A neighbourhood in graphic detail

Urbz aims to release at least 10 editions of the graphic novel around Vithal-Bhaskar Chawl. Pics courtesy/URBZ

A fishing hamlet by the Mithi River, Dharavi Koliwada has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Urbz, an experimental urban research and action collective, has been working in the Dharavi neighbourhood since 2008, and has hence developed a relationship with the contractors in the area, who involve them in their projects. Joseph Koli is one of them, and Urbz is now on board to work on the redevelopment of a chawl owned by brothers Vithal and Bhaskar Koli. As per a memorandum signed between the owners and the contractor, an additional storey will be given to the contractor in exchange for the money he is putting into the redevelopment.

The team in discussion with the residents

In order to document their work, the collective has opted for a unique medium - a graphic novel. The novel will be released in editions. The team plans on publishing at least 10, according to Kareena Kochery, an architect and ecological urbanist, who is part of the project. The prologue that details how the Vithal-Bhaskar Chawl progressed to being one of the largest community residences in the neighbourhood is already up on their website and can be downloaded for free. The second part of the series is due to release this week.

Kochery talks with the structural engineer for the project

The reason why Urbz opted for a graphic novel is because the accessible format ties in with their philosophy, too; in contrast to the top-down architectural approach, they believe in participatory learning and consider settlements like Dharavi a homegrown neighbourhood. Kochery asserts that the larger lens of looking at places is one where people who inhabit a particular space are the experts of that space. And Dharavi has been built by participation. "It's the people who built housing for themselves and created a bustling economic hub. They are enterprising; every house has a combination of a live-work setup," she shares.

Kochery maintains that the team works on par with Joseph Koli and the residents. As of now, columns are being put up for the new structure and the Urbz team is helping them on the site. The plan for the redevelopment was also designed in collaboration with the contractor and residents. "We had conducted a few participatory workshops that were not really about consensus building as much as understanding different viewpoints and incorporating them into the plan," she states.

With drawings made by architecture students Aditya Warrier and Brendon D'lima, the narrative of the novel is concise and easy to follow; concepts like the Pagadi system are broken down for the reader. So, this could very well be accepted as an educational resource for those who would like insight into how redevelopment can be made inclusive, and what the mechanics of it entail. As Kochery says, "The graphic novel is not really an academic document; it's an art form that we hope helps people acknowledge the participatory process as well as the history of a place like this. It's really like making a documentary film through a novel."

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