Humanitarian Design Internship
Molly D’Arcy 913230 Maya Nettlefold 997195 Hannah Rule 996630 Marissa Samrai 1003391
Subject Outline
The Humanitarian Design Internship provides an opportunity for students to develop a deeper understanding of the role design can play in creating positive change within communities. Students will travel to India for 2 weeks where they will have first-hand experience working in culturally different and high-pressure situations. Students will meet with communities to learn about community development and undertake a team design project in conjunction with Indian community partners. Emphasis is placed on incorporating local design knowledge in the design process with respect to environmental, economic and social impacts in a humanitarian context. Much of the benefit of interning comes from observation, practicing under supervision and reflection. Work Integrated Learning, or interning, is an excellent way to broaden your learning environment while you are studying. It allows you to see first-hand how what you are learning in your degree translates into practice, as well as how ‘real world’ practice relates to what you are learning at University. During the course of the internship, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have: Observed, analysed and reflected on culturally sensitive project management; Observed, analysed and reflected on the incorporation of local knowledge in the design of humanitarian support; Observed, analysed, practiced and reflected on cross-cultural communication skills; Gained an understanding of ethical decision making in the delivery of humanitarian support; and Gained an understanding of the role of design in community level development. Sourced from : (The University of Melbourne, 2019)
Group Members Molly D’Arcy Architecture Major
Maya Nettlefold Landscape Architecture Major, Architecture Minor
Hannah Rule Urban Planning Major
Marissa Samrai Architecture Major, Urban Planning Minor
Laurie Baker Centre Reflection
The Laurie Baker Centre proved to be an exceptional, once in a lifetime opportunity for all. Before arriving there we had little knowledge of what was instore for us. Many people were dreading working hard long days under the hot sun, while others were excited for the challenge. The organised timetable during our five day stay allowed us to balance our time between outdoor and indoor activities, which was very much appreciated. The first thing that struck us while completing our hands-on activities was the sheer amount of precision and hard work that each tradesman had for any task big or small. By simply watching them work, and having a small go ourselves, it became apparent that they had so much pride for the work they did. As a result of their attention to detail, we also had to ensure each step we made was perfect, or else we would be asked to do it again. Although harsh, this teaching method enabled us to gain a deeper appreciation for the work of these tradesmen. Learning in a hands-on classroom enabled us to pick up the crafts quicker and easier than if we were sitting down studying theory. By the end of the five days we had learnt the basic introduction to a variety of trades including: Brick Laying; Walls and Arches Mud Brick making Mud Brick Wall Construction Adobe Block Making Bamboo Construction Slab Construction Along with hand-on classroom activities, we also participated in a variety of lectures, where guest speakers presented their opinions, knowledge and experience on various topics including; Green Habitats, Cost-Effective Construction Technology and Climate Responsive Architecture. Such presentations were extremely invigorating and provided an insight into the various issues surrounding the built environment of modern day India. During the two weeks post Laurie Baker Centre, our group made a conscious effort to enforce and variety of Bakers key values and principles into our design work, because of their correlation to humanitarian design in India. The idea of low cost housing, raw materiality and local resource are three chosen ideas inspired by Baker, that run throughout our design intervention.
Design Intervention
Community Composting Intergrated
A. Understanding the challenges ................................................................
Page
Demonstrated ability to observation of the context Demonstrated ability to gather and analyse relevant information Demonstrated ability to identify potential areas of design intervention
B. Idea selection ........................................................................................
Page
Ability to identify the target segment Ability to design a clear and concise problem statement Ability to develop a contextual design brief
C. Designing the solution ..........................................................................
Page
Ability to critically review existing solutions to the problem Ability to create a unique value proposition to the design solution Validity of the proposed solution Clarity of presentation of the problem and solution Ability to explain the design solution through clear and detailed drawings and model
Context Maps : India
INDIA
ANDHRA PRADESH STATE Andhra Pradesh
KRISHNA DISTRICT Kesarapalli
Krishna
Vijayawada
Part A : Understanding the Challenges
In order to understand the challenges, we must first observe and analyse the context in which the design intervention must fit. In total, all the students explored and observed three different sites in various stages of urbanisation. From these three, we were then asked to choose one site to work on for the remainder of the assignment.
SITE NUMBER ONE: Tarak Ramnagar Tarak Ramnagar is an urban slum located in a central position on the outskirts of the city (Tarakarama Nagar, 2020). This slum is a small geographical area, but high in density (Tarakarama Nagar, 2020). There is a variety of modern multi-storey concrete structures bordering the main road, with a sense of busy lifestyle in the area, represented through the variety of colours, animals, people and shop vendors. There are three different religions followed in the urban slums, along with a collection of cultural drawings noticed on the grounds outside peoples homes with coloured chalk. Further into the slums, there is a change from the high density buildings into smaller shelters made from local materials. This space is located on the river banks edge, prone to flooding during the wet season as well as being vulnerable to health issues. SITE NUMBER TWO: Jakkulanekkalam Jakkulanekkalam is located 18km outside of Vijyawada, with a total population of around 800 people (Jakkulanakkalam, 2020). The local population is living across about 250 households over the 332 hectares of total land area (Jakkulanakkalam, 2020). This village is in more of a rural zone, being situated among the rice and sugarcane fields. Fresh drinking water is provided via the water tanks maintained by the government. The village also has a water stream where children can play and animals can drink water. There are a variety of different houses ranging from colourful concrete structures or vernacular style homes. New raised concrete roads had recently been constructed, which improves the accessibility around the village, as well as improving the drainage systems.
CHOSEN VILLAGE ANALYSIS SITE NUMBER THREE: Kesarapalle Kesarapalle is a Village in Gannavaram Mandal, in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh State, India (Kesarapalle, 2020). Kesarapalle has a total land area of 1,770 hectares, with a population of 9,076 people; in which 4,586 are female and the remaining 4,490 being male (Kesarapalle,2020). The total number of households is 2,384, with 57% of these house typologies being built in a Pucca style which is constructed using bricks (Kesarapalle,2020). Whereas, 31% are semi-Pucca and the remaining 12% are Kutcha style which consists of predominantly mud causing these particular homes to be very vulnerable during floods (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). However, Only 66% of these people actually own their homes (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). Kesarapalle is considered a primary agriculture-based village; due to its prime location beside the national highway, gaining attention from potential developers. Due to the villages valuable location; there is constant pressure due to the increase in urbanisation within the area and its surroundings. This urban sprawl has already led to a large increase in Kesarapalle’s population and development, and is only expected to grow further over time. This village holds a diverse range of socio-economic groups in terms of social classes, financial incomes and religious groups. Almost half of the villagers are living on under 50 cents per day; with 54% of kesapelli’s population living above the poverty line, whilst 46% are living below the poverty line (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). The climate in Kesarapalle is tropical, with annual temperatures ranging between 23-34 degrees celsius. The higher temperatures can reach 40 degrees during May whilst cooler temperatures are during December and January. The average rainfall is received from the south-west and north-east monsoons, collecting an average annual rainfall of 977.9mm. The majority of the population of Kesarapalle gain access to electricity as its a common necessity for locals, with only 1% of villagers left with no access to electricity (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). The most common household appliances are Televisions with 34% of the population owning one, following the 33% who have fans, 20% with fridges and only 6% having air conditioning (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). There are a variety of 9 different primary and middle schools across Kesarapalle, either run by the government or privately. Unfortunately there are no secondary, senior or college schools available in the village, therefore students require transport to other higher educational facilities in nearby cities such as Vijawada. Kesarapalle has no healthcare facilities, although there are 2 hospitals in the neighbouring village (Gannavaram) or the Government General Hospital (GGH) which is located 15km away in Vijayawada along with other amenities (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). This raises issues involving the accessibility to local healthcare facilities, and the need to travel to nearby villages for any health-issue related requirements.
The village benefits from its central position, with access to a selection of small locally run shops along the mainroad, as well as the Gram Panchayat government office. More common semi-public/public facilities are 5-10km away, whilst the Vijayawada airport is only 2.5km away (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). The existing road network consists of 8km with surface across the village increasing the convenience and accessibility to the village, and 6.5km of other minor roads and paths that spread to the more rural areas in the village (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). The local transportation consists of both public and private bus services, including a railway station available within a 5km radius (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). This offers the local residents with public transport to help reduce traffic congestion and reduce travelling costs of personal vehicles. Shared community spaces currently include the community hall and Anganwadi; which is a type of rural child care centre in India (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). There are a variety of different religious groups and temples in the village, the most common religion is Hinduism with 85% of the population following this religion, along with other religions including Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism (Cultural India, 2020). There are also multiple languages spoken in the area, but the Predominant language spoken is Telugu (Cultural India, 2020). Amenities in Kesarapalle include street lights which provide a sense of safety, security, comfort and ease of movement for locals at nighttime. There is also a local milk co-operation, allowing easy access to dairy products which have been handled appropriately and available at a reliable price (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). The sports ground increases the tourism industry in the area as well as providing local entertainment (Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides, 2020). There is also a local post office which is very convenient for villagers and saves travelling costs.
COMMUNITY MEETING We were fortunate enough to be a part of the local community meeting, also known as Grama Sabha, which in turn provided further insights into this village in which we were researching. The Kesarapalle Village Grama Sabha highlights a “grass root level democratic institution” that is “essential for the effective functioning of village” whilst “promoting transparency and accountability in administration, enhancing public participation in the planning and implementation of schemes… [and] paving the way for social audit.” (Kesarapalle, 2020). During the Kesarapalle Village Grama Sabha, the locals indicated that there is currently no garbage collection system in place, leading to unsanitary conditions for the village (Kesarapalle, 2020). There is also no sewerage networks or appropriate drainage, which can become severe during wet seasons causing flooding and waterlogging on roads. The poor road conditions have also caused common road accidents over the past.
Context Maps : Kesarapalle
Kesarapalli
da
wa ijay
15.5
km
V
STUDY AREA
N
Legend Built Forms Residential Public/Semi-Public Roads Vacant Land Agriculture Commercial Water Bodies Foliage Current Rubbish Site
da
wa
y Vija
15.5
km
Kesarapalli Cheruvu Lake
Water Purification Tanks
STUDY AREA
Library
N
Gram Panchayat Lord Shiva Office Kesarapalli Temple
Site Visit Images
SITE VISITS VISIT NO. 1
28/01/20
Our first site visit took part from 11am-1pm. At the time of this site visit we had little prior knowledge of this particular village apart from the fact that it was soon to become a town and in the process of being engulfed by the city. The current SPA students were working with the area to assist with development plans: organic farming, waste management, basic amenities, sustainable energy and industries livelihood. This village had a heavy reliance on agriculture for income and food supply and had a current need for technology, innovative thoughts and sustainability. There was an evident lack of sanitation and there were problems with drinking water. The lack of funds and lack of infrastructure were observations and also opinions that local residents expressed to us. Open drainage is also an issue as overflow of drains from rain was common during the wet season. There was no evidence of recycling, plans for a dumping yard, as burning of all rubbish including plastic was common, however according to the villagers there is a conscious aim to reduce plastic usage. There was also a case of various deaths related to the open drains that resulted in a spread of Dengue fever, such fatalities can be caused by a lack of knowledge on the disease.
SITE VISITS VISIT NO. 2
29/01/20
The second site visit took place between 11:30-12:30 on the 29th of January. During this time, the main street was relatively busy building up to lunch time, whilst many locals were beginning to gather and interact in the open public space in front of the shops. We also had the opportunity to meet an elderly woman who was born and raised in Kesarapalle, where she has witnessed the urbanisation in and around the village. After this, we visited a small school of around 10-15 children aged between 3-5. We noticed a small garden in the school containing a variety of plants, providing fruit and vegetables for both children and local pregnant women. The female teacher who led us through the small school, also shared her passion of women empowerment with us, by encouraging local women’s health and safety. This was achieved by creating a small women’s group, consisting of common meetings and sharing any concerns through online messages. This movement was introduced after recent reports of sexual assaults and attacks, some of which have led to death. The aim of this group is to increase awareness, strength, safety and comfort of women living in Kesarapalle.
SITE VISITS VISIT NO.3
31/01/20
The third visit to Kesarapalle took place on Friday 31st January, between 10-11am. We conducted this visit with the aim to gain a better understanding of the site location within the village, note further observations such as the use of this space and to obtain further images of the site and any waste that had been dumped. From observation of the site where the final design has been based, 4 people were making use of the benches located next to the lake, 3 men were sitting on the steps and 2 young boys were walking along the lake track. People making use of this space were either discussing in groups or sitting individually for leisure. A significant amount of organic waste (fruit and vegetables) was found amongst piles of rubbish in the area. It was surprising to note that much of this rubbish was located within close proximity to the village water supply. It is clear to see that this area is a communal space for community, a place for people to meet and discuss or simply just to relax and take a walk.
ISSUE SELECTION Individually within our group we decided to brainstorm in isolation to gain a thorough insight into which topics and issues we were most passionate about. Sanitation was an area initially researched as toilet facilities are limited and drainage is also an issue. When visiting Kesarapalle, a discussion with several locals found that proper health care education was a major issue. Health care education stood out to us as Dengue Fever had caused several recent deaths within the village due to the lack of knowledge residents had on such diseases. We heard from the locals that there were issues with drinking water security during the summer months. While they did have a tank within the village, this was not always enough for their needs, which presents the obvious problem of safe, clean drinking water. In addition to this, the lack of a public space, for women, men and children alike was lacking, which was identified by the village itself in the previously mentioned community meeting. Apart from the council building there was little evidence of a place where large numbers of villagers could come together to discuss issues or even celebrate a festival. It was encouraging however to see that the main lake was kept very clean and was well maintained in order to invite people to exercise and perform in leisure activities. The other area of interest was community interaction. As the villages continue to face urban sprawl, we were particularly interested in how rural aspects and traditions of the villages could be maintained over time. Further analysis would be required to take place here in order to fully and accurately research how the village has transformed from its traditional sense. During the site visit it was apparent that waste management was a serious issue; after witnessing the state of the blocked drains and scattered rubbish along the roads. This is not only an issue in Kesarapalle but all throughout India. Waste management is an important issue to focus on by improving sanitation and hygiene of the local community. General waste and recycling were not being separated. Many of the sites we visited also did not have a landfill site within close proximity or a formal waste collection system. Drainage was also an issue noticed within the village, as flooding is prone in the area, causing an increase in bacteria with a risk of health issues and potential of damaging their home. Some more alternative and ambitious issues that we had previously discussed included self assembly housing, production of alternative building materials or a multifuncional amenities unit for use within a small home.
Mind Map: Issue Selection
RESEARCH: WASTE DISPOSAL The issue that we decided to act on was waste management, as we were all the most passionate about the topic and believed we could design something meaningful. Scope to the issue: 62 million tonnes in India, less than 60% is collected Includes organic, dry and biomedical- not segregated in Kesarapalle, thus recycling, composting or other methods can’t be undertakes 60-75% of this is organic waste Each year, India is generating more than 62 million tons of waste and less than 60% is collected (Swaminathan, 2018). The waste which is produced can be split into three categories: organic waste, dry waste and biomedical (sanitary and hazardous) waste. In 2015-16, the city of Vijayawada produced around 550 tons of solid waste daily (Vijayawada Municipal Corporationm, 2018). Of the total waste produced in India, between 60-75% of the total waste is thought to be organic. Segregating the organic waste is important as if this waste were to be better utilised it could serve as a food source or manure for agriculture. The Observations and Prior Knowledge regarding waste management are as follows: One of the areas that SPAV is currently trying to address through their development plans with Kesarapalle is waste management There is no recycling within village, rubbish is currently burnt or piles up No formal waste collection system Plans for a dumping site within proximity to the village The Different Aspects of Waste Issues include: No form of segregation is taking place (recycling, dry and wet waste are all mixed) Minimising the use of plastic as observed around Vijayawada Burning of waste leading to air pollution Lack of dumping sites and waste collection resulting in rubbish being dumped in lakes, rivers and roadside
RESEARCH: PREJUDICE OF WASTE DUMPING AREAS Areas of waste dumping are often viewed as wasted space or areas to be avoided. These areas are often associated with being visually unappealing, producing bad odours and unsafe.Areas of open dumping observed in Kesarapalle consume considerable amount of unused land which could be better utilised by the community such as open space for a park/playground. Waste dumping areas particularly those which are burnt, impose health issues to humans as well as animals which can often be observed among the piles of rubbish. As no formal waste collection system is in place within the village and no dumping site is available, all rubbish dumped remains in the space resulting in large piles. A significant amount of rubbish was observed within close proximity to the village’s water supply tanks. Current policies/laws surrounding waste dumping/littering in India are believed to be weak and ineffective as the current maximum fine for littering is Rs. 500 if people are caught. The Environment Protection Act 1986 also does not strictly address littering/open dumping, instead only the protection of the human environment and hazards to human beings are mentioned (Bajpai, 2019).
RESEARCH: EXISTING SOLUTIONS The Existing Solutions we researched include the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) who are responsible for implementing programs and maintenance of the city. A few of the areas which the civic body are responsible for include sewerage, underground drainage, protection programs for the environment, recycling and road maintenance (Weston, 2019). In 2017, VMC introduced an electric vehicle waste disposal system which operates in some areas of the city and within the past few weeks, VMC have also been responsible for providing over 100 hotels and restaurants in Vijayawada with home compost kits (Weston, 2019). As a country, India has implemented a ban on importing wasted plastic in order to close the gap between recycling capacity and waste generation. The country is also committed to phasing out all single use plastic by 2022 plastic bags (Weston, 2019).
Site Visit Sketches
RESEARCH: RACCHA BANDA As a result of a desire to incorporate traditional cultural technologies, we decided to research the Racchabanda and its influence in a community space. The term Racchabanda or Chaupal refers to a meeting spot, which can often be identified in rural Indian communities (MindMeeting, 2016). It is often a space shaded by a large tree and surrounded by a stone bench or higher platform. The meeting space is often a place for public discussions, or where any matters can be resolved (MindMeeting, 2016).
RESEARCH: IMPACT OF URBANISATION The Impact of Urbanisation on the village is crucial for the design interventions’ nature and interaction with community. The village is currently in the process of being engulfed by the city due to rapid population growth and urbanisation, resulting in urban sprawl. Urban sprawl occurs when development is dispersed along highways and rural areas leading to changes in land use and land cover of an area (Energy and Wetlands Research Group, 2019). As the population increases over time, the city and its boundary expands as a result of this growth. Urbanisation will negatively impact upon the village of Kesarapalle due to the heavy reliance on agriculture as a source of income and food supply. It is likely that urbanisation will impact upon the rural traditions/cultural aspects of the community as well as environmental impacts such as pollution. Not only is this affecting the village of Kesarapalle but urbanisation is a common issue faced by many rural villages of similar demographics across India and worldwide. Our aim is to produce an intervention that eliminates such negative impacts of urbanisation and actively promotes the traditional village lifestyle that would otherwise be lost.
Part B : Idea Selection
DESIGN BRIEF TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC The people of Kesarapalle. Kesarapalle is a rural village which is being consumed by urbanisation. As has been observed in other Indian villages, a casualty of urbanisation in these contexts tend to be the open community spaces, known as Racha Banda in this state. Thus, the design must be catered to the low-income residents of the village, with a high level of equality and accessibility across all residents. PROBLEM STATEMENT To address the issue of waste management through focusing on food waste, while also tackling the underlying prejudice that rubbish disposal areas are anti-social and undesirable spaces.
DESIGN SPECIFICATION The task is to reinstate a community centre within the heart of Kesarapalle, incorporating composting mechanisms, in order to reshape the perception of a rubbish ‘dumping ground,’ observed in the town itself. - The allocated space in 65.5m2 - Composting and community infrastructure must not hinder each other, but create a welcoming and equitable space and bolster each other in their functions (this includes the smell, functioning and general prejudices of waste disposal areas) - The built form must adhere to traditional Racha Banda typologies of the area, namely stone construction, with a shelter or tree acting as cover. - There must be seating space for smaller-scale interactions and space to grow plants (either edible or non-edible). - The design must be universal and accessible to all users (regardless of age, gender or level of ability - Materials and construction methods must be familiar and accessible to people of Kesarapalle, thus allow materials to be sourced regionally and local tradesmen to be employed during construction - These materials must be renewable and, where possible, recycled for minimal costs and the greatest sustainability possible. - The costs of the design must be manageable, from construction to maintenance and use. - The security of visitors is of utmost importance, thus the design should provide these people with a sense of security and ownership over the space. CONSTRAINTS - Money: the design must be as low-cost as possible - Space: the whole design is to fit within 65.5m2 - Culture: the design must pay homage to traditional Racha Banda forms and the nature of social gatherings in the village - Ease of operation: for the longevity of the design, it should not be overly complex or technical, thus allowing the people to operate it themselves. - Prejudices: the preconceived notions of waste disposal areas - Odour of decomposing waste
LAKE
STAIRS TO RAISED WALKWAY
DIRT PATHWAY (RAISED)
PAVED PATHWAY (RAISED)
STONE RETAINING WALL
EXISTING PLATFORM Legend Built Forms Residential Public/Semi-Public Roads
N
Vacant Land
EXISTING METAL FENCE
STREET (NO DISTINCT PATHWAY)
Agriculture Commercial Water Bodies Foliage Current Rubbish Site
da
ywa
Vija
15.5
km
Kesarapalli Cheruvu Lake
Water Purification Tanks
STUDY AREA
Library
N
Gram Panchayat Lord Shiva Office Kesarapalli Temple
Site Selection: Exisiting Site
LAKE
EXISTING METAL FENCE
EXISTING PLATFORM
STAIRS TO RAISED WALKWAY
STONE RETAINING WALL
DIRT PATHWAY (RAISED)
SITE SELECTION After laying out the design brief, we decided that the chosen location would be the best fit for all of the requirements. The location of the open community space is next to the central lake, which is not only aesthetic in this natural environment but is a better design location in an intrinsic part of the traditional village. Having a community space next to a local attraction enhances the likelihood of attracting people to the space. Furthermore, from our observations, it was evident that the site that we have selected is already a popular spot for locals to sit and converse, being the main reason why this site was selected. Such gravitation was witnessed during all three site visits where locals would gather around lunchtime to socialise and interact with each other, it should be noted however that most of these locals were males. This communal area is central to churches, shops, public transport, government buildings and religious temples. As a result of urbanisation there has been a loss of communal space, resulting in unplanned community gathering locations. Not only will this location geographically represent the centre of this village but also aims to change the notion of antisocial waste land spaces. Through creating a communal space in this chosen site, it will influence the perception of a waste greater as more people will notice it and ultimately interact with it. We, as a team, believe that this site selection also reflects the desires of the intervention, meaning that the the intervention requires a platform to engage with the general public, while, the site selected enables the public to engage through its geographical location. As discussed in the research section, the Racchabanda is a traditional form that we would like to incorporate into the design. A Racchabanda is a raised platform located in a central position of the village that enables communities to gather in an informal way to make political decisions and discuss current issues. This platform is also critical to our design because it traditionally surrounds a large established tree, either Sacred Fig or Tamarind. These factors further informed the location of our intervention.
DESIGN ITERATIONS While designing, we explored a range of different options to see which would suit our concept the best. Below are a few sketches of these concepts.
SWOT ANALYSES DESIGN NUMBER ONE : Keyhole Garden Design Strengths Visually aesthetic design Compost bin easily accessible in the centre of the bed Use of affordable materials such as bricks, stones Organic form due to focus on vegetables and plants which can be grown in the garden bed Weaknesses Not enough volume for communal compost Does not utilise space as well as final design Less focus on community aspect Too difficult to incorporate our design idea of pipes/channels Limited accessibility, would have limited access within the space and track next to the lake Opportunities Unique environmental design Unprecedented - has not been done before in this location/environment
Threats Could be difficult to expand over time Maintenance - who would be responsible? How often would it require maintenance? Design already taking place in other countries e.g Africa
Through iteration in design we came up with our final proposal that responded to the research on context, culture and need. Our final design is entitled Community Composting Integrated DESIGN NUMBER TWO : Community Composting Integrated Strengths Functionality - provides area with additional seating Universal design - can be used by all, easy to use Fits in with the surrounding environment, tree incorporated in design Caters to the entire village population, equality Pathways incorporated into design to provide walking space Weaknesses Land use, space is already regularly used for community members gathering and bike/scooter storage - will it cut too much into this space Odour produced by compost Traditionally villages are designed by the people and for the people, however, this solution has been designed by foreign mindsets
Opportunities Keeping rural traditions within village as it becomes urbanised, ‘racchabanda’ Chance to decorate space for festivals/celebrations Could serve as a meeting space for community groups e.g women’s group Threats Vandalism of design Maintenance, who will complete this? How regularly? Community’s response to the design, will design be appreciated
Part C : Designing the Solution
WHY THE FINAL DESIGN WAS CHOSEN The final design was selected for a variety of reasons, such as an increased compost capacity and has proved to be better suited to the site scale. Based around the idea of racchabanda, we believed it was important to highlight the rural traditions of the village which we aim to maintain due to the constraints of urbanisation. Urbanisation of the area will also result in a loss of central communal space which the design solution will attempt to reverse. Another aim of the design was to reshape the perception of dumping grounds as unsafe, smelly, visually unappealing and not a space to gather. This will be tackled by providing additional seating for members of the community and producing odour free composting system. The final design essentially tackles two issues with our focus issue being waste management, whilst additionally providing community space/infrastructure that will result in increased community interaction. The location of the final design next to the village’s major water source further reinforces its central and intrinsic part of the community, referring back to the traditions of vernacular village design. It also reiterates the belief of the influence of culture on the built form, “culture is the way you think, act and interact� as presented to us by Dr Daketi in an informative presentation on the importance of culture early last week. Overall, we hope to change the mindset of those who view dumping sites negatively and would never imagine sitting above compost whilst also significantly reducing the amount of organic waste observed roadside in large rubbish piles during site visits.
During the feedback sessions in person, and received after marking, there were a couple of key areas that required change. The first of these was how the typology of the Racchabanda was conveyed within our design. While our research lead us to believe structures like these were wholly community-centric spaces for social interaction, they also hold a significance to community meetings that can span up to 5 hours. Another issue that was brought to our attention was the sacred tree species, and the notion of undertaking waste disposal in such close proximity to it could be too daunting for locals. Another issue that needed to be fleshed out more than we were able to in short initial stages was the logistics of odour and waste spillage in the space. The changes we made to address this issue were mainly in the form and layout of our design. We decided to draw the main areas of waste disposal away from the primary Racchabanda structure. While this addresses the odour and reduces the chances of waste impeding on the community spaces, it primarily gives space to the sacrality of the tree and takes down a possibly detrimental barrier to acceptance from locals. Instead, the form of the Racchabanda is left central and purer, aligning more closely to its original typology. Its nearest benches are no longer composting benches. The composting benches are integrated instead throughout the eastern half of the site, extending further into the unused paved area than before. Externally, the benches look identical, which was an important design decision to really consolidate the entire site. What we have adapted our design to do, however, is extend the public realm, creating new form and meaning that still resonates with the typologies we studied, but perhaps increases the social capacity of the space, while allowing the traditional elements to remain untouched. In terms of combatting odour, apart from the separation from the main Racchabanda space, we implemented a couple of techniques. The stone construction already provides a level of odour protection, however this alone would no be enough. We added a system using water from the adjacent lake to lightly douse the waste internally. As we learned in the levelling system at the Laurie Baker centre, water will naturally meet at the same level within a pipe. Using this notion, we designed a pipework system that acts as a light sprinkler within the units that douses the smell, and is controllable to avoid overwatering. These types of systems have been used within small-scale treatment plants and have been seen to reduce odours. Additionally, odour neutralising plants, such as thick grasses and even aloe vera, will be planted to further decrease the odour on the site (EcoIndia, 2008). In order to make the collection of waste easier, we flipped the hinges of the lower door and added side barriers on the door to avoid the spillage of waste as it is removed. Another benefit of this decision is that this process is made easier, as the user does not have to kneel on the ground to access the compost.
DESIGN OUTCOME - Three chamber design - Uses existing technology - Can be constructed using local skills and technology and is therefore low cost and environmentally friendly - Decreased time of decomposition and therefore increased amount of air inside the chamber - Uses local, raw materials as it is a stone construction - Stones provide a stronger barrier against odour - The design is a modular configuration meaning it can expand and contract when suitable - Most of compost used in the garden itself - Opportunity for community engagement programs - Opportunity to work with local agriculture on small scale - Per Chamber capacity: 1.4m3 volume - Total capacity: Approx. 53m3 - Organic waste in Kesarapalle: Approx. 1,900kg/day (according to regional statistics) - Starts to bring attention to the idea of compositing, does not necessarily manage the entire villages compost The planter beds, planted with native plants, within the composting benches will use the compost and add to the aesthetics of the space, which is a desired effect considering we are trying to change the perceptions of rubbish dumping grounds. The planter beds will not only complete the life cycle of the compost but also provide clean air and aesthetic appeal to the space. Such plants may also help to neutralise the odour produces by the compost if any. The aim of this space is to not look like a rubbish dumping ground, and, as we portrayed in our renders and sketches, we designed it to look as far from that as possible. Thus aiming to change the perception of waste dumping areas as non social space. People are instead encouraged to engage and celebrate waste management in a community friendly manner. Culturally, the typology of the Rachabanda has been extended with the stone platforms. We duplicated these elements across the site in a manner that can cater to varying levels of exposure to the public sphere.
ADDRESSING THE DESIGN BRIEF: In terms of staying true to our original brief, we used the document as a checklist to work through as we developed our design. Apart from addressing the basic needs of a fused composing and community space, we designed the site to be a primarily welcoming and enjoyable space. The curving benches allow for different scales of social interaction to ensue. However, they don’t enclose themselves into smaller spaces that would be less exposed to the busy public street and encourage anti-social behaviour. They also don’t turn at acute angles on their outer edge that would make the cleaning and accessibility of composting units difficult. Repeating earlier statements, we employed techniques of insulation, water systems and strategic planting, as well as careful placement of the composting benches, in order to minimise unpleasant smells. The disguising of these benches, and their alikeness to the non-composting benches seeks to reduce the usual negativity of waste disposal. As was enhanced further by later iterations of the composting benches, we have allowed the form of a Racchabanda to remain as pure as possible, while other benches curve around the tree and the raised platform as an additional, but non-invasive supplement to the site. The construction method of stone-and-mortar is not only in accordance to Racchabanda traditions, but is a skill known to local craftsmen, providing them with employment both at initial construction and as repairs or extensions are desired. Additionally, stone is plentiful, able to be used in a recycled form and relatively easy to construct for the region. Due to the self-sufficient form of the units, little maintenance is required for our design. Gravity is maximised in our chamber-inspired design, meaning that once organic scraps are disposed of in the top, they need essentially no attention until the final compost is ready to extract. The heavy-duty walls have the ability to withstand the pressures of the decomposing waste, and should not need to be rebuilt often. The irrigation system uses gravity to take water from the lake, thus no motors or mechanical maintenance is required there also.
Before and After Renders
Detailed Technical Drawings
LAKE
STAIRS TO RAISED WALKWAY RAISED WALKWAY
STONE RETAINING WALL GARDEN BED COMPOSTING CHAMBERS STONE CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED RACHHABANDA PLATFORM EXISTING TREE EXISTING METAL FENCE
0
1
2
3
4
STONE CONSTRUCTION W. MOTAR ODOUR NEUTRALISING PANTS WATER SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR ODOUR MANAGEMENT
DOOR HINGE OPENS FROM TOP FOR CLEAN REMOVAL OF COMPOST SEALED SLIT FOR COMPOST MOVEMENT (IF STUCK INTERNALLY)
COMPETITION As previously mentioned, there is little evidence of an establishment or company that deals with compost waste, in other words, there is very little competition with our current proposal for Community Compost Integrated. There is however information of isolated projects where cities or villages are trying to implement such programs, however there is little proof of long term and long lasting policies and working programs that actually tackle the issues of organic waste. It is believed more involvement and leadership action is necessary from organisations and the government. Small steps have been taken such as India as a whole working to phase out single use plastics, however, more long term solutions particularly at a local (household) scale are necessary. It is highly important that all communities are able to access a formal waste collection system as well as being educated on segregation of waste. The correct method which needs to be reinforced within communities involved collection, transportation and disposal as currently most communities seem to lack knowledge on waste disposal and simple solutions as outlined could have drastic results. UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION This product has a unique value through its critical design process and central position in the village, due to the location of our site being placed underneath a large old tree that is currently being used as a common meeting space. This tree represents tradition and heritage through its age and original placement in between the lake and main road. This offers locals with aesthetic views over the lake and surrounding landscape, whilst being provided with shade and shelter underneath the large tree branches. Our product is designed to adapt to the local context, in creating a safe and secure public space to encourage family friendly activity. This open communal area is perfect for social interactions and builds tighter relationships between local residents through common communication. Our unique design allows villagers to participate in sustainable practices through recycling organic waste. This compost can then be utilised in the community garden filled with indigenous flora. This vegetation will be kept healthy due to the rich nutritional input from the uniquely designed composting system.
MARKETING SOLUTION The validity of the proposed solution highlights the new and modern creation that is not currently available in the market in this valuable design. Our aim for a safe and fun environment has been incorporated into the family friendly product, to create a welcoming and inviting public space. This product appeals to the market through the retention of traditional practices in communal meeting spaces with an adaptable modern design that attracts a more diverse group of people to the site. This includes the aim for women and children to feel encouraged to use the space, as the common users include predominantly men. This new and improved communal space allows everyone to come together at any time of the day and share their stories, experiences and ideas. PROBLEM REITERATED Through thorough analysis, our problem was derived. The issue of biodegradable waste management appears to be an evident issue that, most importantly, could be converted from its current state as waste to a useful resource. There was also an evident lack of community and social space within the village, which is completely unparallel to the traditional village culture. These problems give an opportunity to combine two problems to deliver a single solution. A community composting integrated approach delivers resources from waste at a socially based level. In short, our solution tackles composting food waste via a community platform, in turn providing a useful resource for the community.
HOW TO USE COMMUNITY COMPOSTING INTERGRATED
1
Place compost inside
2
Prod compost occasionally and leave for one week
Complimentary Brochure
We have also created a how-to-brochure which is intended to assist in the function of the composting system for the people of the village. We also envision creating similar educational materials to assist residents in possibly incorporating compost into their homes and continue the process of changing perceptions of waste disposal areas.
3
Allow to decompose for one month
ISSUED FEB 2020
4
SMARTER SOLUTIONS PTY LTD VIJAYWADA, INDIA PHONE: +61 9876 1234 EMAIL: ENQUIRY@SMARTERSOLS.COM The compost is ready to use!
Physical Model
CONCLUSION As a closing statement we would like to highlight the key moments in our presentation and the proposed takeaway message we would like to leave with you today. As some have you may have already seen, there is a sign in the cafeteria on the wall behind where the students serve themselves meals. It reads as follows; P l e a s e t a s t e t h e fo o d b e fo re yo u fi l l t h e p l a t e t o avo i d wa s t a ge , P l e a s e d o n o t l e ave fo o d i n t h e t h a l i , N o exc u s e s p l e a s e ‌ . . Yo u c a n a f fo rd , I c a n a f fo rd bu t t h e re a re s o m e wh o c a n n o t a f fo rd . Wastage, in many cases is a representation of unhumanitarian behaviour. Thinking beyond our first hand needs questions of where our waste goes and who has to deal with it ultimately encourages us to be smarter and wiser in our waste management. We hope our intervention has been able to introduce such initiative thinking into your lives also.
ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION In view of the short and intensive nature of this subject, it is clear that our group has worked hard to produce such final results. Our organisation and delegation during the start of the assignment made it easier to get through the deliverables in time for the final presentation. Although we all met each other for the first time on this trip, it was clear that we quickly learnt each others strengths and weaknesses and was therefore able to work as a cohesive team from start to finish. Having group members from a variety of majors including Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning served as a major benefit for the group as with our different background knowledge, many different ideas and areas were able to be explored. We hope that our ideas and design intervention developed in this assignment was able to introduce our listeners to new and interesting initiatives that well suit the context of Kesarapalle and greater urbanising India. As a team, we believe that tradition and culture are underlying concerns that every design challenge should face. We hope that this initiative respects the village and its people, while also bringing a fresh perspective to waste management and resourcefulness.
REFERENCES Cultural India - Indian Religions. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://www.culturalindia. net/indian-religions/ Flora of India. (2008). Retrieved from: http://www.ecoindia.com/flora/trees/index.html Grama Sabha. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://tnrd.gov.in/panchayatraj_inst/grama_sabha.html Jakkulanakkalam Population - Krishna, Andhra Pradesh. (2020, January). Retrieved from census2011.co.in/data/village/589241-jakkulanekkalam-andhra-pradesh.html Jakkulanakkalam, Andhra Pradesh. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://www.google. com/maps/place/Jakkulanakkalam,+Andhra+Pradesh/@16.5388053,80.7387702,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3a35e33e5cf44d11:0x52dedff220460540!8m2!3d16.5381756! 4d80.7463852 Jakkulanakkalam. (2020, January). Retrieved from http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Krishna/Gannavaram/Jakkulanekkalam Kesarapalle. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesarapalle Kesarapalle. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesarapalle Kesarapalle. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://villageinfo.in/andhra-pradesh/krishna/ gannavaram/kesarapalle.html Kesarapalli, Andhra Pradesh > Vijayawada International Airport. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kesarapalli,+Andhra+Pradesh/Vijayawada+International+Airport,+NH16,+Gannavaram,+Andhra+Pradesh+521102/ data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x3a35e2cb5115fbcd:0x1ddecbe615a9273!1m2!1m1!1s0x3a 35e2afebbdeff9:0x1bc844d2b2e24c5!3e0?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjOldylsK3nAhVUzzgGHWZeAAEQ-A8wAHoECAwQCw Kesarapalli, Andhra Pradesh. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/ maps/place/Kesarapalli,+Andhra+Pradesh/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x3a35e2cb5115fbcd:0x1ddecbe615a9273sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjWgJeepqbnAhVUOSsKHf-uBeUQ8gEwAHoECA4QAQ Kesarapalli, Andhra Pradesh. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/ maps/place/Kesarapalli,+Andhra+Pradesh/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x3a35e2cb5115fbcd:0x1ddecbe615a9273sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjWgJeepqbnAhVUOSsKHf-uBeUQ8gEwAHoECA4QAQ Tarakarama Nagar, Agatha Varappadu, Andhra Pradesh. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tarakarama+Nagar,+Agatha+Varappadu,+Andhra+Pr adesh+522509/@16.4104294,80.4813457,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x3a4a0aa4ae7c0329:0x685f4bbcfe992f45!8m2!3d16.3076346!4d80.471239 Tarakarama Nagar. (2020, January). Retrieved from http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Guntur/Guntur/Tarakarama-Nagar The University of Melbourne. (2019). Humanitarian Design Internship (ABPL30064). Retrieved from https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/subjects/abpl30064 Urban community of slum dwellers in a non-industrial city. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/62684/12/12_chapter%205.pdf Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides - Final UBA Presentation. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_ id=_397993_1&content_id=_7751947_1&mode=reset Vijayawada. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayawada Tarakarama Nagar. (2020, January). Retrieved from http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Guntur/Guntur/Tarakarama-Nagar The University of Melbourne. (2019). Humanitarian Design Internship (ABPL30064). Retrieved from https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/subjects/abpl30064 Urban community of slum dwellers in a non-industrial city. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/62684/12/12_chapter%205.pdf Urnnat Bharat Abhiyaan Slides - Final UBA Presentation. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_ id=_397993_1&content_id=_7751947_1&mode=reset Vijayawada. (2020, January). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayawada
Humanitarian Design Internship Molly D’Arcy 913230 Maya Nettlefold 997195 Hannah Rule 996630 Marissa Samrai 1003391