"Re"- development
In the top left corner a photo of the “re” – development of Dharavi in process. But maybe we need to rewind all the way back to our initial vision of apocalyptic slums and question it – what is a slum after all? The mass-housing projects that house people in superficially respectable homes are not slums? Even if the residents cannot sustain their livelihoods and maintain their buildings? Aren’t we witnessing all these giant-structures get moisturized and sick in the harsh weather of Mumbai? And neighbourhoods full of shops, restaurants, workshops and assembling units are referred to as slums even when they produce wealth, provide livelihoods, sustain local economies and keep on improving themselves overtime? Many neighbourhoods in Mumbai that are referred to as a slum actually sustain economies and are enmeshed in the larger economy of the city – national as well as global. The experience of street-life will indicate to you the health of an urban economy more than anything else. Many urbanists around the world, following Jane Jacobs, have recognized the importance of street-life, markets, vendors, loiters, pedestrians and other users of public spaces to keep places safe, culturally vibrant and economically sound.
"Re"- development
In the top left corner a photo of the “re” – development of Dharavi in process. But maybe we need to rewind all the way back to our initial vision of apocalyptic slums and question it – what is a slum after all? The mass-housing projects that house people in superficially respectable homes are not slums? Even if the residents cannot sustain their livelihoods and maintain their buildings? Aren’t we witnessing all these giant-structures get moisturized and sick in the harsh weather of Mumbai? And neighbourhoods full of shops, restaurants, workshops and assembling units are referred to as slums even when they produce wealth, provide livelihoods, sustain local economies and keep on improving themselves overtime? Many neighbourhoods in Mumbai that are referred to as a slum actually sustain economies and are enmeshed in the larger economy of the city – national as well as global. The experience of street-life will indicate to you the health of an urban economy more than anything else. Many urbanists around the world, following Jane Jacobs, have recognized the importance of street-life, markets, vendors, loiters, pedestrians and other users of public spaces to keep places safe, culturally vibrant and economically sound.