AR U GU the Place to Sit
A LI C E F OWL E R 834 6 0 6 ZOE C R EE 9 97142 H U GO M ARM ARA 9 9 62 8 4 A B PL 3 0 0 64 H umanitarian D e sign In t ern s hip
TEAM A LI C E F OWL E R 834 6 0 6 A rc h i t ec t ure M ajor. I n t erest ed in cos t ef f ec t i v e, s us tain able d esi g n a nd thorough ly en j o ys m ode l mak ing!
ZOE C R EE 9 97142 A rc h i t ec t ure M ajor. I n t erest ed in the balance b et w een pe ople -ce ntr ic a n d su s t a in able de s ign. H U GO M ARM ARA 9 9 62 8 4 L a n d sc a p e Arch ite cture M a j o r. I n t erest ed in s ocial p l a n n i n g a n d pe ople o ri en t ed de s ign
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OUR ROLE In designing an effective intervention, our role is not to impose ourselves upon Indian culture, but to be empathetic in our design; assisting locals with a common goal opposed to improving they’re way of life. Historically the adoption of foreign aid and western ideology has proved futile in developing nations such as India, failing to permeate cultural norms and truly find a place to sit within society. Keeping this in mind, our role is to serve the locals and help to adapt current systems, rather than enforcing them to adopt new ones.
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CONTENTS PA R T A U nde rs tanding the Challenges
01 - 14
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
15 - 26
PA R T C D e s igning the Solution
27 - 64
PA R T D C o n clus ion
6 5 - 72
iii
iv
PART A
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES
02
S I TE
ou r site,
TA R A K A R A MA N AGA R S L U M ,
i s l oc at e d:
Vijayawada
Andhra Pradesh
ANDHRA PRADESH
INDIA
To t he Sou t h of t he c ou n t r y of In dia. The Republic of In dia is t he s ec on d mos t populou s c ou n t r y in t he world followin g Chin a. In 2019, t here was abou t 1. 34 million in habit an t s , (“ World’s Mos t Popu lous Coun t ries , ” 2019), res u lt in g in abou t 420 people per s qu are kilomet re, highlight in g t he high den s it y of t he c oun t r y. PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
03
I n t he S o u t h -Ea st er n st a t e o f An d hra Pra d esh w hi c h i s si t u a t ed a l o n g t he c o a st l i n e o f t he Ba y o f Ben g a l (“I n d i a ”, 2020). I t i s t he ei g ht h l a rg est I n d i a n st a t e w i t h a p o p u l a t i o n d en si t y o f a b o u t 308 p eo p l e p er sq u a r e ki l o m et r e (Cen su s, 2011). The m a i n l a n g u a g e sp o ken i n t he st a t e i s Tel u g u (“La n g u a g es i n An d hra Pra d esh ”, 2019).
Tarakarama Nagar Slum
TARAKARAMA NAGAR SLUM VIJAYAWADA
I n the cit y of Vijayawada. The climate is tropical wit h humid an d hot te mpe ratures . The average te mpe rature is 28. 5 °C an d the ave rage a n n u al rain fall is 10 67 mm. The area is s ubjec t to South-We s t an d Nort h East monsoona l rain durin g t he Summe r months of A pril an d May ( “ Vijay aw ada Climat e”, n . d. ).
Fin a l l l y, t he Ta ra ka ra m a Na g a r Slum i s si t u a t ed 4km S o u t h We st o f t he c i t y c en t r e o f Vija y a w a d a . The S l u m i s hi g hl y dense a n d p o p u l a t ed , ho u si n g abo u t 7, 870 p eo p l e. The Sou t her n p a r t o f t he S l u m l i es on t he r i v er b ed o f t he Kr i shn a Rive r, o n e o f t he l o n g est rive rs i n I n d i a , st r et c hi n g o v er 1290km o f so u t h -c en t ra l I n d i a . The p o p u l a t i o n i s a b o u t 7, 870 peo p l e.
SIT E
04
6 18 Sum
me
18 Winter
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
05
r So
ls�c e
Sols�ce
12
6
12
SIT E PL AN
Tarakaram a Nagar Sl um, Rani gari tota, K ri shna Lanka, Vi j ay awada, Andhra P radesh 520 013, Indi a.
The s ite a n a lys is r ev ea ls the su n path rising in the East, ove rhe ad to the So uth a n d s et tin g in the We st. The stronge r winds from the So uth - Ea s t a n d No r th -Wes t are also visu ally de picte d, as we ll as the s ite’s c lo s e p ro xim it y to the cit y (which is one of the pu ll factors o f the r es id en ts to the lo c a tion). The site and its e nvironme ntal and c lim a tic c o n d itio n s a r e key conside rations for the passive de sign s tra teg y we wo uld like to a dopt.
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
SIT E AN ALYSIS
06
SEC TION
EL E VATION
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
07
The site is comprised of a series of houses facing each other across a narrow street. Many of the houses are constructed of concrete and have flat sloping roofs, often without a consideration for water collection and drainage. In these conditions, water that falls on the roof contributes directly to the water runoff which in turn distributes any waste in its path, clogging drains. Houses often have an arugu on the street-facing wall which is an interesting and unique space. The built form showcases their handy-work and also reflects the colourful vibrancy of the neighbourhood.
SIT E D RAWIN GS
There is large amount of public space within the slum, which is confined to the streets. Residents appear to spend majority of their time in the public space completing household tasks, creating a blend between public and private. Living in such close proximity and spending time mostly outdoors fosters a strong sense of community. We want build upon this existing social structure in order to enhance existing conditions.
Private Space Public Space
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
PU BL IC /PRIVAT E SPAC E MAP
08
Intimate and personal. Relationship between built form and open spaces.
Semi-private spaces open to community.
Basic joinery and heavy concrete walls
Lack of clear boundary. Social and open to the street.
Local Cultural Dwelling
Laundry connects the neighbourhood. Junctions and open spaces allow for informal structures. PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
09
Asbestos sheeting and unrenewable materials.
Building Materials and Technology
Laundry and tarpaulin create informal walls. O BSERVAT IO N S
Vibrant and colourful. Close quarters. Built Form Characteristics
Water tanks on roofs.
Private belongings encroach on public space.
Existing Village Settlements and Dwellings Windows with grills not glass.
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
Shared walls.
O BSERVAT IO N S
10
Women in the Tarakarama Nagar undertake long working hours to keep their families afloat, often working in the informal sector. Already struggling for leisure time, women’s domestic and religious duties perpetuate this hardworking lifestyle, highlighting the disparity in gender roles as well. Women often use the space of the street to socialise and carry out chores including laundry and cooking (Community Leaders, personal communication, January 27, 2020). Within TN there are approx. 76 women’s self-help groups, facilitated by World Vision, which aim to help empower groups of women to financially get ahead. These groups will comprise of 10 women all contributing a small sum of money on a weekly basis accruing substantial longterm gains in the event of emergency or big purchases, while also fostering social connections and giving women someone to speak to (World Vision, personal communication, January 27, 2020)
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
11
Men in the slum tend to work more traditional 9am-5pm jobs in labour or informal retail. Issues of domestic abuse and alcoholism plague Tarakarama Nagar which can affect the livelihoods of women and the future livelihoods of children. The World Vision Men Care program seeks to eradicate such cases of alcoholism and abuse to better family life while reducing alcohol incentivised crimes in the neighbourhood. These programs foster a supportive environment allowing men to empathise with women in the community through interactive activities and conversation.
Children make up 30% of the slums population and are at the heart of social activity on the street and in community spaces. Reflecting the slums immense colour and vibrancy, the children maintain the interconnectedness and diversity that the community relies upon, however, many are at risk of violence and abuse. The World Vision Children’s Club programs facilitates an educational platform for children to learn their rights when confronted with abuse or dangerous situations. These life skills will aim to create proper action against this issue that plagues the community, empowering children and stigmatising abuse.
Along with SPA students and facilitated through World Vision, we met with Community Leaders from the Tarakarama Nagar Slum to ask questions and learn about the day to day lives and challenges expereinced by the people we are designing for.
STAK EHO L D ER CO N SU LTAT IO N
This word map uses word size to indicate the frequency of the issue across all of the site visits. Throughout the site visits we identified multiple challenge areas, as listed below. We found the most common challenges to be waste management, sanitation and drainage. Before forming a group we individually explored the challenges highlighted in green; safety, renewable energy, space and education, as they were areas of interest of us and we saw potential opportunities for intervention.
R E NE WAB L E E NE R GY POLL U T IO N
S AFET Y
U N S K IL L E D
SPAT IAL PL ANNING
DO M E ST I C E L E C TR IC I T Y V I O L E N C E GE NE R AT I O N A LC O H O L I SM
SAN ITATION
F INA N C I A L STA BI L I T Y
S U STA I N A BI L I T Y
WAT E R STOR AGE F LOOD I N G D R AI NAG E WAST E DRI N K I N G WAT E R M A N AGE M ENT S PACE DI SE ASE W O RK / L IFE E D U C AT I O N W OME NS D AILY BAL AN C E TASKS
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
SE C U R I T Y
C HAL L EN GES
12
ED U C AT I ON
PO RTABLE DE SK
SAFE T Y
STREET L I GHTS
The children in the slum complete their schoolwork on the floor and do not have dedicated study spaces or desks. This could impact motivation and prevent students reaching their full potential.
Creating a design to address the lack of ergonomic infrastrucutre within education facilities.
There is a lack of lighting in public areas at night, creating dark streets where people in the community may feel unsafe and dangerous behaviour may arise.
Creating more light on the streets to make a safer community through the use of recycled tiles and glass arranged in a mosaiclike pattern to reflect and refract artificial light from inside down the street.
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
13
REFIN ED AREAS OF IN T EREST AN D ID EAS
CHOSEN ARE A
R ENEWA B L E ENER G Y
BIO GAS DIGE STO R
SPAC E
ARUGU S HAD E
Current methods of cooking fuel in Kesarapalli include coconut husks and dried cow pats which both pose health risks to families that cook indoors. The Eluru canal is plagued by an invasive weed called the Water Hyacinth (Akbar, 2019); there are currently systems in place disposing of the plant, but it is just being dumped.
Tackling both of these issues an anaerobic biodigester could process these Hyacinths, as well as existing human and cow waste, by creating a clean biogas that can be used for cooking. The remaining waste would then make an effective fertilizer (Rathod, Vikram & Bhale, 2018).
The Arugu spaces outside the homes of slum residents promote social engagement in the evenings and are used for sitting, plant storage and washing. However the space is largely unused during the day.
Design a solution that optimises the spatial potential of the Arugu so the space can be used multi-functionally to promote social engagement throughout the day and night.
PA R T A U nde rstanding the C hallen ges
REFIN ED AREAS OF IN T EREST AN D ID EAS
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PART B
IDEA SELECTION
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The target segment for our project are the residents of the Tarakarama Nagar slum. We want to activate the Arugu for all to use and benefit from.
K E Y AS PE C T S OF T HE R ESIDENTS • • • • • •
Very social and community oriented. Live in close proximity to one another. Live in small homes with many family members. Spend lots of time outside on the streets. Low income. Work in the informal sector.
The slum of Tarakarama Nagar is home to 7870 people divided over some 1250 households, resulting in an approximately 6 people/ household. This makes for dense housing and chaotic streets that are void of a place to sit and relax. Currently spaces of rest include steps, buckets and many other forms of informal seating. The Arugu is a space available to nearly everyone in the neighbourhood however appears underutilised in its current state. This exposed space out the front of slum houses proves too hot in the dry season and too exposed to the rains of the wet season, resulting in a market for coverage. Acting as a shared space between public street goers and private homeowners, the use of an awning over this Arugu space has the capacity to activate the street scape and incite social interactions all while maximising space within the tight slum environment.
TARGET SEGMEN T
R ESIDENT S OF T HE SLUM
T H O SE W H O DO NOT H AV E AN AR U G U
THOSE WHO HAVE AN ARUGU
T H OSE W HO SOC IALI SE ON THE ST R EET
THOSE WHO USE THEI R ARUGU F OR WASHI N G WATER STORAGE
The broader target segment of all residents of the slum was narrowed down into smaller groups in order to understand the specific needs and behaviours of those we are designing for. Our primary target segment are those who have an arugu but in saying that, we are also secondarily designing for those who do not own an arugu but do socialise in the street. This is because we want to continue to facilitate the strong social connection we observed in the streets. The target segment of those who have an arugu was further broken down into the different uses the arugu can offer so that we could design in a way that facilitates and accommodates for these.
PL AN T STORAGE SOCI ALI SI N G
TARGET SEGMEN T
18
S PAC E
There is very limited space in the slum. The homes are only one or two rooms at most and the street serves as a laundry, social space and storage as well as vehicle transportation. Despite this efficient use of space the Arugu seat was largely unused throughout the day. We see this underuse as an opportunity to activate the Arugu space to support the strong social connections already in the slum while offering shade, a washing line and rainwater collection. We want to design a structure that can make the Arugu space as efficient as other spaces in the slum. Every bit of space counts.
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
19
AREA OF D ESIGN IN T ERVEN T IO N
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
20
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Underutilistion of the Arugu space given the shortage of space in Tarakarama Nagar Slum.
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
21
MAIN AIM
Increasing functionality of the Arugu within the Tarakarama Nagar Slum.
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
22
S IT E Tarakarama Nagar Slum
DESIGN AI MS
E XIS IT IN G CO NDIT IO NS In Telagu, the word ‘Arugu’ means the place to sit. This seat is located on the front façade of many of the houses observed in Tarakarama Nagar with its current programme allowing for seating, planting and laundry. Through observation and discourse with community members, the Arugu has been identified as a space not fulfilling its spatial potential. PR OB L E M STAT EM ENT Underutilisation of the Arugu space.
7 PR IN C IPLES Cost Effective Sustainable Collaborative Resilient
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
23
• • •
2. To promote social engagement and interactions amongst the community in the Tarakarama Nagar Slum. 3. To hollistically apply sustainable practices throughout the design process and promote the use of such practices. 4. To produce a relevant and acceptable design that is respectful of the cultural and urban fabric.
TA R G E T SEGM ENT The residents of the Tarak Ramnagar Slum who are users of the Arugu. The slum of Tarakarama Nagar is home to 7870 people divided over some 1250 households, resulting in an approximately 6 people/ household. This makes for dense housing and chaotic streets that are void of a place to sit and relax.
• • • •
1. To design a multi-functional structure that activates the Arugu space throughout the day and night.
5. To facilitate social interaction through transforming spaces in the Tarakarama Nagar Slum. CONSTRAI N T S Cost Space Time
Culturally Sensitive Participatory Design People-centric
D ESIGN BRIEF
• C o st Ef fe c ti ve To produce a design that is affordable in order for it to be accessible for the users and local community.
• Culturally se nsi t i ve A design that responds to the cultural context and does not try to impose outsider opinions or change the way of life of the users.
• S u s t ai n abl e To produce a design that responds to the environment and considers the life span of materials, the impact and energy produced from manufacturing of materials and the design while also promoting a sustainable way of life.
• Par ticipator y de si gn A design that is highly considerate of the users by engaging with them throughout the design process.
• C o ll aborat i ve To work effectively with other people to create a design that considers a range of perspectives. In regards to this project, this includes working with the local community and the SPA students.
• People cent ri c A design that is centred around the needs and wants of the community and provides people with something that will aid their life styles without compromising existing conditions.
• R es i l i e n t To produce a design that can withstand weather conditions and maintain structural integrity overtime.
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
7 PRIN C IPL ES - EXPL AIN ED
24
In order to critically self-evaluate our ideas we developed a design criteria from the design brief. This criteria allows us to rate our ideas out of 5, identifying areas of weakness and areas of strength. As part of the collaboration we also intend to seek an evaluation from our SPA counterparts.
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
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D ESIGN C RIT ERIA
CRITERIA
PA R T B I d e a Se le ction
OU R E VA L U AT I ON
S PA E VA L U AT I ON
Low cost
/5
/5
Context specific
/5
/5
Sustainable
/5
/5
Effective shading
/5
/5
Ability to collect water
/5
/5
Washing line potential
/5
/5
Opportunity for implementing solar lights
/5
/5
Ease of assembly
/5
/5
Intergration with SPA
/5
/5
D ESIGN C RIT ERIA
26
PART C
DESIGNING THE SOLUTION
28
THE ARUGU
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
The Arugu (the place to sit) is a common structure found on the facade of most homes in the slum. It is built over the drain and is usually constructed from concrete and granite. It is currently used in a variety of ways including temporary storage of water buckets, plants, dishes and washing and of course sitting and socialising. We observed that during the hottest parts of the day the Arugu was not used, as it becomes too hot to sit on. Existing solutions to this problem are not common in the area but some residents hang clothes, plastic or cloth over the seat to sit under or have used the seat for the storage of items instead. Some houses have more conventional awnings, which are not accessible to majority and are mostly made out of aspestos cement or plastic sheeting. For these reasons we chose to explore a design
HIGH LEVEL OF UNIQUENESS
Design an exuberant, decorative and over the top storage system that is expensive but offers storage solutions.
Design a mosaic like pattern that can be applied to the opposite walls of houses to refract incident light from artificial lights inside, in order to light up the street. Design an intricate system that collects and stores rainwater, promoting sustainable practices within the slum. Transform the space into a cooking area with a bench to work at and areas for pots and utensils to sit in.
LOW VALUE
Extend the house into the space of the aragu to offer more room inside the house itself.
Get rid of the aragu completely to open up the street, thereby making it wider and offering more space for other activities.
Build shelves on the house wall behind the aragu for the storage of items such as pots.
LOW LEVEL OF UNIQUENESS
Design a cushion to improve the comfort of the aragu and reduce the emittance of heat that currently exists.
A multi-functional and sustainable shading device that provides shelter over the arugu as well as a water collection and storage system and washing line.
HIGH VALUE Make the aragu into a study desk where children can come home from school and do their homework.
Cloth held up over the aragu to shade the area and extend its usability and functionality throughout the sunnier hours of the day. Construct a device that attaches onto the wall of the house to accommodate for bicycle storage.
Add lighting to the front facade to light up the street, offering an increased sense of safety and eyes on the street.
A conventional awning that attaches to the wall of the house and shades the area to extend the functionality of the aragu during the heat of the day.
In designing the solution, we first brainstormed a range of ideas, that intended to approach the limited space found in Tarakarama Nagar Slum. We decided to plot our ideas against two axes according to the value and uniqueness of each idea. This diagram was used previously and it proved to be very helpful in visually allocating usefulness. This influenced us to think of ways we could achieve both high value and uniqueness. Ultimately we chose the idea that had the highest value and uniqueness, in the top right quadrant.
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
30
By analysising and sketching the existing street conditions we gained a better understanding of how the street is currently used and areas of potential improvement. There are strong social connections within the community, and the Arugu is used for a range of programmes.
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SIT E AN ALYSIS
We illustrated our initial concept in order to visualise the solution. This sketch outlines the functions we wanted our deisgn to perform: rainwater harvesting, washing line, shading and potential for solar lights. PA R T C D e signing the Solution
D ESIGN CO N C EPT SK ETC H
32
R AIN WATER H ARV ESTIN G
BUIL D ING M ATER IALS AND TECHNIQUES
SUN PAT H
Rainwater harvesting is a sustainable technique for collecting water.
The slum is made up of a variety of simple structures each with their own identities.
Analysing the sun path determines the shading depth and angle of the design.
In order for our shading system to function effectively the catchment area has to be large enough for substantial collection of water for simple tasks such as laundry and cooking.
Exisitng simple shading systems use bamboo and plastic tarp, tied with rope.
While a deeper shading device will offer more shelter, we have to strike a balance between depth and the narrowness of the existing streets in the Slum.
mm of Rainfall x Surface Area m2 = Litres
These techniques can be used to inform the design to ensure it integrates well with the existing context and to increase the acceptability of the design.
1067mm x 2m2 = 2135L (in a year)* In the month of July 16L of water can be expected each day.
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RESEARC H
LITE R OF L I G H T
L AURIE B AKER
T HE CARLTO N T ERRAC E
From a grassroots approach, this innovation has reached thousands globally to provide light to those with inadequate or no access to electricity. Local materials and plastic bottles are recycled in the process of creating affordable solar lights, which also promotes sustainable practices and skills within communities around the world. The initial idea has been furthered to design for night lights, making streets safer and allowing for functions and activities to carry on into the darker hours of the evening (“Liter of Light,” 2020). While primarily this project intends to tackle energy poverty, dark spaces are transformed to benefit users by improving their functionality and usability. While our project aims to solve an issue of inadequate use of space, concepts promoted by Liter of Light, such as sustainability and people-centric spatial design have influenced us.
Laurie Baker’s approach is based on low cost, sustainable and simple design. His designs use locally sourced material and only include essential elements. During the workshops at the Laurie Baker centre we learnt the construction techniques using materials such as bamboo, clay and stone. We built simple structures that were lost cost yet performed adequately. We want to apply Laurie Baker’s philosophy in our design through the use of low cost locally sourced materials and asking constantly questioning is it necessary?
The terrace houses of Carlton, Melbourne, Australia, are remnants of a begone slum era that surrounded the City of Melbourne in the early-mid 20th century (“FMC”, 2012). These houses were densely packed, sometimes housing dozens of people at a time, often backing onto narrow streets and laneways. Separating the private terrace from these public streets was a small porch used for storage or sitting, often covered by an eve or awning. Similarly, the Arugu mediates between public and private space often used for storage or not at all. Observations made on the coverage provided by the terrace typology, through awnings and eves could help in finding an effective solution for activating the Arugu.
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
RESEARC H - CASE ST U D IES
34
We collaborated with SPA students who were looking at improving roof design for the slum. Their proposal was a filler slab, sloped to allow for water run off and ventilation. Our design will work together with their roof to capture rainwater runoff and provide comfort to the occupants. This collaboration allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the local context. Due to the sitespecificity of the project, this was really beneficial to our design and we were able to bounce ideas off each other to come to a final design that reflects our ideas, enhanced by local knowledge and insight regarding the site, materials, culture and acceptability.
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SPA CO L L ABO RAT IO N
D E S IGN FUNCT IO N
D E S IGN CO NST R UCT IO N
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
PRIMARY
S E CON DA RY
Shading system to activate the Arugu space.
Rainwater collection Washing line Opportunity for solar lights
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM Light-weight frame
S KI N SYST E M Roof sheeting Flexible cover
D ESIGN CO N C EPT PL AN
36
As part of the design process we did a series of sketches in order to develop ideas. We looked at a series of framing structures as well as alternative multifunctional designs including the storage unit as part of the shading system, planter box to collect water run off and solar powered lights.
28
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IN IT IAL SK ETC HES
We made a sketch model to better understand and explore how the design could work physically and spatially. Our initial deisgn thinking involved using a frame structure with roof sheeting and a pvc pipe for drainage.
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
SK ETC H MO D ELS
38
B A M BOO
R EC YCLED TIMBER
PL ASTIC TARP
RI CE BAG S
P VC P I P E
As we learnt at the Laurie Baker Centre, bamboo is sustainable, strong and readily available.
We found some recycled timber pieces in the SPA basement but alot of joints would have been required, reducing the strength of the frame. TImber would also need maintenance.
Many local vendors use plastic tarps and sheeting as roof shelters. While it is waterproof, plastic is not sustainable.
These two rice bags were found among the piles of rubbish at the Slum itself. We thought about recycling and re-purposing them however they are not waterproof.
Another option for the frame and drainage system. While it is more sustainable than other plastics, it still did not satisfy our environmental considerations.
R E C YC L E D P L AST IC
J UT E STRING
ROOF SHEETING
WAT E R B A RRE L
CA N VAS
Recycled plastics in the form of old milk bottles, bags and plastic bottles could be used as a waterproof but unsustainable waterproof shelter strategy.
An organic material that is locally sourced and provides extra strength to nailed joints
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
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Conventional roof sheeting is more expensive, not accessible to the majority and lacks uniqueness.
We tried re-purposing an old water barrel dispenser by cutting the top off and using the plastic as a roof sheet. However, the ribs preventing the plastic from flattening.
A sustainable and organic material that also has waterproof qualities and is locally sourced.
MAT ERIAL EXPLO RAT IO N
M AT ER I AL
S U STA I N A B L E
AVA I L A B L E
LOW COST
WAT ERP RO OF
WO RKAB L E
Bamboo
Yes
Yes
Yes
If treated
Yes
Recycled Timber
Yes
Yes
Yes
If treated
Yes
Plastic Tarp
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Rice Bags
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
PVC pipe
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Recycled plastic
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jute string
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Roof sheeting
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Water barrel
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Canvas
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
To select appropriate materials we made an assessment table to ensure we picked materials that aligned with our principles and aims outlined in the deisgn brief. We assessed the materials for their qualities in sustainability, availability, low cost, water resistance and workability. Through this process we concluded that the best materials to use were Bamboo, Jute String and Canvas.
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
MAT ERIAL SEL EC T IO N
40
BA M BO O
JUTE STRING
CA N VAS
Bamboo is a strong sustrainable material that is grown locally in India. In order for the bamboo to be weather resistant it needs to be treated with Boric Acid, Borax and water.
Jute string is made from natural fibres, making it a sustainable material that can also be locally grown and sourced in India.
Similar to Bamboo and Jute rope canvas is a sustainable natural material that can be easily sourced in India. It is waterproof and very workable, and can be painted for ornamentation.
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MAT ERIAL SEL EC T IO N
CANVAS SHEET COVER
F INAL DESIGN
NAIL & JUTE STRING JOINT BAMBOO STRUCTURAL F RAME
PA R T C D e signing the Solution
ASSEMBLY D ESIGN
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This exploded isometric displays the parts that are joined together through the construction process to produce the final product. F U N CT I ON
ST RU CT U RE FU NCT IO N J UT E ST R I N G WASH ING L INE
C AN VAS S H E E T
N AI LE D C ON N E C T I ON S
ST RU CT U RE
ST RU CT U RE
B A M B OO GUT T E R
BAM BOO F R AM E
FU NCT IO N
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JU T E ST R I N G R E I N F OR C E M E N T
CHAIN
EXPLO D ED ISOMET RIC OF CO N ST RU C T IO N COMPO N EN T S
TOP J OI N T
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D ETAIL ED JO IN T CO N N EC T IO N S
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STRU C TU RE
FU NC TIO N
STRU C TU RE
STRU C TU RE
STRU C TU RE
FU NC TIO N
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TO P B AM BO O M EM B E R CAN VAS S H EET
D I AG O N AL B AM BO O M E M B E R S
N AI LED CO N N EC T IO N S , W IT H J UT E ST R I N G R EI N F O R C E M E N T B AM BO O F R AM E
J UT E ST R I N G WAS H IN G L IN E
STRU C TU RE
BO T TOM , B AC K B AM BO O M E M B E R
STRU C TU RE FU NC TIO N
BO T TOM , F R O N T B A M BO O M E M B E R B AM BO O G UT T ER
EXPLO D ED ISOMET RIC OF ASSEMBLY D ESIGN
L FIL
AR
UG
U
SH
AD
ER
SL
RO AB
OF
E
I NSTA LL AT I O N
MAINTEN AN C E
Our design can be easily fixed to the facade of homes with brackets and nails. Alternatively the structure could be hung from the roof.
Bamboo and Canvas are both highly durable materials, however the jute string would need to be replaced as it is prone to wear and tear.
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D IGITAL MO D EL PERSPEC T IVES
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F UNCTION
STRUCTURE STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE F UNCTION F UNCTION
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CANVAS S HEET
J UTE STRING REINFORCEMENT NAILED CONNECTIONS
B AMBOO FRAME J UTE STRING WAS HING L IN E B AMBOO G UT TER PRO TO T Y PE D ESIGN
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PHYSICAL MO D EL
1.
Assemble bamboo pieces to work out the overlapping and overhangs of each piece
2. Measure and mark with a pen 4cm from the end of the bamboo piece in order to nail in the correct position 3. Nail the base frame together, using a hammer 4. Nail the vertical elements to the base frame 5. Nail the top horizontal bamboo element 6. Tie diagonal members using jute string 7.
Tie all nailed connections with jute string to reinforce the strength of the joint, espe cially if bamboo has split
8. Attach the eaves gutter using jute string, at an angle to channel water to one end 9.
Nail the chain to the eaves gutter to direct water downwards to a bucket
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CO N ST RU C T IO N SEQ U EN C E - F RAME
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T IME L APSE PL AN N IN G CO N ST RU C T IO N PRO C ESS
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T IME L APSE CO N ST RU C T IO N OF F RAME
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FRONT
S IDE
PERSPEC T IVE
This is the final bamboo frame. It was sturdy, very light and easy to construct.
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BAMBO O F RAME
1.
Nail the canvas at intervals along the angled bamboo pieces.
2. Twist the bamboo to ensure the canvas is taut and fasten with necessary jute string.
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CO N ST RU C T IO N SEQ U EN C E - CAN VAS
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T IME L APSE AT TAC HIN G CAN VAS SHEET
FRON T
S IDE
C LO SE-U P
The canvas shading works effectively and wet washing items can easily be hung on the jute string to dry. The structure is stable and lightweight.
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F IN AL MO D EL
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P E R SP E C T I V E
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F IN AL MO D EL
We attached a gutter made from a halved bamboo stick and used a chain to direct the water downwards. This worked effectively to transport the water across the shade and down. More refinement may be required as the rainfall is quite heavy during the monsoon season. Upon reflection, a wider piece of bamboo to be used as the gutter with a larger chain would improve the amount of water collected and directed to a storage bucket at only a marginal cost increase. At a further expense, a more established system could be designed and implemented to replace the chain. This would be something to explore as a stage of refinement, however we have to ensure the design continues to be a cost-effective solution for the users.
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WAT ER PERF O RMAN C E T EST
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M AT ER I A L
R U P EES
Bamboo Jute Rope
We locally sourced all materials for the model. This ensured that the materials would be accessible for people in the slum if the design were to be implemented.
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Canvas Nails
250 30 100 30
Chain
40
TOTAL
450
*Maximum price, we know we got ripped off and were scared to negotiate!
CO ST AN ALYSIS
As it was the first time we attempted the construction of our design, we inevitably ran into challenges. Learning process has been beneficial to our design as it has uncovered areas that went unnoticed in sketches and on digital models, allowing us to reflect and identify areas for improvement. By refining the design we would also reduce cost.
TO IMPROVE: 1. Thicker bamboo to provide increased strength for the impact of the nails and prevent splitting. 2. Thinner, smaller nails that are easier to hammer into the bamboo. 3. A bigger half piece of bamboo for the eaves gutter to collect even more water. 4. Use one singular piece of canvas sheet to reduce the amount of material. 5. Reduce the number of bamboo members required. 6. Explore alternative water drainage to the chain system.
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D ESIGN REF IN EMEN T
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OUR
CR I T ER I A
4/5
Context specific
5/5
Sustainable
4/5
Effective shading
4/5
Ability to collect water
3/5
Washing line potential
4/5
Opportunity for implementing solar lights
4/5
Ease of assembly
5/5
Intergration with SPA
5/5
S PA
CR I T ER I A
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E VALUATIO N
Low cost
E VALUATIO N
Low cost
4/5
Context specific
5/5
Sustainable
4/5
Effective shading
3/5
Ability to collect water
4/5
Washing line potential
5/5
Opportunity for implementing solar lights
3/5
Ease of assembly
4/5
Intergration with SPA
5/5
EVAL U AT IO N
S
W
O
T
Improves the usability and multifunctionality of the arugu space
Specific to the arugu space
Potential to be applied over spaces that are currently subject to direct sunlight Communal water jug collected by the device
With the impending move of the slum from its current location to the south, the new housing provided by the Government may not include an arugu space
If the device is implemented on a few walls in a street, they can be connected by washing lines as is already prevalent in the slum
It may not be accepted by the community straight away as, admittingly, it is not the biggest problem the residents are facing
Facilitates the already strong social interaction within the community
During the monsoon season, the canvas would be soaked and the ratio of water harvesting to amount of rainfall would be limited
Affordable Takes some time and skill to construct. Sustainble, locally sourced materials Resilient and climate responsive Easily assembled and constructed
Applicable at certain times of the day and year By activating the space, the existing use could be compromised
Customisable, modular design to suit the length of the specific wall and Arugu beneath it Responds to its local context in its design attributes
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PART D
CONCLUSION
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Receiving feedback is a valuable tool to further a design and improve upon it. The key points in our verbal and written feedback were reducing material and increasing functionality so we asked ourselves where we could implement those changes. REDUCE AMOUNT OF CANVAS SHEET In our protoype we had to use and overlap three sheets of canvas due to the smaller size of the sheets that we bought.
IS T HIS BA M BO O MEMBER NECESSA RY ? A piece of bamboo that was part of the base frame and attached the eaves gutter to the rest of the structure could be removed.
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EAVES GUT TER TOO SMALL For optimal rainwater collection and storage, the eaves gutter is too small to collect much water, especially during heavy rainfall.
F EED BAC K
ONE SINGUL AR PIE CE OF CANVAS One large piece of canvas can be easily sourced locally. This would reduce material, cost and any potential leakage from unsealed gaps.
SMALLER NAILS, REDUCI N G AMOUNT OF JUTE STR I N G Smaller nails would prevent the difficulty of hammering and the likelihood of splitting the bamboo. This in turn, would also reduce the need for jute string reinforcement.
PA R T D Conclusion
L ARGER EAVES GUT TER A range of bamboo sizes are available. By choosing a larger bamboo stick, the device is able to collect and direct an increased amount of water downwards.
In responding to the feedback, we made a few changes that not only have improved our design but also more highly satisfied the design criteria we set for ourselves.
T H I CKE R BA MBOO ME MB E RS Thicker bamboo would be stronger and less prone to splitting when hit with nails.
RE MOVA L OF E XT RA BA MBOO ME MBE R After questioning whether this member is actually necessary, the answer is no. Thus, we have removed it from the new design iteration as the eaves gutter can function as a structural piece in the base frame.
RESPO N SE TO F EED BAC K
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From beginning to end the design process provided many challenges which we as a group had to overcome. From the sheer scale of the Tarakarama Nagar slum down to the specificities of the Arugu seat, it was always crucial to passively analyse our context and empathetically design our solutions. This empathetic design was employed in an effort to remain as culturally sensitive to the context as possible. We learnt that the basis of humanitarian design was reliant upon a response or “design” relevant to contextual “humanitarian” requirements and needs. With this in mind our research into how the Arugu space is already used was immense, making the utmost effort not to change how the space is used but to improve upon its current performance. Programmes such as laundry, planting and sitting are all benefited by reduced exposure from extreme elements that the slum is prone to. To develop a greater understanding of requirements and needs of the local people, it was necessary to find ways of communicating and exchanging our knowledge and ideas, whilst also acknowledging theirs. This cross-cultural communication was most evident in our exchanges with children, most of whom were still learning English. We visited a small afterschool program in the local church where children were learning communicating through hand gestures and simple words. This seemingly captured this concept of cross-cultural communication providing both parties new knowledge to take away, for them an opportunity to develop their English and for us a deeper contextual understanding of the slum. We have also appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with the SPA students as it allowed for the exchange of knowledge and understanding to further develop the final designs of both parties.
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REF L EC T IO N
Through this deeper understanding of the context we were then able to incorporate local knowledge into our design so it would cooperate with its environment and users. Construction methods of bamboo, twine and nails kept construction, and the products eventual application, homogenous to its environment, using readily available materials and culturally accepted skills. This application of the vernacular both aesthetically and conceptually allowed our product to delivered in a way that is for the locals and by the locals, allowing them to adapt our design to their needs opposed to adopting it and altering their current environment. The interconnecting laundry that spans house to house embodies this ideology and was an aspect we found very important. While we originally perceived it as a hassle, we later realised it as a physical representation of neighbourly connections, publicly joining the Arugu spaces to others rather than privatising them. From our early workshops in Melbourne to the lectures and workshops at the Laurie Baker Centre and finally the presentations in Vijayawada, the Humanitarian Design Internship has provided a platform for us students to experience a new and exciting learning environment and with-it new ways of learning and knowledge exchange. We were challenged to problem solve within a foreign context to produce a design intervention that responds effectively to the specificity of its location. From this we have not only how such thinking can affect our individual livelihoods but how we can impart knowledge and help the livelihoods of others, which has been something truly special. Our group has found the whole process extremely rewarding and will be sure to carry its teachings for a long time to come.
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REF L EC T IO N
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Akbar, S. (2019, Feb 3). Water Hyacinth Threatens to Choke Irrigation Canals in the City. The times of India. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/water-hyacinth-threatens-to-choke-irrigation-canals-in-the-city/ articleshow/67822891.cms Google Maps (n.d.). India. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps/place/India/ data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x30635ff06b92b791:0xd78c4fa1854213a6?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiR_d_FjcvnAhVm4HMBHQ6BKQQ8gEwAHoECAsQAQ https://www.britannica.com/place/Krishna-River Indian Census Bureau (2011). Districts of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved from https://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/districtlist/ andhra+pradesh.html Languages in Andhra Pradesh (2019). Retrieved from https://www.mapsofindia.com/andhra-pradesh/languages.html Liter of Light (2020). Retrieved from https://literoflight.org/ Rathod, Vikram & Bhale (2018). Biogas Production from Water Hyacinth in the Batch type Anaerobic Digester. Schwartzberg, J. E., & Thapar, R. (2020) India. In Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/India The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2015) Krishna River. In Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/ Krishna-River The Future Melbourne Committee (2012) , Thematic history: A history of the City of Melbourne’s urban environment, retrieved from https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/history-city-of-melbourne-urban-environment.pdf Vijayawada Climate (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.climate-data.org/asia/india/andhra-pradesh/vijayawada-715084/ World’s Most Populous Countries. (2019, November). Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/world/population-statistics/ worlds-50-most-populous-countries
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BIBL IO GRAPHY
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