Well, I’ve started designing my informal community center.  This is a first node I’m trying out, and trying to look at particular issues.  Its sort of hard to stay focused, its like I’m trying to examine all the issues at the same time, but really I should try to focus, and detail, just a few.  I’ve decided on:

Water (sanitation & flooding issues)

Connections (internal & external, through mobility)

Open Space (appropriation for building & preservation of)

I’m tackling water first, which is starting to get interesting already.  Since Dharavi has issues with flooding because the ground is basically non permeable, when the water as filled in it was surface sealed, I’m working on making the ground more permeable for absorption, but also how roofs perhaps could be used for water absorption as well (especially during the monsoon).  For sanitation, I had created this section last year with basically a living machine running down the center of the street, but I don’t actually know how that would work.  So I’m trying to figure that out now. 

Anyway, the above image is a quick rendering of my first node.  A space for children to the right of the screen connected by a little tunnel to a communal kitchen.  Program is just things I’ve picked up along the way, but really isn’t that important to my thesis.