Ethnographic Study in Three Slums of Mumbai

A pilot ethnographic research was conducted in three slums of Mumbai. The slums are located as shown in the map below.

Figure1: Location of the slums studied

Following images give a glimpse of life in these slums.

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Figure 2: Maximization and not optimization is the mantra of the slum dwellers. Thus efficient use of 3D space is done so that the family does not lack in amenities like TV, refrigerator, music system. The next house has the most bare minimum washing area where only one person can crawl in and wash or bathe. The list of essential items vs. The desired items is strange. The slum dwellers interviewed claimed that open space, light and ventilation, water supply, wash area, cooking platform, burner/stove, cylinder, utensils storage, cupboard, mirror, bed, tv unit, music system, electricity and fan as essential amenities while tap, w.C., Sink, water storage tank, drainage facility, gas pipeline, refrigerator, mixer, drying area, washing machine and social interaction areas as desirable amenities.

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Figure 3: Kitchen is regarded as a private space and hence placed in the house layout so that someone passing by the house can’t peek into the lady cooking in the kitchen.

Stainless steel is widely used in all products from utensils, racks to cupboards due to the long maintenance free life.

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Figure 4: A large part of kitchen space is consumed in storing water in vessels.

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 Figure 5: No demarcation between spaces exist as every space is multi-purpose.

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 Figure 6: Bathing and washing space is combined and usually each house has this space. Toilet blocks are usually not present in the house due to various reason, one of them being non-availability of sewage disposal system.

All the houses have very poor ventilation due to lack of any windows.

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Figure 7: Use of tiles and kadappa shelves is widespread due to its low cost and maintenance.

Richer neighborhoods are usually smaller in size, have higher rent and larger number of amenities at home since the dwellers serve a more premium market. The slum houses are also rented out to students.

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Key Insights

• The slums present a very efficient volume space utilization
• Maximization in the mantra rather than optimization
• Modularity of space utilization is very high. The modularity is both in terms of 3D volume modularity and time - dependant modularity.
• The private space is minimal and social space is maximum.
• The essential and desirable needs and wants of the slum dwellers are very different. A TV, refrigerator and music system are essential whereas a toilet is desirable.
• Identification of socio-economic-cultural triggers to community participation is very important to ensure community participation.
• Spending capacity of slum dwellers is not very low. Hence backup of a strong micro-finance system can further boost their capacity.
• Slum redevelopment is an option but it is not acceptable to the slum dwellers because of high maintenance cost of new buildings, political issues and skepticism towards the intent of builders.
• Slum improvement appears as a more acceptable option 

Ethnographic study of Habitat in Rural Areas of Pohegaon, Maharastra

A pilot ethnographic research was conducted in some rural pockets of Maharastra (Pohegaon) to understand the dynamics of the human life in rural India. Following images give a glimpse of the life observed:

Figure 1: A house built under Indira Awas Yojana. The central core was built with funds received from the scheme. The house was then expanded sideways and in the front - incremental construction. The incremental construction is made of mud, asbestos and other locally available building materials.

Figure 2: A cluster of four houses built under Indira Awas Yojana  that share the internal walls and the slanting roof. These houses were built for families who did not own land. The panchayat bought land for them and allocated funds. As they share the same roof, it is not possible for anyone to expand vertically. Also sideways expansion is limited in scope. The image shows that the house has encroached into the road to achieve expansion on one side.

Figure 3: Mostly cooking is done in wood stove as it is more economical for them. As a wood stove creates lot of black soot, the kitchen is located outside the house. The houses also had LPG stoves but these are used rarely and only in case of emergency.

           

Figure 4: Every house has a TV

Figure 5: Storage space is saved by mostly hanging items on the wall or ceiling. Photographs of gods and elders and calendars occupy a prominent wall space.

Furniture used is mostly plastic and mild steel and are usually foldable to ensure multiple utility and portability.

Figure 6: Steel storage containers are used to prevent rats from plundering contents.

Figure 7: All houses have a bathing and washing area. This area is mostly located next to the kitchen. The image shows one of the most frugal bathing space. They use open spaces to defecate.

Figure 8: Cattle is an integral part of rural household. People live in close harmony with their animals and their house is incomplete without a house for their cattle. Cattle is also an important source of livelihood for rural BoP.

Figure 9: Use of local materials like plants, agricultural waste, soil, etc. is very popular. These materials are combined with readily available components like concrete poles, mild steel pipes and asbestos sheets. The dimensions of the houses constructed are influenced by the sizes of these materials too. For example, asbestos sheets are available as 4’ X 6’, 4’ X 8’ and 4’ X 10’. Hence house dimensions are in accordance to these numbers.

Key Insights

Needs and requirements of this market are very local in nature

The market is skilled in use of local materials and hence do-it-yourself housing is very popular

Government subsidies and finances are available

The market is extremely cost sensitive

The business model in place in this market is no profit-oriented 

Advent of Tata nano may have a strong impact on the way the industry views this market

Report - Research on Current Affordable & Sustainable Habitat Scenario in India

Executive Summary

India is a nation of 1.21 billion people facing multiple challenges. One of the major challenges is providing every household with affordable homes. According to statistical findings, a household with less than Rs. 7,000 (110€) (in monthly income) cannot afford to build their house and government subsidies and interventions are required. Government of India is currently running many schemes in this domain to help this segment. On the other hand, households with a monthly income of Rs. 7,000 (110€) – Rs. 20,000 (312€) can afford houses at an expense of Rs. 300,000 (4700€)– Rs. 1,000,000 (15,600€). After the economic downturn of 2008, the booming real estate industry of the country shifted their attention to this segment, as it is immune to the market fluctuations in income and is deemed as a growing market.

The first group (<Rs 7,000) mostly form the rural BPL and the metropolitan/ urban BPL living in slums and shanties. The rural market is very big in India as 2/3rd of the population still lives in villages. But the market till date seamed very unattractive to the private sector due to its thin density. Hence in spite of government subsidies, there have hardly been many NGOs and no private players. But the situation seams to change very soon with TATA group announcing its “Nano House” for this market. The group is working on developing a flat pack of components including walls, windows and doors at Rs. 32,000 (500€). The flat pack can be assembled by the house owner. The house can be very well funded through the Indira Awas Yojana funds that are provided by the government to this segment.

The second group (Rs 7,000 – Rs 20,000) mostly resides in the urban sector and the metropolitan slums. There are many private players in this domain including experienced and big names like the Tata and new comers like Value and Budget Housing. To be able to make profit in this market, it is very important to realize that it is a low margin (profit approximately 20%) but a high volume market. Hence optimization and streamlining of supply chain, construction management, time and global sourcing are the strategies that are being used. Some companies like Projectwell are coming up which aim at bringing in affordability through supply chain management and supplying prefab components. The government has also initiated schemes like JNNURM and Rajiv Awas Yojana to build homes for the lower tiers of this group.

There is yet another third category of slum dwellers whose income lies anywhere in both groups. They usually live in metropolitans over encroached public/ private land. This market possesses the unique behavior of being able to maximize the utilization of their available resources. For example, the space that is used for sleeping at night turns into a workshop for a company in the morning and provides the owner with extra income. The inhabitants make very efficient use of their small 3D spaces and every cubic cm is used.

As mentioned all the three scenarios require and present good opportunity for creative and synergic design intervention. Hence the goal of our research project is to identify aspects and factors affecting this domain and thereafter HUMANIZE THE HABITAT THROUGH DESIGN INTERVENTION THAT SYNERGIES:

• Culture specific socioeconomic interactions

• Energy and waste management

• Innovations in construction materials & technology

• Finance

• Construction management

• Management

The rural and the urban sector seam to be the most opportune scenarios than the slums since it is a politically sensitive area. Also inhabitants don’t own land titles in most cases and hence don’t like to spend in building more permanent structures.

Possibilities of mass manufacturing components rather than houses need to be looked on to bring in affordability as the definition of home for an Indian lies in being able to represent personal needs, wants and desires. Hence a prospective direction of work can be identification of components that can be mass manufactured to build homes. Some examples can be locally adapted roofing system, walls, partitions, doors, windows, kitchen, WC, etc.

India being a very large country with huge diversities in climate, needs, wants, traditions and rituals, careful collection, management and dissemination of this information is required for the long-term success of any housing project.

Affordable and ready availability of adequate financing options is very important for success in this domain. Hence a creative design intervention in this domain is stressed.

Technical support, knowledge sharing, Industrial  and prototyping support and financial support from all collaborating partners will bring a break-through housing product range in the market.

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