Title:
The Dharavi Dilemma: A study of urban vernacular design and its socioeconomic impact, to analyse the role of Dharavi’s residents in the failure of redevelopment initiatives in Dharavi.
Abstract:
This paper is a study of urban vernacular design and its socioeconomic impact, to analyse the role of Dharavi’s residents in the failure of redevelopment initiatives in Dharavi, Mumbai. Composed of hundreds of “temporary” settlements, housing almost a million residents within two square kilometres of government land, Dharavi is an enigmatic melting pot of religions, professions and cultures. By looking into the significance of this urban vernacular architecture, the paper aims to highlight the fragility and dependence of this diverse socioeconomic fabric on the existing slum structures as opposed to the proposed high-rise buildings. It also aims to present alternative strategies for redevelopment by critically evaluating existing discourse between the stakeholders, i.e., the government, the private builders and the residents. Initial discussions on the Dharavi Redevelopment Program largely criticised and revaluated the existing plans rather than presenting alternative solutions or communication platforms. However, more recent literature highlights the need for alternative research methods, increased involvement of the slum residents and the value of grassroots organisations. There is also evidence of design thinking in human-centred design being a successful tool in uplifting underprivileged communities. Thus, the primary research for this paper looks into the work of existing organisations like SPARC and their involvement with Dharavi in current redevelopment endeavours, mainly through interviews. The research also includes the perspectives of the residents through observational research and interviews.
The full paper can be found here as a PDF: Google Drive Link