Housing InDiA

Charles Correa

Our experiences reveal that most architects are interested in design as 'art' or in the construction aspects of their projects, but have virtually limited training and interest about the human responses to their designs. Architectural sociology addresses the purpose of architecture as it relates to our society.

Charles Correa, an Architect from India whose works are an adaptation of Modernism to a non-western culture. His works attempt to explore a local vernacular within a modern environment. His land-use planning and community projects continually try to go beyond typical solutions to the country's problems.

Below are some of his works which may be interesting.

Hudco Courtyard Housing, Jodhpur (India)

Using the basic design principles for the units at Belapur, the units are grouped around a hierarchy of open spaces. The houses cater to four income categories, from lower to mid-level income families. There are however, only two basic plot sizes. Each unit is independent from its neighbor which allows for incrementality and upgrading as families become upwardly mobile. The construction materials are those that are readily available. Local stone is used in a centuries-old traditional.

Hawkers Pavement, Mumbai (India)

In the crowded centres of Indian cities, pavements are used intensively: during the day they are crowded with hawkers so that pedestrians are forced onto the road, blocking the traffic lanes. As evening falls, the hawkers gather their possessions and go home – to be replaced by people unfolding their beddings for a night’s rest. These night people are not pavement dwellers (who are another group altogether), but mostly domestic servants.

This project in 1968 recommended to the Bombay Municipal Corporation an experimental modification in one of the city’s principal streets in order to deal with both the hawkers during the day and the sleepers at night.

What was proposed was a line of platforms 2m wide & 0.6m high, with water taps placed at approximate intervals of 30m. During the day these platforms would be used by the hawkers – thus clearing the pavements and the arcades for pedestrians. (The platform would also act as a safety barrier between vehicular traffic and pedestrians). In the evening, at about sunset the taps would be turned on and the platforms would be washed clean by municipal sweepers. They would then provide convenient platforms for people to sleep-out the path of any pedestrians walking home at night.

Tube Housing, Ahmedabad (India)

This “tube” house was the first prize winner in an All India competition for low cost housing by the Gujerat Housing Board. Though the programme specified walkup apartments, these row-houses provided the same density and larger living space per family.

The section is shaped so that the hot air rises and escapes from the top, setting up convection currents of natural ventilation. Inside the units there are almost no doors; privacy being created by the various levels themselves, and security by the pergola-grid over the natural courtyard.