ROPES AND LADDERS

Slinging ropes and sliding down cold metal pipes – the communal activities of the nocturnal youth must be worth the trouble. Perhaps, a few wooden bars could transform these multifaceted drainage pipes into ladders. This might accommodate the post-curfew friendly gatherings and harmless rebellions.

COURTYARDS: THE LIVING VOID

An integral element in the dwellings of the Walled City is a courtyard. The courtyard-typology has existed in South Asia for thousands of years and can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization (McIntosh 2008). The courtyards were a prominent feature in Islamic, as well as Indian architecture, before the dawn of Islam in the region. Traditionally used as a central space between houses or rooms owned by individual families, courtyards served as the focal point of a settlement, strengthening interior relationships. They served as a protective barrier against the climate, enemies, animals, and encouraged social interactions, becoming an important interface for all communal activities (Mishra 2016).