial ,the birla planetarium, the race course, and the indian museum.
A
THE SITE: 85, PARK STREET Kolkata, being the extremely dense city that it is, it made no logical sense to take up an empty plot and propose to inhabit it; therefore the only appropriate solution was to take up an existing dilapidated building and restore or rejuvinate it. Such a site was 85, park street, a 2.5 acre land hosting an old, deteriorated beyond repair haveli, courtsey of the first british acting nawab of Kolkata. The building itself would have been a beauty in itself, had it been conserved and maintained, a procedure that did not take place due to various political agendas and the lack of private funds. The site, the building it hosted and the location on the street, seemed manufactured solely for the purpose of my project.
A STUDY OF 85, Park Street is fast turning into a road of highrises that look as unlovely as they are obstreperous, even if the latter adjective does not really apply to buildings. But it is undeniable that these highrises — each a mini-township — add to the chaos and noise of Calcutta’s clogged streets. One mansion that for years remained concealed behind high walls is the one that belonged to the Nawab of Murshidabad. Situated right opposite st. xavier’s college, the site has been turning into a wasteland for quite a while. In a location as densly populated and built, as park street, one can only imagine to find a land such as this The site hosts about 30 odd trees, and is flaked by busy roads on three sides, and looks onto a node.
, PARK STREET The property was originally owned by the nawab of Murshidabad. The property has been in status quo for more than a century. It has been taken over by squatters. The descendants of Nawab Nazir Mir Zafar Meerza, the first puppet ruler of the British, used to live here. To most Bengalis Mir Zafar is still the archetype of treachery, whereas Nawab Siraj-ud-Dowlah has been turned into a tragic hero and Waterloo Street has been renamed after him. The last living descendant of Mir Zafar who lived here was Sajid Ali Meerza, whose father was Wasif Ali Meerza, the second and last nawab of Murshidabad. Nobody knows for sure, but it is said that the house was confiscated to compensate for the Murshidabad royal family’s revenue dues. The mansion used to have two masonry gates that had been crumbling for years. Now one of them has disappeared altogether, revealing a vast lawn and the house with two wings and verandahs running from one end of the house to the other on both floors. The remains of the second gate support a notice board declaring that it is the property of the government of West Bengal (judicial department) Murshidabad estate. The building’s projecting bay, like the first floor verandah, was shaded with wooden jalis. Now instead of the bay there is a gaping hole in the wall and the face of the building resembles a grinning skull. Squatters have turned the space inside the mansion and the yard behind it into a shantytown from Bihar, complete with tiny mud huts. Even the porch, yard and wooden staircase have been neatly partitioned into abodes. But it is not as if only poor people live here. Some rooms are occupied by people who use these as workshops where cottage industries thrive. Saris, for example, are embroidered here. But a gaping hole has developed in the marble on the first floor in the section that is projecting. The condition of the building is deteriorating by the day and no measure has been taken to stop this.
THE SIT
TE AND HOW TO TACKLE IT The site at hand, like any site has it’s share of pros and cons. The pros, that made designing here easier were as follows: Located in an area which deals with various social stratas, ranging from the high society to the local crowd, thus helping the project reach out to a wider audience. The site is one road away from prostitute pick up point, making it convinient for these women in need. Located in an already public extroverted area, thus helping the cause of reintegrating the women with society. In very close proxity to hospitals, police stations, schools and other basic needs. To name a few of the cons, that made the design a challenge worth taking up, were : Extremely public place, way too much noise. Privacy becomes a concern in an area as populated and public as this. The area is too small to create vast landscaped stretches stereotypically required for holistic healing. To address the above mentioned negatives of the site, a few more case studies were done, these were studies to realise if its possible to create a private secure environment whilst letting the public in, and various ways to acheive the same.
ASHA NIKETAN, LOCATION: KORAMANGALA , BANGALORE TYPE: HOME FOR SPECIAL NEED ADULTS ARCHITECT: NAVNATH KANADE Asha Niketan is part of the L’Arche International Federation. It is dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support neworks with people who have intellectual disabilities. It was founded in 1964 when Jean Vanier, welcomed two men with disabilities into his home in the town of Trosly-Breuil, France. Today, it is an international organization operating in 40 countries, and on six continents. Asha niketan houses 16 inhabitants and 10 assistants. The architect provided the residents the liberty to move around in an undisturbed flow of spaces with a choice to enjoy a space of their liking.The design has spaces with optimal privacy for small groups, and small niches for those who seek privacy as an individual. The courtyard space forms the central focus of teh building, overlooked by a majority of rooms.Varyig levels and spaces formed due to contoured site overlook into one another creating a sense of interest amongst spaces.Visual connectivity forma a feverent concept of the design.
THE LOCATION Situated in bangalore, the site is flanked admist the chaos of two of Koramangalas busiest streets. Measuring 120x160sq ft, the site was not large enough to construct a home for the disabled.It contours diagonally from north to south by two metres. The site is lined by a single row of trees on one side with a few scattered arbitarily in the middle. CONSTRIANTS Extremely noisy and populated area No scope for future expansion Too public an area ADVANTAGES Green cover Easy to locate Easy for working parents
, BANGALORE DESIGN ELEMENTS TERRACES Creating interesting spaces , terraces form transition from open to semi open to enclosed spaces COURTYARDS The building is a fascinating amalgam of open and semi-open spaces.All the rooms spill out into the verandahs which further open out into the courtyards. The generous incorporation of courtyards around trees form the mainstay of the design.These areas not only provide the perfect setting for outdoor interactions but are an important source for light and ventilation throughout the building. RAMPS Providing access to the subsidiary centres at various levels ae ramps the ramp in the central courtyard functions as a waiting lounge as well as the main interaction space. OTHER ROOMS The rooms inner walls are lined with a facade of bricks. This lends to temperature moderation. Few roos especially those next to the ramp are slightly dingy as they lack enough natural light.The ground floor accomodates common spaces like workshops, common gathering areas, dining area, kitchen and administrative office. The first floor consists of the remaining rooms, the directors house, staff residences. few smaller workshops and numerous terraces both open and semi-covered. PRAYER HALL Located on the quietest corner of the building, protected from the chaos and clamour of the outside world is the meditation room. The concept is that of a gradual transition of a square space to an octagon at the beam level which later transforms into a circle converging into a conical skylight. The spaces sliced by the octagon form pockets on the roof that bring in soft tendrils of daylight into the space.
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES The architect has broken out of the conventional modes of construction, and illustrated with great resourcefullness the art of material use. Locally available materials have been used to create an ingenious sysytem of onstruction that contributes to the structural strength, aesthetic appeal etc. The success of the design of this building lies in the fact that it is not just another institutional building that shelters its inabitants from the outer world which they eventually end up percieving as harsh and frightening. A variety of open s, semi-open, enclosed an dmulti level spaces are interwoven to create an interesting assemblage of spaces that encourage the inmates to shrug off their inhibitions and coe forth to explore, ineract and be one with everyoe else and nature. These spaces nurture the inhabitants by providing them warmth and comfort The predominant craft is the innovative use of material throughout the building in multipple ways.The materials used in Asha niketan are natural and eco friendly thus making the building sustainable. The different material used are : GRANITE, BRICK-INTERNAL WALLS, MUD INSULATOR, KOTA STONE FLOORING AND KADAPPA STONE.
INFERENCE The desgin ensures that there is free interaction between all the inmates of the community through the: Centrally located courtyards, Freedom of movement on the ground floor with the help of the ramps, The double height multifunctional area The double height dining room. While ensuring this freedom of communication, he also provided small pockets around the building that allows the residents to have a sense of privacy even if its outside of their rooms. The terraces on the second floor ensure the same. The entire atmosphere of the place set amongst the tall trees gives a sense of a homely feel, so the residents feel like their are in their own homes giving them a peace of mind during their stay. The building is a good example of the seemless movement between the open, closed and semi opened spaces. The ramp allows the free movement from one level to the other with a consideration of a 2m slope difference. While the central staircase provides for the vertical movement from one floor to another.
NEUE STAATSG GERMANY ARCHITECTS: JAMES STIRLING LOCATION: STUTTGART, GERMANY PROJECT YEAR: 1984 Stirling’s design incorporated the sloping site as part of an architectural promenade that moved the public walkway through the museum that embodied the transitions of the classical art of the Alte Staatsgalerie and the modern art of the Neue Staatsgalerie into one seamless architectural response. The museum is a series of integrations, both contextual with the site and periods of art and design. Stirling combines materials of the past, travertine and sandstone, with colored industrial steel throughout the museum as a way in which to pay respect to the art and design of the 19th Century by developing a relationship with modern materials resulting in a uniquely Post Modern museum that is rooted in the combination of historical elements with a modern vocabulary. Throughout the museum, both on the interior and exterior, Stirling implemented a series of colors as functional identifiers that remain consistent throughout the building. The main entrance has a blue colored steel trellis that attaches to the travertine walls, and bright pink and blue steel pipes are used to denote where circulation occurs. This is especially the case on the public walkway that cuts through the building while traversing the sloping site. Despite the incorporation of more modern elements juxtaposed to the classical materials, the design of the museum is reminiscent of the neoclassical style of the Alte Staatsgalerie. Similar to the older gallery, Stirling
incorporated the strict “U” shaped arrangement of the gallery spaces to give the Neue Staatsgalerie a traditional organization with a modern aesthetic. The most prominent area of the museum is the central atrium at the center of the museum that bridges the sculpture garden and works in the museum with the public walkway that cuts through the museum.
GALERIE, The atrium also happens to be the one place in the museum that makes the most references to the traditional 19th Century museum designs; there are columns, gables, architraves, and designed stone facings that interact with the public walkway that wraps around the circular atrium. For Stirling, the public walkway was a moment when architecture transforms into an architectural landscape that traverses the sloping site and flows throughout the building. The Neue Staatsgaleri stands as James Stirling’s celebration of architecture as a combination of many styles and elements from the 19th Century into a modern piece of architecture that connects the public with its culture. INFERENCE The project has very intricately tackled the transition from traditional to modern art, using the process of transition within the building as an aiding element, as well as by the use of befiiting materials. The building tells a story as one goes from one entrance to the building to the atrium, back into the building and out from the other exit, thus acting as a connection in between the two streets. The designer uses a series of colors and materials to enhance the connect between traditional and modern art, that the exhibit itself is trying to potray.
ZAMORA OFFIC ARCHITECTS: ALBERTO CAMPO BAEZA LOCATION: CALLE OBISPO MANSO, 1, 49001 ZAMORA, SPAIN AREA: 12100.0 M2 YEAR: 2012 To build with air, the abiding dream of every architect: Facing the cathedral and following the outline of the former convent’s kitchen garden, we erect a strong stone wall box open to the sky. Its walls and floors entirely made of stone. Within the stone box, a glass box, only glass. Like a greenhouse. With a double facade similar to a Trombe wall. The external skin of the facade is made of glass, each single sheet measuring 600x300x12 and all joined together simply with structural silicone and hardly anything else. As if entirely made of air.
INFERENCE The attempt to relate to the context of the site, and the surrounding architectural style and at the same time creating a whole new spce inside is exemplary. The external wall completely cuts of everything else, to create an extremely open/airy building inside, thus preserving privacy.
CES, SPAIN
INFERENCE
DERIV
VATION OF THE PROGRAMME The key to designing a rehabilitation that functions to it’s maximum capability is to derive a set of programs that address all the present issues faced by the women in rehabilitation shelters, be it lack of a consistent income, fostered dependency on the shelter, or just the feeling of being caged up in a home. The three steps that were taken to derive a set of programs were: 1. character studies of institutions that help underprivileged women generate a feasible income. 2. realising what the women want and need from a shelter home. 3. studying the site to figure suitable programs that respond well to the site and the public in the area.
WORK+SHELTER WORK+SHELTER is an american based organisation, set up by Mrs. Namita Krul to help out underprivileged women. WORK+SHELTER is a social enterprise in India that provides a secure environment and fair trade work for underprivileged women. WORK+SHELTER focuses on women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation. Fundamentally, they provide women in India with fair-trade work and, should they need it, a safe place to live with their dependents. Each shelter has a physical location where activities are centralized. At thepilot, W+S New Delhi, women are entered into the paid training program where they are taught the skills to create high-quality products for the export market. The only entry prerequisite they have is demonstrated economic need. When the woman completes training and begins to produce for the export market, her pay is increased. The women are paid whether or not the products sell.Beyond work and shelter, they regularly confer with the women to ensure their other key needs are met. For example, at W+S New Delhi they are currently assisting one stakeholder to find medical support for her kidney problems. they also actively support the women to ensure children in their family are in school. They are aware of each woman’s unique challenges and actively work with them to overcome them together.
BRAND ENDORSEMENTS
R, DELHI
INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE The women get a safe sheletr where they can choose to stay and work or come to on a regular basis and work, according to their situations and convieniences. The women handle every part of the production that goes on, except the marketing, hence they are very in control of their earning situation. The training given to them is good enough that the product sells in an international market. THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE Namita Krul and a board of other women trustees handle the finances, the money made on the products goes directly to the women in terms of monthly wages.
SAKHA CABS, D Sakha Consulting Wings Pvt. Ltd. is a unique social enterprise, launched to provide safe transport solutions for women, by women in urban India. The services are available primarily to women and their families. The women drivers engaged by Sakha are handpicked from the poor and marginalized sections of society, and their entire training and development is undertaken by Azad Foundation, Sakha’s non-profit sister organisation. Driving skills are provided by Maruti Institute of Driving and Technology Research as well as our in-house trainers. In addition to driving, these women are taught self defense by the Delhi Police, Crime against Women Cell to equip them with the means to deal with any untoward incident that they may face on the roads. Azad Foundation has ensured rigorous training in subjects such as map reading, routes and roads in Delhi, communications and grooming, as well as an understanding of women’s rights, particularly in protection from violence in public and personal space so that a smart, confident and well trained woman is behind the wheels of your car. Sakha is unique in that its business goals are rooted within its social commitment to provide livelihoods with dignity to women in Delhi. All women drivers regis
tered with Sakha come from marginalized and resource poor communities and families. Sakha partners with several civil society organisations to identify, select and motivate these women to take up driving as a professional career. On the other hand Sakha also aims to provide safe transport solutions to those women who are increasingly becoming mobile and can afford to own a car, hire a chauffeur etc. Sakha intends to work with these two groups of women – addressing the right to livelihood of dignity for one, and right to safe mobility for the other. These cabs are a way orking toward s a safer tomorrow for the women of new delhi,also the national rape capital of the country. other main stream cab services like Ola, Uber etc. have now also inititated women drivers on request. INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE They offer a steady job, an easy skill training as well as other awareness programmes etc. They offer a better life to marginalised women especially. The programme offers women training thats helping them earn pretty good capital, in very less time, hence would work as a good option for women who need a financial ladder to get better.
DELHI THE ECONOMIC CAUSE The money earned goes directly to the drivers, ie the women, it works how most other cab companies do. The income here is pretty steady, and is a pretty good amount.
DURBAR, KOLKA Durbar seeks to build a world where all marginalized communities live in an environment of respect, rights and dignity. Durbar hopes for a new social order where there is no discrimination by class, caste, gender or occupation and all individuals communities live in peace and harmony as global citizens. Durbar represents 65 000 sex-workers (Male, Female & Transgender) and is active in identifying and challenging the underlying socio-structural factors that help perpetuate stigma material deprivation and social exclusion of sex-workers. Durbar involves sex worker community in all decision-making process be it connected to Health or other development program. Durbar is active in forgiving broader alliances to promote health and with special reference to HIV intervention program which includes prevention, care and support. THE DURBAR MISSION Durbar’s shared mission is to enhance a process of social and political change with an objective to establish, promote and strengthen the rights, dignity, social status, and improvement of the quality of life of all sex worker communities. Durbar wishes to integrate the sex workers movement with the broader global movement to establish rights of all marginalized communities in the globe through: Improvement of image and self-esteem of marginalized communities. Influencing existing norms, policies and practices, operating at all levels in the society and out the nation state. Empowering communities through a process of collectivisation and capacity building. Addressng power relations within the trade and outside. Building formal and informal alliances with individuals, groups, institutions and movements.
THE DURBAR PRINCIPLES Durbar since its inception articulated three interconnected principles which are known as 3R i.e., Respect, Reliance and Recognition. Respect and dignity to sex work and towards sex workers. Reliance on the knowledge and wisdom of the community of sex workers. Recognition of sex work as an occupation and preserve and protect their occupational and human rights. THE ACTIVITIES DURBAR IS INVOLVED WITH: Healthcare Cultural Educational Vocational Anti-trafficking Micro-training Research and training Sports INFERENCE THE SOCIAL CAUSE The main purpose here is not rescue, but to help the CSW establish themselves while staying in their own feild of work. Almost everything needed has been tried to be taken care of. The programme has plenty of collaborations, both in India as well as abroad, thus making this reach on a much bigger level. THE ECONOMICAL CAUSE: The entire mission is funded by the non profit Durbar org as well as by the collaborators that are a part of this.
ATA
UNDERSTANDIN THE WOMEN Scared, bearing trauma and shunned by society, these women find themselves in “shelter homes� , looking for comfort, along with the basic amenities of a place to stay and food. being pushed around from place to place these women have been ripped out of their very being, having lost who they are and where they belong, they’re now merely just victims. These women need more than just food and shelter, they need a chance at normalcy, they need hope, love, dreams. they need to be whole again. Giving them just food and shelter on a daily basis just gets them to depend on the shelter home, making them even less human than they already were. Providing them with vocational training to make a minimal amount of income and forcing blande education down on them makes them machines working on a routine. Routine is neccesary for these women to organise their lives, but breaking from the routine is equally important, for the women to find themselves, to rediscover who they were before they were victims. Activities that trigger individuality, expression, and recreation needs to be introduced, as does vocational training that can be depended upon to generate enough income to sustain the woman.
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UNRAVELLING K Kolkata is regarded as “The Cultural Capital of India” by many. Kolkata has also been the pioneer city in Indian renaissance. It has long been known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage. Bengalees tend to have a special appreciation for art and literature; its tradition of welcoming new talent has made it a “city of furious creative energy” some of the elements of kolkata that make it the city of joy are as follows; Paras in Kolkata signify a neighbourhood with a strong sense of community, and are usually sharply defined on the basis of loyalties (like which households contribute economically to which public or “barowari” puja). An adda involves an informal discussion usually involving friends talking over a bhaar (cup) of tea on current issues. An adda may be viewed as a form of intellectual exchange among members of the same socio-economic strata. It is most popular among the youths belonging to the so-called “middle-class intelligentsia” Graffiti was used not for vandalism, or counterculture art, but mainly for political propaganda. Walls were “captured” for fixed numbers of years, and graffiti over-painting was tantamount to political transgression. Generations of political graffiti artists have been at work on Kolkata’s walls, producing slander, witty banter and limericks, caricatures and propaganda. While Mumbai is the capital of commercial cinemas in India, Kolkata is the house of art-films. The tradition of Jatra is still observed in West Bengal. Jatras are folk-theatres with epic four-hour-long plays featuring loud music, harsh lighting and dramatic props played on giant outdoor stages. The city has a long tradition of commercial theatres and group theatres. As opposed to commercial theatres, group theatres usually do not have any
profit making agenda. Group theatre activists use the proscenium stage to portray some social message. Bengali food is centered on fish. Macher jhol, literally fish in curry gravy, is a watery fish curry available everywhere and goes well with rice, but Bengalis everywhere swear by the hilsa fish (a variant of shad). Hilsa, lightly marinated in mustard and steamed is up there with the best fish dishes in the world. Kolkata is also the home of Indian Chinese food (now making inroads in far-off New York!). Chinese restaurants are everywhere so try the Indian variant of hot and sour soup and the famous Indian Chinese dish of chilly chicken. Bengali sweets are famous all over India. Roshogolla (cheese balls dipped in a sugary syrup), Panthua - a fried variant of the same, Roshomalai- the same cheese balls dipped in creamy sweetened milk, Mishti Doi (sweet yogurt), Shondhesh (several variations available). Durga Puja is the most notable religious and social festival in Kolkata. The festivals of other communities sharing an equal importance epitomize the multi-ethnic culture of Kolkata. The cultural festivals like the Book Fair, Dover Lane Music Festival, Kolkata film Festival and National Theater Festival, which fetch a group of populace belonging to different sects. These festivals unfold the mixed culture off Kolkata Cosmopolitan.
KOLKATA
PROGRAMME
DESIGN
BRAINSTORMING
CREATING GREEN POCKETS INSIDE THE BUILDING
CREATING MICROCLIMATES
SEGREGATING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENTS TO CREATE MORE OPEN/SEMI-OPEN SPACES
A RADIAL ZONING
ZONING
THE PLANNING TRANSLATING INTO PLANS
SECTIONS
SECTIONS
VIEWS
FIN.