Udaan is a low-cost mass housing project in Mumbai Sameep Padora for the families that serve the privileged classes of the city. A home for under wraps!
Considering the intact conditions of the city, this project is exemplifying new lessons of Architecture for affordable low-cost housing. However, in metropolises, 50-60 % of the population work for daily wages and find it difficult to buy their own house. Instead of informal settlements, Low-cost urban housing projects can bring assets to the city.
Mumbai is one of the densest metropolises in the world. Escalating land prices in Mumbai is forcing out the secondary working class to move out of their age-old houses and settle in remote areas far from their workplaces. Evaluating this issue Udaan was proposed at Karjat near Bhivpuri station. This is on the Central railway route between Neral and Karjat. It is also connected to NH4. And this has road links to both Panvel/Navi Mumbai and Badlapur/Thane.
- Total BUA proposed: 19080 sq.mt
- Total Units proposed (assuming 300 sq.ft): 522
- Phase wise allocation:
- 1st Phase : 255
- 2nd Phase 2: 267
Concept of Udaan: Low-cost Housing project
Housing is addressing people of the service sector. All possible ways use to keep the social fabric intact. However, design inculcates local context and traditional concepts of low-cost housing. Problem was to cater work-life conditions of people. So the site was so selected, which connects well to all workplaces. Use of new technology for low cost and rapid construction. FSI of this area is 1.2. The project explores the flexibility of modules and units that suit the typology and category of people. At the same time, rather than consolidating the 10% amenity into the de-facto club house disconnected from daily use, the design integrated it as a series of dispersed common social programs throughout the building.
Also, read related article: Cargotecture: The Architecture of Shipping containers
Design
The Architect of this low-cost housing is Ar. Sameep Padora, a Mumbai-based Architect. However, his practice is widely regarded for its research-oriented projects that take a deep dive into not just the context. But also the socio-cultural and socio-economic dynamics of the projects.
Standard developers’ practice is to separate clusters based on typology. Also, upstanding the philosophy Architect tried to club together all types of units in the same building, allowing a mix of user groups and creating a richer social fabric.
Based on the requirements of each family four types of units were designed.
- 1 RK
- 1 BHK
- Mezzanine Unit
- Mixed Unit.
Also, read related articles: LIC Housing, Ahmedabad by BV Doshi
Structure of Udaan: Low-cost Housing project
All units are in the same grid 3.6×5.9 & 3.6 x 8.9. Which is generated by the Wet Pod requirements Design is modular. In addition, the Wet Pods act as structural, precast, loadbearing modules between which the slabs spanned and eliminate the need for extra columns and beams. Since the module is pre-fabricated and simply put into place on-site. However, the time taken for construction is much less than a conventional RCC framed one both in terms of time and labor involved. In addition, through this method, it became possible to build up to G+4 in 21 days as opposed to casting one slab in 21 days using conventional RCC frame construction.
Design Flexibility
The use of modular construction techniques made it possible to keep design flexible all units in a grid of 3.6m can merge with adjacent in case of an increase in family size or typology. Also, mixed-used units are on the ground floor to increase the economy. A modular, but non-repetitive scheme can combine to form permutations suiting the fluid requirements of users, with a minimum area of 300sq.ft as mandated.
Also, Read: Kanchanjunga Apartments by Charles Correa: A climate-based
However, the use of corridors, courtyards, and staggering of all types of units inspired by the Chawl Architecture of traditional Mumbai. However, Mumbai has a humid climate, the most simple way to provide comfort conditions is to ensure cross ventilation. The design also addresses this by using the staggered corridors to have cross-ventilation through each unit and vertically ventilate the community areas by staggering the corridors and generating a stack effect cooling through the sloping roof over the circulation zone, completely resembling chawls!
The approach explores the flexibility available in the clever repetition of a module. The project, being precast pods, can execute with speed and allows for a number of units that can configure to suit individual requirements of space for individual families over time.
Sameep Padora and Associates
Also, Read: Aranya Low-cost Housing by BV Doshi
Discover more from archEstudy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
