STREET AS A PLAYGROUND/ LIVING ROOM
SITE IMAGES
SITE DRAWINGS
The site is located in Shimpoli, Kastur Park in Borivali which is a street between the settlements with a public toilet and a BMC garden with dense plantations and surrounded by redeveloped high rise buildings.
The street was looked as a place which stinks throughout the day, potholes which lead to waterlogging throughout the year. The space is usually occupied by men who reside there for playing or gossiping and passers by are gazed by them. Hence this makes one either move quickly through the space as it feels uncomfortable and insecure or avoid crossing the street from one end to other. Also there is less movement as one end of the street is blocked off.
DRAWING OF FORCES
The street is imagined as a playground, home/living room. The rhythms observed on site are movement of people to access the BMC garden, leisure space for auto drivers, using objects, gates, trees to dry clothes or scrapped furniture to inhabit in the evenings either for playing or gossiping.
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SITE
The street consists of various movements of vehicle and people during different time periods and acts as node for multiple activities.People are mostly walking to cross the route because one end of the street is blocked off, women performing their daily chores outside the house, social gatherings either to play or gossip in their free time. Passing by this street is a bit conscious as one is always observed by the people residing there and makes one move quickly in this realm of gaze. The engagement happens in a way by creating a play space using mounds, poles where people/ animals can climb, jump, sit, rest, etc. and also hide from the surroundings. This can also act as a home since people spend their time outside. This would help to create more interaction not only with the people residing but also passers by.
The site - Before
The site - After