Lakshmi Reddy
portfolio selected works
‘21
LAKSHMI CHAITANYA REDDY GANGAMREDDYPALLI
Master in City Planning Candidate (2023) Massachusetts Institute Technology, Cambridge Post Graduate Diploma in Built Environments (2018) Anant Fellowship, Anant National University, Ahmedabad Bachelor of Architecture (2017) School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), New Delhi
Cambridge, Massachusetts +1 (224) 384-5827 lakshmig@mit.edu www.linkedin.com/in/lakshmi-chaitanya-reddy Complete Works: issuu.com/lakshmi.chaitanya
All illustrations and photographs are by the author unless otherwise mentioned.
Academic Studio Projects URBAN FORUM
SPA, 2017
Transit Oriented Development of a Business & Cultural Hub Khanamet, Hyderabad, Telangana
URBAN REDENSIFICATION
Mixed Use Redevelopment
AQUATIC CENTRE
Large Span Structure
SPA, 2016
Sadiq Nagar, New Delhi
SPA, 2015
INA, New Delhi
INCUBATION CENTRE
SPA, 2014
Innovation Hub for a University IIT Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
Academic Research HOUSELESSNESS
Fellowship, 2018
Research + Documentation + Intervention focussing on Ahmedabad’s “Homeless”, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
DELHI INSITES
SPA, 2016
Interim-Design & the Quality of Urban Construction Site Environments, Delhi
EMPLOYMENT & MIGRATION
Expanding Regular Pathways for Employment in the US
LABELLING to LIVABILITY
World Heritage City, Amdavad: The Case of Bhadra Plaza,
HOW AHMEDABAD TRAVELS
Travel Diaries of Marginalized Communities
MIT, 2021
Northern Triangle Countries
Fellowship, 2018
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Fellowship, 2017
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Professional Projects GUJJARS of SURANKOTE Settlement, Dwellings, & Living Heritage of the Gujjar Community INDES, Delhi
Surnakote, Jammu & Kashmir
NEEV
Digital Tool for Resilient Low-Income Housing
mHS CITY LAB, Delhi
India
2019
2020
URBAN FORUM
Thesis, Sem 10_SPA, Jan-May 2017 Khanamet, Hyderabad, India Individual Project
Transit Oriented Development of a Business & Cultural Hub
Guides: Ar. Sambuddha Sen Ar. Anil B. Jain
Site is located in Khanamet, once a suburb of the city of Hyderabad.
SLOPE ANALYSIS
MMTS
Metro
Site
Kukatpally Residential Zone
VOLUMETRIC DISPOSITION Hi-Tech City
National Highway
IT Suburb
SITE & PROJECT
Lower floor volumes determined by slope & contours
••
Site falls near Hyderabad’s renown IT zone, Hi-Tech City.
••
Green field development of crucial spine connecting residential areas to the IT hub.
••
Area lies along a transit corridor connecting the existing local railway (MMTS) to an upcoming metro station.
••
Project develops on a proposal for “Hyderabad Heritage Centre” which aimed to promote heritage, art, and culture.
••
Mixed-use development on the principles of TOD.
Integrated public building in a predominantly private sector, with DESIGN PROPOSAL focus on creating and sustaining active shared spaces. The pro-
Upper floor volumes oriented in N-S direction due to sun-path
Fragmentation of the built in response to site slope & road
ject’s green field nature allows it to be a development model. Public Spaces
AREA PROGRAM
TOD for Placemaking
FAR 1.3
Modern Workplace
Offices, Library, Resource Centre, Convention Facilities, Hotel, Galleries, Auditorium, Restaurants, Food Courts, Club & Fitness Centre, Multipurpose Spaces, Stores, Parking
Site Area COMPONENT 39,600sqm DISTRIBUTION Built Up 53,000sqm
Tactical Urbanism
Hotel Offices Cultural & Convention Centre Parking
12%
VERTICAL ZONING
23%
65%
4
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT Drop off Parking Drop off Drop off
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
PIP U
LA
RO AD
Restriction of vehicles to peripheries allows a dedicated pedestrian zone
HIERARCHY OF GREENS
Courty Plaza
ards
Green Spine Green Spine
Public Edge
STRUCTURE RCC column & beam structure 8.5 x 8.5m grid
Steel bridges
SERVICES
Core Services on lower floors
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HI-TECH CITY MAIN ROAD
Design capitalizes on the natural terrain of the site while preserving the existing rock formations. Built volumes are informed by the topography. Public functions bind the program together. This manifests into networks of greens connecting various built elements - mainly circulation spines and courtyards which culminate in larger gardens. The multipurpose plaza is the focus of the scheme, which can support temporary functions including a food truck park. Parking provided above ground also serves as a multi-use space.
SITE PLAN 1 Office 2 Crèche 3 Terrace Garden 4 Terrace Garden 5 Food Court 6, 7, & 8 Roof-Top Dining 9 Restaurant 10 Kitchen 11 Roof-Top Dining 12 Back Stage 13 Stage 14 Auditorium 15 Lobby 16 VIP Lounge 17 Lobby 18 Miscellaneous Stores 19 Lobby 20 Parking 21 Services 22 Café 23 Food Truck Parking 24 Multipurpose Space 25 Underground Drop-off 26 Banquet Spill Out 27 Drop-off 28 Sculpture Garden 29 Drop-off 30 Entry/Exit 31 Exit 32 Public Space 33 Entry 34 Exit
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Parking
Green Spine
Green Spine Terrace
SECTION AA’
Parking
Balcony
Courtyard
Bridge
SECTION BB’
Terrace
SECTION CC’
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Interconnecting Bridge
Terrace Lounge
Interconnecting Bridge
Pool
FAçADE TREATMENT
GREEN FAçADE Planter
••
South façade.
••
Green façades provide shading and regulate micro-climate
••
Cavity created helps in insulation.
Trellis Service Corridor False Ceiling
LOUVRES ••
East & south façades.
••
Louvres prevent sunlight from penetrating.
••
South face benefits from both louvres and green walls.
TERRACING ••
West façade.
••
Terraces help maintain temperatures.
••
Shading devices also act as t panels.
Louvres
False Ceiling
Shading / Solar Panels Terrace
URBAN REDENSIFICATION
Studio, Sem 09_SPA, Jul-Dec 2016 Sadiq Nagar, New Delhi, India Group of 4
Mixed Use Redevelopment
Guides: Ar. Suneet Mohindru Prof. Aruna Ramani
PROJECT
Ansal Plaza
Delhi’s Masterplan 2021 proposes to increase the population holding capacity of areas within the existing urban limits through redevelopment and redensification of low-density neighbourhoods, like Sadiq Nagar. Mixed-use development strategies are to be adopted to optimise FAR and the use of transportation networks. An area of 19.84 hectares is to be developed in a phased manner with rental housing for government employees, retail and office spaces, and greens. I was responsible for the design and presentation drawings of the residential zone, including the housing units and shared spaces.
Hudco Place
Uday Park g
ar
ti M
st
gu
Au
an Kr
Mandatory Greens
Anand Lok
College
School
Siri Fort Road
Siri Fort Sports Complex
FORM DEVELOPMENT ZONING
Based on the public nature of functions
NETWORK of GREENS
Connecting various functions and the context together
EDGE RESPONSE
Form steps down to the road and low-rise development around
SITE PLAN
1 Convention Centre 2 Offices 3 & 9 OAT 4 & 6 Anchor Store 5 Department Store 7 Retail Mall 8 Bus Stop 9 Restaurant 10 Conveniences 11 RWA Office 12 Banquet Hall 13 Park 14 Govt. Dispensary 15 Primary School 16 Club 17 Services 18 Crèche 19 Library 20 Residential Unit 21 Mandatory Greens
Illustrations on this spread were made in collaboration with group mates. 10
WALKABILITY
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT
POROSITY
••
Pedestrian realm secured in the site’s interiors.
••
••
Porous lower floors allow visual and physical accessibility.
••
Crucial circulation spines culminate in nodes marked by greens.
••
••
Various scales of open make the design further legible.
Vehicles are restricted to the site’s peripheries. Distinct circulation loops separate residential from commercial spaces.
PLAN at +12450 1 Offices 2 Anchor Store 3 Department Store 4 Cafe / Book Store 5 Shops 6 OAT 7 Retail Spine 8 Green Spine 9 Core 10 Courtyard 11 Housing Cluster 12 Park
Residential Park
SECTION AA’ 11
Banquet Hall
Road
Basement
Atrium
Multiplex
Green Spine
Office Courtyard Block
••
Angled balconies and protruding volumes act as shading devices.
••
Bridges connect residential clusters together.
••
Balconies offer views of the commercial complex.
••
These features also help articulate the facade.
••
Central greens are safe and private due to onlooking housing.
••
Terraces cascaded down towards the main road.
HOUSING CLUSTER 1 Living Room 2 Dining Area 3 Bed Room 4 Office / Bed Room 5 Kitchen 6 Servant Quarters 7 Toilet 8 Utility Balcony 9 Core
Type 4
Type 4S
Type 4S
Ansal Plaza Complex
Siri Fort Road
Residential Tower
Banquet Hall
Residential Tower
Type 4
Mandatory Greens
SECTION BB’ 12
AQUATIC CENTRE
Studio, Sem 07_SPA, Jul-Dec 2015 INA, New Delhi, India Individual Project
Large Span Structure
Guides: Prof. Ranjana Mittal Ar. Manish Gulati
The project re-imagines the Thyagaraj Sports Complex site at INA as a space for the development of an aquatic centre aiming to be an icon in Delhi’s built landscape. Besides being self-sufficient, the project is built to act as a driver of local economic growth supported by subsidiary functions designed to activate the edges and invite public life into the site. The aquatic centre’s form is inspired by water’s potential to erode/sculpt. The roof form is designed for efficient drainage and serves as a public space. Large openings in the skin frame the view of the surroundings.
BUILT FORM
Primary Columns
Ring Beam
Seating Supports
SITE PLAN
PRIMARY CONCOURSE
1 Drop-off 2 Visitors’ Lounge 3 Media Lounge 4 Offices 5 Players’ Lounge 6 Player’s Change & Shower 7 Medical Centre 8 VIP Lounge 9 Players’ Recreation 10 Services 11 Diving Pool 12 Competition Pool 13 Warm Up Pool 14 OAT 15 Parking
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SECONDARY CONCOURSE 7
6
6 11
2
SEATING PLAN
Roof Structure
1
2
5
5
3
8
1
12 4
4
2
2
ROOF PLAN
10
9 13
14
14
INCUBATION CENTRE
Studio, Sem 05_SPA, Jul-Dec 2014 IIT Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India Individual Project
Innovation Hub for a University
Guides: Prof. Jaya Kumar Ar. Amit Hajela
The Incubation Centre serves as hub for invention and innovation for the students of the Indian Institute of Technology in Mandi. Built to inspire innovation, the Centre’s form needs little to no cut-and-fill to be realized, using pilotis where necessary. As a result, it does not interfere much with the existing drainage patterns. The central courtyard connects the two blocks while providing a shared green space. The structure is perched on the hill-side and uses the contours of the site to overlook the sprawling campus. It’s articulation in various levels allows the building multiple terraces and breakout areas.
SLOPE ANALYSIS
FIRST FLOOR
8
8
8
7
8 11
10
9
SECTION AA’ SECOND FLOOR
12
11
13
SECTION BB’ ROOF PLAN
3
1
14 11
6
2 3 4
1 Entrance Foyer 2 Auditorium 3 Experience Centre 4 Café 5 Kitchen 6 Administration 7 Entrance
8 Seminar Hall 9 Library 10 Computer Lab 11 Terrace 12 Faculty Rooms 13 Laboratories 14 Solar Terrace
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GROUND FLOOR
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HOUSELESSNESS
Live Action Project, Oct ‘17-Aug ‘18 Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Group of 5
Research + Documentation + Intervention focussing on Ahmedabad’s “Homeless”
Mentor: Ar. Vrushti Mawani
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PROJECT
The project was a year-long change-driven approach to engaging with issues involving “homeless” populations in the urban context of Ahmedabad, in close association with local administrative bodies and community stakeholders. I was responsible for initiating the project and held leadership roles on various occasions. I also managed community outreach and wrote papers on the research. The research inquires into the nature of “homelessness” - what defines it and how it is negotiated on a day-to-day basis. It focusses on the primary concerns of these communities through a process that begins with shelter at its core and culminates on subjects of identity, access to services, and tenure security.
SPATIAL FINDINGS
••
Most pavement-dweller communities settle along wide roads having wide footpaths.
••
Presence of a wall and trees is key for the growth of such a settlement. They help fix tarpaulin shelters, secure belongings, provide shade, and give a sense of place.
••
Public nature of the roads allows visibility and accessibility which is crucial for finding daily wage work and exchange of goods - wares sold by pavement-dwellers and donations made by passers-by.
••
Large empty plots on at least one side of the road is a commonality. They serve sanitation purposes and act as storage spaces, playgrounds, washing areas, and extended living quarters.
UNIT LEVEL PLAN, BODAKDEV
BODAKDEV
Caste Heterogeneous community Occupation Construction workers, bamboo artefacts, rickshaw drivers, vegetable vendors, miscellaneous vendors Shelter Tarpaulin tent Storage Secured to trees and against the wall Shelter Cost 1000 -1500 rupees
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Collaboration with NGOs addressing related issues
PROCESS adopted for the project
Engagement with wH as tool for community immersion
Identification of beneficiaries and distribution of tents
Comfortable in temp. upto 0 °C.
Low cost solution. Affordable all round.
Waterproof outer skin upto 300mm/hour.
Compact, light weight. Fast assembly.
Fits a family of 5, upto 2 adults & 3 children.
Wind stability by using sand/water in frame.
High levels of privacy. Woman friendly.
Designed for appeal & night visibility.
Easy, toolless installation & maintenance.
No ground anchoring. Suitable for cities.
FEATURES of weatherHYDE as per product brochure
SITES around AHMEDABAD
Juna Vadaj Landfill
Bodakdev Ashok IIM University Vatika Road Shakti Bopal Nagar Lake Jhansi ki Rani Prahlad Nagar Pirana
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Naroda
Product is primarily used for recreation (at 24,000 rupees), and is made available at subsidized prices to the urban “homeless” in India. To better understand “homelessness”, tents were distributed among identified beneficiaries around Ahmedabad. Following observations are based on our experience & community feedback: ••
Of the 16 distributed, only one was used until damaged by dogs.
••
Lack of supplied frame discouraged potential buyers.
••
Possibility of eviction was the biggest disadvantage.
••
Failure can also be attributed to the small size.
••
Visibility of the aesthetic perceived as problematic.
••
Closed nature hinders visual access, hence the feeling of safety.
••
Ahmedabad winters not extreme enough.
••
Tent seen more as a commodity for exchange by the users.
Critical analysis of product and reassessing role of shelter
Demographic mapping and documentation of communities
Key learnings and deliberation on possible interventions
DEMOGRAPHIC MAPPING
KEY LEARNINGS
SHAKTI NAGAR
Caste Occupation Shelter Storage Shelter Cost
Surveys and introduction of Common Service Centre to site
Koli Patel Construction work Temporary vaulted tent Inside tents Around 2000 rupees
••
“Homeless” is a misleading term. Most participants in the research have a strong sense of belonging and home.
••
Some have spent entire lives in the same locality (40-60 years). Contrary to popular opinion, these populations do not migrate frequently. Some move seasonally between city and village, but always return to the same place.
••
Shelter need not be a prerequisite for a home. A more apt term would be “pavement-dwellers” or “houseless”, not “homeless”.
••
It is impossible to engage with the problem of lack of shelter, without addressing the many complexities surrounding houselessness.
••
Priorities include: ACCESS to SERVICES
TENURE SECURITY
RECOGNITION
INTERVENTION
Benefits of documentation:
Common Service Center is an ICT access point providing services and information to India’s underserved (under National eGovernance Project). PANAH Foundation operates a mobile CSC unit. Documentation (AADHAR & PAN) was provided to families at Bodakdev with their help.
LIVELIHOOD
Work | Daily Wagers
SENSE OF SECURITY
Authorities | Eviction
ACCESS to SERVICES Health | Ration | Housing Recognition | Proof IDENTITY
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DELHI INSITES
Seminar, Sem 09_SPA, Jul-Nov 2016 Delhi, India Group of 5
Interim-Design & the Quality of Urban Construction Site Environments
Guides: Ar. DV Nathan Prof. Ranjana Mittal Presented at AHRA International Conference, Eindhoven, Nov 2018 Published in City Observer, Dec 2018
Delhi is a site of frantic urbanisation and extensive construction activity. Urban dwellers interact directly or indirectly with construction sites on a daily basis. The plenitude and protracted periods of construction inspire the discussion in the research – viewing construction sites as interim environments, complex micro-urbanities created and sustained by stakeholders and their interactions. As the city adjusts and makes way for development, these interim spaces of destruction, disruption, and creation act as a stage for everyday democracies to play out. Through the help of case studies around Delhi, the potential of a site during construction in affecting the conditions inside and outside its boundaries is explored. In the process, the study questions the common practice of considering construction sites, especially largescale ones, as transient given their deep and prolonged effects on the surroundings, the environment, and the people in contact. There is an attempt to understand where site environment falls in the priorities of the many stakeholders, and what kind of incentives and efforts work in the favour of maintaining better sites. The research deliberates the role and potential of various actors in creating healthier and more nurturing site environments. STAKEHOLDERS of a CONSTRUCTION SITE Workers Site Managers/ Engineers
Commerce around site
Client/ Developer
Residents around site
Architect
Neighbourhood Environment
Builders/ Contractors
Pedestrian traffic
Urban Governing Authorities
Vehicular traffic
Tourists/ Visitors to neighbourhood
Natural Environment City as a whole Illustrations on this page were made in collaboration with group mates.
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EMPLOYMENT & MIGRATION
Data Vis, Sem 01_MIT, Sep-Dec 2021 Northern Triangle Countries Group of 2
Expanding Regular Pathways for Employment in the US
Guide: Ar. Sarah Williams with MPI and WFP
The class focussed on data visualization as a way for architects, planners and policy experts to communicate with the public. We worked with big data on Python, D3, and other web-based visualization software to clean, aggregate, and produce interactive graphics that expose urban issues.
INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATIONS Made using data from WFP Migration Survey 2021
In coordination with the World Food Program and the Migration Policy Institute, the project looks at migration from the Northern Triangle Countries to the United States with a focus on employment. The webpage supports attempts at shape rather than deter migration by mapping employment patterns alongside migration trends. The visualizations inform efforts for predictable, legal migration pathways through the creation of mutually beneficial labour mobility channels between the origin and destination countries. Access the webpage here: bigdata/employment&migration
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LABELLING to LIVABILITY
Research, Fellowship, Jun 2018 Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Project Lead in Group of 3
World Heritage City, Amdavad: The Case of Bhadra Plaza
Mentor: Dr. Amareswar Galla Presented at ICOMOS India West Zone Conference, Ahmedabad, Jun 2018
Ahmedabad was declared a World Heritage City a year ago. The Walled City area with a history of over 600 years is home to approximately 4 lakh people living in centuries old wooden residences in pols. It is a trade and commerce hub supporting many shopkeepers, street vendors, and hawkers. It is living heritage with tangible and intangible facets. How does the celebrated World Heritage status impact the lives of the people living and working in the area? Bhadra Plaza is the historic core around which the walled city developed into its present urban form. Its evolution allows an opportunity to enquire into the nature of development that the commercial hub underwent due to fast paced urbanization. How has the WHC status informed this growth?
Perspectives on
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Local communities have not reaped the benefits accompanied with WHC status. Re-development of the plaza had adverse effects on efficiency of the environment. Congestion is an issue described by all users, and is common to most of the walled city.
for Sustainable Heritage Development
Disjunction between what the label means to different stakeholders.
OPPORTUNITIES
Observations
World Heritage Status
PPP model while bringing people into the process of heritage conservation and development. Fostering ownership by all users. Development focused on community well-being, sustainable growth and responsible tourism. Better implementation of designs and policies. Operation and maintenance are crucial. Pedestrianization, efficient traffic management, regularizing vendors, and better streetscaping.
HOW AHMEDABAD TRAVELS
Research, Fellowship, Dec 2017 Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Group of 2
Travel Diaries of Marginalized Communities
Mentor: Ar. Sonal Shah
The project was part of a wider research which explored how various marginalized groups navigated Ahmedabad, and how inclusive urban transport was in order to envision a ‘transit-oriented city’. I was responsible for the interviews and presentation.
FEMALE CONSTRUCTION WORKER
Gauri is a 35 year old daily wage labourer in the city of Ahmedabad. A migrant from Rajasthan, she has been living in the city for over 10 years with her husband and 11 year old daughter.
TYPICAL WORK DAY TYPICAL DAY when NO WORK is found 7:30 AM
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
11:15 AM - 8:00 PM
12:45 PM
Walk to labour chowk with daughter & husband.
Wait for work at labour chowk with other women.
Contractor hires auto to & from work with 6-7 others.
Work in construction site for 300 - 750 rupees per day.
On the way back home when no work is found.
TRANSGENDER WOMAN
Zoya is a 33 year old kinnar from Hijga near Prem Darwaja in Ahmedabad. She lives with her family and earns her living by soliciting on trains.
8:30 AM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Travelling Long Distances
Leisure Outdoor Activity
Leisure Travel
Walk to & from Kalupur Railway Station for work.
Solicit on train to Surendranagar.
Scooter for travel at times. Never the bus.
Solicit at the Sabarmati riverfront.
Hire auto for 300 rupees/ day to travel in a group 24
GUJJARS of SURANKOTE
Research Project, Jun ‘19-Jan ‘20 Surankote, Jammu & Kashmir, India Project Lead at INDES
Settlement, Dwellings, and Living Heritage of the Gujjar Community
Investigating Design (INDES), Delhi Mentor: Prof. Parul Kiri Roy
The project focuses on the Gujjar community, and aims to research and document their dwellings and settlements (both summer and winter), as well as the cultural heritage and the everyday design in their lives. The research studies the movement of this nomadic group and how this movement impacts their architecture and attitude towards building. It contextualizes their lifestyle in the contemporary times and extrapolates along the topics of permanence in architecture and sustainability. It tracks how economic and social systems evolved in keeping up with “development”. Work is currently underway on a book which compiles this research.
PROJECT
The Gujjar community in Jammu’s Poonch region is a traditionally nomadic pastoral group that migrates every summer from Jammu towards Kashmir’s Pir Panjal mountain range. However, in efforts to adapt to contemporary times they are swiftly shedding their nomadic roots. This generational shift and lack of prior research on these populations through an architectural lens is what inspires the project’s aim – to study and document the cultural heritage abound in this community’s lifestyle. The focus is primarily on their various transitory and permanent dwellings which are realized as the embodiment of indigenous knowledge, both in their architecture and their role as a stage for enacting daily life.
PROCESS
For the field work, a team of eight, including myself and seven other researchers, spent three weeks in a remote village called Marhote in Surankote, a tehsil in Poonch district, which is where the study is situated. We lived with members of the society under consideration and were based out of one of the dwellings being studied. With the help of local stakeholders and benefactors, we navigated mountains and streams in efforts to document the people, their houses, their settlements, and their stories. As the Project Lead, I was responsible for the supervision and management of the team and their work on site, besides engaging in research and data collection myself. I currently lead the efforts in turning this research into a publication by structuring, editing, and authoring content, while also designing the book.
Retaining Wall
Extended Cattle Room
Kitchen
Living Space / Kitchen
Cattle Room
Sleeping Space / Storage
Wall Hive
PLAN
Dedhar Household
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DWELLING
Many traditions of the Gujjar community, in the form of customs, artefacts, and spaces have continued to thrive well into the present day. They were protected from mainstream culture due to their remote and migratory nature. However, some traditions appear as relics or mere ghosts of the past, finding ways to stay alive in tales. The dwelling plays an important role as a site of accumulation of history, as an object in space that is a manifestation of vernacular ways of life, while at the same time housing everyday objects and practices, each with its own life. The vernacular architecture in the region creates and sustains a habitat suitable for multiple species to co-exist in the same dwelling – buffaloes, goats, and even honey-bees in some cases. The symbiotic relationship forged between the family and their livestock is key to their sustenance.
PLAN & ELEVATION
Choudhary Household
Drawings on this page were made in collaboration with fellow researchers. 27
ADAPTATION
The village of Marhote has one motor-able road that snakes uphill along the sparsely populated mountain side until it gives way to a dirt path which is gradually being covered in asphalt. This road is the primary way to transport services and construction material to otherwise remote areas. The penetration of this road directs the way in which “development” reaches this remote settlement. It has become the agent of radical transformation in the lives of the marginalized people, altering the built aesthetic, and endangering tangible and intangible heritage. Many families in the region continue to stay faithful to the pastoral way to life. However, this is likely to change in the coming years.
Chattu, a stone covering the chimney’s opening, is closed to trap heat inside when needed. Rammed earth, seekhar, forms the waterproofing layer of the roof. Mud plaster, khaan, covers the chimney surfaces.
Branches of kainthi and guch, and pine needles are packed on tertiary wooden members called gandey to hinder rodent and termite activity.
Secondary beams are made of tung, pine wood.
Windows and frames are made with the wood of Himalayan yew, burmi. Chimneys in walls replace the traditional kind in roofs which are harder to maintain.
Bukhari is the covering over the hearth which is usually decorated with paintings.
WALL SECTION
Choudhary Household
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NEEV
Development/Pilot, Feb ‘20-Aug ‘21 Multiple Locations in India Project Coordinator/Educator
Digital Tool for Resilient Low-Income Housing
mHS CITY LAB, Delhi Mentor: Ar. Marco Ferrario
NEEV is a digital project management solution specifically designed to help lending institutions, masons/contractors, training programs, post-disaster agencies, and other stakeholders working to improve construction quality and access to housing loans in informal settlements. NEEV is developed by mHS CITY LAB, a think-tank and implementing organization with a human-centred design approach. The organization designs and pilots innovative scalable solutions to foster the development of resilient and inclusive cities. Access the tool here: neev.cloud More project details can be found here: web.neev.cloud | mhscitylab.org
FEATURES of NEEV Accurate Project Estimates & BOQs Uses a wide engineering database and location specific material & labour rates. Customer Relationship Management Manages project and beneficiary data, as well as agents and locations. Customized Construction Manual Produces project specific construction guidelines with structural information. Project Tracking Allows monitoring of quality, progress, and expenses during construction. Analytics Data collected can be used to generate comprehensive analytics on NEEV. 29
PROJECT
NEEV bridges the knowledge and information gap between low-income communities and professional construction technicians by offering on-demand access to accurate engineering data, customized building manual and instructions, skilled labour training information, and financial planning tools. It facilitates transparency between homeowners and construction professionals/funders.
ISSUES ADDRESSED
HOME OWNERS
Limited access to formal finance to upgrade or build. • Poor planning & overspending. • Risk of unfinished home with compromised quality & safety. • Difficult to access professional planning & construction help. •
PROCESS
CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL
LENDING INSTITUTIONS •
Door-to-door technical assessment & assistance costly. • Uncertainty over funds’ usage. • Difficult to monitor costs. • Difficult to monitor quality at scale & find committed professionals (architects/engineers).
•
Informal sector workforce usually have limited formal training opportunities. • Lack of awareness on seismic construction standards. • Work depends on thumb-rules and learning by doing.
To catalyse access to good quality, safe, affordable housing, NEEV makes housing & sanitation construction information universally available & easy to use. Besides direct use by homeowners, masons, contractors, and vendors, beneficiaries are reached through financial agencies offering home loans. Pre COVID-19, I was piloting the tool with an NGO in Ahmedabad. Remote work, on my part, has involved refining the estimation algorithm, developing features like the construction manual, liaising with MFIs, banks, & NGOs while training their agents to use NEEV, and supervising the pilot efforts.
Breakup shown for structure and finishing as well as per floor.
Construction Status allows tracking project progress & expenses.
Project-specific graphics generated using BIM software.
Building in risk prone areas prompts guidelines for best practices.
GPS coordinates can be mapped for all projects.
NEEV SCREENS
Estimate & BOQ, Project Tracking, & Manual 30