Urban Symbiosis_Ritam Niyogi_Thesis Portfolio.pdf

URBAN SYMBIOSIS
Ritam Niyogi
Advisor: Mercedes García-Holguera
University of Manitoba
Faculty of Architecture | Department of Architecture
October 2021

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URBAN SYMBIOSIS
Creating a relationship between the slum and the city for the betterment of the slum dwellers
Ritam Niyogi
Advisor: Mercedes García-Holguera
University of Manitoba
Faculty of Architecture | Department of Architecture
October 2021

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to thank all those who supported through my education the process of this thesis and made it
possible to complete it successfully. I thank my guide Mercedes Garcia Holguera for her keen interest in my topic that
encouraged me to work enthusiastically throughout the process and her valuable time and guidance to complete my
thesis.
I want to thank Lisa Landrum, Theodore Landrum, Soumen Mitra and guest critics for shaping my thesis with their
constructive criticism and critical inputs throughout the process.
I want to thank my friends and batchmates Soumendra Majumder, Apoorv Chopra and Thilakam Rachuri for their
support and guidance.
Finally, I would like to thank my family members and Ar. Amit Barman for their unconditional love and support in
bringing me here.

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URBAN SYMBIOSIS
Creating a relationship between the slum and the city for the betterment of the slum dwellers
ABSTRACT
Slums are known as urban villages lacking civic amenities. These are a predominant issue in India with no single
solution to the problem as every slum in India has its history behind its existence. The slums of Kolkata came into
existence with the commencement of trade between the British and the Mughals. The city being the capital of
British India, attracted many migrants to settle in slums, which proved to be the cheapest of all housing types. The
residents living in these settlements form one-third of Kolkata’s population.
Although these slum dwellers serve in most low-paid jobs and engage in other small scale business activities
contributing to society, little attention is given to the slum dwellers by the governing body. They were considered
illegally occupying the city’s spaces. Hence public services were barred by the local governing body, making
the settlement lack essential services. The city is geographically flat, with flood plains spread along the banks of
these canals connected to the river Ganges and flows through the city. These slum settlements located in these
floodplains face frequent flooding issues due to tidal movement, which is a significant environmental threat. Thus,
these settlements could not integrate appropriately with their neighbourhood residential areas; therefore, unable
to prosper in society.
This thesis explores various aspects of slum rehabilitation through the development of affordable housing. Design
research will focus on solving the current environmental problem and the poor living standard of the slum dwell-
ers and emphasizing better living standards by integrating natural processes and human needs. Since slums are
informal settlements built mostly by the slum dwellers depending upon their needs, they are often developed
haphazardly without proper planning and organization, leading to an unorganized settlement. Thus, they are ex-
posed to the negative impacts of living conditions and facing environmental challenges due to a lack of awareness
in understanding the environmental condition and geographical context.
This thesis explicitly aims to create a symbiotic connection between the residents living in this existing slum of
Kalighat located in Kolkata to its surrounding areas of the city. Creating a link that connects the slum to the neigh-
bourhood, i.e. from the canal Adi Ganga’s bank to the other end. It also aims to address the settlement’s hygien-
ic conditions, enhancing community engagement, living standard, space for interaction through proper planning
and addressing environmental issues through flood management. Thus integrating properly with surrounding
residential areas and helping them prosper in the society.

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EVOLUTION OF THE CITY KOLKATA, INDIA
This thesis begins with the city Kolkata, before the Mughals,
the British and other colonial rulers’arrival.

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MAP OF INDIA AND LOCATION OF THE CITY KOLKATA
It is located along the banks of the river Ganges on the marshlands, near the Sundar-
bans forest, which is the world’s largest mangrove forest. This land region is frequent-
ly flooded due to tidal movement and heavy rains. Its flatter geographical context with
depressions spread all across these regions, wetlands present in these regions acted as
an absorbent to reduce the excessive water levels.

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PEOPLES LIVELIHOOD AND TYPE OF SETTLEMENT BEFORE 1690
DEVELOPMENTS UNDER THE BRITISH RULE FROM 1690-1947
PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS AND INDUSTRIES AFTER THE INDEPENDENCE 1947
Fig 7: Information Technology HUB Fig 8: Petrochemical Industry
Fig 4: Trade agreement between Mughals and the British Fig 5: Birth of the city Calcutta from the
three fishing villages
Fig 6: Loading jute from wharf into export
steamer, Calcutta
Fig 1: Flat Paddy fields Fig 2: Village settlement Fig 3: Fisheries was one of the livelihood

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FORMATION OF SLUMS IN THE CITY OF KOLKATA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CALCUTTA)
Growth of trade and commerce became the primary hub for employment where
the rural poor from the neighbouring states migrated for better opportunities.

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Fig 9: Migrant workers as slaves during colonialism Fig 10: Refugees migranting during the partition
India during Independence
Fig 11: Migrant workers from village work
in major Indian cities
MIGRATION DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS
Due to a large number of people migrating to the city and engaged in low-paid jobs that were insufficient for sustaining their living expenses,
making them to live in the slum areas, as slums being the cheapest of all types of housing soon became their preferred choice.

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EXPANSION OF THE CITY KOLKATA
As the city expanded over time, the slums in these
areas soon came under the city’s jurisdiction.

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Slum dwellers serving labour intensive and low paid jobs to the affluent neighbourhood of the city.
These slum dwellers serve in most low paid jobs and engage in other small scale buisness activities which were essential to
the society, but little attention is given to them by the governing body as they are considered illegally occupying the spaces in
the city.

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Riverside Developed side Canal Adi Ganga Slum settlement Temple complex
Kalighat slum site
Other slum sites
Other slum sites
Bank of Canal Adi Ganga
LOCATION OF KALIGHAT SLUM SITE
The banks of the canals are flood plains which are unfit for development, therefore often left vacant.
Hence become the ground for the slum settlement. Slums of Kolkata are mostly located along the
banks of canals flowing across the city.

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Fig 12: Kalighat temple complex
Fig 13: Residential area with garbage disposal site
Fig 14: Kalighat informal street market
Fig 15: Narrow alleyways serve as kids play area
KALIGHAT SLUM SITE
The settlement is properly connected to the major street, which has a crowded market place, a temple
and a dense urban settlement making it a crowded place.

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HOUSING TYPE AND ITS MODIFICATION
Section along the slum settlement meeting the Kalighat street Section along the slum settlement showing internal walk-
ways and utilization of public spaces
Section along the edge of the slum settlement meeting the canal Adi Ganga
The settlement is linear in pattern, with canal on one side and a major street on the other. It lacks social space, receives poor ventilation, natural
lighting and unhygenic conditions with narrow alleyways.
SUBSTANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF FLOODING BY TIDAL MOVEMENT OF THE SEA
The city is geographically flat, with flood plains spread along the banks of these canals connected to the river Ganges and
flowing through the city. This settlement is adjoining Canal Adi Ganga which is connected to the river Ganges

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These flooding conditions make the life of slum dwellers more difficult due to frequent disruption in connectivity and making
the area unhygenic due to the inflow of flood water from the slums disposal site located along the banks of the canal.

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CASE STUDY - LIVING CONDITIONS
NATVAR PAREKH COMPOUND, MUMBAI, INDIA
SLUM REHABILITATION PROJECT
It consists of a high rise structure with repetitive layouts built off-site, ad-
dressing only the housing needs of each family, overlooking the social
interaction spaces and indoor living conditions.
To some extent, this approach solves the housing problem but overlook-
ing the employment opportunities, social lifestyle, and a better way of
living.
Lack of social spaces, ventilation, natural lighting
and unhygenic living conditions.
Typical layout of the units
Distance between
buildings
Narrow alleyways between buildings

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CASE STUDY - SYMBIOSIS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
WETLANDS OF KOLKATA
Canals are used to collect wastewater and break down the sub-
stance through natural processes, which finally gets into the
larger fish ponds, where it becomes fish food. This way, waste
management and fisheries go in a symbiotic way, treating the
waste of the city and producing food.

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CASE STUDY - VERNACULAR HOUSE
NICOBARI HUT OF CARNICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA
This island often gets flooded due to its plains lying lower than mean sea level, therefore
the tribal people living on this island developed stilted structures made up of coconut
trees and bamboo in order to cope up with the existing environmental challenge of flood-
ing by seawater.
This structure caters spaces for a social gathering on the ground level and the living spac-
es on the upper level.
Fig 17: Gathering space underneath Fig 18: Stilted structure indigenously made
using coconut tree to avoid sea water
Fig 19: Living spaces above
Fig 16: CARNICOBAR ISLAND

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FIG 20: SUNDERBANS MANGROOVE FOREST
This forest is densely spread all over the deltaic plains of this region.

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GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT OF BENGAL REGION

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INDIGENOUS WETLAND PLANTS
Various natural systems that are already present and are coping with the existing geographical conditions. Most of these plants have adapted and
are capable of bearing the adverse environmental effects caused by flooding.

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DESIGN INTENT
Creating urban symbiosis through a link that connects the slum to the neighbourhood. Solving the current environmental problem and the poor
living standard of the slum dwellers and emphasizing better living standards by integrating natural processes and human needs. Thus, establish-
ing “Urban Symbiosis”by reducing the flooding impact of this region and enhancing the better livelihood of the slum dwellers.

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Part of the Kalighat slum site
selected for design proposal
Site area : 16335 SQ.MT
Number of Houses: 100
Families: 100
Individuals living in groups: 90

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FLOW OF WATER FROM THE CANAL COMMERCIAL AREAS ADJOINING THE SLUM SITE
SLUM SETTLEMENTS CHANNELIZING THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH ELEVATED
STRUCTURES

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REDUCING SPEED OF WATER FLOW THROUGH ALTERING THE ELEVATED
STRUCTURE
ALLOCATION OF DWELLING UNITS
SPACES IDENTIFIED AND PROPOSED FOR VARIOUS
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
ALLOCATION OF LAND BASED ON TYPE OF VEGETATION

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SITE PLAN OF THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT

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EXPANSIVE NATURE OF SLUM
These settlements grow haphazardly without proper planning therefore limited and careful approach towards
flexibility is used while knowing the drawbacks of over crowding in the settlement causing stress on resources.

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BAMBOO AS A BUILDING MATERIAL
The design and material cost is an important factor while considering the feasibility of the project based on the minimal resources of the client. The material selected for this
purpose should be affordable and easily sourced. Bamboo is extensively grown in rural parts of Bengal due to its huge demand and availability, it is widely used in many building
projects.

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FLEXIBILITY IN DWELLING UNIT
Exploration of various forms with flexibility and expandability as a stategy for dwelling units to meet the demand of the end user.

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FLEXIBILITY IN DWELLING UNIT
Designing simpler module structure forW ease of construction and maintenance.

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ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
The architectural strategies and specific design techniques are considered for hot, humid and tropical climate in this region.

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DESIGN OF THE CHIEF STRUCTURAL MODULE
This simple structural module will consist of 8 same sized bamboo members that are held together by metal connector
using knife point connection, that is designed specifically for this purpose.
Fig 22: Bamboo variety and its sizes available locally near the site
Fig 21: Member assembly of a group of bamboo member clamped together using metal fitting.
Tetrahedral structural module design that can be repeated for structural
expansion

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1
4
1
2
5
2
3
6
3
EXPANDABILITY
This structure will expand vertically upwards through addition of each layers of tetrahedral bamboo structure.

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EXPLODED VIEW OF DWELLING UNIT

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Fig 23: Bamboo material construction precedent: Sharma Springs Residence

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TOP DOWN APPROACH
Here in this approach, the governing body will hire consultants to resolve the current demands of the slum dwellers through proper research
and analysis. Here, the architect is the consultant who then studies the present scenario and the potential resources available on the site. In
this study, it is found that there is an abundant resource for bamboo and the skilled people to work on this material. The architect and the
local skilled labour will study the situation and the material capacity to develop a design proposal that will further get executed on-site by
training the slum dwellers with the material. Further, this work will be executed by the slum dweller along with the local skilled workers under
the supervision of the architect.

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PLACEMENT OF FOOTING FOR ELEVATED WALKWAY

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CONSTRUCTION OF DWELLING UNIT

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SECTION A-A’
KEY PLAN
5-10 yrs development 10-15 yrs development
0-5 yrs development

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SECTION B-B’
KEY PLAN
5-10 yrs development

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VIEW OF BAMBOO CULTIVATION AREA

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SECTION C-C’
KEY PLAN

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SECTION ALONG THE MAJOR PAVILION

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SECTION D-D’
KEY PLAN

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SECTION E-E’
KEY PLAN

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SECTION F-F’
KEY PLAN

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SECTION ALONG THE MAJOR PAVILION

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BRICK FOOTING FOR SUB STRUCTUCTURE

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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE OF SUB STRUCTURE AND MAIN FLOOR SUPPORTS
Skilled labourers and dwellers making substructure Local craftsmen working with the dwellers Local craftsmen working with the dwellers

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CONSTRUCTION OF BAMBOO PLATFORM

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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE OF MAIN FLOOR AND ANCHOR SUPPORT PLACEMENT FOR COLUMN
Architects, skilled labourers and dwellers placing anchors
on the brick structure
Architects, skilled labourers and dwellers connecting metal
fitting with bamboo members
Local craftsmen working with the dwellers

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CONSTRUCTION OF BAMBOO COLUMNS

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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE OF COLUMN, BEAM AND FLOOR ASSEMBLY
Architects, skilled labourers and dwellers connecting bam-
boo members to the anchor bolts
Local craftsmen working with the dwellers on flooring

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CONSTRUCTION OF PARTITION WALLS

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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE OF PARTITION WALL AND PLASTERING PROCESS
Skilled labourers and dwellers placing flooring mat on
bamboo members
Skilled labourers and dwellers working on mud plastering
of walls
Skilled labourers and dwellers weaving mat wall against
the bamboo members

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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE OF ROOF STRUCTURE AND ROOFING ASSEMBLY
Skilled labourers and dwellers placing flooring mat on
bamboo members
Skilled labourers and dwellers working on slanted bamboo
roofing and paving asphalt sheet for waterproofing
Skilled labourers and dwellers weaving mat on top of the
bamboo roofing members

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TYPICAL LAYOUT OF MAIN FLOOR

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TYPICAL LAYOUT FOR DORMITORY

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LAYOUT TYPE-1 FOR SINGLE FAMILY

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LAYOUT TYPE-2 FOR SINGLE FAMILY

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CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLY FOR ROOF

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CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLY FOR FLOOR

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CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLY FOR WALL

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CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLY FOR ELEVATED WALKWAY

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PLUMBING SYSTEM CONNECTED TO THE MAIN GRID

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CLOSING REMARKS
Finally, establishing “Urban Symbiosis” in these specific fragile economic and ecological zones by proposing a design mod-
el particular to the slums falling majorly under this category. This is achieved by reducing the existing environmental impact
of flooding of this region, enhancing living standards, and establishing a link between slum dwellers and the neighbourhood
by utilizing and exchanging various commodities produced on-site using existing natural systems.

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the-hooghly-river-in-calcutta-india-british-royalty-free-illustration/936662344.
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audio/how-one-company-of-35-people-held-sway-over-200-million-in-india.
FIG 5: Kirkall, Elisha. View of Fort William Done after the Painting in the Court Room of the Company’s House in Leaden Hall Street. Photograph. Kolkata, 1735. British Library.
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103
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project=no

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