Spatial Injustice between Formal-Informal Housing

Objective: To draw analogies of the living spaces, character of spaces and multi functional aspect between a formal designed residence and a self built house in an Informal settlement. 

Outcome: Students will understand and be sensitised about spatial inequality existing in the city and will be equipped to address and design to the needs, spatial limitations and multi-functional aspect of houses in Informal settlements. 

Requirements: SketchBook, Laptop.

Prerequisites: This activity is best placed in Residential Design Studio. Prior interaction and selection of the house to be studied in Informal settlement. Ideally the house of the house helper, watchman, vegetable vendor, etc. who stays in an Informal settlement with their family should be selected.  

Procedure:

Step 1: Unite the class into groups of 3-4 students each. Each group will decide on a house in the Informal settlement that is to be studied for drawing analogies.

Step 2: Visit the house and observe the total number of people in the house, the area of the house, different living spaces such as Kitchen, drawing, bedroom, toilet, (or are they the same?), the verandahs, ventilation quality, understand their daily activities and space usage, habitability and issues of the house.  Make quick sketches of the spatial arrangements and activities.

Step 3: Students need to compare all the aspects and observations made with the design program given to them in the residential design studio. 

Step 4: Identify the differences in area and space distribution between the project that the students are asked to design and an Informal settlement house. 

Step 5: Identify the built up area of both. Using the same plot students will map the Informal houses that can fit within the built-up area of the residence design they are asked to do in the design studio, to understand the spatial differences and injustice related to the same.

Step 6: Identify the living space index and density differences per capita for both. 

Step 7: Reflect on the findings and share with the class.