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Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur
VISHESH GUPTA | 10AR10050
FIELD
OBSERVATION
REPORT
STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF A SLUM IN BANGALORE
Contents
DIFFICULTY OF DEFINITION..................................................................................................................................3
DIFFICULTY OF APPROACH..................................................................................................................................4
HOUSING TYPOLOGY OF VISITED SLUMS................................................................................................................4
THE SLUM IN QUESTION .....................................................................................................................................9
LIFESTYLE, CONDITIONS ET CETERA.....................................................................................................................10
EFFORTS BY NGOS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS .................................................................................................11
IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDINAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE.....................................................................................11
DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM.............................................................................................................................12
DESIGNING A PROTOTYPE.................................................................................................................................14
DEVELOPABLE SYSTEMS....................................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................20
Annexures(I,II,III).........................................................................................................................................21
DIFFICULTY OF DEFINITION
The Census of India defines a slum as “a compact area having a population of at least 300 or about 60-70
households of poorly built congested tenements, in unhygienic environment usually with inadequate
infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking water facilities.”
However, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, following the definition adopted by the
National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), considers as a slum “a compact settlement with a
collection of poorly built tenements mostly of a temporary nature, crowded together usually with
inadequate sanitary and drinking water facilities in unhygienic conditions”
It is, therefore, not surprising to note the following difference in data on account of the differences in
the definitions followed and minimum qualifying size, and other differences in enumeration techniques.
Data source: Slum types and adaptation strategies: Identifying policy relevant differences in Bangalore- Anirudh Krishna, M.S.
Sriram, Purnima Prakash
Slums tend to sprawl over time, thus stretching their original boundaries which were unrecorded.
Simultaneous dismantling and relocation is common. Hence the locating the slums on a map is largely a
product of guesswork. This also reduces the possibility of us confirming the development in slums.
Because re-surveys in a constantly changing atmosphere becomes redundant; thus making it hard to
ascertain the impact of government policies and NGO initiatives.
My analysis of the slums in Bangalore is mostly done from a perspective of redesigning the basic
dwelling unit to solve some of the major problems solved by the dwellers. Nupur and I volunteered on
the weekends with SELCO urban development labs and worked with Noorain, an architect by profession
visiting the community, asking problems, and brainstorming on how to solve them.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009 estimate of NSSO
and Ministry of Housing
and Urban Poverty
Alleviation
2011 Census figure
Urban population of
Karnataka not living in
slums
Urban population of
Karnatak living in slums
DIFFICULTY OF APPROACH
Approaching any slum for a field observation does not seem to be a difficult task. But a firsthand
experience made me realize that it is imperative to not be an observer1
, but a part of the community to
truly understand the problems they face. There exists an inherent suspicion of us being ‘outsiders’/
officials. These households do not have land titles or identity papers. They fear the wrath of the
landlord. Outside influence instills fear in them. Language barrier was partly a problem. It was better
that we had some of the local language speaking SELCO people with us; who could direct us to Hindi
speaking dwellers. It is obvious, perhaps, that one should go as simply dressed as possible, with minimal
accessories. Bags, notepads etc. should be avoided, if possible. It is my own personal opinion, that
photography should be restricted to a minimum- since I felt their discomfort when we were clicking. The
architect, Noorain who accompanied us on our visit to Marathalli site, keeps visiting often. She knows
the people there, and hence it was relatively easier for them to relate to us.
With the setting of Integrated Energy Centers, and SELCO gradually becoming a household name for
them; they develop a positive image for it. They begin to think of SELCO people as helpers and open up
more than they would to any stranger who tries to interact with them on honest grounds of helping
them. Even putting an IEC in place is not that easy. In a lecture of Dr. Harish Hande that I attended in
Mumbai (December 2013) he told us of the hindrances relating to constructing an IEC, Architecture
becomes important. The IEC cannot have a well built structure, for then again they get alienated from it.
It needs to be similar to that of the community dwellings, tarpaulin cladding/ corrugate sheet roof;
cheap plastering etc. Similarly, in the banjara community, SELCO went to an extent of starting an IEC on
wheels!
Image Source: Small scale sustainable infrastructure development fund website
Such extent of behavioral understanding is essential for change. Annexure II gives details of the IEC in
Tubrahalli community, and how its use of bamboo and wood framework with corrugated sheet walls is
relatable to the dwellers.
HOUSING TYPOLOGY OF VISITED SLUMS
1 I would like to share a personal instance; As I took out my diary to sketch and to write down whatever they were telling
us, Noorain was quick enough to tell me that I should not. This is because it creates an impression of something official,
a ‘government’ survey etc. and then they stop sharing their real scenarios and problems. It is important to talk; not to
write.
We can classify the slums in Bangalore (or anywhere, for that matter) into three broad categories, based
on the housing typologies.
1. Category 1 - Nomadic tent settlements2
Overview- Commonly known as the banjara community, the professions in which they are involved
are mostly hand crafted, lost traditions (for example- making drums). They reside in tents that are
supported by wooden logs, the fabric of the tent varying from flex, to cloth to tarpaulin sheets.
There is no provision for a door as such.
Observed location- Near Bayappanhalli metro station, towards the bus stand.
Conditions- Abject poverty, with unhygienic conditions; since they are always on the move, there
are no toilets. Cooking was done in an open central area that was surrounded by the tents. No
demarcated spaces within the dwelling unit could be seen.
Problems- The structures were temporary and easily subject to upheaval by storms in Bangalore.
Problems due to stray animals were also noted.
2. Category 2 - Ephemeral blue polygon settlements
Overview- Two types of settlements were visited. The structures are discussed under the next
heading. Daily wage laborers and house maids are the common professions. There structures are
more permanent than the previous category, but uninhabitable from a standard architectural point
of view nonetheless. Framework is created by bamboo/other wood and layering of tarpaulin sheet is
done for the roof. The walls are simply standing planks. Doors (wooden planks) are hinged onto
other planks, and hence a door is part of the unit.
Observed location- Tubrahalli + Marathalli
Conditions- A separate toilet unit does exist, but it is simply a temporary structure with a pit hole
and tarpaulin sheets as curtains. Children go to a school nearby, but mostly drop out. The relatively
larger homes do have a demarcation between sleeping and eating space, but the smaller ones don’t.
The SELCO center3
hosts a television unit operated by a school boy, and an NGO runs a kindergarten
in the center.
Problems- Major problems include the smoke from the chulhas, lack of ventilation, no natural light,
and entry of rodents and mosquitoes. Other minor problems include consistent rebuilding of the
structures, lack of storage space, and space organization.
3. Category 3 - Unorganized interspersed permanent settlements
Overview- These slums are interspersed within the developed areas of the city, and have proper
walls to their unit, but roofs are of corrugated metal, indoor spaces are unorganized, and there is no
2 My enquiries with this community were not that extensive and hence the information is recorded as seen.
Discrepancies should be ignored, as the details mentioned come off merely as a presumption derived from my personal
visual observation and perception of discussions with Noorain.
3 The structure, designed by Noorain, was typically low cost and stable. It served as a preliminary model of how we were
to redesign the slum habitation unit. Annexure II details out the structure of the SELCO center.
proper ventilation. Most common occupations, that I observed, were those of laundry,
scrap/garbage collectors ,carpenters, security guards etc.
Observed location- 80 feet road, Kodihalli, Bangalore
Conditions- They have most of the facilities including toilets, television sets, basic furnishing, storage
spaces etc. The only concern remains is of the materials used for construction, and lack of
organization, both, in internal spaces as well as the way they are located in various niches of the
city.
CATEGORY 2 SETTLEMENT TYPOLOGIES
Type A. Pitched roof structures B. Vault roof structures
Location Tubrahalli Marathalli
Number 150-200 80-100
Structure Straight wooden logs supported to create
triangular roof framework. Inner space heights at
edges as low as 2’.
Slit bamboo pieces bent to form arched
roof profiles. Supported by horizontal
straight members.
Image
Image source: SELCO foundationblog
(Left) Category 3- Narrow lanes with
undefined entry spaces for individual
units
(Below) Category 3- Small windows
allowing minimal light entry and
ventilation.
(Below) Category 3- Corrugated sheets as roofs, built within the
concrete walls.
(Bottom right) Category 3- Disorganized spaces amongst buildings.
Category 2 - Ephemeral blue polygon
settlements; Pitched and vault roof.
(Top left, middle) Layering on tarpaulin sheets
done to make the surfaces of the unit.
(Right) open toilet, curtained by tarp sheet.
(Bottom left) Tarpaulin sheet acting as a
curtain door; plywood doors hinged onto
other plywood supports.
THE SLUM IN QUESTION- CATEGORY 2; TYPE B
Vault roof ephemeral blue polygon settlement, Marathalli
A few kilometers off Marathalli, this community has the housing unit framework/structure similar to
that of a vault. It is made by slitting bamboo pieces and bending them, tying them down to a strong
foundation on the ground and supported by horizontal members (which are again bamboo pieces). Over
this framework, numerous layers of tarpaulin sheets are put down as the roof. This roof extends down
to the ground as the side walls. Thus the use of plywood and corrugated sheets is restricted only to the
front and the back. There are doors in some houses, which are fixed through hinges onto the plywood
walls. Following is the framework we observed when on sit, while a house was being dismantled then
reconstructed (since the rains were about to begin)
The cooking is done inside, and the smoke from the chulha does not go outside, creating a
claustrophobic space inside the unit. The tarpaulin sheet roofs can be seen covered in black soot. A few
basic reasons why introducing a simple hole( with/without mesh) doesn’t work are:
1. Re-use value of tarpaulin sheets- They cannot cut holes that would allow ventilation/natural
light in the tarpaulin sheet that serves as the roof and two walls. This is because the re-use value
decreases. Re-aligning layers of sheets with holes while re constructing the unit, and/or selling a
non usable tarpaulin sheet to scrap becomes difficult.
2. Mosquitoes/Rodent problem- Already quite disturbed by this problem, they cannot allow
further entry for the sake of removing smoke which they are used to by now.
More problems and possible solutions for this community have been discussed further.
LIFESTYLE, CONDITIONS ET CETERA
Following are few observations about their lifestyles, rents, and what problems they face on the
monetary, social and functional level.
1. Reconstructing the unit
Bangalore rains are pretty random, so every six months or so, they have to re-make the unit. It is
usually done through re-using materials from the previous unit, and discarding ones that are not
usable at all. Since layering is done for the surfaces, the tarpaulin sheets and plywood planks are
re-used many times. It is only the supports and structure that is re-anchored for stability.
2. Household income
Women usually work as house maids in morning and evening shifts. Men work as daily wage
laborers getting them a daily income of about Rs. 150. Both the husband and wife are out most
of the day, thus taking care of children is left to children themselves.
3. Children
Each family has, on an average, at least three children. Only a minor percentage of them go to
the government school nearby/ or the GMR-VF school. Most of them drop out after standard X
or XII. Since both parents work during the day, non school going children are all by themselves,
and hence have to be taken care of children who can go to school, but have no other option but
to baby sit them.
4. Land and permanence of structures
The land on which the slum exists is a private property in dispute. The owner of the land does
not allow them to build permanent structures, and hence they have to manage it out in the
slums. There exists a monthly rent of 250 rupees per house which the land owner collects. The
government cannot also rehabilitate the slum dwellers on the land because it is a private
property.
5. Materials and sources
The materials that are used are mainly plywood, tarpaulin sheets, concrete blocks, corrugated
sheets, gunny sacks etc. They are mainly procured from nearby dumps and collected.
Corrugated metal sheets are mainly stolen from construction site boundaries (where the men
work as daily wage laborers). It takes around 2000 to 3000 rupees to make one dwelling unit,
which lasts for a year to a year and a half.
6. Space organization/Privacy
Every unit had some sort of a seating outside, and there was no clear distinction of public, semi
private and private space. Cooking areas however, were preferred to be private, as they did not
want what is being cooked to be publicly known.
7. Lighting
Prior to introduction of lights by SELCO, these families relied on cheap, easily breakable lights,
dangerous and flammable kerosene lamps, or simple darkness. However, the situation now is
much better with SELCO bulbs.
EFFORTS BY NGOS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
GMR’s CSR wing runs a temporary school here that aims to bring children on par with the Government
school system.
SELCO has developed a brilliant model for solar-powering each home with light. Each home has a
battery operated 3 Watt bulb that hangs from the roof of the dwelling unit, from the bamboo support at
top. These batteries are given to the IEC in the day time; wherein they get charged (by the solar panels
installed atop the shop). [See Annexure II for details on another SELCO center in Tubrahalli community]
This is a self sustainable model, which
SELCO developed in this community.
The shopkeeper rents out a little less
than 100 SELCO solar powered
batteries to the dwellers. The families
who rent out the batteries pay seven
rupees to have them fully recharged.
The best part is, that SELCO
encourages entrepreneurship by
empowering the shopkeeper. Having
started with a capacity of only 40
batteries, he has also ventured into
mobile phone charging and
refrigeration.
IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDINAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
The slum dwellers did not consider their ‘houses’ as their ‘homes’. Most of them are immigrants from
various regions, and they believe that their homes are at the place where they came from. Their mindset
is wired in a way that this is just a temporary place to say, with most of them being first or second
generation dwellers having arrived only to settle their village debts. Hence, natural light, ventilation,
spaces for storage, furnishing are the least of their concerns; especially when it demands spending more
than they have to. They have come to save money, and spending it on their temporary habitable homes
is a bad idea for them. Here arrives the need to convince them of the importance of spending on bare
necessities, and the harmful effects of not doing the same.
Also, it is important that after something better is designed and proposed, prototyped and
implemented, it is inculcated into their daily use and behavioral change is accompanied. This can
happen by post occupancy visits and constant monitoring. If behavioral change is not accompanied with
change in design, the solutions become redundant.
DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM
Our first challenge was to discover the design problem i.e. what was the major problem the slum
housing faced (in settlement 1) and how we can introduce minor changes to make it a better place for
living. Upon visiting and questioning, the core problem was found out to be the living conditions in
which they were staying.
Looking at all of this, our approach was to be holistic in nature. We could not have missed out on other
factors, while we were giving priority to this one. Other domains included,
1. Living space
2. Washing space
3. Cooling space/Storage
4. Water storage
5. Sanitation
Before beginning with the design, we jotted down what we knew and what we didn’t and that helped us
understand whom all could we talk to for gathering more information. We needed to talk to the slum
dwellers, other NGOs who might have redesigned the same, government polices to improve/change the
same, and inquire about various materials in the market that we could use.
Core problem?
Living conditions
Symptoms
Diseases spread by
rodents and
mosquitoes
Children spend the
entire day out of the
house.
Breathing problems
in infants
Causes
No proper measure
to keep them out
No natural lighting
No ventilation.
Smoke from 'chulhas'
stays inside
The current cost as we came to know after asking, reached a maximum of 3000 Rs. We were looking at
an option that could go up to 5000 Rs. but not beyond that. The settlement currently in question is
settlement type B; arched roof. Other problems as mentioned above were quite profound. Although
they seemed to have no problem with the smoke, and even after mentioning that we can help release it,
they seemed uninterested.
The question of behavioral change became important, and that could have only been challenged once a
prototype was developed and occupancy/reactions were evaluated. Once the tangibility and result of an
output is presented to the community, a response is bound to come from their side because it implies
that our actions are not only on paper but take the shape of something useful for them as well.
What we know
What we don't
know
Their perspective+Usage
patterns
Materials+Sources
Government policies
Other construction
techniques+models
Rodent+Mosquito
problem
Lack of ventilation+
natural light
Weather proof structure
Maximum cost 5000 Rs.
DESIGNING A PROTOTYPE
1. Individual brainstorming
Attached in Annexure I are some of the options I designed before the weekly meeting. They
range from initially demarcating spaces (living, washing etc.) to changing the structure already in
existence, to a complete revamp of the same inspired from internet references.
2. Material exploration
More material options and their feasibility were discussed. Following figure enlists all in a
comprehensive fashion.
3. Developable systems
Most of the systems were inspired from daily objects and product designs. Simplicity becomes
necessary because the prototype was to be self sustainable, that is, in the future, the slum
dwellers must be able to procure the materials and make it for themselves, without the help of
SELCO; that self-sufficiency, non dependency is in itself the SELCO model.
Each of these systems’ feasibility with each of the materials was seen and options were chalked
out. Then ten systems, their inspirations, and workability are discussed on the next page.
4. Tasks at hand
After the brainstorming sessions and the community visits, we made a presentation physical
model of the prototype we finalized upon. But to ensure we left no stone unturned, we were to
follow up on the connections/joining, material availability that would enable other discussed
prototypes to be further developed on. Because of weekly workload and office on Saturdays, we
couldn’t follow up the outcome in its entirety; but it was indeed a coveted learning experience
for us.
Individualbrainstorming
•Water bottles/plastic
•Gunny bags
•Bamboo
•Corrugated metal
•Cardboard boxes
•Plywood
Collectivebrainstorming •Paper rolls, connections
through bottles, wires
•Cartons
•Metal cans
•Thermocol packaging
•Flex
•Sawdust
•Military mesh
DEVELOPABLE SYSTEMS
1. XYZ module
The framework was named X-Y-Z because of the corner members that act like a plug-in module
in each of the direction, X-Y-Z.
As can be seen, we can plug in the vertical and horizontal members
that act as the support structure for the entire prototype into this
corner member. The advantage in this method is that the
framework of the dwelling becomes stable and sturdy. This makes
it weather proof. Also, since we were looking at
portable/temporary structures, the assembly and dismantling
becomes easy when we look at modules. However, when looking
at metal corners, the cost escalates, hence reducing the feasibility.
The walls and surfaces are proposed to be
the same that are used now, that is
plywood and/or corrugated metal sheets.
The material exploration for the corners
and supporting members are enlisted
below.
2. Auto rickshaw prototype
This framework was inspired by the auto rickshaw roof, basically involving a convertible
(stretchable) system wherein there exists a framework and the roof continues from base, and is
tied to one end.
The only possible
materials for this
were bamboo and
Corners Members
Metal Rope
PVC pipes Metal
Tying with rope Bamboo
metal (for the framework) and any fabric or tarpaulin sheet (that they already used) as the
convertible roof.
3. Truck- tying prototype
As can be seen in the figure above, this prototype followed the model of tying load in trucks. Each
bay has a hook through which the top layer is tied down. This proves to be a very innovative method
that banks on its simplicity. The ease of material procuring and assembly is a great advantage in this
model.
For the slum dwelling unit to be prototyped in a similar fashion, we would need bays of upright and
firm supports- which can be provided through (in order of priority) cheap/recycled fiberboard,
plywood, bamboo, corrugated sheets, masonry walls.
However, unless tested, the stability of the model is dubious. Since we had a deadline and a biased
agenda in mind (to digress minimally from the initial existing model), we did not further develop on
this model; but if further possibilities relating to this are worked out, prototyped and tested, this
could serve to give an interesting and useful outcome. More such feasible options, whose viability,
though questionable, is workable, have been discussed in detail in Annexure III.
4. Framelesss/Stretchable
Another idea suggested that
instead of having a frame
altogether, we make the
entire system a tensile one.
The front and the back walls,
were to be fixed (either
through foundation or by
tying them down), and in
between we could have a
stretched fabric/tarpaulin
sheet that is supported by an
array or taut ropes/wire
mesh.
5. Rope frame
Taut ropes would act as members and tied to vertical metal rod supports. This idea is basically an
extension of the rope/metal material combination being used in all other options above. Again, the
sturdiness quotient reduces, since only ropes are acting as the supporting members for the roof.
6. Curtain ring system
This is an extension of the auto rickshaw system. Similar to how a curtain operates, this allows a ring
to run freely on the support frame to create the wall with tarpaulin/flex sheet or fabric. This would
obviously need to be tied to the support once it pulled. There is no particular advantage of using this
vis-à-vis the auto rickshaw model, except for the ease of connection. Further following up on this
was to be continued after developing a prototype. This was however not given priority.
7. Truss system
This system had to be given a consideration, but was of no use without the task of material
exploration was completed. Complexity and amount of materials used made it the least priority
option, unless we could find a cheap material and simple connection methods.
Surfaces Roof Roof Supporting members
Metal Tarpaulin sheet GI wire Military mesh
Plywood Flex sheet Rope Weaving ridge
Reco sheet Fabric? Bamboo Paper rolls
8. Mohe’s inset frames/repetitive
The core idea was that a modular system be built that could repeat itself, attaching to the previous one
to form a structure. The diagram below shows a conceptual idea, however not exactly depicting the one
we were able to achieve through our brainstorming.
However, cost became a major concern since the
modules would mostly be joined using metal
connections etc. and if we were building a module
in that cost, it was better If we concentrated on a
cheaper module idea or the entire unit as one
piece.
Like the xyz module; we realized that our thinking
should be on the lines of either modular
connections or cheaply constructible modules that
can self sustain in the slum economy.
During the time we discussed about this solution, the materials we jotted down came out as a surprise
to us, since they could have been used easily elsewhere, and were mostly made of re-used materials.
Following table enlists the materials.
Of these, using plastic bottle connections (with wires or anything else) became an imperative option to
be explored; considering the insulation as well as cheap availability; and re-use. Further research gave us
the following options, which are explained in detail in Annexure III.
1. Connecting bottle by bottle through a wire. Becomes a compressed member that is sturdy
enough to form the framework.
2. We use the plastic bottles as screw able units to make an entire roof for the single unit.
9. Geodesic dome/Modular
From the idea of a modular structure, and reducing the size of the modules, we came up with the
concept of a geodesic dome or a less complex structure using materials such as bamboo/wireframe.
However, provision of such modules and the sustainability of the model in the slums (teaching the
methods etc.) was a hindrance in its subsequent development.
Module surfaces Members
Tarpaulin Wire canvas
Sheet metal Flex sheet
Tarpaulin Plastic bottles with wire
Tarpaulin Paper rolls
TASKS AT HAND
In concordance with the discussion on the systems, we were still uninformed of various
materials and joining possibilities that could be used. Following are some of the problems we
faced, and a constant lookout for these is necessary for developing on some of the systems
enlisted above.
1. PVC/Metal corners for XYZ framework
2. Metal holder for bamboo
3. Paper roll joinery/ connections
4. Planks standing (frameless/stretchable)
5. Plastic bottle connection
6. Woven wall/Looped fabric wall
7. Bamboo mats/materials?
8. Size and shape of modules
9. Rope frame fixing possibility
FINAL OUTPUT
A prototype was made, approved and installed in the
community and a family was requested to stay in it
for a while and give constructive feedback.
Although the ventilation and natural lighting factor
(our initial concerns) did not come out to be as what
one should have expected, the head room height,
and space availability was indeed something the
dwellers liked.
This positive response from the community and
them looked forward to having their units being
constructed in a similar fashion, was indeed a
progress in the direction of our motive.
The auto rickshaw and the truck model have been
combined in this prototype, as one can see in the
accompanying diagram.4
4 Since we were not involved until the very end of the prototyping, the above information was provided to me by
Noorain when I later asked her about the status of our efforts.
REFERENCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am extremely grateful to Noorain for the help and guidance, and for motivating me to pursue a cause
and work for the benefit of the society.
I am deeply obliged to Dr. Harish Hande, whom I met in ShARE world seminar held at Mumbai, for
directing me to and giving me the opportunity to interact with Hooda and Noorain. A word of thanks to
Nupur for being a constant source of inspiration.
I would also like to thank Department of Architecture and regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur for providing
me with an opportunity to compile my observations and efforts into an accessible document; which
would serve as an inspiration and as a reference point for anyone to take up a similar project of
improving the housing model in slum communities. I would be pleased if my report encourages others in
this direction.
Most of the images and information are given from a firsthand account. Some images and data of the
slum population in Bangalore have been taken up from a few websites and papers, respectively;
mentioned as follows.
References
Wesbites:
http://www.selcofoundation.org/
http://s3idf.org/
Papers:
Slum types and adaptation strategies: Identifying policy relevant differences in Bangalore- Anirudh
Krishna, M.S. Sriram, Purnima Prakash
Annexure I
Individual brainstorming
Annexure II
SELCO center at Tubrahalli community
Annexure III
Other unexplored feasible systems
(Above) Screw able plastic water bottles onto roofs to create thermally insulated recycled shelter.
(Below) Easily portable shelter home, but tent like structure reduces association of a ‘home’
SLUM ANALYSIS

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SLUM ANALYSIS

  • 1. Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur VISHESH GUPTA | 10AR10050 FIELD OBSERVATION REPORT STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF A SLUM IN BANGALORE
  • 2. Contents DIFFICULTY OF DEFINITION..................................................................................................................................3 DIFFICULTY OF APPROACH..................................................................................................................................4 HOUSING TYPOLOGY OF VISITED SLUMS................................................................................................................4 THE SLUM IN QUESTION .....................................................................................................................................9 LIFESTYLE, CONDITIONS ET CETERA.....................................................................................................................10 EFFORTS BY NGOS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS .................................................................................................11 IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDINAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE.....................................................................................11 DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM.............................................................................................................................12 DESIGNING A PROTOTYPE.................................................................................................................................14 DEVELOPABLE SYSTEMS....................................................................................................................................15 REFERENCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................20 Annexures(I,II,III).........................................................................................................................................21
  • 3. DIFFICULTY OF DEFINITION The Census of India defines a slum as “a compact area having a population of at least 300 or about 60-70 households of poorly built congested tenements, in unhygienic environment usually with inadequate infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking water facilities.” However, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, following the definition adopted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), considers as a slum “a compact settlement with a collection of poorly built tenements mostly of a temporary nature, crowded together usually with inadequate sanitary and drinking water facilities in unhygienic conditions” It is, therefore, not surprising to note the following difference in data on account of the differences in the definitions followed and minimum qualifying size, and other differences in enumeration techniques. Data source: Slum types and adaptation strategies: Identifying policy relevant differences in Bangalore- Anirudh Krishna, M.S. Sriram, Purnima Prakash Slums tend to sprawl over time, thus stretching their original boundaries which were unrecorded. Simultaneous dismantling and relocation is common. Hence the locating the slums on a map is largely a product of guesswork. This also reduces the possibility of us confirming the development in slums. Because re-surveys in a constantly changing atmosphere becomes redundant; thus making it hard to ascertain the impact of government policies and NGO initiatives. My analysis of the slums in Bangalore is mostly done from a perspective of redesigning the basic dwelling unit to solve some of the major problems solved by the dwellers. Nupur and I volunteered on the weekends with SELCO urban development labs and worked with Noorain, an architect by profession visiting the community, asking problems, and brainstorming on how to solve them. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 2009 estimate of NSSO and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation 2011 Census figure Urban population of Karnataka not living in slums Urban population of Karnatak living in slums
  • 4. DIFFICULTY OF APPROACH Approaching any slum for a field observation does not seem to be a difficult task. But a firsthand experience made me realize that it is imperative to not be an observer1 , but a part of the community to truly understand the problems they face. There exists an inherent suspicion of us being ‘outsiders’/ officials. These households do not have land titles or identity papers. They fear the wrath of the landlord. Outside influence instills fear in them. Language barrier was partly a problem. It was better that we had some of the local language speaking SELCO people with us; who could direct us to Hindi speaking dwellers. It is obvious, perhaps, that one should go as simply dressed as possible, with minimal accessories. Bags, notepads etc. should be avoided, if possible. It is my own personal opinion, that photography should be restricted to a minimum- since I felt their discomfort when we were clicking. The architect, Noorain who accompanied us on our visit to Marathalli site, keeps visiting often. She knows the people there, and hence it was relatively easier for them to relate to us. With the setting of Integrated Energy Centers, and SELCO gradually becoming a household name for them; they develop a positive image for it. They begin to think of SELCO people as helpers and open up more than they would to any stranger who tries to interact with them on honest grounds of helping them. Even putting an IEC in place is not that easy. In a lecture of Dr. Harish Hande that I attended in Mumbai (December 2013) he told us of the hindrances relating to constructing an IEC, Architecture becomes important. The IEC cannot have a well built structure, for then again they get alienated from it. It needs to be similar to that of the community dwellings, tarpaulin cladding/ corrugate sheet roof; cheap plastering etc. Similarly, in the banjara community, SELCO went to an extent of starting an IEC on wheels! Image Source: Small scale sustainable infrastructure development fund website Such extent of behavioral understanding is essential for change. Annexure II gives details of the IEC in Tubrahalli community, and how its use of bamboo and wood framework with corrugated sheet walls is relatable to the dwellers. HOUSING TYPOLOGY OF VISITED SLUMS 1 I would like to share a personal instance; As I took out my diary to sketch and to write down whatever they were telling us, Noorain was quick enough to tell me that I should not. This is because it creates an impression of something official, a ‘government’ survey etc. and then they stop sharing their real scenarios and problems. It is important to talk; not to write.
  • 5. We can classify the slums in Bangalore (or anywhere, for that matter) into three broad categories, based on the housing typologies. 1. Category 1 - Nomadic tent settlements2 Overview- Commonly known as the banjara community, the professions in which they are involved are mostly hand crafted, lost traditions (for example- making drums). They reside in tents that are supported by wooden logs, the fabric of the tent varying from flex, to cloth to tarpaulin sheets. There is no provision for a door as such. Observed location- Near Bayappanhalli metro station, towards the bus stand. Conditions- Abject poverty, with unhygienic conditions; since they are always on the move, there are no toilets. Cooking was done in an open central area that was surrounded by the tents. No demarcated spaces within the dwelling unit could be seen. Problems- The structures were temporary and easily subject to upheaval by storms in Bangalore. Problems due to stray animals were also noted. 2. Category 2 - Ephemeral blue polygon settlements Overview- Two types of settlements were visited. The structures are discussed under the next heading. Daily wage laborers and house maids are the common professions. There structures are more permanent than the previous category, but uninhabitable from a standard architectural point of view nonetheless. Framework is created by bamboo/other wood and layering of tarpaulin sheet is done for the roof. The walls are simply standing planks. Doors (wooden planks) are hinged onto other planks, and hence a door is part of the unit. Observed location- Tubrahalli + Marathalli Conditions- A separate toilet unit does exist, but it is simply a temporary structure with a pit hole and tarpaulin sheets as curtains. Children go to a school nearby, but mostly drop out. The relatively larger homes do have a demarcation between sleeping and eating space, but the smaller ones don’t. The SELCO center3 hosts a television unit operated by a school boy, and an NGO runs a kindergarten in the center. Problems- Major problems include the smoke from the chulhas, lack of ventilation, no natural light, and entry of rodents and mosquitoes. Other minor problems include consistent rebuilding of the structures, lack of storage space, and space organization. 3. Category 3 - Unorganized interspersed permanent settlements Overview- These slums are interspersed within the developed areas of the city, and have proper walls to their unit, but roofs are of corrugated metal, indoor spaces are unorganized, and there is no 2 My enquiries with this community were not that extensive and hence the information is recorded as seen. Discrepancies should be ignored, as the details mentioned come off merely as a presumption derived from my personal visual observation and perception of discussions with Noorain. 3 The structure, designed by Noorain, was typically low cost and stable. It served as a preliminary model of how we were to redesign the slum habitation unit. Annexure II details out the structure of the SELCO center.
  • 6. proper ventilation. Most common occupations, that I observed, were those of laundry, scrap/garbage collectors ,carpenters, security guards etc. Observed location- 80 feet road, Kodihalli, Bangalore Conditions- They have most of the facilities including toilets, television sets, basic furnishing, storage spaces etc. The only concern remains is of the materials used for construction, and lack of organization, both, in internal spaces as well as the way they are located in various niches of the city. CATEGORY 2 SETTLEMENT TYPOLOGIES Type A. Pitched roof structures B. Vault roof structures Location Tubrahalli Marathalli Number 150-200 80-100 Structure Straight wooden logs supported to create triangular roof framework. Inner space heights at edges as low as 2’. Slit bamboo pieces bent to form arched roof profiles. Supported by horizontal straight members. Image Image source: SELCO foundationblog
  • 7. (Left) Category 3- Narrow lanes with undefined entry spaces for individual units (Below) Category 3- Small windows allowing minimal light entry and ventilation. (Below) Category 3- Corrugated sheets as roofs, built within the concrete walls. (Bottom right) Category 3- Disorganized spaces amongst buildings.
  • 8. Category 2 - Ephemeral blue polygon settlements; Pitched and vault roof. (Top left, middle) Layering on tarpaulin sheets done to make the surfaces of the unit. (Right) open toilet, curtained by tarp sheet. (Bottom left) Tarpaulin sheet acting as a curtain door; plywood doors hinged onto other plywood supports.
  • 9. THE SLUM IN QUESTION- CATEGORY 2; TYPE B Vault roof ephemeral blue polygon settlement, Marathalli A few kilometers off Marathalli, this community has the housing unit framework/structure similar to that of a vault. It is made by slitting bamboo pieces and bending them, tying them down to a strong foundation on the ground and supported by horizontal members (which are again bamboo pieces). Over this framework, numerous layers of tarpaulin sheets are put down as the roof. This roof extends down to the ground as the side walls. Thus the use of plywood and corrugated sheets is restricted only to the front and the back. There are doors in some houses, which are fixed through hinges onto the plywood walls. Following is the framework we observed when on sit, while a house was being dismantled then reconstructed (since the rains were about to begin) The cooking is done inside, and the smoke from the chulha does not go outside, creating a claustrophobic space inside the unit. The tarpaulin sheet roofs can be seen covered in black soot. A few basic reasons why introducing a simple hole( with/without mesh) doesn’t work are: 1. Re-use value of tarpaulin sheets- They cannot cut holes that would allow ventilation/natural light in the tarpaulin sheet that serves as the roof and two walls. This is because the re-use value decreases. Re-aligning layers of sheets with holes while re constructing the unit, and/or selling a non usable tarpaulin sheet to scrap becomes difficult. 2. Mosquitoes/Rodent problem- Already quite disturbed by this problem, they cannot allow further entry for the sake of removing smoke which they are used to by now. More problems and possible solutions for this community have been discussed further.
  • 10. LIFESTYLE, CONDITIONS ET CETERA Following are few observations about their lifestyles, rents, and what problems they face on the monetary, social and functional level. 1. Reconstructing the unit Bangalore rains are pretty random, so every six months or so, they have to re-make the unit. It is usually done through re-using materials from the previous unit, and discarding ones that are not usable at all. Since layering is done for the surfaces, the tarpaulin sheets and plywood planks are re-used many times. It is only the supports and structure that is re-anchored for stability. 2. Household income Women usually work as house maids in morning and evening shifts. Men work as daily wage laborers getting them a daily income of about Rs. 150. Both the husband and wife are out most of the day, thus taking care of children is left to children themselves. 3. Children Each family has, on an average, at least three children. Only a minor percentage of them go to the government school nearby/ or the GMR-VF school. Most of them drop out after standard X or XII. Since both parents work during the day, non school going children are all by themselves, and hence have to be taken care of children who can go to school, but have no other option but to baby sit them. 4. Land and permanence of structures The land on which the slum exists is a private property in dispute. The owner of the land does not allow them to build permanent structures, and hence they have to manage it out in the slums. There exists a monthly rent of 250 rupees per house which the land owner collects. The government cannot also rehabilitate the slum dwellers on the land because it is a private property. 5. Materials and sources The materials that are used are mainly plywood, tarpaulin sheets, concrete blocks, corrugated sheets, gunny sacks etc. They are mainly procured from nearby dumps and collected. Corrugated metal sheets are mainly stolen from construction site boundaries (where the men work as daily wage laborers). It takes around 2000 to 3000 rupees to make one dwelling unit, which lasts for a year to a year and a half. 6. Space organization/Privacy Every unit had some sort of a seating outside, and there was no clear distinction of public, semi private and private space. Cooking areas however, were preferred to be private, as they did not want what is being cooked to be publicly known. 7. Lighting Prior to introduction of lights by SELCO, these families relied on cheap, easily breakable lights, dangerous and flammable kerosene lamps, or simple darkness. However, the situation now is much better with SELCO bulbs.
  • 11. EFFORTS BY NGOS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS GMR’s CSR wing runs a temporary school here that aims to bring children on par with the Government school system. SELCO has developed a brilliant model for solar-powering each home with light. Each home has a battery operated 3 Watt bulb that hangs from the roof of the dwelling unit, from the bamboo support at top. These batteries are given to the IEC in the day time; wherein they get charged (by the solar panels installed atop the shop). [See Annexure II for details on another SELCO center in Tubrahalli community] This is a self sustainable model, which SELCO developed in this community. The shopkeeper rents out a little less than 100 SELCO solar powered batteries to the dwellers. The families who rent out the batteries pay seven rupees to have them fully recharged. The best part is, that SELCO encourages entrepreneurship by empowering the shopkeeper. Having started with a capacity of only 40 batteries, he has also ventured into mobile phone charging and refrigeration. IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDINAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE The slum dwellers did not consider their ‘houses’ as their ‘homes’. Most of them are immigrants from various regions, and they believe that their homes are at the place where they came from. Their mindset is wired in a way that this is just a temporary place to say, with most of them being first or second generation dwellers having arrived only to settle their village debts. Hence, natural light, ventilation, spaces for storage, furnishing are the least of their concerns; especially when it demands spending more than they have to. They have come to save money, and spending it on their temporary habitable homes is a bad idea for them. Here arrives the need to convince them of the importance of spending on bare necessities, and the harmful effects of not doing the same. Also, it is important that after something better is designed and proposed, prototyped and implemented, it is inculcated into their daily use and behavioral change is accompanied. This can happen by post occupancy visits and constant monitoring. If behavioral change is not accompanied with change in design, the solutions become redundant.
  • 12. DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM Our first challenge was to discover the design problem i.e. what was the major problem the slum housing faced (in settlement 1) and how we can introduce minor changes to make it a better place for living. Upon visiting and questioning, the core problem was found out to be the living conditions in which they were staying. Looking at all of this, our approach was to be holistic in nature. We could not have missed out on other factors, while we were giving priority to this one. Other domains included, 1. Living space 2. Washing space 3. Cooling space/Storage 4. Water storage 5. Sanitation Before beginning with the design, we jotted down what we knew and what we didn’t and that helped us understand whom all could we talk to for gathering more information. We needed to talk to the slum dwellers, other NGOs who might have redesigned the same, government polices to improve/change the same, and inquire about various materials in the market that we could use. Core problem? Living conditions Symptoms Diseases spread by rodents and mosquitoes Children spend the entire day out of the house. Breathing problems in infants Causes No proper measure to keep them out No natural lighting No ventilation. Smoke from 'chulhas' stays inside
  • 13. The current cost as we came to know after asking, reached a maximum of 3000 Rs. We were looking at an option that could go up to 5000 Rs. but not beyond that. The settlement currently in question is settlement type B; arched roof. Other problems as mentioned above were quite profound. Although they seemed to have no problem with the smoke, and even after mentioning that we can help release it, they seemed uninterested. The question of behavioral change became important, and that could have only been challenged once a prototype was developed and occupancy/reactions were evaluated. Once the tangibility and result of an output is presented to the community, a response is bound to come from their side because it implies that our actions are not only on paper but take the shape of something useful for them as well. What we know What we don't know Their perspective+Usage patterns Materials+Sources Government policies Other construction techniques+models Rodent+Mosquito problem Lack of ventilation+ natural light Weather proof structure Maximum cost 5000 Rs.
  • 14. DESIGNING A PROTOTYPE 1. Individual brainstorming Attached in Annexure I are some of the options I designed before the weekly meeting. They range from initially demarcating spaces (living, washing etc.) to changing the structure already in existence, to a complete revamp of the same inspired from internet references. 2. Material exploration More material options and their feasibility were discussed. Following figure enlists all in a comprehensive fashion. 3. Developable systems Most of the systems were inspired from daily objects and product designs. Simplicity becomes necessary because the prototype was to be self sustainable, that is, in the future, the slum dwellers must be able to procure the materials and make it for themselves, without the help of SELCO; that self-sufficiency, non dependency is in itself the SELCO model. Each of these systems’ feasibility with each of the materials was seen and options were chalked out. Then ten systems, their inspirations, and workability are discussed on the next page. 4. Tasks at hand After the brainstorming sessions and the community visits, we made a presentation physical model of the prototype we finalized upon. But to ensure we left no stone unturned, we were to follow up on the connections/joining, material availability that would enable other discussed prototypes to be further developed on. Because of weekly workload and office on Saturdays, we couldn’t follow up the outcome in its entirety; but it was indeed a coveted learning experience for us. Individualbrainstorming •Water bottles/plastic •Gunny bags •Bamboo •Corrugated metal •Cardboard boxes •Plywood Collectivebrainstorming •Paper rolls, connections through bottles, wires •Cartons •Metal cans •Thermocol packaging •Flex •Sawdust •Military mesh
  • 15. DEVELOPABLE SYSTEMS 1. XYZ module The framework was named X-Y-Z because of the corner members that act like a plug-in module in each of the direction, X-Y-Z. As can be seen, we can plug in the vertical and horizontal members that act as the support structure for the entire prototype into this corner member. The advantage in this method is that the framework of the dwelling becomes stable and sturdy. This makes it weather proof. Also, since we were looking at portable/temporary structures, the assembly and dismantling becomes easy when we look at modules. However, when looking at metal corners, the cost escalates, hence reducing the feasibility. The walls and surfaces are proposed to be the same that are used now, that is plywood and/or corrugated metal sheets. The material exploration for the corners and supporting members are enlisted below. 2. Auto rickshaw prototype This framework was inspired by the auto rickshaw roof, basically involving a convertible (stretchable) system wherein there exists a framework and the roof continues from base, and is tied to one end. The only possible materials for this were bamboo and Corners Members Metal Rope PVC pipes Metal Tying with rope Bamboo
  • 16. metal (for the framework) and any fabric or tarpaulin sheet (that they already used) as the convertible roof. 3. Truck- tying prototype As can be seen in the figure above, this prototype followed the model of tying load in trucks. Each bay has a hook through which the top layer is tied down. This proves to be a very innovative method that banks on its simplicity. The ease of material procuring and assembly is a great advantage in this model. For the slum dwelling unit to be prototyped in a similar fashion, we would need bays of upright and firm supports- which can be provided through (in order of priority) cheap/recycled fiberboard, plywood, bamboo, corrugated sheets, masonry walls. However, unless tested, the stability of the model is dubious. Since we had a deadline and a biased agenda in mind (to digress minimally from the initial existing model), we did not further develop on this model; but if further possibilities relating to this are worked out, prototyped and tested, this could serve to give an interesting and useful outcome. More such feasible options, whose viability, though questionable, is workable, have been discussed in detail in Annexure III.
  • 17. 4. Framelesss/Stretchable Another idea suggested that instead of having a frame altogether, we make the entire system a tensile one. The front and the back walls, were to be fixed (either through foundation or by tying them down), and in between we could have a stretched fabric/tarpaulin sheet that is supported by an array or taut ropes/wire mesh. 5. Rope frame Taut ropes would act as members and tied to vertical metal rod supports. This idea is basically an extension of the rope/metal material combination being used in all other options above. Again, the sturdiness quotient reduces, since only ropes are acting as the supporting members for the roof. 6. Curtain ring system This is an extension of the auto rickshaw system. Similar to how a curtain operates, this allows a ring to run freely on the support frame to create the wall with tarpaulin/flex sheet or fabric. This would obviously need to be tied to the support once it pulled. There is no particular advantage of using this vis-à-vis the auto rickshaw model, except for the ease of connection. Further following up on this was to be continued after developing a prototype. This was however not given priority. 7. Truss system This system had to be given a consideration, but was of no use without the task of material exploration was completed. Complexity and amount of materials used made it the least priority option, unless we could find a cheap material and simple connection methods. Surfaces Roof Roof Supporting members Metal Tarpaulin sheet GI wire Military mesh Plywood Flex sheet Rope Weaving ridge Reco sheet Fabric? Bamboo Paper rolls
  • 18. 8. Mohe’s inset frames/repetitive The core idea was that a modular system be built that could repeat itself, attaching to the previous one to form a structure. The diagram below shows a conceptual idea, however not exactly depicting the one we were able to achieve through our brainstorming. However, cost became a major concern since the modules would mostly be joined using metal connections etc. and if we were building a module in that cost, it was better If we concentrated on a cheaper module idea or the entire unit as one piece. Like the xyz module; we realized that our thinking should be on the lines of either modular connections or cheaply constructible modules that can self sustain in the slum economy. During the time we discussed about this solution, the materials we jotted down came out as a surprise to us, since they could have been used easily elsewhere, and were mostly made of re-used materials. Following table enlists the materials. Of these, using plastic bottle connections (with wires or anything else) became an imperative option to be explored; considering the insulation as well as cheap availability; and re-use. Further research gave us the following options, which are explained in detail in Annexure III. 1. Connecting bottle by bottle through a wire. Becomes a compressed member that is sturdy enough to form the framework. 2. We use the plastic bottles as screw able units to make an entire roof for the single unit. 9. Geodesic dome/Modular From the idea of a modular structure, and reducing the size of the modules, we came up with the concept of a geodesic dome or a less complex structure using materials such as bamboo/wireframe. However, provision of such modules and the sustainability of the model in the slums (teaching the methods etc.) was a hindrance in its subsequent development. Module surfaces Members Tarpaulin Wire canvas Sheet metal Flex sheet Tarpaulin Plastic bottles with wire Tarpaulin Paper rolls
  • 19. TASKS AT HAND In concordance with the discussion on the systems, we were still uninformed of various materials and joining possibilities that could be used. Following are some of the problems we faced, and a constant lookout for these is necessary for developing on some of the systems enlisted above. 1. PVC/Metal corners for XYZ framework 2. Metal holder for bamboo 3. Paper roll joinery/ connections 4. Planks standing (frameless/stretchable) 5. Plastic bottle connection 6. Woven wall/Looped fabric wall 7. Bamboo mats/materials? 8. Size and shape of modules 9. Rope frame fixing possibility FINAL OUTPUT A prototype was made, approved and installed in the community and a family was requested to stay in it for a while and give constructive feedback. Although the ventilation and natural lighting factor (our initial concerns) did not come out to be as what one should have expected, the head room height, and space availability was indeed something the dwellers liked. This positive response from the community and them looked forward to having their units being constructed in a similar fashion, was indeed a progress in the direction of our motive. The auto rickshaw and the truck model have been combined in this prototype, as one can see in the accompanying diagram.4 4 Since we were not involved until the very end of the prototyping, the above information was provided to me by Noorain when I later asked her about the status of our efforts.
  • 20. REFERENCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am extremely grateful to Noorain for the help and guidance, and for motivating me to pursue a cause and work for the benefit of the society. I am deeply obliged to Dr. Harish Hande, whom I met in ShARE world seminar held at Mumbai, for directing me to and giving me the opportunity to interact with Hooda and Noorain. A word of thanks to Nupur for being a constant source of inspiration. I would also like to thank Department of Architecture and regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur for providing me with an opportunity to compile my observations and efforts into an accessible document; which would serve as an inspiration and as a reference point for anyone to take up a similar project of improving the housing model in slum communities. I would be pleased if my report encourages others in this direction. Most of the images and information are given from a firsthand account. Some images and data of the slum population in Bangalore have been taken up from a few websites and papers, respectively; mentioned as follows. References Wesbites: http://www.selcofoundation.org/ http://s3idf.org/ Papers: Slum types and adaptation strategies: Identifying policy relevant differences in Bangalore- Anirudh Krishna, M.S. Sriram, Purnima Prakash
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  • 24. Annexure II SELCO center at Tubrahalli community
  • 25. Annexure III Other unexplored feasible systems (Above) Screw able plastic water bottles onto roofs to create thermally insulated recycled shelter. (Below) Easily portable shelter home, but tent like structure reduces association of a ‘home’