Specialisation Course - Hunnarshala

Understanding Street Vending Zones of Anjar & designing through Participatory Approach

The course, a comprehensive five-week program, aimed at developing understanding of the act of street vending and integrating these to form a safe and accessible public space, through participatory design processes. The course will focus on street vending in a small town in Kutch, called Anjar. 

The course involves comprehensive mapping & surveys to understand the current character of street vending in Anjar, which helps us develop the city vending plan. Regular discussions with vendors and authority help in understanding their needs and issues. The course is structured with an opening workshop with municipal authority, weekly presentations and reviews, and ending with a culminating public exhibition.

For the introduction to the program in Week One, participants delved into the landscape of the Kutch region, understanding its socio-economic, geography & politics. Further, they were introduced to street vending in Bhuj. With the opening event in Anjar in the later half, the dialogue with the municipal authority of Anjar began. 

Week Two focuses on mapping of street vending zones in Anjar, surveying and interviewing various stakeholders, and a session on urban observation techniques. The participants were divided into groups. This helped us mark out the major vending zones of the city and their potential. 

In Week Three & Four, participants refine their design briefs along with the vendors from their respective vending zones. Participants then, work on development of design with regular discussions with vendors, authorities and the Hunnarshala team. They were assisted with sessions on materials & technology, to work on final proposals for submission to the government.  

This led to a culminating workshop with a public exhibition, open to the town of Anjar, ensuring holistic project support and visibility of the work. 

The workshop aims to give the participants a grasp of participatory design, comprehensive mapping and effective communication design in collaboration with all the stakeholders and authorities.