Vitalizing Watertanks - Affordable Modular Housing Solution for Slums by Kevin Chellakudam

VITALIZING WATERTANKS Affordable Modular Housing Solution for Slums

Kevin Chellakudam

HEAD - Geneva

Interior Architecture

June 2023

Table of Content

Text of Presentation

Contextualization of the Project

Thematic Diagrams

20.

Vitalizing Watertanks Proposal

31.

Biography

48.

How do we ensure land ownership to the people in the Slums?

In Kerala’s district of Ernakulam, marginalized and poor people were forced to move to these colonies with substandard living conditions being “victims” of urbanization. Due to substandard living conditions, people had to move willingly or unwillingly into colonies creating slums. Due to the lack of proper infrastructure and water, the slums locate close to the water sources. Given the fact that most building on water canal banks open their toilet outlets in to the canals, improper sanitation facilities, they not only pollute the water source, but also disease outbreaks here are ubiquitous. With the city facing increased threat of waterlogging, Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) is expediting the implementation to revive the water canals, forcing the slums to shift location. Most residents are either a tenant or homeless, so the project asks how do we ensure land ownership for the people? « Vitalising Watertanks » is an alternative solution offered to the government to create social housing. Located in Kaloor, India, it aims to inhabit the empty part of the structure that supports a working water tank, while encouraging construction in dialogue with the community, bringing them closer and reducing labour costs. The goal is to design self-sustained modular pods with a variety of compositions, while still respecting local dynamics and culture. These pods explore the concept of prototype and modular construction to create public or private spaces. The modularity of the project fosters a manual and adaptable approach to grant residents the ability to construct living units that can be adjusted to the size of the family. The project can be adapted to other water tanks around the state of Kerala, India, creating more social housing. It aims to reduce slums and revive water canals, maintaining flexibility and practicality for the users while balancing the cost and the residents’ needs.

Kevin Chellakudam © HEADGeneve, Guillaume-Collignon

The term «slum» is often used to describe informal settlements, where people live in substandard and makeshift structures, inadequate access to basic services such as water and sanitation, and typically lacking in proper infrastructure and social amenities.

Mosquito disease vectors Mosquitobreeds deseasein vectors standing water. water breeds in standing

Stagnant water provides Stagant water provides a breedingbreeding place for the place for schismatic snail host. schisomanias snail host.

Schistosomes penetrate Schisiosmes penetrate the skin person skinof of a person standing in standing in stagnant stagantwater. water

Stagnant water Stangant water contaminates shallow contaminates shallow water aquifer. water aquifier

People urinate and defecate People urinate and into water, to the lack delecate intoowing water, owing of sanitary toilets. to lack of sanitary toilets

Slums - Poor Sanitaryproblems problems - Poor hygene - Illness Slums - Poorinfrastructure Infrastructure- Creating - Creatingdirty dirtywater watersource source -- Sanitary - Poor hygene - Illness

Stagnant Stagantwater water contaminates contaminates water supply water supply.

Project Location in India - Kerala - Ernakulam 8

Slum Population

Slum Population < 1000 1001 - 5000 5001 - 10000

5001 - 10000

10001 - 15000 15001 - 20000 1001 - 5000

> 20000

Population profile of slum aggregates in Kerala and Ernakulam - International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research 2019 9

Slums in Ernakulam - A lane from Kavathy and Thuruthy 10

Water Pollution 11

Site : PLRWA-34, Kaloor, Kochi, Kerala 682017, India 12

9.2

Distance from Slums to Water Tank 13

Site Picture 14

Site Picture 15

Location of KWA Water tanks in Kerala and Ernakulam 16

Reference : KWA Water tank in Thrissur converted to offices on ground - second floor 17

porous: visual and physical enclosures are soft

inclusivity: degree of physical enclosure within the streets of slums

hard: visual and physical enclosure converge to a point within the slum street creating a «sub-centre»

figure / ground: formal qualities of alum streets are expressed

public / private: adjacency of public and private spaces within the street section of slums

personal / communal: seperation of personal and communal spaces and hardness of porosity of boundaries

Analysis of public spaces in Slums 18

Site Analysis 19

Initial Plan

Initial Plan 20

Toilets

Placement of Toilets in the middle due to least amount of sunlight 21

Buuer Zone

Buffer Zone for protection from heat and humidity 22

Ground Floor Water Connection Areas

Ground Floor Water Connection Areas 23

First Floor Water Connection Areas

First Floor Water Connection Areas 24

Second Floor Water Connection Areas

Second Floor Water Connection Areas 25

Third Floor Water Connection Areas

Third Floor Water Connection Areas 26

Ground Floor Areas Not To Build

Ground Floor Areas Not to Build 27

First Floor Areas Not To Build

First Floor Areas Not to Build 28

Second Floor Areas Not To Build

Second Floor Areas Not to Build 29

Third Floor Areas Not To Build

Third Floor Areas Not to Build 30

Plan of Modular Home Pod for Family of 2 at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter and 3 meter 31

Plan of Modular Home Pod for Family of 4 at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter and 3 meter 32

Plan of Modular Home Pod for Family of 6 at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter and 3 meter 33

Plan of Modular Home Pod for Family of 5 at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter and 3 meter 34

Plan of Modular Home Pod for Family of 6 at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter and 3 meter 35

A. Pl cut a

B. Pl cut a

C. Pl perso

D. Pl cut a

E. Pl cut a

F. Pla cut a

G. Pl cut a

Plan of Modular Home Pod for Family of 8 at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter and 3 meter 36

A. Plan of Pod for Family of 4 cut at 1.5 and 3 meter.

Plan of Modular Home Pod for disabled person at Scale 1:50 - cut at 1.5 meter 37

The modular pods offer a more resilient environment due to sustainability, livabilit with quick and efficient assembly.

CO2 emission is shortened by not using to the adaptable design being able to reu

The bamboo flooring is then tightened us

The six short vertical bamboo sticks of m filled with concrete and connected with b support.

The frames are connected using Jute wit attached to concrete wall with metal cla

Aluminium is used as a wall to completel and public space.

Each wall structure of the pod is made u connection methods as shown in the dia

The modular pods offer a more resilient solution to the built environment due to sustainability, livability and affordability, with quick and efficient assembly. CO2 emission is shortened by not using any machines and due to the adaptable design being able to reuse the materials. The bamboo flooring is then tightened using Jute with a knot. The six short vertical bamboo sticks of making the flooring are filled with concrete and connected with bolts to give extra support. The frames are connected using Jute with a knot technique, then attached to concrete wall with metal clamps. Aluminium is used as a wall to completely separate the private and public space. Each wall structure of the pod is made using bamboo with connection methods as shown in the diagram left below.

Connection of the Modular Pods

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connection methods as shown in the diagram left below.

Each wallisstructure of the pod is made using bamboo with Aluminium is used as a wall to completely private Aluminium usedseparate as a wallthe to completely separate the private and public space. connection methods as shown thetodiagram left below. Aluminium is used as a in wall completely separate the private and public space.

and public space.

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and public space. are connected using Jute with a knot technique, then The frames

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The six short vertical bamboo sticks of making the flooring are

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filledsupport. with concrete and connected with bolts to give extra

CO2 emission is shortened byemission not usingisany machines andusing due any machines and due CO2 shortened by not support. to the adaptable design to being to reuse the materials. the able adaptable design being able to reuse the materials.

The bamboo flooring is then tightened using Jute with a knot.

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to the adaptable design being able to reuse the materials.

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Each wall structure of the pod is made connection methods as shown in the d

Aluminium is used as a wall to comple and public space.

The frames are connected using Jute attached to concrete wall with metal cl

The six short vertical bamboo sticks of filled with concrete and connected with support.

The bamboo flooring is then tightened

CO2 emission is shortened by not usin to the adaptable design being able to r

The modular pods offer a more resilien environment due to sustainability, livab with quick and efficient assembly.

Connection of Modular Pods 38

1 : 1 Bamboo Prototype Models showing different connections 39

Possible Proposal Ground Floor Plan at Scale 1:100 with High Population Density 40

Main Shared Common Kitchen and Shower

Shared Common Kitchen and Shower

Shared Common WC

Shared Common Kitchen and Shower Incoming Water Pipe

Outgoing Water Pipe

Elevator

Shared Common Kitchen and Shower

Possible Proposal First Floor Plan at Scale 1:100 with Medium Population Density 41

Possible Proposal Second Floor Plan at Scale 1:100 with Low Population Density 42

Proposal Section at Scale 1:70

Section at Scale 1:150 43

Interior View 44

Facade View 45

Section Model at Scale 1:33 46

Model Interior View at Scale 1:33 47

Biography

Kevin Chellakudam was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1996 and grew up there for 14 years. Later he moved to Thrissur in the southern state of Kerala, India. His passion to understand the functioning of the small and large things in the world led him to major in science in high school. His interest in working within human scale and ability to connect through visual representation led him to pursue an Interior Architecture undergraduate degree at the University of Westminster in 2020. There he developed an interest in metal crafts and wood carpentry, how different regions and cultures use these materials and began to grasp interior design in its larger context. In his design interventions, he analysed issues related to architectural language, urban versus local identity, and place-making. His summer internship in 2019 at Binesh Sukumar Architects Planners, Ernakulam, India exposed him to different climate problems of the region, new ways of thinking in the design process, and the cultural heritage of Kerala. During his last year as an undergraduate, he worked on residential and commercial projects as an intern at Studio Anares allowing him to practice design approaches. In 2020 he joined ‘Vogt Partner’, Zurich as a Junior Lighting Designer. Interacting with various clients and contractors and working on various sizes of projects enabled him to understand the importance of spatial lighting as a Designer. His strong desire to expand his knowledge and learn the latest methods of conducting research, lead him to pursue his Master’s in Interior Architecture at HEAD, Geneva in 2021, with a focus on sustainability and addressing global issues through design. In his capacity as a socially engaged Interior Architect, Kevin believes in addressing global issues with ethical design interventions that balance tradition while enabling modern technologies to thrive.