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Ontologies and Geneologies
S5C1
The studio takes up one contemporary institutional programme that has emerged historically over the years and asks students to trace its genealogy. Architecturally it traces different spatial configurations that have developed across history under the same programme through case studies, with the help of which students are asked to speculate on the societal structures for each spatial configuration, establishing the relationship between societal structure, programme of the institution and spatial configuration. Through this analysis students learn to ask the question ‘What is?’ What is the genesis of the programme? What is the deep structure of space? Was this configuration produced by the society? Did it produce the particular society?
The studio focuses on the question, ‘What is a market?’. and undertakes genealogical studies of key shifts on the structures of markets and their resultant typologies. Through an analysis of these shifts, the studio approaches a given swatch of city in Borivali West Mumbai at the intersection of various market conditions; the Borivali Municipal market, the hybrid conditions of malls and shopping centres and natural markets that have emerged as informal transactions.
-- Case Study
Khan - el - Khalili, Cairo, Egypt, emerged in 13th Century (1382 - 1389 AD)
A souq is a type of bazaar that is commonly found in the Middle East. It is generally located along a spine extending from the Friday Mosque with shop fronts on either side, linking other supporting facilities around it. Khan el-Khalili is one such souq in Cairo. It is situated beside the Al - Hussain Mosque. During the Fatimid era, it was a part of the palace complex whose northern wall still exists on the extreme northern side of the souq. It was established as a center of trade in the Mamluk era and houses one of its several historic caravanserais. Caravanserais or khan are one of the facilities where merchants and traders could sell their products on the exterior arcade while resting in the inner inns. During this era, mobile markets set up in open spaces were replaced by fixed stone structures with built-in spaces for individual shops. Currently, Khan el-Khalili sprawls across a labyrinthine network of courtyards, souqs, and alleyways. These alleyways further branch out to create narrower walkways which in places turn to form courtyards and open spaces. Here shops with low-height roofs extend out on alleyways creating tunnel spaces along the walkway, which creates an intimate experience.
-- Site
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The Dattani Trade Centre, a commercial building, along the Chandarvarkar Road, is located in close proximity to Borivali Station.
The building majorly consists of varied shops like courier companies, offices, coaching classes. At the back is present a Haveli and its administration.
Road Dattani Trade Centre Haveli
Site Isometric View showing various transactions on the site
Site Plan highlighting different intensities of public at different times of the day
Drawbacks of current site condition
No natural light and ventilation in corridor, due to lack of windows
Current corridor condition becomes linear
Congestion due to shops spilling out on pathway, parking of vehicles
Low accessibility in interiors of centre
Pathway to Haveli
Facade covered up with banners
Corridor acts as a dead container
Opportunities of current site condition
Setback allows human interaction
Shared spaces between two shops
Close proximity to Borivali station
Congestion, low tarpaulin sheets generates intimacy
-- Design
Design Intent - To inverse the current condition of the dead corridor and enhance the experience of the corridor. Also to encourage a sense of work community (already present at parts of site) by generating shared spaces and public spaces along the central spine which passes throughout the site and connects different program
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OFFICES
MARKET
TEMPLE
Programs :
1. Market
2. Office spaces
3. Temple and its Administration
4. Rooftop Cafes
5. Library
6. Common Meeting Room
7. Public Lockers/ Storage
8. Cafeteria
9. Public Dining
10. Loading/ Unloading of goods
11. Basement Parking
12. Accesible Public Plazas/ Rooftops
Central spine (Black) connects different programs (green) of the site, playing with different volumes and generating pockets of shared spaces alongway, whch further this central spine conglomerates to form a large open courtyard
Design Diagrams
1.5 M high walls between shops, to allow interacton between shopkeepers
Niches in wall allow seating
Part of walls turns into seating on both sides
Multiple levels by generating mezzanine floors increases vertical porosity
Design Drawings
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Basement Plan
Ground Floor Plan
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Design Plans
N
Design Section
Design Isometric View
Design Model
1/1
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