Selected works

SELECTED WORKS

Shweta Sundar shweta_sundar@hotmail.com

Professional work (at PiC) Mason Trainings, Mason Training Curriculum and Handbook on Disaster Resistant Construction National Guidelines on Temporary Shelters Personal projects Research Project on Cycling to Work in Ahmedabad, India Article on the Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad, India Academic work (at SPA, New Delhi) Undergraduate Thesis: Eco-Centre in Mumbai, India

MASON TRAININGS, TRAINING CURRICULUM AND MASON ’S HANDBOOK ON HAZARD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION 2018 | Client: National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India | Team of 4 at People in Centre (PiC) The 6-day training curriculum is designed as an addition to existing mason training programs organized by Centre and State government agencies in India. Topics covered are housing typologies, hazards and impacts, principles of hazard-resistant construction, importance of site and soil conditions, specific safety features for foundation, plinth, walls, and roof. The training, which involves theoretical sessions as well as hands on practice, is a generic module and can be adapted to local and regional construction typologies which greatly vary across the country. This curriculum was prepared keeping in mind the diversity of construction techniques in India, spatial-functional requirements of different regions, and range of materials and skills accessible to build houses.

2019 | Client: Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), Government of J&K | Team of 4 at People in Centre

NATIONAL GUIDELINES ON TEMPORARY SHELTERS FOR DISASTER-AFFECTED FAMILIES 2019 | Client: National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India | Team of 4 at People in Centre Post a disaster, with many houses either damaged or destroyed, giving affected persons a place to stay with dignity until they can return to a permanent house is the foremost step in the direction towards recovery and normalcy. The guidelines will assist the government in formulating a systematic, people-centred, intermediate shelter response programme according to the needs after any disaster.

The guidelines provide principles and standards for the design, construction, and technology options for the shelter in both in rural and urban contexts, as well as implementation mechanisms and roles and responsibilities for various Centre, State and District government and humanitarian stakeholders. It looks into ways to ensure social inclusion, with particular attention to gender and disability. These guidelines don’t advocate a particular design. The focus is on principles and strategies for intermediate shelters such that they can be adapted in diverse contexts across India.

PiC, in collaboration with World Bank-funded JTFRP, organized a 3-day training of masons in Srinagar on how to build hazard-resistant houses using two construction systems; stone masonry and confined masonry, along with preparation of handbooks for the participants. This training curriculum followed the same rationale as the previous document, while deeply rooted in the local context state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

I was involved in the research, analysis, content development, design and compilation of all documents along with conduction of trainings at various locations. For the preparation of the National Guidelines, I conducted site visits to Cyclone Titli affected regions in Odisha, India..

SANKDI SHERI REVIVAL SUPPORTING CULTURAL HERITAGE 2018- On-going | Client: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, INTACH | Team of 4 at People in Centre

Sankdi Sheri, a 250 m stretch, was chosen as a pilot project for a larger public space rejuvenation project within the walled city of old Ahmedabad. Battling the issues of vehicular and pedestrian congestion and historic degradation, the proposal aims to revitalise the street by creating an active pedestrian thoroughfare while regulating vehicular movement. This was achieved by: • Well-demarcated spaces for pedestrian movement, vehicular traffic, parking, services etc.

• Creation of three public squares that become nodes of interaction on the street • Streamlining of utility installations for easy access and repair.

• Provision of parking for local requirement.

• Inclusive design interventions for street vendors.

• Minimally controlled signage design and restoration of facades to highlight the heritage buildings and spaces.

In addition to conservation, this was a redevelopment proposal where the priority was placed on the infrastructure and service requirements of residents of this street.

I was involved in the primary and secondary research, stakeholder consultations and preparation of design and construction drawings.

Present

Proposed

AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNDER ‘HOUSING FOR ALL 2022’ 2017 | Participation in the ‘Building for a Billion’ Competition on Affordable Housing | Team of 4 at People in Centre No. of houses with existing layout= 233 | No. of houses with proposed layout = 248

This competition gave us an opportunity to explore an alternate approach to affordable housing; Low-rise High-density on a live slum redevelopment project, as opposed to the default modus operandi of high-rise, highdensity developer housing. This approach allows for a higher degree of control by the house owner during the process of design and construction.

The design proposed a plot of land be given along with five house design options constructed using confined masonry technology for better seismic performance. . Further, the site plan frees up 43% of the public land for future development and revenue generation, thus adding to the appeal and financial viability of this approach.

The designs are derivative of the lifestyles and the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the present community, while meeting the requirements of the ‘Housing for All 2020’ Government of India scheme. Other salient features of the proposal are: • Design, construction and implementation mechanisms conducive to an owner-driven process • Avenue for vertical expansion, reducing possibility of re-slumming • Streamlining service distribution • Efficient pedestrian and vehicular circulation • Provision of open spaces at individual and community level I was involved in research, design development and preparations of drawings.

2019-ongoing | Self-initiated research | Cycle commuting by the Urban poor | Solo project

2018 | Published in volume ‘City Observer’, by Urban Design Collective | Solo project

THE RIVERFRONT AND US BIKE TO WORK Commuting to work the past two years on my bicycle gave me first hand exposure to the problems of daily cyclists in Indian cities, especially those belonging to lower income groups. The enquiry is directed towards understanding the reasons of why they cycle, daily difficulties faced by these cyclists, the economics of cycling, the existing infrastructure that the city provides for them, and their awareness of the entitlements and amenities that they deserve as cyclists.

The research is in is early stages of field work and interviews. Ultimately, the project will advocate for the right to street space for the invisible cyclists of India, hoping to present viable policy and design suggestions. They will be derived from consultations and participatory design exercises with the target population to create a safe cycling environment on the congested Indian streets.

Today, as India witnesses a boom in riverfront projects, many look to replicating the famous Sabarmati Riverfront model of Ahmedabad. This paper questions the appropriateness of copying this archetype across contrasting contexts of India.

This paper is divided into three broad sections which: • Outline the environmental, socio-economic, financial and political aspects and issues associated with the riverfront, • Decode the ‘Sabarmati model’, which includes financial models, resettlement and rehabilitation frameworks, questionable government mechanisms and advocacy for such riverfronts as Smart City development.

• Attempt to understand the purpose of such urban design projects, their benefits and for whom, their financial and environmental cost, and how to evaluate their success. Using this paper as a medium, I have attempted to present my dilemma as a daily user of the riverfront while being acutely aware of the project’s hazardous carbon footprint.

‘CELEBRATING WASTE’ - ECO CENTRE, MUMBAI 2017 | Undergraduate Thesis | Mixed-Use Redevelopment, Mumbai, India | Solo Project Development of site plan and built form

This thesis project’s USP ; It celebrates waste.

The city of Mumbai, battling a garbage crisis, not only needs to find an insitu solution to waste management, but also address the root cause i.e. overconsumption. This projects attempts to address an urban-scale issue of waste management, both of consumption and disposal. The technomanagerial components of the project synergises the requirements of infrastructure for collection, treatment and disposal of urban waste from the vicinity, along with research and knowledge-based aspects of ecoinnovation. The public interface of the project, an eco-learning centre, allows people to ‘know thy waste’ and aims to spread awareness regarding sustainable ways of waste management and ultimately how can one reduce their carbon footprint.

The area program and design derive heavily from present site conditions, incorporating the livelihood needs of the currently residing rag-picking communities, while situating itself within the expectations of the overarching redevelopment proposal of a commercial hub. The core challenge was to ensure the technical, financial and socio-cultural feasibility of functions such as a waste-to-energy facility, eco-learning centre, and an eco-innovation centre within the city limits. Through design, the project explores the principles of Design for Behaviour Change in architecture, to initiate a discourse on sustainable living and mindful consumption amongst the public.