WHAT ARE CHAWLS ?

A chawl – roughly translated from Marathi as 1922-1924: BDD chawls 1982:

room fronted by a corridor – is a linear or C- (British Development The Great
shaped building of one or two room housing Department) built in Worli which Bombay
units that share a common balcony. Originally are the earliest and largest of the Textile strike
derived from the typology of army barracks, current residential areas in Worli. started by mill workers
chawls are typically two or three-storied These were prison buildings Of Mumbai under trade
with a common toilet and During British Rule and Union leader Datta
washing area on the ground converted to residential use for Samant. 80 mills in
floor. the mills workers. Central Mumbai closed H
Made of black stone of 1 room During and after strike.
apartments. I
S
1854: The Bombay Spinning and T
THE EVOLUTION
Weaving Company was the first cotton
OF
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mill to be established in the city on
7th July 1854 at Tardeo in Central Bombay. CHAWLS. R
Y
1661: Portuguese Princess In the late 19th century, the textile
Catherine of Braganza brings of industry prompted a vast influx of
Bom Bahia to King Charles II of immigrants from the
England as a part of his hinterland. Constructed by mill
marriage dowry. owners and private builders to
house the growing community of
migrants who gave the city its
1668-1669: British East India cosmopolitan flavor, the over-
crowded chawl became
Company leased the seven islands
the quintessential icon of the
of Mumbai from Charles II . working-class dwelling.

Sheet
Worli - BDD CHAWL no.01
- SHAFAYEE SHAIKH
 WORLI I
D.P N
PLAN. T
Locating Worli B.D.D chawl. R
. O
D
U
2 kms
C
T
EXPERIENCIAL MAPPING
I
EXPERIENCIAL MAPPING
OF THE STREET: The street is a lively O
OF THE SITE : The site has
Residential, commercial, religious places as well as place to see as the social gathering spaces like the banyan N
Recreational areas. tree sit outs, the recreational areas and the space between
2 buildings are very well connected to the street making the
Place socially active.
G+3
T
BUILDINGS O

PLOT AREA : 239000sq.m.

S
TOTAL BUILT UP : 228753 sq.m. I
F.S.I then : 0.95 ; F.S.I now : 1.33.
COST OF LAND : Rs. 2,889,151.
TYPICAL PLAN OF A BDD BUILDING . T
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
PER BUILDING : Rs. 100,729. 10 Houses on each side of the corridor. 2 religious buildings 2 dispensaries on site . Total number of shops E
3 wc’s in each end of the corridor.
TOTAL NUMBER OF BUILDINGS : 121. On site.
on site : 19 .
Sheet
Worli - BDD CHAWL no.02
- SHAFAYEE SHAIKH

HEIGHTS: All the buildings are G+3
of the same height , expect for the
tapri shops.
LAND USE : The site is of mixed use
type, having 2 recreational areas and
residential as well as commercial.
TRAFFIC MAPPING : Vehicular and
pedestrian movement.
Worli - BDD CHAWL
H B
A U
R I
D L
RELIGIOUS PLACES: a masjid and SCHEMATIC SECTION THROUGH 2 BUILDINGS . D
buddhist temple in this site.
I
D
Hard Data Mapping N
A Includes the detailed schematic, pictorial
G
representation of the site.
T Here, the maps show various aspects to be
considered while analyzing the site. The Land
A use depicts the mixed use, recreational areas
C
of the site also traffic mapping tells us about
the
Pedestrian and traffic movement. Schematic
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M DENSITY: the density of people on section drawn along the sheet helps us to
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the streets varies during morning and .
3D VIEW OF THE SITE show the parking issues on the site.
A evening times.
The other section helps us study the spaces in
and between the building.
D
P I
P T
I I
N O
G N
. S
SOCIAL GATHERING AREAS
SCHEMATIC SECTION OF A STREET
Sheet
no.03
- SHAFAYEE SHAIKH
 P
. I
Organically developed social Basic medical facilities . Different uses of open areas between the 2 buildings . Drains
gathering spaces. C
T
U
R
E
. General store: tapri shops Exposed electrical services . Midland light and ventilation . Light and ventilation in the passage . Source of water supply.
catering the basic needs.
A
N
A
L
Religious place: mosque . Meter room . Terrace having slight slope on Dumping of garbage from the
Y
both the sides . kitchen window . S
I
S

street view . Dhoop chaav saloon . B.D.D Chawl.

Unhygienic conditions. Parking along the rear side .
Sheet
Worli - BDD CHAWL no.04
- SHAFAYEE SHAIKH
 The chawl’s shared spaces gave rise to a strong sense of community. “These
spaces were actively used as political, social and cultural spaces. BDD chawl
has an open sense of community and nurtured a variety of cultures. This
interface between the public and the private is almost lost from buildings
today.
S
O
COMMON
Unauthorized TOILETS. C
Encroachments. The common toilets I
The tenements have illegally here Is an issue of
extended the area such that it concern from hygiene
A
acts as balcony for them. This point of view and also L
extension hampers the makes difficult for
elevational and structural the females.
features of the building. SERVICES I
PARKING The services designed S
2 wheelers parked on the over the years have
footpath and cars on the road
S
now started to fail
Create hindrance in the which creates nuisance U
pedestrian as well as vehicular and unhygienic
movement on
E
conditions in and
the streets. The courtyards came alive around the S
during public festivals like surroundings.
Moharram, Ganesh Chaturthi
and Gokulashtami, The hotbed
and served as a forum for the of political
activism during
art forms such as bhajans,
Independence,
powadas and tamashas. chawls cut across
“Living in a chawl is like class, community
having a large joint family, ” and religion
Sheet
Worli - BDD CHAWL no.05
- SHAFAYEE SHAIKH
 What is projected scenario?
Projected scenario is one alternative image of how the future can unfold. A projection may serve as the raw material for a scenario, but scenarios often P
require additional information.
R
CASE I CASE II CASE III O
J
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C
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E
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C
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A
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The open space between 2 buildings Looking at the skyline of a plush area like The parking which is now done on I
where there is kitchen area in its façade Worli , if in future the buildings go vertically the footpaths and roads should be properly
is being spoilt by dumping of garbage and high then the open spaces between them will channelized and relocated to the rear side
O
services are exposed here. So to avoid such loose its essence and will not be visually of the building for smooth
nuisance we can create a vegetable gardening proportionate. pedestrian movement which will lead to
space here. smooth traffic flow.
Sheet
Worli - BDD CHAWL no.06
- SHAFAYEE SHAIKH