Social interactions in Housing: a case study of low rise housing apartments in Ahmedabad

The Industrial Revolution was a major shift of technological, socioeconomic, and cultural conditions that occurred in the late 18th and early 19th century in some Western countries. It began in Britain and spread throughout the world, a process that continues as industrialization. The effects spread throughout Western Europe and North America during the 19th century, eventually affecting most of the world. Living conditions during the Industrial Revolution varied from the splendor of the homes of the owners to the squalor of the lives of the workers. Poor people lived in very small houses in cramped streets. These homes would share toilet facilities, have open sewers and would be at risk of damp. As a result of the Revolution, huge numbers of the working class died due to disease spreading through the cramped living conditions.

The “Western Indian City� signifies the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The city has undergone two phases pf its growth, namely the pre- industrial phase (1411- 1859) and the industrial phase (1859 onwards). Over the pre- industrial phase of roughly four and a half centuries, the region was ruled by Muslims, Mughals, Marathas and lastly by the British. Under these rulers, the city acquired the position as an important center of commerce and administration.

The city suffered from quite a few political changes and natural calamities. It went through a short period of destruction during the Maratha rule which continued until the city was taken over by the Britishers. The Britishers restored the law and order, got the city walls reconstructed, revised the tax on trade and commerce and local self- government started. A number of secondary organizations came up. With this background, the city entered its industrial phase from 1859.

The industrial base of Ahmedabad is found in its textile industry.

The first textile mill in the city was established in 1859 and it started production in 1861. Gradually, the number of mills in the city went on increasing. There was a lack of competition within the city which helped the textile industry to develop.

Various other factories also came up in the course of time. Since there was a growth in the city, the population increased. The growth of population in the city reflects the role of migration on population increase. The migrants increase the population of males to females in the city, they increased the percentage of workers of the city, their arrival from different parts of the country added to the heterogeneity of the city and they created additional demands on housing accommodation in the city. The city meets these requirements partly through building new houses and increasing the municipal limits, The pressure of population both through natural increase and migration keeps on adding pressures on housing accommodation and increasing density of population. Most of the population lived in rented houses compared to living in their ownership. The three fourth of the housing accommodation became apparent due to the significance of pols.

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