Back to the ground life: Reconsidering the shift of living conditions for urban poor during the chawl redevelopment in Mumbai

Mumbai has seen the rapid urbanization in recent years. A large influx of migrants look for business and employee opportunities in the city, which led to the issue of over-population. It is estimated that there is a population of more than 21 million in Mumbai in 2018, while over 40 percent of people live in the informal settlements in extremely poor conditions. Meanwhile, construction activities have been carried out by both government and private developers to provide more affordable housing for the urban poor. However, there is a tendency that what a megapolis should look like is judged mainly by its form rather than the process, which gives chance to the real estate construction industry. High-rise and mid-rise towers have been built for slum dwellers, mainly migrants, which completely ignores their existing living habits and economical features. The 'modern' life differs from original rural life of migrants, leading to the social isolation as well. The project attempts to reconsidering the shift of living conditions for urban poor during the chawl redevelopment, to establish a stronger connection to the ground life and simulate new possibilities for social interaction.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Science