Page | 1

INTRODUCTION TO HOUSING - Spring 2022

WEEK-2
5th January, 2022

Stuti Parikh
(20BAR070)

Title of the Topic: Urbanization & Housing

Question / Reading:

1. Chapter-The Urbanization, Housing and Urbanization by Charles Correa, Urban Design

Research Institute, Bombay, 1999

Summary:
a. Space as a resource, A bill of Rights, Transport and urban form:

With the growing industries and initiation of urbanization, the nation today holds a few
cities as assets that have erected to become what we call, a metropolitan city. The article
commences with an optimistic lookout towards substantial skills and services the country
has to its name, some brought by the Britishers as a boon.
However, in such mega cities, we find discrepancy in the lifestyle of various sectors. The
egocentric mentality of the mankind forces us to build according to affordability, leaving
the road side tenants out of the equation. Hence a solution to this can be utilization of
space that need not be altered for any methodical purpose, the open space.

But the problem doesn’t end here. The obligation to make a habitat because of growing
numbers still remains. The ideology of occupying space according to the status still
remains. The notion of aboriginal housing has never been taken upon, where everyone
abodes in a similar, indigenous manner. The concept of low rise housing should be a
preliminary choice for it not only allows delegation of labor but also room for future growth.
For this, ‘rights of housing’ for fair justice should be sanctioned, which means nothing but
spreading the word across and bringing multiple working bodies together for a solution.

Urbanization is not solely housing but an amalgamation of functioning. A haphazard

condition is created when emigration for the purpose of work takes place. This creates a
residential bottleneck near offices since settlements are made near place of work. This
brings the question of reorganizing into the murky picture. In such cases, especially with
places like Bombay with a linear layout rather than collateral, an appropriate system of
transportation is mandatory. A suitable transport structure will resolve the problem.

b. What does the author mean by city’s ‘metaphysical’ aspects?

The author’s idea for a metaphysical city, an intangible aspect, means understanding the
metropolitan milieu. It is the city's figurative existence that is taken into account in order to
better comprehend its relevance in urban design and geography. It promotes a flexible
approach to analyzing a city and identifies larger linking patterns that can often go
unnoticed. He explains the need for factual as well as a subjective approach for broader
thinking and a better solution.
Second Year B. Arch. | Institute of Architecture and Planning | Nirma University, Ahmedabad
 Page | 2
INTRODUCTION TO HOUSING - Spring 2022

c. Author’s experiences working with Mumbai and his planning strategies-

pattern of jobs opportunities and public transport system, New Mumbai, Nariman
point, Parel:

The Bombay project has internally bifurcated projects that the author judiciously
discusses. One of the few is the establishment of a new section of land, known today as
the New Bombay. This extension was necessary because of the growing population and
the exorbitant rates southwards. This leads to long hours of undulation, for which a
structural plan for MRT and bus services was introduced. By understanding the order of
priority of a sector and, a complex yet useful transport structure was erected out of a
linear bus system. The architect had a responsibility to attract the population of Bombay
and ensure a reallocation process. It was a mere success for now, nevertheless growth is
eternal.

One of the undying attractions of the southern part of the city, Nariman Point, had its
drawbacks too. It was an area disrupted by the proclamation of land by corrupted
originations, which lead to the start of a non profitable group’s idea of a plan to redevelop
the area. The architect introduced the use of barren piece of land for a walkway with
adjacent placement of commercial and social activities. However, the architect’s plan was
not considered and executed, leaving the city at an end of great loss.

The central idea of the project at Parel was recycling of land. As for that area, the land
taken by mills that is detrimental. It depended on the condition of the mill; hence they were
further categorized into working mills, feasible and deteriorated ones. Accordingly the mills
were demolished leaving the continuous piece of land for a better use.

d. Explain author’s experience on housing for displaced people at New

Bagalkot, Karntaka:

A very susceptible project for the architect; he had to deal with not only reallocation, but
also rehabilitation of settlements because of the overflowing river due to construction of
the dam. Looking back at his previous projects, he utilized the idea of reflecting the
existing town to the New Bagalkot. A layout for settlement of groups of varying incomes
was also introduced in order to avoid isolation. The architect explains the need of spatial
organization and ensures to reflect the essence of the town of Sri Rangam by merely
replicate the idea of how the roads were. Lastly, the architect tries to maintain that
element of indigenousness.

Second Year B. Arch. | Institute of Architecture and Planning | Nirma University, Ahmedabad
 Page | 3
INTRODUCTION TO HOUSING - Spring 2022

Understanding:

The article here has multiple problems to which, Sir Charles Correa has identified and
given a solution to. However they have one aspect in common, making a superlative use
of the space. The idea has not been communicated directly but the consensus to all
issues that were raised was kindred. We understand that living should be perceived out of
the four walls and use that space is a practical resource. Along with that, dealing with
usage of energy, water, transportation is all dealt through a systematic innuendo. I
completely with the author where he stated the metro cities as intermediaries of the 19th
century; however our nation still advancing in various sectors still has comparable degree
of service considering our economical and cultural growth. The author tends to keep an
identity of the place, being aboriginal housing or the surrounding settings. It is the
effortless design with endeavored planning that stands out. Whether it is affordability or
serviceability, the architect maintains an unbiased and judicious approach towards each
project.

Second Year B. Arch. | Institute of Architecture and Planning | Nirma University, Ahmedabad