OVERVIEW

The housing deficit in urban India is estimated to be about 25 million. The Govt. of India with its ambitious Housing for All scheme aims to address this gap by 2022. Sanjaynagar, a slum in Ahmednagar city, is home to 298 families. Working alongside the community under the Housing for All scheme, we developed a redevelopment plan, to include development, design and construction, of eight G+2 buildings. The plan addresses the need for formal housing for these families, while also providing safe and adequate community spaces, preserving the strong social fabric and bonding of the community.

Percentage population of the world and India residing in urban slums

CONTEXT

The Sanjaynagar slum in Ahmednagar city is home to 22 different communities, making the social make up fairly unique for a neighbourhood of its kind. Spread over 2 acres, these communities have been living together since the first dwellers arrived here in the 1980s. Many of these communities belong to the Other Backward Communities (OBC) group and about 45% belong to the more disenfranchised categories.

Read below to learn more about the history of the neighbourhood and our work with them:

Aerial view of Sanjaynagar slum

Impact

  1. Participatory process conducted with 937 residents
  2. 33 homes designed with the communities
  3. 25+ social spaces in the form of roof gardens, courtyards and health center
  4. 8+ years of deep engagement with the community
  5. 8-10 degree F reduction in temperature within the homes
  6. 10 cm rise in groundwater level
  7. 50% homes are women-owned

“Earlier, we had to secure our house against the cold, rain, and heat. People would fall sick very frequently. Our new houses are warm in winter and cool throughout the summer. There is no question of waterlogging.”

– Anjali, Resident of Sanjaynagar

Resources

  1. Baseline Health Study
  2. Essay in Impact Review 2020 Report
  • The first building, Swapnapurti, under the Sanjaynagar Slum Rehabilitation Project
  • A boy and two women sitting in the living area and open kitchen of a house
  • Residents using the large corridors as social spaces to gather and mingle
  • A woman working in the kitchen and another women washing clothes while the TV is on in the living room
  • Swapnapurti_4
  • Interior shot of a sample flat at Swapnapurti Building
  • The staircase connecting building is also serving as a common space for residents to gather and meet
  • Interior shot of one of the newly built apartments in Swapnapurti Building
  • Women using the large corridors as social spaces to gather and mingle
  • Interior shot of a sample flat at Swapnapurti Building
  • A young boy and a woman sitting on a bed in a naturally lit bedroom

Initiatives

Sanjaynagar Slum Redevelopment: Swapnapurti Cooperative Housing

A community-driven, climate-responsive redevelopment providing 33 affordable homes under PMAY, co-designed and built with residents…

Mobilising and Design for Slum Redevelopment Phase 2

Engaging communities in the planning and design of the second phase of slum redevelopment, co-creating…

Inclusive Financing Mechanism

Developing equitable financial models that enable residents to access, invest in, and sustain housing and…

learnings

The Sanjaynagar Redevelopment project is also a learning experience for a young organization like ours. The team has encountered numerous unanticipated roadblocks and in responding to these, our thinking and processes have been repeatedly challenged and continue to evolve. From delays in construction due to incessant rains, to challenges faced by the community during the pandemic lockdown, completing the first building has been difficult for all our stakeholders across the board. The stories from our team on the ground will give you more real time insights into the evolution of this community-led redevelopment project.

Resources

  1. Short film on the community’s COVID-19 experience and response
Children of Sanjaynagar
  • Ma Sanjay Nagar, Shop No 1 Near Katoban, Khandoba Rd, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra 414001

Project Details

Year: 2018
Status: Ongoing
Location: Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Size: 2.09 acres

Services: Design Research, Community Engagement, Participatory Design and Mapping, Public Space Design, Project Management, Financial Inclusion Mechanisms

Partners:
Project Lead, Architectural Design & Project Management Partner
Community Design Agency, Mumbai

Social Partner
Snehalaya, Ahmednagar

PMAY Support
Government of India
Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Govt of Maharashtra
Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation

Funding Partners
Curry Stone Foundation

Housing Finance
Rang De, Bangalore

Concept Design
Hunnarshala Foundation, Bhuj

Landscape Consultant
Integrated Design, Bangalore

Plumbing Consultant
Phoenix Consultants, Pune

Electrical Consultant
Vidyutsallagar Pvt. Ltd , Pune