Output details

Learning from Delhi

The methods, insights and initiatives in informal settlements reviewed in: Learning from Delhi (2010) are sustained in the Kachhpura Settlement Upgrading Project (KSUP), (2007 to date), portfolio included with this submission.

Since 2002 access has been gained through local Indian NGOs for annual studio field trips to Indian informal urban settlements. Engagement has generated, from first principles, a wide range of ideas, hypothetical schemes and proposals providing a broad design discourse within which to initiate live construction projects. Their originality lies in developing for these sensitive contexts appropriate and effective methodologies whereby collaborative practice and reflection creates shared understandings which facilitate practical action.

KSUP exemplifies the methodology of this research. Collaborating with Indian NGO, CURE, researchers responded to the overwhelming need of the female inhabitants of Kutchhpura for sanitation. In 2007, 4 students installed the first internal household toilet and washing space. They carried out hygiene awareness workshops in the schools and established quality, construction methodology and a sustainable maintenance programme. Subsequently, by revolving funds, a further 200 internal toilets have been produced. At the neighbourhood scale, streets were paved and a Decentralised Waste Water Treatment system built to clean waste water for irrigation and toilet flushing.

Learning from Delhi: Winner: Urban Design Group Prize 2012, Positive reviews: Architectural Review (September 2010); Urban Design (issue 120, August 2011); Univ. of Oregon UGRG (urban-geography.org.uk, 19th August 2011), Keynote paper: Cornell University Symposium: ‘Design Tactics and the Informalized City’ (April 2012).

KSUP: Featured in 'The World Bank Global Monitoring Report 2013' (Box 2.6, page 112, Catalysing Citywide Slum Development in Agra), Best practice recognition: Indian Government + Delhi Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) (2013).

Agra Municipal Authority are replicating DEWATS on a much bigger scale. Used as case study training in Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad

The output is a major book and live project exemplifying the methodology reviewed therein. The book consists of 9 illustrated chapters plus a themed catalogue of hypothetical and live projects covering field research and practice from 2002 to 2010 involving 161 students and researchers working in over 30 informal settlements in Delhi, Agra and Mumbai. It develops and demonstrates ideas relevant to UK architectural education and practice. KSUP is a settlement scale collaborative project which has influenced city policy in both India and globally. The extensive scale and scope of the research justifies the request for double weighting.