This thesis explores the challenges of urban sprawl and land scarcity, focusing on Mumbai, a city constrained by geographical boundaries and marked by high population density. With Mumbai encircled by the sea on three sides, opportunities for horizontal expansion are severely limited, prompting the exploration of vertical development as a sustainable and innovative solution. This research proposes a vertical urban model that stacks traditional city sectors—residential, commercial, and recreational—within a compact vertical space. The aim is to house a growing population efficiently, while freeing ground-level areas for vital green spaces such as farms and public parks, especially targeting the eastern coast of Mumbai, the city's last undeveloped frontier. A central element of the thesis is the design approach, which counters the typical social isolation found in high-rise living. Drawing inspiration from the communal dynamics of Mumbai's traditional chawls, the proposed architectural model merges communal living areas with private spaces to foster both community interaction and individual privacy. This hybrid design approach is thoroughly developed through an analysis of chawl lifestyles, adapting their community-enriching aspects to suit the demands of modern urban living in vertical structures. By investigating the feasibility and benefits of vertical integration through detailed architectural designs and urban planning frameworks, this study not only addresses Mumbai's physical constraints but also prioritizes the psychological and social well-being of its inhabitants. The outcome is a holistic urban development model that not only enhances urban life quality but also provides a template for other densely populated cities facing similar challenges. This thesis sets a precedent for future urban planning endeavors, promoting a balanced, sustainable approach to city development that can be adapted globally. / Master of Architecture / This thesis investigates the problems of limited land and the spreading out of cities, particularly looking at Mumbai. Mumbai is a crowded city that can't grow much sideways because it's surrounded by the sea on three sides. To manage this, the study suggests building upwards, stacking different parts of the city—like places where people live, work, and play—on top of each other in tall buildings. This way, more people can live and work in less space, and the ground can be used for parks and farms, especially on the eastern side of Mumbai which hasn't been developed much yet. A significant part of this project is creating building designs that help people feel connected to their community, even in tall buildings where it's easy to feel isolated. It takes inspiration from Mumbai's traditional chawl homes, where everyone shares some spaces and knows their neighbors well. The idea is to mix private spaces where people can have their privacy with shared areas where they can meet and spend time with others. By exploring ways to build up instead of out, the study not only finds solutions for Mumbai's lack of space but also looks after the mental and social health of its residents. The final goal is a new way of building cities that makes life better for people and can be used by other crowded cities around the world. This work aims to show a way forward for city planning that is thoughtful and can be applied globally.

In the face of rapid urbanization, megacities have witnessed the rise of skyscrapers as central social hubs. However, the predominant design approach for these towering structures has primarily focused on practical considerations, often overlooking the spiritual well-being of individuals. This oversight has led to detrimental consequences such as mental health challenges, pervasive social isolation, and increased crime rates. While halting skyscraper construction is not a practical solution, a compelling need emerges for a fresh design approach. A paradigm shift in skyscraper design is proposed, drawing inspiration from the organic formation of neighborhoods. This approach advocates for creating vertical settings within skyscrapers, which aim to offer rejuvenating experiences through abundant social spaces. These vertical neighborhoods blend communal learning areas, recreational zones, relaxation spaces, and green areas that foster natural human connections. By strongly emphasizing enclosed and open public spaces and implementing programs encouraging interaction, the envisioned design seeks to nurture healthy relationships and facilitate genuine human connections, ultimately fostering a more cohesive and closely-knit society. / Master of Architecture / Skyscrapers, while iconic in urban areas, often overlook the spiritual needs of individuals, leading to negative consequences like mental health issues, social isolation, and increased crime rates. Instead of halting skyscraper construction, a transformative design approach is needed. Imagine a skyscraper that resembles a horizontal neighborhood with blocks, streets, and social spaces. Inspired by the natural formation of districts, this concept proposes vertical neighborhoods that offer abundant social spaces and a healing experience. The design integrates communal learning areas, recreational zones, relaxation spaces, and green areas, promoting natural human connections and addressing the prevalent isolation in megacities. This design aims to nurture healthy relationships and facilitate genuine human connections by emphasizing enclosed and open public spaces and programs that encourage interaction, ultimately fostering a more united and connected society. This innovative approach seeks to redefine the purpose of skyscrapers, transforming them into vibrant communities that prioritize people's well-being and spiritual fulfillment.

A população mundial aumenta a cada dia e, somado aos movimentos populacionais, a ocupação do território urbano tem crescido a taxas cada vez maiores. O Brasil segue a mesma tendência, já que quase dobrou sua população em pouco mais de trinta anos, essa se estabeleceu predominantemente nas cidades. O mundo está próximo de atingir níveis populacionais jamais imaginados e as pessoas estão migrando para os grandes centros urbanos, que crescem de forma descontrolada, causando impactos diversos, desde ambientais até relacionados ao bem-estar físico e mental de seus ocupantes. Como resultado, as cidades são os locais onde as maiores desigualdades sociais e impactos ao ambiente natural acontecem. Diante desse contexto, as estratégias de planejamento correntes estão fadadas ao fracasso, pois repetem estratégias utilizadas em séculos anteriores, e não estão preparadas para as demandas que surgem com o desenvolvimento humano e urbano do século XXI. Pesquisadores divergem sobre a forma de crescimento da cidade, são sugeridas soluções, que vão desde o controle do espalhamento da área urbana, incentivo à cidade compacta e até o incentivo à verticalização. Ao mesmo tempo, as cidades se espalham no território e verticalizam. A lacuna verificada foi determinada a partir da constatação da escassez de trabalhos que considerassem de forma sistêmica as características e os possíveis impactos de cada uma das formas de crescimento urbano, a falta de vinculação dessas informações aos princípios de desenvolvimento sustentável, tão preconizado, e a fragmentação dos temas relacionados ao desenvolvimento urbano sustentável. O entendimento sobre como as cidades crescem, e quais são os impactos das formas urbanas resultantes, e quais são as demandas para um crescimento sustentável pode se tornar a base para auxiliar os planejadores no processo de tomada de decisão. O desenvolvimento sustentável é um desafio a ser considerado nos ambientes consumidores, poluidores e opressores em que se transformaram as cidades. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de buscar um modelo conceitual para o planejamento sustentável do crescimento urbano. Por se tratar de uma proposta que procura atender uma demanda real, a melhoria nas práticas tradicionais de planejamento urbano, e contribuir com a construção do conhecimento sobre o assunto, através da organização das informações, foi adotada como estratégia a pesquisa construtiva. Para tanto, foi realizada na primeira etapa, de compreensão, ampla busca de referencial teórico para auxiliar na estruturação do trabalho. Na segunda etapa, na fase de desenvolvimento, foram propostos os resultados, organizados a partir de um modelo conceitual formado a partir de constructos relacionados ao crescimento urbano e ao planejamento urbano sustentável. O modelo foi complementado por uma sequência de etapas para a futura implementação em contextos reais (método). O modelo ainda foi avaliado por especialistas da área de sustentabilidade. Por fim, na etapa de reflexão foram definidos os avanços práticos, avanços teóricos, replicabilidade e possibilidades de pesquisas futuras. Através do desenvolvimento deste trabalho constatouse que, apesar da complexidade, é possível trabalhar de forma sistêmica com o planejamento do crescimento urbano, contemplando-se as metas para o desenvolvimento sustentável em todas as suas dimensões: social, econômica, ecológica, espacial e cultural. / The world population is increasing each day and, in addition to population movements, the occupation of urban territory has grown at rates ever higher. Brazil follows the same trend, almost doubled its population in little more than thirty years that has been established mainly in the cities. The world is approaching population levels never imagined before and people are migrating to the large urban centers, which grow in an uncontrolled manner, causing different impact, since environmental until related to physical and mental well-being of its occupants. As a result, cities are the places where the greatest social inequalities and impacts on the natural environment happen. In this context, the planning strategies are doomed to fail, because repeat strategies used in previous centuries, and are not prepared for the demands that arise with urban and human development of the 21st century. Researchers differ on the way to the city's growth, suggesting solutions, ranging from the control of the sprawl of the urban area, encouraging the compact city and until the incentive to vertical city. At the same time, the cities spread across the territory and get taller. The gap was determined from the observation of the scarcity of studies that consider in a systematic way the characteristics and the potential impacts of each of the forms of urban growth, the lack of binding of these information to the principles of sustainable development, as recommended, and the fragmentation of topics related to sustainable urban development. The understanding of how cities grow, what are the impacts of urban forms resulting from, and what are the demands for a sustainable growth can become the basis for helping the planners of the decision-making process. The sustainable development is a challenge that must be considered in consumer, polluters and oppressors environments that became the cities. This work has the objective to seek a conceptual model for the sustainable planning of urban growth. This is a proposal that seeks to meet a real demand, improving the traditional practices of urban planning, and contribute to the construction of knowledge on the subject, through the organization of the information, was adopted as a strategy the constructive research. For both, was performed in the first step, of understanding, broad search of theoretical framework to assist in structuring the work. In the second stage, the stage of development, were proposed results, organized from a conceptual model formed from constructs related to urban growth and urban planning sustainable. The model was complemented by a sequence of steps for the future implementation in real contexts (method). The model has been evaluated by experts in the area of sustainability. Finally, the reflection phase were defined the practical developments, theoretical advances, replicability and possibilities for future research. Through the development of this work it was found that, despite the complexity, it is possible to work in a systematic way with the planning of urban growth, contemplating the goals for sustainable development in all its dimensions: social, economic, ecological, spatial and cultural.

A população mundial aumenta a cada dia e, somado aos movimentos populacionais, a ocupação do território urbano tem crescido a taxas cada vez maiores. O Brasil segue a mesma tendência, já que quase dobrou sua população em pouco mais de trinta anos, essa se estabeleceu predominantemente nas cidades. O mundo está próximo de atingir níveis populacionais jamais imaginados e as pessoas estão migrando para os grandes centros urbanos, que crescem de forma descontrolada, causando impactos diversos, desde ambientais até relacionados ao bem-estar físico e mental de seus ocupantes. Como resultado, as cidades são os locais onde as maiores desigualdades sociais e impactos ao ambiente natural acontecem. Diante desse contexto, as estratégias de planejamento correntes estão fadadas ao fracasso, pois repetem estratégias utilizadas em séculos anteriores, e não estão preparadas para as demandas que surgem com o desenvolvimento humano e urbano do século XXI. Pesquisadores divergem sobre a forma de crescimento da cidade, são sugeridas soluções, que vão desde o controle do espalhamento da área urbana, incentivo à cidade compacta e até o incentivo à verticalização. Ao mesmo tempo, as cidades se espalham no território e verticalizam. A lacuna verificada foi determinada a partir da constatação da escassez de trabalhos que considerassem de forma sistêmica as características e os possíveis impactos de cada uma das formas de crescimento urbano, a falta de vinculação dessas informações aos princípios de desenvolvimento sustentável, tão preconizado, e a fragmentação dos temas relacionados ao desenvolvimento urbano sustentável. O entendimento sobre como as cidades crescem, e quais são os impactos das formas urbanas resultantes, e quais são as demandas para um crescimento sustentável pode se tornar a base para auxiliar os planejadores no processo de tomada de decisão. O desenvolvimento sustentável é um desafio a ser considerado nos ambientes consumidores, poluidores e opressores em que se transformaram as cidades. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de buscar um modelo conceitual para o planejamento sustentável do crescimento urbano. Por se tratar de uma proposta que procura atender uma demanda real, a melhoria nas práticas tradicionais de planejamento urbano, e contribuir com a construção do conhecimento sobre o assunto, através da organização das informações, foi adotada como estratégia a pesquisa construtiva. Para tanto, foi realizada na primeira etapa, de compreensão, ampla busca de referencial teórico para auxiliar na estruturação do trabalho. Na segunda etapa, na fase de desenvolvimento, foram propostos os resultados, organizados a partir de um modelo conceitual formado a partir de constructos relacionados ao crescimento urbano e ao planejamento urbano sustentável. O modelo foi complementado por uma sequência de etapas para a futura implementação em contextos reais (método). O modelo ainda foi avaliado por especialistas da área de sustentabilidade. Por fim, na etapa de reflexão foram definidos os avanços práticos, avanços teóricos, replicabilidade e possibilidades de pesquisas futuras. Através do desenvolvimento deste trabalho constatouse que, apesar da complexidade, é possível trabalhar de forma sistêmica com o planejamento do crescimento urbano, contemplando-se as metas para o desenvolvimento sustentável em todas as suas dimensões: social, econômica, ecológica, espacial e cultural. / The world population is increasing each day and, in addition to population movements, the occupation of urban territory has grown at rates ever higher. Brazil follows the same trend, almost doubled its population in little more than thirty years that has been established mainly in the cities. The world is approaching population levels never imagined before and people are migrating to the large urban centers, which grow in an uncontrolled manner, causing different impact, since environmental until related to physical and mental well-being of its occupants. As a result, cities are the places where the greatest social inequalities and impacts on the natural environment happen. In this context, the planning strategies are doomed to fail, because repeat strategies used in previous centuries, and are not prepared for the demands that arise with urban and human development of the 21st century. Researchers differ on the way to the city's growth, suggesting solutions, ranging from the control of the sprawl of the urban area, encouraging the compact city and until the incentive to vertical city. At the same time, the cities spread across the territory and get taller. The gap was determined from the observation of the scarcity of studies that consider in a systematic way the characteristics and the potential impacts of each of the forms of urban growth, the lack of binding of these information to the principles of sustainable development, as recommended, and the fragmentation of topics related to sustainable urban development. The understanding of how cities grow, what are the impacts of urban forms resulting from, and what are the demands for a sustainable growth can become the basis for helping the planners of the decision-making process. The sustainable development is a challenge that must be considered in consumer, polluters and oppressors environments that became the cities. This work has the objective to seek a conceptual model for the sustainable planning of urban growth. This is a proposal that seeks to meet a real demand, improving the traditional practices of urban planning, and contribute to the construction of knowledge on the subject, through the organization of the information, was adopted as a strategy the constructive research. For both, was performed in the first step, of understanding, broad search of theoretical framework to assist in structuring the work. In the second stage, the stage of development, were proposed results, organized from a conceptual model formed from constructs related to urban growth and urban planning sustainable. The model was complemented by a sequence of steps for the future implementation in real contexts (method). The model has been evaluated by experts in the area of sustainability. Finally, the reflection phase were defined the practical developments, theoretical advances, replicability and possibilities for future research. Through the development of this work it was found that, despite the complexity, it is possible to work in a systematic way with the planning of urban growth, contemplating the goals for sustainable development in all its dimensions: social, economic, ecological, spatial and cultural.

A população mundial aumenta a cada dia e, somado aos movimentos populacionais, a ocupação do território urbano tem crescido a taxas cada vez maiores. O Brasil segue a mesma tendência, já que quase dobrou sua população em pouco mais de trinta anos, essa se estabeleceu predominantemente nas cidades. O mundo está próximo de atingir níveis populacionais jamais imaginados e as pessoas estão migrando para os grandes centros urbanos, que crescem de forma descontrolada, causando impactos diversos, desde ambientais até relacionados ao bem-estar físico e mental de seus ocupantes. Como resultado, as cidades são os locais onde as maiores desigualdades sociais e impactos ao ambiente natural acontecem. Diante desse contexto, as estratégias de planejamento correntes estão fadadas ao fracasso, pois repetem estratégias utilizadas em séculos anteriores, e não estão preparadas para as demandas que surgem com o desenvolvimento humano e urbano do século XXI. Pesquisadores divergem sobre a forma de crescimento da cidade, são sugeridas soluções, que vão desde o controle do espalhamento da área urbana, incentivo à cidade compacta e até o incentivo à verticalização. Ao mesmo tempo, as cidades se espalham no território e verticalizam. A lacuna verificada foi determinada a partir da constatação da escassez de trabalhos que considerassem de forma sistêmica as características e os possíveis impactos de cada uma das formas de crescimento urbano, a falta de vinculação dessas informações aos princípios de desenvolvimento sustentável, tão preconizado, e a fragmentação dos temas relacionados ao desenvolvimento urbano sustentável. O entendimento sobre como as cidades crescem, e quais são os impactos das formas urbanas resultantes, e quais são as demandas para um crescimento sustentável pode se tornar a base para auxiliar os planejadores no processo de tomada de decisão. O desenvolvimento sustentável é um desafio a ser considerado nos ambientes consumidores, poluidores e opressores em que se transformaram as cidades. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de buscar um modelo conceitual para o planejamento sustentável do crescimento urbano. Por se tratar de uma proposta que procura atender uma demanda real, a melhoria nas práticas tradicionais de planejamento urbano, e contribuir com a construção do conhecimento sobre o assunto, através da organização das informações, foi adotada como estratégia a pesquisa construtiva. Para tanto, foi realizada na primeira etapa, de compreensão, ampla busca de referencial teórico para auxiliar na estruturação do trabalho. Na segunda etapa, na fase de desenvolvimento, foram propostos os resultados, organizados a partir de um modelo conceitual formado a partir de constructos relacionados ao crescimento urbano e ao planejamento urbano sustentável. O modelo foi complementado por uma sequência de etapas para a futura implementação em contextos reais (método). O modelo ainda foi avaliado por especialistas da área de sustentabilidade. Por fim, na etapa de reflexão foram definidos os avanços práticos, avanços teóricos, replicabilidade e possibilidades de pesquisas futuras. Através do desenvolvimento deste trabalho constatouse que, apesar da complexidade, é possível trabalhar de forma sistêmica com o planejamento do crescimento urbano, contemplando-se as metas para o desenvolvimento sustentável em todas as suas dimensões: social, econômica, ecológica, espacial e cultural. / The world population is increasing each day and, in addition to population movements, the occupation of urban territory has grown at rates ever higher. Brazil follows the same trend, almost doubled its population in little more than thirty years that has been established mainly in the cities. The world is approaching population levels never imagined before and people are migrating to the large urban centers, which grow in an uncontrolled manner, causing different impact, since environmental until related to physical and mental well-being of its occupants. As a result, cities are the places where the greatest social inequalities and impacts on the natural environment happen. In this context, the planning strategies are doomed to fail, because repeat strategies used in previous centuries, and are not prepared for the demands that arise with urban and human development of the 21st century. Researchers differ on the way to the city's growth, suggesting solutions, ranging from the control of the sprawl of the urban area, encouraging the compact city and until the incentive to vertical city. At the same time, the cities spread across the territory and get taller. The gap was determined from the observation of the scarcity of studies that consider in a systematic way the characteristics and the potential impacts of each of the forms of urban growth, the lack of binding of these information to the principles of sustainable development, as recommended, and the fragmentation of topics related to sustainable urban development. The understanding of how cities grow, what are the impacts of urban forms resulting from, and what are the demands for a sustainable growth can become the basis for helping the planners of the decision-making process. The sustainable development is a challenge that must be considered in consumer, polluters and oppressors environments that became the cities. This work has the objective to seek a conceptual model for the sustainable planning of urban growth. This is a proposal that seeks to meet a real demand, improving the traditional practices of urban planning, and contribute to the construction of knowledge on the subject, through the organization of the information, was adopted as a strategy the constructive research. For both, was performed in the first step, of understanding, broad search of theoretical framework to assist in structuring the work. In the second stage, the stage of development, were proposed results, organized from a conceptual model formed from constructs related to urban growth and urban planning sustainable. The model was complemented by a sequence of steps for the future implementation in real contexts (method). The model has been evaluated by experts in the area of sustainability. Finally, the reflection phase were defined the practical developments, theoretical advances, replicability and possibilities for future research. Through the development of this work it was found that, despite the complexity, it is possible to work in a systematic way with the planning of urban growth, contemplating the goals for sustainable development in all its dimensions: social, economic, ecological, spatial and cultural.