Kumbharwada - a pottery village

Introduction
● Kumbharwada is one of the first settlements in Dharavi,
built by migrants from Gujarat in the second half of the
19th Century.
● It’s home to the pottery industry, one of Dharavi's most
famous local crafts.
● In the small gaps between their houses, artisans throw
and fire pots of all shapes and sizes, from small cups
for yoghurt to diya candles, larger water pots or
ornamental vases.
● The potters brought their family trade with them, and
maintain, like many in Mumbai, strong ties to their
ancestral villages.
● They’re in constant communication (physical and
online) with their families in the North, collaborating to
improve kiln designs, visiting their villages regularly, and
Industry and daily life rub up against each other in Kumbharwada.
significantly, importing their clay from there.
https://www.urbz.net/articles/kumbharwada-pottery-village
Study area (SITE)

Dharavi was a no-man’s

land between two railway
lines, dotted with a few
villages, which have since
expanded into one large
settlement.

It ended up in a more
central location, prompting
property speculation and a
cultural, touristic and
academic interest in the
neighbourhood.

Area : 23 acre ( 5 lanes )

56 acre (entirely )

https://www.urbz.net/articles/kumbharwada-pottery-village
Current scenario (NEED AND RELEVANCE)

Kumbharwada is made up of five lanes, dotted with over 120 kilns,

with houses and workshops crowded around them. Most buildings
here fit a typology that was previously identified – the tool-house –
with workshops on the ground floor with residential space above.

Residents have to tolerate the noxious smoke spat out by the small
brick kilns that they’ve built near their homes. To fire pots, fabric
scraps from the nearby textile industry are stuffed into a fire-pit at
the base of the kiln and lit. This produces an acrid smoke which
chokes the lanes and covers the houses in black soot.
The smoke emitted from the kiln

https://www.urbz.net/articles/kumbharwada-pottery-village
The narrow alleys used as public paths The quality of spaces for workshops

https://www.urbz.net/articles/kumbharwada-pottery-village
Perhaps some of the blame can be attributed to a
geographical and infrastructural distance from the
city, which cut people off from their communities,
from leisure, and from employment opportunities. It
seems that wholesale redevelopment so often
prices people out of their own neighbourhoods,
shifting problems elsewhere, out of sight of the
rich. In fact, this is how Dharavi came to be in the
first place.

Dharavi’s redevelopment is at the tip of many

tongues. Suggested plans for Dharavi are an orgy
of Public-Private Partnerships, Transferable
Development Rights and high-rise 'solutions’. The
Development Plan envisages chopping up
Kumbharwada with wide avenues (a dated,
car-centric approach). The sooty front of a typical building in Kumbharwada.

https://www.urbz.net/articles/kumbharwada-pottery-village
AIM: To redefine craft villages: Integrating Culture, Functionality, and Sustainability through Architectural Redevelopment for
areas that are in need of it rather than aiming to attract tourists.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Developing multipurpose and flexible spaces for community activities, workshops, and craft display, fostering a vibrant and inclusive
environment.

2. Integrate cultural elements, symbolism, and design that resonate with the residents, and their craftsmanship and to translate intangible
cultural traditions into tangible architectural features and spaces.

3. Reduce pollution by integrating green spaces, sustainable materials, and energy-efficient systems in the design.

4. Upgrade living conditions by creating well-ventilated, well-lit, and hygienic living spaces that prioritize residents' physical and mental
well-being.

5. Develop vertical circulation systems that enhance accessibility while promoting interaction and community engagement.
METHODOLOGY:

1. Research and document the cultural traditions and practices of the migrant community to inform the architectural design.

2. Study the spatial requirements of craft workshops and living accommodations for craftsmen to develop an integrated design
that promotes creativity and productivity.

3. Explore innovative vertical construction techniques to maximize land use and create a harmonious balance between density
and comfort.

4. Understanding the quality of redeveloped slum areas through case studies and literature studies.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION:

The scope of the study lies within the 5 lanes of potters and the function relates to them. The study is limited to the
migrants of gujarat thus, their culture plays a major role. The scope of the study also includes the visitors or tourists as
user group which implies tourists based activities are also included.
Area Statement
1. Multi purpose hall
2. Product display areas
3. Redevelopment of houses and infrastructure
4. Workshop areas
5. Kiln area
6. Community engagement area
7. Skill learning centre
8. Day care for kids who doesn't go to school
9. Integrating green pockets and open spaces

Case studies
1. Aruvacode, nilambur kerala
A village Where Culture Comforts Craft
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