Jay Vaddoriya
Lavanya Grandhi
Utsav Kyada
Parth Patel
Pousali Chakraborty
Akshay Bhalerao
Sakshi
Dimple Manthanwar
Shivani Yadahalli
Mohammed Shihab
“Making a house is like a bird building its nest.
You start with a basic house, but you have to let
people change it to their own needs”
- Charles Correa
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
2
INTRODUCTION
The Belapur Housing, generally known as the Artists village, was a
project done by CIDCO in Navi Mumbai. Belapur incremental housing
project- i.e. proposal for mass affordable housing in Navi Mumbai,
which demonstrated how high densities could be achieved with low
rise courtyard homes, built with simple materials at a human scale.
PROJECT DETAILS
Location - Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Area - 5.4 hectares area
Built up Area- 33000 sq mt (approx.)
Design - 500 people (100 houses) / hectare Total of 550 families
Density - 100 units/hectare (500 people/hectare)
FSI Consumed- 0.5 to 0.6
Started by - CIDCO in 1983
Completion - 3 years for completion
Income groups - LIG - Rs.20000
- MIG - Rs. 30000 to Rs.50000
- HIG - Rs. 180000
Plot size - 45 sq.m to 75 sq.m
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
Introduction | 3
DESIGN CONCEPT
• Freestanding dwellings- No sharing wall or land with
neighbor.
• The whole is arranged so that the neighbourhood
spaces open to a small stream which runs through the
centre of the site and overlooks the hills behind.
• Toilets located in pairs, to save on plumbing and
sanitation costs.
• In each plot, the structure of the house is along the
boundary on two clearly specified edges that ensures it
will be free standing.
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
Design Concept | 4
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
Incremental Housing | 5
Amenities & Services
 No gas pipe lines
present.
 No rain water
harvesting system
 Each building has its own
over-head tank either syntex
or R.C.C.
 Separate UGT for some
bungalows.
 WTP are present.
 Timings of water- 2 to 3
hours morning and evening.
Others
Drainage
Electricity
Water Supply
 Storm water is drained into the
main rivulet (nallah).
 No separate STP.
 Chaotic drainage system filled with
water during monsoon or else dry
for rest of the year.
 Waste water is directly drained
into municipal sewer.
Materials and construction
External walls of brick; top system covered with sloping roof and wooden
shingles to cope with quite heavy rainfalls in the monsoon.
MATERIALS:
• Brick
• Plaster of cream color
• Colorful cork fixtures
• Outside paving stone blocks with lawn inlays.
Individual houses rely on easy floor plans and building approaches, enabling
craftspeople and masons local to construct them.
The village was made with the concept that the inhabitants had been going to
modify it in ways that are many, making it really their own, thus homes are
actually freestanding, therefore residents are able to insert on to them as their
families grow moreover otherwise priced plans appeal to a wide selection of
income levels.
 Chaotic electric
connection.
 Substation and meter
room located in
condominium 1.
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
Varied Interactive spaces
Varied Interactive spaces
No windows on black walls
Infrastructure | 6
•
•
•
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
•
•
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
•
•
•
•
Low rise, high density,
affordable, incremental
housing policy funded by
government of Maharashtra
The wok commissioned by
CIDCO in 1983 got finished in
1986.
As the houses were built on
CIDCO land, the ownership was
passed onto the customers by
charging a flat construction fee,
hence price of each unit is
substantially low.
Profit margin was NIL and land
cost considered was also
subsidized (25% and 75% of
reserve price).
The materials used were
climate responsive and
affordable, decreasing the cost
of the units.
Simple form and plans to allow
extension by local masons.
•
POLICY MAKER
USER
•
Originally built for artisans
But there is mixed occupancy
Users preferred the concept of
incremental housing
Units are malleable and can be
colonized by occupants, and
personalized to their social,
cultural, religious needs
A gradual process where a core
shelter is provided and building
components are added/
improved by the owner as
capital, time, materials become
available.
Reduction of the initial housing
construction costs as well,
making the unit more
affordable.
The houses are structurally
simple , can be built and
altered by local mistries
PRODUCER
•
•
•
Each unit is on its own individual
site to allow for expansion.
• High densities (500 persons /Ht,
including open spaces, schools,
etc) within the context of a lowrise typology.
• Re-interprets traditional Indian
urban spatial syntax by practicing
social and economic ideals
• No common walls, allowing the
residents to extend and adapt
their house independently.
Cardinal Principles
• Incrementality
• Participation
• Income Generation
• Pluralism
• Equity
Planning Characteristics
• Hierarchy
• Cluster arrangement
• Private ‘open to sky’ space
• Shared Courtyard
(communal space)
• Informal character to
pathways.
Role & Context of Actors | 7
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
Several plans
exist that
cover the
social
spectrum,
from squatters
to upper
income
families
The footprint
of each plan
varies little in
size (from 45
sqm to 70
sqm),
maintaining
equity
(fairness) in
the
community
EQUITY
Houses
constructed
simply and can
be built by
traditional
masons and
craftsmen
generating
employment
for local
workers
PLURALISM
Families do
not share walls
with their
neighbors ,
allowing each
to expand his
own house
INCOME GENERATION
Cardinal Principles of planning
PARTICIPATION
INCREMENTALITY
To give each
unit its own
site to allow
for expansion
Planning Principles | 8
LESSONS LEARNED
• There is no provision for common spaces in the center of each cluster of houses. No one was in charge of maintaining
them. These spaces do not fall under any jurisdiction, not private or public.
• Most houses have been remodeled or destroyed and rebuilt; some clusters of houses become model mini-gated
communities while others become mini-slums.
• Changing aspirations of the tenants: they no longer wanted a 'village' or a rural backdrop. Modern materials and
technologies have thus been employed to a great extent.
• A great example of a community-oriented neighborhood within a big city.
• The provision of open green spaces improved living conditions.
• Inclusive neighborhoods and individual sites for incrementality create an opportunity to grow as individuals and as a
community.
• The one-room kitchen layout was not sufficient for an artisan.
• Many tenants cannot expand their units due to a lack of financial assistance.
• Lavatories were paired to reduce service runs to reduce costs and placed in the courtyard and outside the house; Now,
it's hard to extend these services to new construction., most of the tenants build new service connections instead of
using old services.
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
Leasons Learnt | 9
The complex allowed people to
modify their houses freely, whether
with a paint brush or mortar,
something that is never allowed in
the type of mass housing.
Each cluster permits the emergence
of a local community feeling while
integrating each house to the whole
settlement at different levels.
The projected prompted
employment of local masons
because of simple materials and
construction methods.
Allowed enhanced interactions
which was the essence of the village.
High density dwelling clustered
achieved in lesser space.
The concrete houses arose as the
result of the changing aspirations of
the residents. They no longer wanted
a village or a rural backdrops.
Modern materials and technologies
have thus been employed to a great
extent.
Proper spaces were not provided
which is one of the major reasons
why the artisans sold their houses.
Many of the original buildings are
demolished and now replaced with much
bigger concrete houses by the aspiring
middle classes.
Current
scenario
Ample amount of open and green
spaces provided.
Most of the houses have been
remodelled or destroyed and rebuilt
as some inhabitants said they were
very impractical (toilets outside the
house).
Shortcomings
Success stories
The housing project offered the
quality of life of a village with the
sophistication of a city.
Yet the courtyards and the hierarchy of
community spaces remain intact: it is a
strong piece of city making that has lasted
beyond the individual dwellings.
Some of the original houses still standing,
but most of them look different. The trees
had grown up and shrouded the whole
complex in shade in growth. Roughly one
third of the original homes had been torn
down and completely rebuilt.
Due to lack of commercial spaces,
the houses facing the street
transformed into shops, which were
illegal.
No proper provisions were made for
parking, which required in
encroachment of open spaces due to
parking.
Cultural Centre made for the artists
to exhibit their works remained
unused.
No arrangements have been made
for fire safety provisions.
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
L e a s o n s L e a r n t | |10
References
• https://portfolio.cept.ac.in/student/aishwarya-shekar-pg190064/incremental-housing-study-artist-village-belapurspring-2020-uh4605-pg190064
• https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a3735-belapur-housing-by-charles-correa-a-sense-of-homeand-community/
• https://vdocument.in/belapur-incremental-housing-a-case-study.html?page=1
• https://www.slideshare.net/dhanveersinhchavda?utm_campaign=profiletracking&utm_medium=sssite&utm_sourc
e=ssslideview
• https://issuu.com/gunjanmodi/docs/gunjan_modi_thesis_page
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
11
Navi Mumbai
BELAPUR HOUSING atby Belapur,
Charles Correa
Flexible and modularity in spaces, open to sky and relationship of courtyard with community spaces
|12