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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119204 |
| Date | 31 May 2024 |
| Creators | Pednekar, Prathamesh Sunil |
| Contributors | Architecture, King, Jonathan Lee, Borunda Monsivais, Luis Ricardo, Gipe, Andrew |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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