Bombay 61

Bombay61,  Urbanists Author: Sarah Ghorpade Reimagining Versova Koliwada A Placemaking Initiative, 2021 Bombay 61, alongside members of the Versova Koliwada community and Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic, have transformed public spaces in the village through an innovative place-making initiative. The project supports the community to reclaim public spaces in the heart of the village to strengthen connections of the villagers to each other and to their cultural heritage. Watch the making of the project here. Transformation of the community space around Bhandari well To say that the koliwadas of Mumbai have been transformed from their original incarnation as fishing villages would be an understatement…and Versova koliwada is no exception. Home to Koli communities for over 600 years, and more recently to migrants from across the region, Versova koliwada has evolved from a village on an island, to a village within a bustling mega city in one of the most densely populated places on the planet...

  Bombay61,  Urbanists Authors: Ketaki Bhadgaonkar and Jai Bhadgaonkar The POOP-HOOD RETHINKING PUBLIC TOILETS Our entry for  The little big loo,  RETHINKING PUBLIC TOILETS  Architecture  Competition 2020 (International Competition) organized by Volume Zero won an honorable mention among  more than 100 entrants from all parts of the world.   70% of 18 million population of Mumbai lives in informal settlements 20% of Mumbai slum dwellers have no access to toilets. 58% Toilets - No Electricity 78% Toilets - No Water The population of Mumbai living in the dense informal settlements have poor access to sanitation. There is a huge lack of access and at times the ratio of people using one toilet seat is about 600 people. This makes the idea of eradicating open defecation, social distancing, hygiene, etc., more and more difficult.  The toilets often have poor accessibility, no water, no electricity, broken doors and windows, low ventilation an...

Making Mumbai Resilient- Action agenda for Versova Koliwada, Mumbai. Authors: Jai and Ketaki Bhadgaonkar, Urbanists, Bombay61 Studio Climate change has serious impacts on the cities and specifically on the indigenous coastal communities around the world. As of today, Mumbai’s coastline is dotted by 38 such fishermen settlements (Koliwada) that date back to 400 years of evolution. Versova Koliwada is one of the most thriving fishing villages in the city of Mumbai. However, climate change, developmental pressures, ecological deterioration and changing aspirations have led to uncertainties in fishing as a livelihood. In recent years, most of the Kolis have had to sell their boats due to the economic losses. The project initiated by Bombay 61creates an opportunity to establish close interactions with the community, to understand their concerns and initiate trans-disciplinary dialogue to co-produce transformative actions that envision sustainable development. By recognizing...