Maximizing Density : an architectural documentary in Mumbai, India

Maximizing Density

BASEमब ंु ई

Project Team: Huang Yuyang Anvitha Jagadish Paul Ligeti Wei Yiting Yeh Yunchih Project Directors: Robert Mangurian Mary-Ann Ray

Acknowledgement of Support for this Project: Studio Mumbai: Bijoy Jain Lakshmi Menon Mitul Desai Krish Shah Mr. Prashant University of Michigan: The Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and the International Institute, Experiential Learning Fund

BASEमुंबई

Maximizing Density

May 2015

Mumbai is a city of vast scales and incredible densities. Due to the city’s massive population and density that is ten times greater than Manhattan, residents must make the best of what they have – from gathering resources, to entrepreneurial endeavors, and maximizing existing space.

This book documents the spaces and businesses adapting to, and created by, the constraints of the city. Like grass growing through sidewalk cracks, both concrete and impromptu shops emerge out of the most unexpected, small spaces.

Occupying sidewalks, buildings, and underground spaces, business owners continue to sell their services and goods, despite the limitations placed on them by their dimensions.

We aim to use the photographs, measurements, drawings, and interviews contained within this book to document and memorialize the unique life that these shops add to the already chaotic, impromptu Mumbai.

June, 2015

Kazid Sayed Street

a

b

a. Sewing Shop owned by a married couple, the sewing shop stands beneath an aged building which will be replaced in the next few years. The space is just cozy enough to accomodate the co-working of two people.

c

b. Enshrining Beneath the ple there is a ing for more The wooden shop was extended fro umns of the

g Shop e old Jainist tema stencil shop rune than fifty years. n structure of the transformed and om one of the coltemple.

c. Stencil Shop Neat, new and well structured, the stencil shop was reported to have the widest business reach.

The sewing shop captured our attention with its striking blue color. When we asked about the shop, and about taking measurements, the owner - an amiable man then sewing a pair of dress pants - invited us in. Dominating the center of the space was a white table with a large black sewing machine, wrapepd by a built-in bench. Pictures of TWO GODS rested on a shelf at the back, in front of the mirror which made the shop seem bigger than its 12 square meters.

Diary of 22nd May 2015-Mumbai Kazi Syed Street Alan, Anvitha, Chih, Paul

Mr Surendra Laxmidas Aiya approached us and started talking. He explained that this was his family’s stencil shop and that he is the 2nd generation owning it. Mr. Ziya said that the ghee store above his was at chest level so that the shopkeeper could sit comfortably on the floor of his shop and talk to his customers.

“I have been making stencils for the past 32 years. I am 69 now. My father and brothers used to do it before me, but now I am the only living person in my family left who has the skill to perpetuate the business. So, I am obliged to do it; it is my duty to cary on the family business.”

“The column here was originally part of the Jain temple above me. My shop is on the back side of the temple, under the priests’ resting quarters.”

-Mr. Surendra Laxmidas Aiya While Chih and Alan were measuring the shop, Surendra took me and Paul around the street to other shops.

He noted that the buildings in this area are built in such a way so as to hold each other. Most of them share a common side wall. Some buildings are later built between two standing buildings are only supported by thee adjacent ones. the small shops had caged metal sheets on at least one side for ventilation.

The column here was originally part of the Jain temple above me. My shop is on the back side of the temple, under the priests’ resting quarters.�

-Mr. Surendra Laxmidas Aiya

Stencil Shop

In comparison to the other stencil shop, this one was above-ground and much more brightly lit. It was wedged in between the ground and another shop, whose entrance could be accessed by making a loop up and around the stencil shop.

Plan

Back Elevation

Inner Elevation 1

Scale: 3cm 0

Inner Elevation 2 Scale- 1:25

Scale: 3cm = 1m 0

1m

Site Elevation

Site Plan

Stencil Shop Scale- 1:50

Five Shops on the Corner

Within a Corner of Mumbai Street Composite photo

residential building

a

b

c

Site Plan of The Corner Five different tiny shops, each within 3 square meter, squeeze a corner of street in mumbai.

The Five Shops a. Electronic Repairing Center

b. Key Shop

c. Snack Shop

entrance

d

e

d. Clock Shop

e. Stamp Shop

Location

Plan

Elevation

Section

Electronic Repair Center The man said that he is capable of fixing any problem of electroic device, including monitors, laptops, DVD players , etc. He is self taught beginning as a young man and he has had this shop for 25 years. He earns around 500 rupees (8 US Dollars) fixing one item these days. Sitting in a one-square-meter shop beside the busy street with consistent honking, we found testing a DVD player that can not read a disc.

Key Shop The key shop occupies an extremely small area: in between the corner of two other shops the key maker produces “all kinds of key� as he claimed. Over the past twenty years the owner has used his handmade tools to turn this tiny space into a highly popular key shop for the neighboring customers.

Within 15 mins, he have already copied another key and earn 20 rps (0.3 USD ).

Location

Section

Elevation

Plan

With these tools, he can copy a key in 15 mins.

Location

Snack Shop The owner really spends time on displaying the snacks. Every morning he spends thirty minutes to arrange his commodities, making all the most visible to customers. The snacks shop, which the owner humbly denies anything special about it, is the very example of the space usage of Mumbai’s small shop.

Location

Clock Shop This shop might be the most usual shop in modern society, as well as the biggest and nicest furnished among the five shops. He often has his earphone on, probably to get rid off the crazy noise of traffic.

Commercial Art Center Starting the business from 45 five years ago, this “Commercial Art Center“ (as written on the door) is now run by three brothers from the second generation. He hand carves stencil, metal words and rubber stamps. The shop remains exactly the same as 45 years ago. How the space was disigned 45 years ago is the best example of maximizing the density, with a lot of intelligence in it. With this 1.5 square meter commercial space, their father is able to afford his son to study MBA in UK.

Location

Plan

Elevation

Section

Entrance of a residentail building

Simply observing one corner of Mumbai, and how Mumbaikers maximize density has been clearly and concisely revealed. Between the snack shop and the clock shop, there is an entrance to a large 6 story residential building. The area of the empty lobby nearly equals the total area of five shops.

The width of the stair is wider than most of shops.

Low labor costs allow hand craft to still exist in Mumbai. Having not fully transformed to being an industrialized city, Mumbai remains the city with the highest density and diversity around the globe.

Entrance of a residentail building Unfolded elevation

Barber Shops

Mumbai Barber shops exist anywhere and everywhere in the city and in all shapes and sizes. Traditional barber shops - those housed in larger edifices - do carry on business in the city. However, barber shops can also be housed in solitary huts - metal or wood boxes that seem to fold out of the city.

And then there is the barbershop without the shop. These businesses operate on benches, bicycles, and other existing impromptu spaces, where the same grooming as in a traditional building takes place.

Barbershops are deeply associated with the daily life of the city’s residents, as evidenced by the multitude of shops.

Barber Shops

Barber Shop at S-Bridge near Byculla Station

Section

Front Elevation

Plan Scale - 1 : 50

Barber Shop at S-Bridge near Byculla Station

Paan Shops

Paan shops are everywhere in the city. They usually pop up on the busy sidewalks. They are closed boxes at night, open up their box doors with a seat and shelves of paan additives, spices and other snacks in the store.

Paan is a popular snack here. It is prepared with betal leaf, areca nut and sometimes with tobacco. Paan is served with refreshing flavor and tastes tailored to customer’s preference.

Paan Shop at KK Road

Plan

Side Elevation

Front Elevtion Scale - 1 : 25

Other Shops

Plan

Side Elevtion

Front Elevtion Scale - 1 : 50

Rubber Material Shop at Bibijan

Plan

Side Elevation

Plumber Works

Front Elevation Scale - 1:50

Top Left: Measurement Tape Shop Top Right: Perfume Shop Opposite Page: Tire Repairing Center

Tape Measure Shop

Above: Street Lottery Center Opposite Page: Top Left: Chai Shop Top Right: Scarf Shop Bottom Left: Pet Fish Shop Bottom Right: Banana Shop