Organizing the Unorganized: Towards empowerment of the informal sector

Nalasopara East, a representative case of chaotic urban fabric in Mumbai, India, is comprised of densely packed mid-rise chawl developments which neglect the complex and unorganized network of informal economic activities of the low-income residents for the benefit of the private developers. This affordable housing project aims to embrace the existing vibrancy of Nalasopara East, yet provide an alternative redevelopment solution to the remaining pockets of ground-storey baithi chawls that can not only increase density but also provide quality by creating a flexible live-work typology dedicated to different groups of the informal sector predominant in Mumbai. Unlike the conventional affordable housing process, a controlled participation will be incorporated to value the residents’ communal decisions as well as an efficient construction of low-cost and sustainable GFRG material will be explored. This pilot micro-scale redevelopment hopes to contribute to the making of the community-generating neighborhoods throughout the course of time where low-income locals and informal workers can both economically and socially benefit together.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Global Housin