17 model toolhouses from Dharavi exhibition give built form to housing study

…ingenuity and adaptiveness of contractors—whose expertise in informal built environments accommodated both spatial constraints and client demands. The current project additionally archives a community’s aspirations. “ People would tell us, for instance, that they’d like a house with an upper floor for their sons and a floor above that they could lease for an additional income ,” says Kareena Kochery, a partner at urbz. They conveyed these accounts to 17 contractors who worked with artisans to create a scale model, complete with miniature furniture and bathroom fittings. Every house on…

…it form,” she says. Some of these belong to Manoj Kumar Biskarna, a contractor and craftsman who has built a couple of the toolhouses and the wooden fixtures within them, including miniature sinks, taps and commodes. “ Each model took 15-20 days to make ,” he says. Biskarna lives in Thane but has built offices and houses in Dharavi. “Clients continue to build as and when they come into money, adding a room here or conveniences there,” he says. The prospect of…

…this drive: “People still want to improve their homes.” Sanjubhai Hinduja wants a new home altogether, and although he wishes it could have resembled his model toolhouse, he’ll make do with a redeveloped flat. “ The ideal house I described to urbz was based on houses I’d seen in Bandra and South Bombay. I thought, if they could be built there, why not in Dharavi? ” he says. “Now, it’s too late. But I welcome redevelopment—it will be an improvement.” Sept 24-27; 10 am-7 pm at Dharavi Koli Jamat Preprimary School, near Guru Dutt Gym, Dharavi Koliwada…