LESSONS FROM THE SHADOWS

INDIA

LESSONS FROM THE SHADOWS

MIKE SUDOLSKY. AIA

[1]

tHE DEFINITION Shadow City (n) [1] A major street within Dharavi - India's largest Shadow City and home to 700,000.

Padmanaba01. "Dharavi" Flickr. Yahoo!, 29 Dec. 2010.

Web. 04 Dec. 2017.

Forgotten and overcrowded communities, homes and workplaces. Often referred to as slums, they lack access to basic human necessities such as safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Within, the structural integrity of its buildings is insufficient or completely absent.

As of 2017, they are home to over one billion.

Š2017 Mike Sudolsky

At the time of publishing, all content created by the author is believed to be either public domain or used appropriately according to the standards of fair use and attribution. Inaccuracies should be directed to the attention of the author and will be corrected in subsequent editions.

Printed and bound in the United States.

Third Edition: December, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS [02] [16] [38] [66] [106]

1 - Shadows

A: Abstract B: Issue - Shadow Cities C: Destination India

2 - Empower A: PETE - Empowering Women and Youth in the Shadows of Delhi B: Carnegie - The Architecture of Literacy

3 - Ecology A: The Sadhana Forest - Reviving a Jungle and Refilling Wells in the Shadows of Auroville B: N[Stall] - A Temporary Shelter C: Earthships -True Sustainable Living

4 - Dreams A: Reality Gives - Realizing Dreams in the Shadows of Mumbai B: Shadow Casters - Studying the Casters C: Replast - Transforming Plastic

5 - Fusion A: Kathputli - A Site Within The Shadows B: The Library - Supporting the Shadows through Lending and Literature C: BOLDR - A Firm With Impact

1

1.SHADOWS

People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the people they ignore at home.

Dagobert D. Runes Philosopher / Writer

[1]

abstract

"Quality in architecture does not - not to me anyway - mean inclusion in architectural guides, or histories of architecture, or getting my work into this or that publication.

Quality architecture, to me, is when a building manages to move you."2 Peter Zumthor, Architect [1] In India ornamentation and self expression appears everywhere - on buildings, the people themselves and even their cars and trucks!

[2] Peter Zumthor. Atmospheres, Birkhauser, 2006 [3] AIA Colorado's Architectural Educational Foundation awards multiple research based travel scholarships every year to architects, both aspiring and licensed.

If you are interested I strongly encourage you to apply at aiacolorado.org

For 10 years, I had one goal that drove my life.

It pushed me through all-nighters, drove my thoughts, and relocated me to Denver, Colorado.

This goal was to become a Registered Architect.

In September of 2016, I fulfilled that ten year goal. However, as I added "AIA" to my e-mail signature, I began to question: now what? It felt as if I had multiple paths to walk down - and no idea which one to choose.

Luckily, time was on my side. Earlier in the year I was awarded a travel grant from Robert Fuller and AIA Colorado3 for my intent to research India's Shadow Cities. I moved my belongings into my parents' garage, took three months off work and boarded a one-way flight to India.

For two months I trekked through India- looking in the shadows. I wanted to get a better picture of our world, determined to not only complete my research, but to use the experience to inform where I take my AIA title.

This book, this opus, was started during that last month. It's a story to share my travels, a story for the path I've chose to walk down, and most importantly - it is a story for those living in the shadows.

Enjoy.

Michael J Sudolsky [Abstract] 5

ISSUE

"Approximately one-third of the developing world's urban population lives in slums, accounting for close to one-quarter of the total global urban population."

World Health Organization

Shadow Cities

[1] Davis, Carlo. "India Slums: 1 In 6 Indian City Dwellers Live In Conditions 'Unfit For Human Habitation'" The Huffington Post.

TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 May 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

[2] Discussion Note - What Is a Slum? Issue brief.

Kathmandu, Nepal: NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, NgoForum.net Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

[3] Stores and homes along a main street within Dharavi, Mumbai.

Yorum Yapin. "Mumbai Contrasts". 13 Mar 2013

The first time I saw them was in May of 2015.

I was on a plane bound for Manila. We were descending, and as I peered out of that little airplane window my eyes were opened. I was witnessing and acknowledging a world vastly different from my own. As each collection of shanty towns passed me by I distinctly remember thinking: "Holy cow - Shadow Cities are real".

You might be asking - Wait, what exactly is a "Shadow City"? Well, Shadow Cities are communities, they are homes, they are places where people with needs and lives just like yours and mine are born, live, and die. However, within Shadow Cities access to basic human needs is not only insufficient but often completely absent.

For example, within India's largest Shadow City, Dharavi, there is only one toilet for every 1,440 people. Can you imagine? That is like only having one toilet for an average American high school. These people's lives are largely ignored by those who are more fortunate. This is partly because Shadow Cities pop up on undesirable land (e.g. dumps, swampland, hillsides with extreme slopes) and are literally forced into living life "in the shadows".

Over 1 billion people worldwide live in Shadow Cities (slums).1 India, having had rapid rural-tourban migration, massive efforts for globalization, and increased urban poverty, has seen an incredible growth in their slums. As a result, nearly 1 in 6 Indian city dwellers live in conditions unfit for human habitation.2

6 [Issue]

[3]

Life In The Shadows According to the United Nations Human Settlement Program, a slum has at least one of the following characteristics:

[4] A young and stylish girl found playing on the streets of Dharavi.

- Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation - Poor structural quality of housing - Overcrowding - Insecure residential status2

Kadri, Meena. "Dharavi Style, II." Flickr. Yahoo!, 08 Feb. 2011. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

As an architect in this crazy, interconnected world, I believe it is my duty to study any place any human might call home. For, in my mind, the dreams of architects become reality, but how are architects supposed to design for a reality they don't fully understand?

So in November of 2016 I took off for India. I was intent on exposing not only myself to the reality of Shadow Cities - but you, the reader, as well.

In the following chapters I will share with you not only my journey, and the realities I experienced, but architectural case studies and offer a way we can help. By doing so, those born in the shadows might have a greater opportunity to rise above it all and dream of casting a shadow of their own.

"There are things that they know much better than us.

If somebody knows how to make the most efficient use of scarce resources it's poor families - they are masters in establishing priorities."

Alejandro Aravena Architect and Pritzker Prize Laureate

8 [Issue]

[4]

1

11 12 10

9

8

7 6

5

4

2 3

[1]

LEGEND Air Travel Land Travel

Destination India "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

Marcel Proust, Novelist [1] An illustration of the route I took through India!

Physical Map of India, MAPSOFINDIA.COM , Nov 2016 Web.

My trek to observe life in the shadows led me all over Western India. Should you ever want to visit India, below is a quick note covering each stop I made along the way!

1 - Delhi The capital of India. Home to PETE, a charity aiming to provide education to everyone. I strongly encourage you to visit Delhi, see its monuments like the Red Fort, the Lotus Temple, and go on one of PETE's slum walks.

2 - Chennai (Madras) The industrial heart of Tamil Nadu, this city's airport is a hub for many discount airlines.

There isn't much to do here, however, except for visiting the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a tiered temple covered in hundreds of beautifully colored dieties.

3 - Auroville/Pondicherry Auroville is a universal city dedicated to the ideal of human unity. At its center is a huge sphere-shaped building meant for meditation called the Matrimandir. Its interior is beautiful and definitely worth a visit, but requires reservations to be made a day in advance. On the outskirts lies the Sadhana Forest, where I volunteered for two weeks planting trees, learning the benefits of a truly sustainable lifestyle. It was a beautiful experience and the highlight of my trip!

[Destination India] 11

Destination India 4 - Hampi An ancient capital that, in its prime, was one of the richest and largest in the world! It is dotted with temples, ruins and massive boulders. A must see for anyone that is interested in historical architecture!

5 - Anjuna Beach, Goa I decided to stop here for some rest and relaxation. Anjuna Beach was the birthplace of electronic trance music and where you will find dozens of bars playing it. Be cautious though, due to Goa's assimilation of western culture many backpackers can easily stay here for longer than they plan for.

6 - Mumbai (Bombay) Do a tour with Reality Gives - a charity using proceeds to pay for soft skills training and sports programs in India's largest slum, Dharavi.

Do a Bollywood tour or see the Elephanta Caves. Walk around downtown Mumbai and observe the British attempts to bring Western order, culture and planning to the metropolis.

7 - Aurungabad This city is central to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. These sites were carved into the side of cliffs over hundreds of years by Buddhist, Jain and Hindu Monks! These temples have their origins from 200 BCE to 650 CE, and were all but forgotten until they were discovered

by British troops in 1819. The sites require separate day-long excursions and I honestly could not recommend one over the another.

While Ellora has one vertical masterpiece that was dug over 300 feet deep into the ground, Ajanata is a collection of over 20 caves dug into a cliffside!

12 [Destination India]

[2] The "Diwan-I-Aam" in the Red Fort, Delhi.

[2]

[3]

Destination India [3] A smaller temple within Cave 16 (the Kailasantha Temple) at the Ellora Caves.

8 - Ahmedabad There is not much to do here unless you are a huge fan of Ghandi or Louis Khan.

9 - Udaipur Known as the "Venice of the East, City of Lakes," you will not find as clean and romantic of a city anywhere else in India! It has beautiful views and a fascinating history as capital of the Mewar Kingdom.

10 - Jodhpur The "Blue City" got its name from its inhabitants all painting their houses a hue of blue to mimic the priestly caste known as the Brahmins. Its fort, Mehrangarh, dominates the horizon. Be sure to make the climb and visit Mehrangarh, as views of the city's blue buildings from it are simply stunning.

11 - Agra* Host city to the Taj Mahal. You will see why it is referred to as one of the modern wonders of our world.

12 - Jaipur* The "Pink City." Lots of sites to see: The Hawa Mahal (Temple of Winds), the Amber Fort and the astronomical instruments of a society obsessed with astrology. *Make sure to stop by Fatehpur Sikri (an ancient capital with surreal buildings showcasing the architecture of slavery) and the Queen's Step Well between Agra and Jaipur as they are sites not to be missed that lie along the route!

[Destination India] 15

2.empower

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela Politician and Philanthropist

[1]

pete

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener."

Robert Frost, Poet

Empowering Women & Youth In the Shadows of Delhi [1] My guide, Laxmi, with children from the Kathputli Slum Colony.

It was day number two in India. After adjusting to the chaos of Delhi, I jumped right into my research, and went on a walking tour with PETE, a non profit in Delhi aiming to Provide Education and vocational Training to Everyone.

They have four schools in the Kathputli Slum Colony, which provides education to those who cant afford the uniforms and text books required by India's public school system. This shadow city is home to over 30,000 people with a third being under the age of 10!

My guide was Laxmi, a social worker who has been working in the slum for years. She has been teaching mathematics and English with PETE and was able to introduce us to its newest residents, many of whom were also in her classes! Laxmi is widely respected within the community. Individuals were constantly stopping to give her praise and share the impact she has had on the community.

The Kathputli Slum Colony is divided into 12 distinct districts. each with differences in religion, geographical origin, trade, food and style of dress. Sadly these differences cause an enormous amount of tension between the various districts.

Some districts are more fortunate than others.

Image #2 shows perhaps the poorest one - the Gujrati district. While another district might house 4 - 6 people in each dwelling, homes in districts like these might house 10-15 in areas no bigger than 100 square feet!

Inside, the quality of dwelling also varies. Some have concrete floors, others are dirt. While some have solid walls with posters of Indian Dieties, others have nothing but tarp.

[PETE] 19

Empowering Women & Youth In the Shadows of Delhi Too many families here have tragic stories to tell: the death of a mother, father, or both.

Often the older kids have to care for the younger ones during the day as their parents go out to work (Image #4). Surprisingly, democracy does exist in the Kathputli Slum.

Each district votes for a representative to form a board that acts on issues and reports to government officials. Most reports, however, largely go ignored.

Running water in the Kathputli Slum is scarce, and available on an unpredictable schedule.

On a typical day, the pipes in the Kathputli Slum Colony only have 2 hours of running water. Moreover, residents do not know when (or if) that water will be available. It may turn on in the morning, in the middle of the night, or it might not turn on at all. In fact, during summer months they might not see water for up to 3 days! Some residents don't even have access to taps and rely on their neighbors to gather water for them. Nearly all residents store water in buckets like in Image #3 - since water often is not available when they need it.

Laxmi informed us that these kids cannot go to public schools. She explained that India does have public education, however, parents in the slum have no ability to pay for the transportation, uniforms and textbooks that public schools require. Furthermore, half her battle is just convincing parents that their children should be sent to school in the first place. Poverty in the slum is such that these parents need their children to work just so they can afford to eat. Additionally, many children never leave their slum - according to Laxmi it is too dangerous for girls to even leave their district. This is why PETE has had to set up four different schools in the slum, with each only able to teach two hours a day.

20 [PETE]

[2] The main street of the Gujrati area in the Kathputli Slum Colony.

[3] Families store water in buckets as water taps are only active for two hours a day.

[4] A young girl taking care of her sister as her parents are out at work.

[5] In the hot summer months water might not turn on for several days. In 2012 a boyscout group came and built a massive tank to provide the community with water during times of need.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Empowering Women & Youth In the Shadows of Delhi PETE's latest school is Nirvan - a vocational school for woman. Its goal is to empower women, allowing them to be self sufficient by teaching them skills in sewing and cosmetology.

They accept girls and women between the ages of 15 and 30 and give them the opportunity to learn a trade. I met many women who finished the program and were now working so their children or siblings could go to school. Nirvan currently operates with only four sewing machines, but would like more so the women do not have to fight over machines. I asked Laxmi, "How much does a machine cost?" Well, each one costs 4,500 Rupees (67 USD), and while back home this is little more than the cost of a celebratory dinner with drinks this is almost a month worth of salary for a slum dweller.

After learning about Laxmi's work I asked if I could volunteer for a few days. Very appreciative, Laxmi said I could assist in the plastering and finishing of their newest school!

The experience was incredible.

It started with me accompanying Laxmi to a little materials warehouse (Image 7). It appeared this was where slum residents came to purchase bricks, sand, cement, stones, and other supplies to build and upgrade their homes. Inside an elderly gentleman sat, spitting orders to younger assistants. We purchased our materials and went back to the school to wait for the materials to be delivered.

I can't lie - there was a lot of sitting in the area around the unfinished school during my "volunteering". However, I found this time to be so rewarding. I was able to simply exist in the slum and take in the reality of the world around me. I watched as girls prepared meals with sticks and stones, as boys played with an old bike tire, and how the little store of the family living next door actually did some business.

24 [PETE]

[6] Laxmi and a teacher at PETE's vocational school for women - Nirvan. Look at how proud these women are!

[7] The materials warehouse where we and other residents of the Kathputli Slum Colony will purchase materials from.

[8] While volunteering I was able to observe daily life in the slum. In this photo the family living next to the school was preparing lunch with sticks and stones.

[9] Because of the small alleys in the slum our materials weren't fully "delivered".

However, I was able to help finish the delivery!

[10] The raw materials for plastering.

[11] The wall of the school being plastered!

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

Empowering Women & Youth In the Shadows of Delhi [12] PETE's newest vocational school in the Kathputli Slum Colony!

[13] Space was stretched to its limits in the school. Notice how women are practicing by sewing old newspaper instead of fabric!

[14] Kathputli's future.

[15] A little shop set up by a family adjacent to the school. Here they sell nuts, chips, candies and extra food to supplement their income.

It wasn't until the next day that the materials were delivered. However, because of the tight alleys in the slum, the materials were left a few hundred yards away from the school! Perhaps here is where I felt most useful - finishing the delivery of our materials. That is, until two girls showed me how much simpler it is to deliver things when you literally "use your head!"

When we started plastering, it was striking to see the transformation of the place. While I wasn't able to finish the job, I was fortunate enough to see the finished product a month later on my return to Delhi.

As I laid eyes on the bright pink building I was overjoyed. For as depressing as the Kathputli slum might be, here is a site where women are empowered. They are told that they can make their own money, and that they don't have to sit at home all day. They are given a chance to better the lives of not only themselves, but their families!

On this return trip I started to recognize a site of potential within the shadows: the micro shop (Image 15). Most families seem to be interested in making extra cash by selling snacks,food and candies to passersby. I started to wonder - can something go here that might do more?

Most definitely. I had found my site amongst the shadows.

[PETE] 31

[1]

CARNEGIE "The man who dies rich dies in disgrace," Andrew Carnegie, Steel Baron + Philanthropist

The Architecture of Literacy [1] San Diego's Carnegie Library.

San Diego Public Library, "San Diego." CarnegieLibraries.Org 2009. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

[2] Webb, Dottie. "American History Timeline: 1890-99."

American History Timeline: 1890-99. N.p., 8 May 1997.

Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

[3] Carnegie, Andrew. "The Best Fields for Philanthropy."

Journals: North American Review (1815 - 1900) 0149.397 (1889): 682-99.

Http://ebooks.library. cornell.edu/. Cornell. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

As I trekked through India, one question remained prevalent in my mind: "How did the United States get over its slum problem?"

Many would argue that we haven't, citing the rise of tent cities. However, it is important to recognize that housing in the United States was once much more dire. Curious? Google Jacob Riis. His book, "How the Other Half Lives," used photography to document living conditions within New York City slums in the 1880s. His publication is widely credited with inspiring social reform by exposing the United States' slum problem to the country's upper and middle classes.

While there are a multitude of factors that helped the United States improve its slum problem (e.g. upgrading urban infrastructure and public housing projects), I believe it is important to recognize one of the most striking associations with poverty - illiteracy.

Thirteen and a half percent - that was the literacy rate in the United States in 1890.2 Around that time, steel baron Andrew Carnegie decided to begin building libraries. In the end Andrew Carnegie donated money to build over 2,509 public libraries. He believed in giving "to the industrious and ambitious... to those.. most anxious and able to help themselves".3 This was heavily influenced by Carnegie's own experiences: he immigrated with little money, lived in a slum in his youth and educated himself with books in the local library.

[Carnegie] 33

The Architecture of Literacy It is important to note that Carnegie built his libraries before primary education became compulsory in America (Mississippi, the last state to do so, passed its law making primary education compulsory in 1918). As a result, many of Carnegie's libraries had programs targeting the illiterate and under-educated, hoping their patronage might inspire them to learn to read and self-educate. The construction of his libraries included not only stacks, but often a large community room. In this space the community was offered literacy classes, children's story time and a free place to assemble. Additionally, many libraries would also lend out everyday items like cake pans and cooking equipment, to attract the illiterate and under-educated.

In today's society being unable to read or write not only limits employment opportunities, but also makes individuals feel anxious and embarrassed at the inability to perform daily routines others take for granted. Just imagine being unable to read street signs, food labels, menus, or informational displays. It would be as if you were trying to ready a script from a foreign world, although you are home!

The literacy rate in India's Shadow Cities is far better than you would expect. In 2013, The Times of India released a figure estimating literacy within slum communities to be around 70%.4 However, just because someone can read does not mean they do. In fact, the vast majority of slum dwellers lack not only access to education but literature as well.

According to First Monday, a peer-reviewed journal, "The Indian public library system is generally in a state of disrepair and does not provide meaningful services to the masses".5 While government officials agree that library revitalization must occur, their opinions differ in what must be done.

34 [Carnegie]

[4] Nagarajan, Rema. "33% of Slum Population Live without Basic Facilities Times of India." The Times of India. The Times of India, 03 Oct. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2017.

[5] Pyati, Ajit. "Public Library Revitalization in India: Hopes, Challenges, and New Visions." First Monday 14.7 (2009): n. pag. First Monday.

6 July 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2017.

[6] When I first stepped onto the Delhi Metro I saw this map and was terrified.

Luckily there was an English version in the car over.

[7] Story Hour at the Walla Walla Public Library Up-to-the-Times Magazine, July 1908, Courtesy Whitman College and Northwest Archives

[6]

[7]

[7]

The Architecture of Literacy [7] Examples of James Bertram's Library Templates Bertram, James. "Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings" Web. 14 Mar. 2017.

In regard to what should be done, I suggest we look once more toward Andrew Carnegie.

In 1911 James Bertram, Carnegie's secretary, published Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings. The goal of this publication was to share requirements and thoughts in regard to library design for every community that wanted to win a grant. Its final version contained six layout templates, and listed minimum standards such as a predetermined site and a commitment by the community to pay for operations of the library. Communities that failed to meet these standards found their grants rejected. Conceivably, this template and application strategy could be a model for Indian library revitalization.

We often forget the magic in literature - that books can transport us. They help us travel through time, to other cultures, and even other worlds! Think of all that slum dwellers could do with dreams like these! Just like Carnegie, they need to believe they can escape their realities and build lives outside of the slum.

[Carnegie] 37

3. ECOLOGY

We never know the Worth of Water, 'til the well is dry.

Thomas Fuller Writer

Sadhana forest "May there be more forests to grow people."

Sadhana Forest

Reviving a Jungle and Refilling Wells in the Shadows of Auroville [1] The Sadhana Forest at the end of its first year.

"Sadhana 2004". Sadhana Forest. 27 November 2016 [2] The Sadhana forest fifteen years later!

"Sadhana Forest". Auroville. org. 27 November 2016, [3] A family hut, adjacent to the communities solar panels.

[4] The ceiling in one of huts for volunteers commiting to stay for more than six months.

Our minds are dreaming twenty-four hours a day. We dream when we are sleeping, but we also dream when we are awake - and it is these dreams that form the society we live in. The Sadhana Forest is one of these dreams. Its founders, Yorit and Aviram Rozin, dreamed of transforming 70 acres of severely eroded arid land on the outskirts of Auroville (an experimental township in southern India) into the lush jungle it once was. They dreamed of human unity, and introducing thousands of volunteers to the benefits of sustainable living, food security, water conservation, wasteland reclamation, and veganism. Now their dream is becoming reality.

The photo on the upper right shows Sadhana as it began 13 years ago. Once one of India's largest jungles with thousands of birds, monkeys and even jaguars, the land was logged, then farmed, then abandoned due to extreme soil erosion. The land receives an intense amount of rainfall from the Indian monsoons, but without trees and plants to absorb it the water shoots directly off the land into adjacent rivers. I am happy to report, however, that the jungle has returned around the main camp.

Wildlife like snakes, birds and even peacocks are returning to the forest!

One of the most important developments of The Sadhana Forest is how their work has impacted the local rural villages. By retaining water and filling the local aquifer, Sadhana Forest India has raised the water table in the area by nearly 20 feet!

Previously dry wells now have water. Thanks to the Sadhana project local villagers can once again cultivate their crops and their exodus to nearby city slums has been halted.

40 [Sadhana Forest]

[1]

[1] [2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Reviving a Jungle and Refilling Wells [5] Water is conserved all over the Sadhana Forest. Here you see how much water a typical bath or shower takes compared to their system.

[6] I had no idea how much water goes into producing meat.

[7] Inside the "Main Hut" at the Sadhana Forest we ate communal meals, and had all our activities!

[8] An experimental cladding material made from Juice Boxes called "Tetra Pak".

[9] The dormitory where short term volunteers sleep.

The Sadhana Project is an outstanding poster child for sustainability. For two weeks I lived completely off the grid thanks to solar panels (Image #3) and generator bikes. I also acquired nearly all my water through a hand pump in the communal kitchen.

Speaking of the kitchen - everything eaten at Sadhana is vegan. Communal meals are made three times a day and you will never find any animal by-products or sugar. Certainly, a vegan lifestyle is probably healthier for you, although they come at it from the angle of water conservation. For example - I had no idea that when you are purchasing one pound of beef you are also purchasing the 3,500 2-liter bottles of water used to raise it!

Sadhana also takes advantage of local, vernacular construction methods. Architecturally, everything is made from just four things: granite (for the columns), bamboo or pine wood (for the floor, joists and rafters) and coconut fronds (for the ceiling and rope fiber). They are doing the most they can to minimize their impact and the architectural result is stunning.

One downside to a coconut frond roof is that it must be replaced every 5 years. As a result, the project has started to experiment with cladding structures with truly innovative materials such as TetraPak, the cladding material in image #8.

TetraPak is made entirely from adhesive and recycled juice boxes!

Image #9 shows where I slept for two weeks.

Free accommodation is provided in exchange for "seva" or "selfless service". Volunteers are woken gently at 5 a.m. by someone walking around with a guitar and singing. Then volunteers stretch in a "morning circle" and are split up to perform a variety of tasks such as planting and maintaining trees out in the jungle, watering and improving the organic farm, cleaning the solar panels, or addressing the composting toilets (to name a few).

We then had breakfast, worked another shift, and were free to do whatever we wanted after lunch!

A key element to both reviving the jungle and

[Sadhana Forest] 45

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

Reviving a Jungle and Refilling Wells sustainability are Sadhana's toilets (Image #10). While on the farm I used one of these self-composting toilets. How does it work? Well, the circular lid is actually above a 55 gallon drum. First, you will squat over the hole, expelling liquid into the metal pan and solids into the drum. You then move to the traditional squatter to clean yourself with a cup of water and your left hand . You follow this by scooping 4 cups of sawdust and dump it into the drum. By doing this the Sadhana Forest project creates all of its own highly effective compost!

When a drum fills it is simply sealed, lifted out and left to sit for one year while the bacteria prospers and then dies. After a year the compost is ready and completely safe for humans to plant trees with.

Over its thirteen years, Sadhana has discovered that planting a tree in this eroded land requires a little bit more than just digging a hole. First you must dig a trench to catch rain water. Then you use that same dirt, mix it with compost and build a mound of healthy soil. You then plant the tree adjacent to a water bottle that has a wick at the end. This bottle allows volunteers to water the roots of the tree directly. You finish off the process by gathering leaves to protect the mound from the hot Indian sun and create a little ecosystem surrounding the tree.

The first tree I planted in this way can be seen in Image #11.

Perhaps my favorite aspect to the Sadhana Project is the enlightened community that it has created.

People come from all over the world to participate and share knowledge with the project. Did you know that you can grow a new pomegranate tree by just planting a pomegranate branch and giving it some TLC? I just learned this practice, known as "propagation", through my new German friend Pia! My experience at the Sadhana Forest was incredible and I'd like to finish this entry with their motto since I agree with it wholeheartedly: "May there be more forests to grow people".

50 [Sadhana Forest]

[10] One of Sadhana's Self Composting Toilets [11] A baby tree at Sadhana that is ready to take on the world!

[12] My teammates - Mari Coree and Cathy Laney.

[13] Pia planting a pomegranate branch and teaching me about "propagation"!

[12]

[13]

[1]

[1] [2]

n[stall] "Architecture is not about space, but about time."

Vito Acconel, Architect

A Temporary Shelter [1] N[stall] as appears during the day, when parking is needed.

[2] N[stall] as appears at night, when homeless need a safe space to find rest.

Over the past 25 years, the rate of homelessness in Denver, Colorado has increased by 600%.

The number of available sheltered beds, on the other hand, has remained nearly stagnant. This discrepancy between growth rates has led to dramatic overcrowding on the streets and in the city's limited shelters. Further compounding the challenge of homelessness, a 2013 "camping ban" against sleeping in Denver's vibrant city center has forced individuals and families to sleep in unsafe and poorly lit areas of the city.

In an effort to solve the homeless challenge of finding safe rest, my team's design solution takes advantage of time. We realized that we could combine both the daytime need for parking and the nighttime need for shelter.

N[stall] is a modular solution that harnesses Denver's existing urban infrastructure to provide an easily accessible, integrated, and secure place to sleep. Through the sponsorship of a temporary shelter in an existing parking garage, the Denver community can provide refuge for an individual or family in need.

It just makes me wonder - is there space in India's Shadow Cities that we are currently overlooking?

Team Credit: Alex Holtzer, Don Sluman, Lauren Pogue and Julie Guirl

N[STALL] 53

EARTHSHIPS "When I first started doing it, people thought I was crazy. When I told an engineer I was building a house out of beer cans, he told me I was a disgrace to the architectural profession."

Michael Reynolds, Architect

True Sustainable Living [1] Michael Reynolds, the inventor and architect of Earthships.

"Michael Reynolds."

Earthship.com 2009. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

The architectural profession has a pretty wide lexicon. From clerestory to buttress the majority of architectural words have pretty set definitions. One word, however, has been butchered. It has lost its true meaning due to abuse, misuse, and a general lack of understanding. We all know this word, but most of us do not know it within its true context sustainability.

Over the years, corporations have started to jump on the "green" band wagon. They talk about sustainable development on their websites, informing prospective tenants and brokers that their projects are "LEED Certified".

They are equating the selection of overpriced (yet responsibly sourced) materials to rain water harvesting, power conservation, and responsible building strategies - true sustainability. This is not their fault, it is society's.

Looking back, the time I spent living on the Sadhana Forest has been the only time I've ever lived carbon negative. It was the only time in my life I was helping and giving back to the Earth rather than just taking from it... and I find it tragic that life like that is no longer the status quo.

Michael Reynolds is one architect looking to show us what sustainability truly means. His Earthships in Taos, New Mexico are so radical he actually lost his architectural license for

54 [Earthships]

[1] [1]

[2]

True Sustainable Living [2] The exterior of an Earthship.

Kim, Eugene. "Tortoise Market" Flickr. Yahoo!, 22 May. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

a few years because officials in New Mexico didn't know what to make of them. His Earthships are built from discarded objects that would otherwise fill our landfills: old tires, used bottles and cans. Not only that, but they will reuse rain harvested water four different times!

How can you reuse water within a building?

Well, first they use water in their sinks and showers. That water (referred to then as grey water) is used to water indoor ponds/gardens'.

This not only filters any solids from the water, but provides nutrients for indoor plants and fish. This "grey water" is then used within toilets (at which time it is referred to as "black water").

It is then sent to be cleaned by a septic system after which the water is used one last time to water outdoor plants.

It is estimated that 40% (nearly half!) of power in the United States is consumed by residential and commercial buildings. Most of this energy is spent on heating and cooling. Earthships recognize this, and utilize what we know about passive heating and cooling strategies to create a living environment that is not only thermally comfortable (year round!) but completely off the power grid. Can you imagine how many resources can be saved by just utilizing passive heating and cooling techniques?

What are these passive heating and cooling techniques? While I'll explain them, the diagram on the following page illustrates how they are used within Michael Reynold's Earthships.

[Earthships] 57

A super insulated roof prevents unwanted solar energy from being absorbed.

The mass of the tires absorbs any excess heat from the living space.

Water Cistern

Warm air is drawn into the home.

The temperature of the hot air is lowered by the cooler mass surrounding the tube.

An exterior vent box is opened in the Summer to allow air flow.

The upper area of green house is super heated by the sun to create the convection necessary to remove the warm air from the living space and pull the cool air in.

SUMME

R SUN

Specially designed vents absorb and radiate the sun's energy, causing a strong movement of air.

Warmer air is vented out of the living space by use of operable transoms.

The now cooler air is used to maintain a comfortable temperature within the living space.

The cooler mass of the Earth further helps to stabilize the interior temperature

Curtains block the sun during the summer months.

[3]

Passive Heating and Cooling The temperature of our Earth's soil is relatively constant. While it varies per latitude, this constant temperature can be used to stabilize interior temperatures. This is done by building an earth berm along the north wall, stabilizing it, and exposing the ground/walls to sunlight through glass in the southern facade.

While the temperature of the Earth's soil is relatively constant, the angle at which sun enters a space varies by the time of year. In the hot summer months our sun is higher in the sky. In the winter, however, our sun is lower.

Architects can design overhangs in such a way that buildings let in winter sun to help heat their building, and block summer sun to help cool it. When the winter sun comes in contact with walls and the floor its energy is absorbed.

These walls radiate this stored heat at night time, removing the need for mechanical heating.

The earth berm will also use its consistent temperature to help cool the building by absorbing heat from the interior environment.

Earthships also cool themselves by taking advantage of a principal called stack effect.

The stack effect is essentially the movement of air due to the difference in indoor and outdoor air density. It will literally pull air through a building, removing hot air from an environment, and cool you just like an air conditioner - only without the power demands! In Earthships this is done by providing an air intake tube along the northern wall. The air enters via the earth berm and is cooled through contact with the soil (at earth's constant temperature). This cool air then enters the interior space with a high density and literally pushes the hot air out of the building using solar stacks.

60 [Earthships]

[3] A diagram showing the passive heating and cooling strategies in an Earthship.

Green Building Advisor.

"Earthship Ventilation" GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

[4] Diagram showing the differences in altitude between the summer and winter sun [5] Diagram showing the various temperature's of our Earth's soil as it varies by latitude.

[6] Diagram showing an Earthship, and how it utilizes thermal mass to store the energy of the winter sun, yet avoid it in the summer.

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[4] [8]

[6] [9]

[10]

[11]

Passive Heating and Cooling [7] Construction of an Earthship Tire wall.

[8] Construction of an interior partition out of cans.

[9] Interior of an Earthship. A glass bottle wall results in a mosaic stained glass look!

[10] Diagram of the Stack Effect in a three story building.

[11] Diagram of a multi story office building in Zimbabwe. By utilizing the principles of Stack Effect it is able to minimize its electricity usage by 90%!

The stack effect isn't limited to Earthships. It can also cool multi-story buildings. The image in the upper left diagram demonstrates its use within a two story residence, while the image in the lower left demonstrates its use within a multi-story office project in Zimbabwe. In the Zimbabwe project, fresh air is continuously drawn into the space through fans on the first floor. This fresh, cool air is released along the floor of each unit. Then, just like in Earthships, this cool air circulates within the space and creates a pressure differential that forces hot air into a solar chimney. In this scheme, however, the pressure differential is amplified because of how many units are expelling hot air into common solar chimneys. This results in a stronger pressure differential and spaces are thermally comfortable even without using strategies that incorporate thermal mass (e.g.

- earth berms, tire walls, concrete floors). In fact, this building in Zimbabwe is so thermally efficient it uses only 10% of the energy comparably sized counterparts do.

By using passive heating and cooling strategies, re-purposing discarded materials, and reusing water, Earthships show the world what it truly means to be sustainable. Relying exclusively on a small array of solar panels and cisterns for rain harvesting, Eartships have no problem being off the grid. Michael Reynold's Earthships are a glimmer of hope. They show architects and the citizens of our world that we do not (and should not) rely on mechanical processes to cool and heat our buildings. We must challenge the status quo, respect our environment, and use what we already know to be truly sustainable.

[Earthships] 65

4. dreams

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt Former First Lady of the USA

[1] [1]

Reality gives "There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality."

Jonas Salk, Researcher + Virologist

Realizing Dreams in the Shadows of Mumbai [1] Rooftops in Dharavi.

Reality Group, "Dharavi Rooftop" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, is home to nearly one million people in just .81 square miles of Mumbai. That is every citizen of both Denver and Fort Collins living on just three of Denver's parks (City Park, Cheeseman Park and Wash Park).

It may be easy to picture Dharavi as a wasteland - pity its inhabitants, and think the solution is to bulldoze the entire slum and relocate its inhabitants. However, despite the horrors and conditions that had me holding back tears, it is important to recognize that, well, these are homes. Not just that, but living amongst these homes are families, and communities that have learned not just to survive - but to build. They have built homes, they have built communities, and they have built an economy worth nearly one billion dollars.

In an attempt to better understand Dharavi, I decided to go on a guided walk with Reality Tours. They are an NGO which charges 12 USD (a lot of money in India!) in exchange for an "authentic and thought-provoking local experience". Since 2005, Reality Tours has shown thousands of people a brighter side to Dharavi and used profits to help raise $450,000 for their partner NGO, Reality Gives.

Their charity sponsors and empowers Dharavi's youth with a multitude of programs - but I was hesitant. I couldn't help but wonder, "Is this slum tourism? Is this messed up?" Having gone

[Reality Gives] 69

Realizing Dreams in the Shadows of Mumbai on the walk, I can say that it might be "slum tourism" but the positive impact of the walk far outweighed the bad. First off, the NGO is sensitive to its presence and has a strict no photo policy. They also choose to highlight Dharavi's economic back bone and the stronger residential communities that have developed.

I found this not only breaks stereotypes but leaves tour goers with a bit of hope and optimism in regard to the future of those living in Dharavi.

My guide's name was Hitesh. He was wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants. His shirt was light blue and had 'Reality Tours' printed on it. He was very excited to meet us and did the "Indian head thing" as he started our tour with a bit of history. Apparently Dharavi was settled in the 1860's. "Older than Canada!", Hitesh proudly proclaimed. Originally, all its buildings were made from discarded building materials that were being dumped on the site by lazy British contractors. Back then the British were busy redeveloping their quarters, filling the land that once split Mumbai into 7 different islands. Yet while the British went on to plan their quarters of Bombay they left the areas designated for the natives as a free for all - and Dharavi was born.

Chickens clucked, mopeds were dodged and stray dogs avoided as Hitesh brought us onto a main street within Dharavi. He pointed out every business you could imagine - banks, schools, food stands, gyms and even movie theaters! The theater lacked chairs but is an affordable way for one to catch a semi-recent Bollywood Film.

70 [Reality Gives]

[2] Reality Group, "Dharavi" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[3] Chipchase, Jan "Dharavi: Unlicensed Movie Theater" JanChipchase.com, 03 Jul. 2007. Web. 04 Mar. 2017..

[2]

[3]

Realizing Dreams in the Shadows of Mumbai We were then shown the industrial heart of Dharavi - learning how a slum could generate nearly one billion dollars. Hitesh started with the plastic recycling yards. Here some of Dharavi's poorest gather old dashboards, children's toys, and appliances (any discarded hard plastic really). These piles are then sorted by women into more piles. These sorted piles are then chopped down by a special machine made within Dhavari (an industry within itself), cleaned in a soapy water solution, dried on the roofs and melted/extruded into grain sized plastic pellets that are then sold to manufacturers of plastic products!

After the plastic yards Hitesh showed us the shops that clean and process old paint cans.

In these shops paint cans are set ablaze in furnaces to destroy their contents. Their charred carcasses are then scrubbed clean, and marked. If this is the can's third mark it is cut down. They bang it flat into a sheet so it can be sold as building material. Next to nothing is wasted in Dharavi.

Numerous other factories were then shown to us, ll of which were not allowed in the residential areas because of their toxicity. We saw furnaces melting old aluminum into "grey gold", shops manufacturing equipment like the plastic crushers, and areas where the plastic is crushed into finer particulate (see Figure #7).

Sadly because of the toxicity in all of these factories the life expectancy of employees decreases dramatically - to just 45 years old!

However, many men line up to do these jobs, Mostly because they require little training and enables them to send much more money back home. Not only do they pay better, but factory owners let them sleep inside the factories in exchange for guarding the shops' equipment.

72 [Reality Gives]

[4] Reality Group, "Plastic Recycling" RealityGives.

Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[5] Reality Group, "Paint Barrels" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[4] [9]

Realizing Dreams in the Shadows of Mumbai [6] Reality Group, "Plastic Recycling - Crushing The Pieces" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[7] Reality Group, "Tarps" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[8] Reality Group, "Leather Industry" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[9] Jonas Bendiksen "Mumbai's Shadow City" NationalGeographic.com, 05 May. 2007. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

Amongst the tanneries (where leather was prepped, tanned, colored, pressed into faux textures and cut) we were taken into the 'coolest place in Dharavi'. Sure, Hitesh said this literally as the store was blasting AC, but amid the typical knock off hand bags I found myself surrounded by something quite different and beautiful: their own brand! Flashing on the wallets, purses and handbags was their logo: Dharavi. The shop owner expressed great pride in his work, and explained they had always dreamed of really "owning" it, and now could because of the tour I was on. They no longer had to be ashamed of their location and hide behind other labels. While I was totally suckered into buying something I didn't really need, I was excited and optimistic. It showed me that within Dharavi people are dreaming and working hard for a better life.

Then came a deeper dose of reality. We were led into the residential areas where the quality of housing varies drastically. The nicer homes doubled as live/work spaces. They allowed for non toxic business like tailoring, suitcase construction, baking, woodworking, pottery and more. However, in the bleaker areas the situation is much more dire. Monsoon water floods, disease is rampant, and families are squeezed into the tightest of quarters. Many homes rely solely on community toilets. The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) says there is only one toilet for every 1,440 people! Not only that, but water within Dharavi only runs for two hours each day. As many as 15 families will share one tap. Despite these conditions, these communities survive, and residents are able to live their lives.

The tour then showed us how they are

[Reality Gives] 77

Realizing Dreams in the Shadows of Mumbai helping the youth of Dharavi. Reality Gives wants Dharavi's youth to know their dreams of living outside the slum are obtainable. In their classrooms they currently teach 400 kids computer literacy, English (speaking English fluently leads to a huge range of job opportunities), and soft skills (communication skills and interview training). They also provide a support network and pay a portion of the fees for 130 children to participate in sports programs. While they could pay the entire fee, they've found that asking students to pay a portion gives the students a sense of ownership and raises their commitment to the programs.

One program in particular is having a huge impact: their girls soccer club. Sadly, sexism is rampant throughout the slum. Most husbands want their wives and daughters to stay home and do the cooking and household chores. So perhaps the biggest impact of this club is the breaking of the social stigma regarding girls and sports. In fact, as Hitesh said, "The girls were once shy, not wanting to be seen running and playing sport, but now they stand tall!"

It was a very optimistic and empowering end to the tour. What I took away the most, however, was the power of dreams. It seems as if what slum dwellers need most is seeing that their dreams can be realized. This charity has indirectly fulfilled many dreams: a business's to brand itself, allowed for housewives to learn English, and taught young girls that they can have a life outside of the home. Reality Gives does much more than show reality - it realizes dreams.

78 [Reality Gives]

[10] Reality Group, "Dharavi School" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[11] Reality Group, "Girls Football Program" RealityGives.Org, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[10]

[11]

[1]

Shadow casters "It is a very wonderful thing to have a place, and know where you are going to spend the night."

Daisy Monsalve, Resident of Torre David

Studying the Casters [1] Antila, a private residence for a family of 5.

The day after my tour in Dharavi with Reality Gives I woke up thinking about this contrasting shadow caster (pictured left), so I decided to try and see it. Just 8 miles away from Dharavi rises Antila, the private home to a family of 5. While I heard about this in grandiose display of wealth in architecture school, I must say, its 27 floors, 168 car stalls, 3 helicopter pads, and multiple swimming pools really hits home after seeing the poverty of Dharavi.

Antila made me realize that as our cities grow, our only options are to expand outward, or build upward. While building up does come with its own issues, I would argue that it is a better alternative than continuing urban sprawl. I say this because, for the most part, slums form due to a lack of affordable housing within centers of opportunity. The majority of slum residents are individuals who have left rural life to find work in urban environments. While they may find work, the lack of affordable housing within cities forces them to take matters into their own hands.

Building vertical affordable housing is not a novel idea and it has had its failures as well as its successes. We must study what we've already done, so we don't repeat our mistakes and build upon what has worked. In the next few pages I will share four projects with you: one failure, two successes, and one failure turned success.

[Shadow Casters] 81

Pruitt-Igoe - Failure in St. Louis, Missouri One of the most infamous urban housing failures is Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis Missouri.

The 33 buildings of this project each rose 11 stories and in total contained 2,870 apartments.

Initially seen as a breakthrough, residents considered it to be an "oasis" compared to their previous residences. However, living conditions declined rapidly. By the late 1960's the property was internationally known as a failure and an obelisk for poverty and crime.

So what happened?

To begin, let's look at some contextual history.

In the 1940's and 50's St. Louis was shrinking. It was one of the first cities to experience rapid white flight (white city-dwellers moving to the suburbs to escape problems within the city).

Racial segregation was still active and seen as the norm. As a result, Pruitt-Igoe was designed for white and black races to be in different buildings. However, a Supreme Court decision in 1956 ended segregation. Attempts at integration failed, and Pruitt-Igoe became an almost exclusively black community. Meanwhile, white flight only continued, and the project suffered from a steadily declining occupancy rate. St. Louis' housing officials had failed to anticipate trends that would result in a decrease in demand for low-income housing units in the inner city.

This had a direct impact on the ability to maintain the project. Under the 1949 Housing Act, all maintenance was to be done with a small maintenance fee in the rent collected from tenants. With fewer occupants, rent was raised to try and pay for maintaining Pruitt-Igoe. However, this only resulted in more units becoming unoccupied and the growth of maintenance problems. Soon overflowing trash, broken light bulbs, failing elevators, and missing windows, became common. Corridors went dark, residents felt unsafe and began to flee the project.

82 [Shadow Casters]

[2] USGS, "Pruitt-Igoe Low Angle Oblique" USGS, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

[3] St. Louis Pruitt-Igoe Housing Development, "Baseball in Desoto Park" Archpaper. com Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

[2]

[3]

[4]

Pruitt-Igoe - Failure in St. Louis, Missouri [4] Collapse of Pruitt Igoe.

Pruitt Igoe Collapse Series.

Digital image. Wikipedia.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, n.d. Web. 8 May 2017.

[5] Katharine G. Bristol. "The Pruitt-Igoe Myth" University of California Berkley. N.p., 8 May 1997. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

Another issue was failure to provide a sense of security within the communal spaces.

The project utilized skip-stop elevators (elevators that only stop at every other floor) and positioned a communal room at each lobby. When maintenance became an issue, however, these spaces became abandoned.

Residents remarked it had become impossible to distinguish resident from intruder. These communal spaces were unable to build camaraderie amongst the tenants.

"The skip-stop elevators and galleries, far from promoting community association, had proved to be opportune environments for violent crime. Forced to walk through the galleries to reach their apartments, residents were threatened and attacked by gangs, who used these spaces as hangouts. Residents were also frequently attacked in the elevators" 5 I have to wonder though, would this project have failed if demand for the units remained and maintenance had not become such a big issue?

Was architecture truly to blame?

I don't think so. According to Katharine Bristol, Author of "The Pruitt-Igoe Myth": "By continuing to promote architectural solutions to what are fundamentally problems of class and race, the myth conceals the complete inadequacy of contemporary public housing policy. It has quite usefully shifted the blame from the sources of housing policy and placed it on the design profession" 5 There is one design decision, however, that I believe could have saved Pruitt-Igoe. Had these units been designed as condominiums residents might have had more incentive to do some of the maintenance themselves. In the following case studies, the power of ownership exposes the real root of the issue. It turns out people become invested when they own something.

[Shadow Casters] 85

[5]

[6]

HDB Flats - Success in Singapore [5] Aikbengchia "Spaces in The Heartlands - Living in A Box" Instagram.com, 07 Dec. 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

[6] Singapore Green Plan 2012.

Digital image. Daily Briefing: Not All HBD's Are SERS. Singapore Business Review, 27 Mar. 2017. Web. 10 Apr. 2017 [7] Yuen, Belinda (November 2007). "Squatters no more: Singapore social housing".

Global Urban Development Magazine. 3 (1).

Arguably our world's strongest and most successful public housing effort exists in Singapore. The island nation started this massive public-housing project in 1959, at which time over 550,000 of its residents lived in slum-like conditions.7 Within five years the Housing Development Board (HDB) was able to construct over 54,400 flats. They went on to construct an average of 14,000 flats per year, and as of March 2016 HDB has built over 1.1 million flats! While the poor elsewhere are homeless, the poorest 20 per cent of households in Singapore have equal access to housing resources - and the majority are homeowners!

The importance of homeownership may be glimpsed by a quote from the memoirs of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew: "My primary preoccupation was to give every citizen a stake in the country and its future. I wanted a homeowning society. I had seen the contrast between the blocks of low-cost rental flats, badly misused and poorly maintained, and those of house-proud owners, and was convinced that if every family owned its home, the country would be more stable. I had seen how voters in capital cities always tended to vote against the government of the day and was determined that our householders should become homeowners, otherwise we would not have political stability. My other important motive was to give all parents whose sons would have to do national service a stake in the Singapore their sons had to defend. If the soldier's family did not own their home, he would soon conclude he would be fighting to protect the properties of the wealthy. I believed this sense of ownership was vital for our new society which had no deep roots in a common historical experience." 7 (Emphasis Added)

[Shadow Casters] 87

HDB Flats - Success in Singapore While the details of how Singapore achieved homeownership through government policy is beyond the scope of this article, the importance of the government's decision is clear. An emphasis in homeownership of HDB flats has resulted in the formation of strong communities, well maintained communal spaces, improvements done to the residences themselves, and the development of a strong sense of nationhood.

Architecturally, there are common elements of HDB projects that may add to their success. Due to Singapore's location, the majority of projects have common corridors that are open to the outdoors. These corridors become extensions of the flats, with residents themselves introducing fruit-bearing plants and vegetables, laundry lines, and outdoor seating. The activation of these corridors results in families getting to know their neighbors. According to the latest HDB survey, 97 percent of residents say they know their neighbors, with 90 percent greeting them regularly and 80 percent engaging in long conversation.7 In America, on the other hand, only 43 percent of households know their neighbors.8 A sickening difference! This camaraderie not only creates a stronger sense of community and nationhood, but adds safety and value to the projects.

Another common architectural element are the void decks on the ground floor. After 1970, all HDB flats included them due to privacy concerns for ground floor units. These void decks were originally designed as places where the residents can interact, play, and host communal events like weddings or funeral wakes. Their usefulness has grown over the years with them transforming into part time stages, aerobic classes, private child care centers, or even bazaars and book fairs.

88 [Shadow Casters]

[8] Heimlich, Russell. "Do Americans Know Where Scientists Stand on Global Warming?" Pew Research Center. N.p., 07 Dec. 2009.

Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

[9] The corridor of an HBD flat.

Sengkang "Apartment Corridor at Bedok North" Wikipedia.Org Jan. 2006.

Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

[10] An elevation of an HBD flat.

Daniel Chia "Jalan Bukit Ho Swee" ArchDaily.Com 04 Mar. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

[11] The void deck below an HBD flat.

Framed "Void Deck - Block 933" Worldmapz.com Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

[12] A wedding within a void deck at an HBD flat!

Chin Chia Poor "Wedding in Our Void Deck" Undertheangsanatree. blogspot.com 3 Mar. 2016.

Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

Quinta Monroy - Success in Chile This project, by Pritzker Prize winning architect Alejandro Aravena, also capitalizes on the motivational forces behind homeownership.

[13] Elemental, "Quinta Monroy" Archdaily.com, Dec. 2008.

Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

In this social housing project Aravena was asked to house 100 families with a grant of $750,000. This was only enough money to build half of the houses. So that is exactly what he proposed: building only the framework for a full house, the parts of the house that families would never be able to construct on their own.

The families then finished the houses as they could afford it.

[14] Christobal Palma, "Quinta Monroy" Archdaily.com, Dec. 2008. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

Aravena's "Half House" concept included the core of the home: a double height concrete block structure, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

Adjacent to each "Half House" was a void where the families could expand their homes.

This concept has allowed families to tailor their homes to their needs. They could customize their homes at their own expense and labor, adding rooms, texture, color, and life whenever it was affordable.

The majority of social-housing projects lose value over time. However, because this project enables homeowners to directly modify and improve their units, Quinta Monroy has increased in value! Not only that, but the homeowner's ability to positively affect their built environment results in an increased sense of pride and optimism toward the future.

92 [Shadow Casters]

[15] Elemental, "Quinta Monroy Interior" Archdaily.com, Dec. 2008. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

[16] Tadeuz Jalocha, "Quinta Monroy" Archdaily.com, Dec. 2008. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

[17] Christobal Palma, "Quinta Monroy" Archdaily.com, Dec. 2008. Web. 04 Apr. 2017

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

Torre David - Failure turned Success in Venezuela [18] Iwaan Baan, "Confines" ideas.Ted.Org, 10 Oct. 2013.

Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

The last case study I'd like to share is Torre David in Caracas, Venezuela. It was our worlds largest vertical slum until residents were relocated in 2014.

[19] Iwaan Baan, "Hair Salon" ideas.Ted.Org, 10 Oct. 2013.

Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

This commercial office building was abandoned during construction because of a nationwide banking crisis in 1994 and slum dwellers saw an opportunity. While 5,000 slum dwellers eventually moved into the building, the community had to start by kicking-out gangsters. Eventually they had their own shops and businesses, and even a gym on the roof! The building lacked elevators, railings, electricity and water, but residents were able to improvise. They used motorcycles to get up to the 10th floor (after which they had to use the stairs), used PVC piping to get water all the way up to the 22nd floor, and divided floors to make separate units with abandoned materials.

[20] Iwaan Baan, "Gym" ideas.

Ted.Org, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[21] Iwaan Baan, "Confines" ideas.Ted.Org, 10 Oct. 2013.

Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[22] Angela Bonadis, "Section of the Tower" Architizer.com, Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[23] Iwaan Baan, "Home" ideas.

Ted.Org, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

[24] Iwaan Baan, "Store" ideas.

Ted.Org, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

While Torre David wasn't perfect, it provided the infrastructure for over 200 families to build their own homes in a structurally secure environment. While there are many issues within our world's slums, one of the most serious is that of structural integrity. Slum dwellers have the resources to build partitions. They have the resources to bring in power. They even have the resources to bring in running water! However, they do not have the resources to build their homes with the structural integrity to survive earthquakes, monsoons and other natural disasters.

It is my belief that we can capitalize on the ingenuity and motivation of potential homeowners to assist in the construction and affordability of vertical public housing. Singapore's HDB's flats show us that public housing needs to extend ownership and be flexible, Alejandro Aravena showed us that you should focus on providing the basic infrastructure, and Torre David shows us that even if they have to build it themselves, all of humanity just wants a home with which they can cast a shadow.

[Shadow Casters] 97

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[1] [1]

REPLAST

"There are things that they know much better than us. If somebody knows how to make the most efficient use of scarce resources it's poor families they are masters in establishing priorities."

Alejandro Aravena, Architect

Transforming Plastic [1] A ByFusion REPLAST block.

REPLAST, "Recycled Plastic Building Blocks" ByFusion. com 24 Jun. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

[2] Stacked REPLAST blocks.

REPLAST, "Samuel Tiercelin" ByFusion.com 24 Jun. 2016.

Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

[3] REPLAST blocks composing a wall.

REPLAST, "Santa Barbara Wall" ByFusion.com 24 Jun. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

[4] Plastic waste in Delhi

Around the world humanity produces over 300 million tons of plastic every year. Sadly we only recycle 8 percent of it. That means we have over 276 million tons of plastic material that is either sent to our world's landfills or winds up in our oceans.

The company ByFusion dreams of a future where we reuse this waste. They've successfully developed a machine that is capable of taking all 7 types of plastic waste and produces modular building blocks, similar in form to that of a concrete masonry unit (CMU). These blocks have better thermal and sound insulating properties than concrete. Additionally, they can control the density of the blocks and can make them weigh anywhere between 8 and 27 pounds! For comparison, standard CMU's weigh 28.

Producing a Replast block is relatively easy.

ByFusion's machine is fully self-contained and fits inside a 40 foot long shipping container. They use a 600 gallon tank that recycles all waste water and only needs to be replaced every 3 months.

Their non-toxic process uses no caustic chemicals, has no off-gassing, and incorporates no solvents or binders. They do recommend cladding the blocks in mortar, however, to provide UV protection.

I can only wonder how clean India's streets might be if the government were to provide urban centers with Replast machines. While the blocks aren't to be used structurally in buildings that are greater than one story, it seems ByFusion has found a product that can transform one problem into a solution for another.

[REPLAST] 103

[2]

[3]

[4]

5. FUSION

Developing countries look to the west as a model - but that cannot be the model.

Western buildings use too much power and would not be affordable for us.

In India the population has gone beyond all control and it is wrong to expect western development to help us.

Jackin Arputham Founder of Slum Dwellers International

kirti nagar metro station

DEL

ETR

O ( BLU E LI NE)

SH

AD

IP

UR

RD

.

HI M

[1]

KH

ER

AH

OS

PIT AL

RD

.

AM W GOS

.

D R I

Kathputli Kathputli Colony, Shadipur, New Delhi, India

A Site Within The Shadows [1] Aerial image of the Kathputli Slum Colony [2] A public plaza that PETE helped cover with concrete.

This space is used for events like weddings.

[3] A group of kids within one of the many narrow alleys within the slum.

[4] A "Micro Shop" within the slum.

[5] The circulation corridor in front of the "Micro Shop"

Visiting the Kathputli Slum Colony in New Delhi, India, was a surreal experience. 30,000 people inhabit this community of street performers.

Here you will find magicians, snake charmers, acrobats, singers, dancers, actors, traditional healers, musicians and puppeteers.

Important site considerations and design drivers: - The alleys within the slum are organic, They fluctuate in width and are not orthogonal.

- No two plots are the same. While homes share common walls they fail to create a usable grid.

- The "Micro Shop" is abundant. Households with enough room sell snacks and food where their homes meet circulation paths.

- The slum is sub-divided into various districts.

While all use the shops along the main road they will support their district by purchasing smaller goods from their neighbors.

- The same districts have strong tension between one another. They differ by religion, geographic origin, and language.

- The construction material of each home varies.

While some are made from bricks and concrete others are assembled as a patchwork of metal.

The poorest districts are dotted with structures just covered by plastic tarp.

- Utilities are more stable on the perimeter of the slum.

- Most residents have to use communal toilets.

- Water is only available for 2 hours per day.

As a result, the site for my proposal is where the main road (Shadipur) enters the slum.

[Kathputli] 109

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[1]

the library "There is no problem a library card can't solve.."

Eleanor Brown, Author

Supporting the Shadows Through Lending and Literature [1] Exterior rendering of "The Library".

Amongst the decrepit conditions of the Kathputli Slum Colony I discovered the resiliency and resourcefulness of the human spirit, a culture full of heart, and (sadly) the need for more than just architecture. Residents of Kathputli not only lack structurally sound housing, but access to sanitation, water, education, and the encouragement to dream.

This project is modeled after Andrew Carnegie's Libraries. In the late 1800's Mr. Carnegie (a wealthy steel baron) donated his fortune to the construction of over 4,000 libraries all over the world. Carnegie believed that those born into poverty deserved the ability to self-educate, and have resources available to them for improving their lives.

He attracted the illiterate to his libraries by offering more than just books. His libraries offered community spaces, children's story time, literacy lessons and a lending system for items like cake pans. Understanding this, I began to question: "Can a needs-driven library system develop in India that not only educates, but provides for the basic needs of those with nothing?"

In the 1890's, when Mr Carnegie's Libraries were constructed, literacy in the US was a mere 13.5 percent. Literacy in Indian slums, on the other hand is estimated to be around 70 percent - so surely it can.

[The Library] 113

Supporting the Shadows Through Lending and Literature This proposal is a template, and while the ultimate structure occurs in a fairly developed slum, this project develops incrementally to accommodate slums in the various stages of development and creates long-term demand.

Phase 1 - RePlast Truck Slum residents make their dwellings from found objects and replace them when they can afford structural materials. To solve this, phase 1 of the library is a truck with a shipping container containing a REPLAST machine - a technology that produces CMU sized blocks from discarded plastic.

By being mobile, all residents of a city will have the ability to gather plastic waste and exchange it for building material. These CMU blocks would be a perfect inventory item for the slum's multitude of "Micro Shops".

Phase 2 - Parcel Application The Replast Truck will inform slum residents of the opportunity to receive a permanent Replast Library. First, however, they will have to band together and obtain the rights to a parcel that is capable of hosting and receiving a 40' shipping container within their community.

Phase 3 - RePlast + Patron Base With a parcel in possession the Library can finally open. At this stage it is focused on creating a patron base by becoming relevant within the community. It does this by using the permanent RePlast machine to provide free RePlast blocks in exchange for plastic.

114 [The Library]

[2] A Replast Truck visiting the various slum communities of Delhi.

[3] During phase 1 of the Library all residents of a city will gain access to exchange plastic waste to Replast blocks.

It is expected that the slum's "Micro Shops" will take advantage of this opportunity.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Supporting the Shadows Through Lending and Literature [4] The Library at Phase 4. Here it is lending 55 gallon plastic drums for water storage.

[5] The Library at Phase 6. Here it partners with charities and the government to incrementally build vertically and provide slum dwellers with an ever growing collection of books.

Phase 4 - Water + Vertical Example Residents of the Kathputli Slum colony only have access to running water for around 2 hours per day! Not only that, but the water can turn on mid-day, at night, or sometimes not at all (mostly during the summer months)!

As a result, many slum dwellers store tap water in plastic buckets. To help alleviate this problem Phase 4 of the Library will lend out 55 gallon drums for water storage.

At this stage vertical infrastructure appears, A major concern of building officials and architects is the structural integrity of slum dwellings so this project is intended to be an example. The problem is two fold. Firstly, slum dwellers often lack the funds for structural materials like steel and rebar. Secondly, those building within the slum are often undereducated. The library tackles this problem by showcasing the potential of bamboo construction. Many architects are investigating it as a replacement to rebar due to its abundance, resiliency and affordability.

Phase 5 - Restroom Block Residents often lack the ability to afford an in-house septic system and rely on public toilet blocks. As a result, Phase 5 of the library is the acquisition of an adjacent parcel and the building of a public toilet block for library users.

Phase 6 - Literature At this stage the library partners with the community, charities and NGO's to incrementally build vertically and provide patrons with an ever growing collection of books.

[The Library] 117

Supporting the Shadows Through Lending and Literature Phase 7 - Dreams Slum dwellers are often stuck. We often forget, the magic in literature - that books can transport us. They can travel through time, to other cultures, and even to other worlds! In my mind, it is this escape that slum dwellers need.

Access to literature can help them believe they can escape their reality and that the dream of a life outside of the slum is possible.

In Summary Our world's housing crisis has left millions with needs that many in society takes for granted.

With emerging technologies like the Replast CMU, we have the ability to not only satisfy some these needs, but help alleviate the problems associated with plastic waste! It is time for society to not only re-think what it means to be a library, but learn from the lessons of our past and dream up a better future - for all of us.

118 [The Library]

[6] Section showing all that "The Library" intends to lend.

THE LENDING OF DREAMS

THE LENDING OF EXAMPLE

THE LENDING OF LITERATURE

THE LENDING OF WATER

THE LENDING OF RESTROOMS

THE LENDING OF MATERIAL [6]

boldr

"Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold."

Herbert Spencer, Philosopher

A Firm With Impact [1] The logo for BOLDR Architecture.

It has taken me six months to get here, but I've finally found my lesson - my "Lesson From The Shadows".

It started with the realization that just like those living in the Shadows - we also need to believe in our dreams. We need to take risks.

So, I'm taking one. I'm leaving my comfortable 9-5 to form BOLDR, an experimental and artistic architectural studio that believes every rendering, every design, every project can dig deeper, and positively impact a reality vastly different from our own.

How, you ask?

Well, to start, BOLDR follows a derivative of the TOMS Shoe's model of "one for one". For those unfamiliar, TOMS was formed after it's CEO visited Buenos Aires and noticed both a unique style of canvas shoe worn by Polo players and slum children running along the streets without shoes. He decided he would bring back the unique style of shoe to America with the goal of providing poverty stricken youth in developing nations a free pair of shoes with every purchase.

As you may surmise from this book, BOLDR recognizes that what those in poverty desperately need is education. As such, BOLDR will dedicate a portion of every project to go towards providing education to underprivileged children. In 2017 we will focus on providing aid to children living in Baseco, a port area slum in Manila (the Philippines) through a charity a new friend operates called A Million Voices (AMV).

120 [BOLDR]

[1]

[2]

[3]

A Million Voices (AMV) [2] Outside the home of the first scholar's mother I visited with AMV. [3] The second scholar's mother we visited. She had been pealing a 20kg bag of garlic for just $2 USD! [4] Four AMV scholars that have been with the organization for over 5 years. In this photo they just graduated elementary school and are rising stars!

A Million Voices, "The Spectacular Journey" Facebook.com 18 Mar. 2016.

Web. 6 Jun. 2017.

On my way home from India I had the chance to visit not only the headquarters of A Million Voices, but the mothers of a few students they sponsor.

A Million Voices is a Norwegian charity that has operated in Manila since 2009. According to AMV, more than 120 million children are unable to attend school around the world. They address this issue by giving deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds the opportunity to complete elementary and high school through a scholarship program. This program pays for the scholar's daily school meals, uniforms, school shoes, supplies, a medical check-up, a backpack, and various cultural activities.

The majority of AMV students live in Baseco, a port turned slum community on the outskirts of Manila. The land should never have been built on, but these residents were desperate. Every year monsoons flood the area, and people die from water born diseases (if not from the floods themselves!). Most residents have saved money to elevate the first floor of their homes, or build second stories, however, not all are so fortunate.

The house on the upper-left belonged to the first mother I visited with AMV. She had two sons in the program and had positioned their school photos on her wall proudly, like trophies. She expressed sincere gratitude for the program, explaining that AMV has had not just a huge impact on her son's lives, but their entire family. Their family finally has hope that things can, and will get better.

The woman on the bottom-left is mother to another scholar. She informed me that one of her nieces was able to leave the slum after studying hard and becoming a Civil Engineer! As such her son also wants to become a Civil Engineer.

The scholars on the following page have been with AMV for the past 5 years and just graduated elementary school!

[BOLDR] 123

[4] [4]

[24]

[5]

Dreaming Architecture [5] A scene within the last level of the video game for my architectural thesis entitled "PGD Incorporated"

The following elaborates upon where I want to take my architectural practice.

For the past four years I have specialized as a conceptual designer for Gensler. While I have learned a fair amount in regard to the business of architecture, my daily tasks have led me to become not only proficient, but efficient in regards to digital modeling and digital rendering. I have learned a wide breadth of architectural programs and intend to capitalize on these skills by offering visualization services to my architectural network in Colorado and around the world.

While these services will become the backbone to BOLDR, I hope to finally have the time to explore what makes me passionate about the architectural profession - experiences. I intend to position my practice as an architectural firm for the evergrowing virtual world and target the film and video game industries. The exploration of architecture through these virtual worlds presents an enormous opportunity to inspire, provoke and dream.

Speaking of dreams - let me put mine out there.

I dream of a career where I inspire like the visionary architectural firm Archigram. A career where I propose the unconventional like the provocative architect Lebbeus Woods. A career where I present the beautiful like the film house Factory Fifteen.

I dream of a world where we are socially conscious, recognize the need to give back, and build charitable donations into our business models.

Yet most importantly, I dream of a world where we not only dream, but take risks, and work together to make our dreams reality.

[BOLDR] 127

Dedication To the dreamers, the risk takers, and the one billion people living in the shadows.

This book is dedicated to all of them.

MIKE SUDOLSKY ARCHITECT W: mikesudolsky.com E: mike.sudolsky@gmail.com