Developing people's places - Ambli, Ahmedabad

DEVELOPING PEOPLE’S PLACES Making habitat – megacity, micro narratives

Jonathon Donnelly | Filippo Fanciotti | Alejandra Ferrera Zuzana Jančovičová | Vedanti Agarwal | Akira Ooka Jennifer McMaster | Brinda Shah | Parth Shah Maitri Shah | Purvi Tank | Juan Mario Pradilla

Archiprix 2017

visual essay

“The method used in this workshop is participatory design, an approach that actively involves all stakeholders to help ensure that the result meets their needs and can be used. How can you as an architect communicate with the community? And how do you translate and implement the obtained information?

Ambli Village was once a village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, but has now been swallowed by the city. The village feeling is still present, the urban structure is intact, there is a sense of belonging, and the people living there form a tightknit group. Two communities live in Ambli Village. They respect each other but never interact, except for one day in the year when a traditional play is performed in the village.

The qualities of village life are threatened by the advancing city. Is it possible to preserve these qualities? And what exactly are these qualities? The group spent days in the village, observing the daily routine of people living there, talking to them, participating in daily events, playing with the children, organizing a drawing workshop. Everything was done in order to discover the wishes of the people living in Ambli Village.”

AMBLI VILLAGE Places

2017

DIALOGUE WITH RESIDENTS Transcripts

2017

THAKORE COMMUNITY What do you do thewhole day?

We wake up in the morning. After finishing tea, we go to

work from 7a.m. to 11 a.m. on the farm, then come back

home and finish any house hold work. Then again we go

back on the farms as labourers and work there from 2p.m.to

5:50p.m. And then we come home.

So if all women go to work, what do the children do?

No, only the elderly women and midle aged women go to

work. Younger women or newlyweds remain in their houses

to take care of children and perform household work.

So you only go to work at the farms?

No, some women also go to do household work.

So what do young women do in the house?

Young woman go to learn tailoring or things like beauty

parlour work.

So do they have sewing machines?

If they can afford them, they have them, otherwise no.

Do you do anything like embroidery?

No, we don’t know. We can’t do that . But yes, we can do

some small clothing repair work.

Which is your main festival?

Navratri. We do it “Bhadarvo”.

What do you do then?

We decorate this “Chowk” and make a “Pavagadh” mountain

and do Garba.

So you don’t do it with Patels?

No, we don’t have anything to do with them. They have a

separate Garba.

So you don’t socially connect with Patels?

No, we do meet if we are friends and also eat at each other

places, but only if we are friends.

What is the common space in the village that you share?

“Gam choro/chowk” where the Patel vas is, that’s called gam chowk.

Is there any festival in common you share?

Yes! During the time of “Bhavai,” we all meet at chowk -

that’s the village chowk.

So what kind of decorations do you do in Navaratri?

We make “torans” and hang.

What if we make Toran for you?

Yes! But it can’t be made out of plastic. We would make it out

of fabric. (Says one of the participants- Zuzana). Yes! Fabric Who would take care of it?

We have a room for festivals where we share common things

like speakers, a music system, etc. So we would keep it safe there.

But you all have to make with us!

Yes! We can. Some of us can sew; some can stick mirrors, etc.

PATEL COMMUNITY You greeted us well, so we want to do something for the village which can be remembered.

Make a bench for us where we can sit.

But you already have these seats; why you need bench?

It can be shifted when big vehicles come.

But why do you need them?

So we can sit.

But you don’t use those benches there?

They just came in and put them there.

Okay. But we can’t just do it for you. You have to be part of the making proces.

Yes. We can. It would be good. We can tell you a place to put it.

Another woman: Hey! You are not going to sit around all day.

What do you do in the afternoon when you are done with your household works?

Sleep! What else! No.. No .. We do have women who watch TV, do embroidery, mirror work, making “Rakhi”. You could make a place where

we could do our work together; it would help generate income and

provide us with something to do. If that happened, we would work.

Do you need a building or space?

Oh! Yes! This space where we are sitting is the best place for us

to sit.

Why?

This big “Otla” is open and we can see our houses, this street and also our children who might be playing.

So if you use this space throughout the whole year, what will happen in summer and the monsoon, since it is open?

Of course, what can be done without cover? We need some cover and it

would be good.

So you think women from this “vas” would come or women from all “vas”?

Yes, but women from this “vas” would be good.

Oh! I see a lot of children around! Seems the school is over and they are back!

Yes! Also ask them what they want.

Yes! I want to.. Call your friends. We want to know what you play?

We play volleyball, Kabbadi.

Here?

No, in the ground. Here people say No.

So, What do you play in streets?

“Napolyu”, “ThappoDaav” (Hide and seek) Do you play with girls?

Yes, Sometimes.

So, girls What do you play? Do you play with boys?

We play with dolls. Sometimes with boys. Next home......

All the ladies of this vas sit here?

Yes, this big plinth place and first home.

Children, Do you like these dirty walls, where people spit?

No, not at all.

So, what do you do?

Paint the wall

What do we paint? Let’s paint it together.

We can paint on paper and then on the wall.

Do you have a blackboard anywhere?

Yes, we have one outside, near the Panchayat Building and we write

notices there.

Okay. Would you like it if small blackboards are everywhere?

It could be good if different Vas can write different things.

INTERVENTIONS Cooperation

2017

Interview 1:

VAIBHAV a youngster from Ambli Village

”You all came last week and within this short time have become like friends to us. This place, which you have transformed, was lying here without any use and so it became a breeding site for mosquitoes and garbage. So no one wanted to sit here. But today, with your efforts, all the children in the village can play here and I can assure you that in the future, people will sit here and enjoy this spot. This has been possible because of your involvement - the entire village is very thankful to all of you.”

Interview 2:

ROSHAN a school going boy from Ambli Village

“I had fun with Phillipo and everyone, this place here was very dirty.

We cleaned it and planted trees along with all of you, so it was a lot of fun. We will play Kabaddi here everyday, sit around here and have fun with everyone.”

Interview 3:

SCHOOL GIRLS from Ambli Village

“We love this garden. We will use it for playing. Thank you for being here for 10 days and doing this for us.”

Aavjo !

DEVELOPING PEOPLE’S PLACES