ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING INDORE - AR. B. V.

DOSHI LOCATION AND PLANNING OF ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING

•LOCATION - 6KM FROM THE CENTRE OF INDORE CITY, M.P.
•CLIENT- INDORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1) THERE IS A STADIUM AT THE CENTER, AND IN THE NORTHWEST, WEST, AND SOUTHWEST OF IT,
•PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT - BALKRISHNA DOSHI THERE ARE URBAN SERVICES.
•TOTAL BUILT-UP AREA -100,000 M2 2)ALSO IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE WHOLE COMPLEX, SINGLE HOUSES ACCOUNTED FOR THE
•PROJECT COST - RS. 100 MILLION SIGNIFICANT RESIDENTIAL TYPE.
•YEAR OF COMPLETION - 1989 3)THEREFORE SINGLE HOUSES FORMED THREE NEIGHBORHOODS ACCOMPANIED BY THREE
•AWARD - AGA KHAN AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE IN 1996. ZIGZAG-SHAPED OPEN-AIR GATHERING ZONES.
4)ALSO, THOSE BUILDING PROGRAMS INCLUDE FLATS, SINGLE HOUSES, GREEN AREAS, HOSPITALS,
SCHOOLS, AND OTHER TYPES OF URBAN SERVICES IN THE REMAINING DIRECTIONS.
OBJECTIVES: 5)ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING WAS NOT COMPOSING OF HOUSING UNITS ONLY AS IT INCLUDED
• TO IMPROVE AND UPGRADE THE EXISTING SLUM AREA VARIOUS URBAN SERVICES; HENCE IT COMES UNDER AN URBAN-SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT.
• TO PROVIDE SERVICED SITES FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS INSTEAD OF
BUILDING COMPLETE HOUSES.
• TO PROVIDE FOR 6,500 RESIDENTIAL PLOTS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 35M2 FOR EWS TO GROWTH OF SETTLEMENT ON MACRO LEVEL DEVELOPMENT OF MASTER PLAN
475M2 FOR HIGH INCOME GROUPS.
• CREATE A TOWNSHIP WITH A SENSE OF CONTINUITY AND FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF
SECURITY IN A GOOD LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
• ACHIEVE A COMMUNITY CHARACTER BY ESTABLISHING HARMONY BETWEEN THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE.
• CREATE A BALANCED COMMUNITY OF VARIOUS SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS TO EVOLVE
A FRAMEWORK THROUGH DESIGN.

FINANCIAL ASPECTS:
• THE IDEA WAS TO MIX SOME MIDDLE INCOME PLOTS WITH EWS PLOTS TO USE THE
PROFITS TO RAISE CAPITAL TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL TRADES.
• FUNDING – 100% PUBLIC SOURCES.

EVOLUTION OF MASTER PLAN:

PLANNING CONCEPT OF ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING:
● VITALITY – DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY. IMAGEABILITY – BUILT-FORM TO IMPART IDENTITY AND INCULCATE
A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONGST THE INHABITANTS.
● EQUITY – TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE BALANCED COMMUNITY WITH A
SATISFACTORY LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ALL.
● EFFICIENCY – TO REALIZE DEVELOPMENT THAT OPTIMIZES NATURAL, MATERIAL,
AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO THE USER GROUP’S ADVANTAGE.
● FLEXIBILITY – TO EVOLVE A FRAMEWORK THAT ABSORBS THE PROGRESSIVE
CHANGE AND GROWTH AS A PART OF THE NATURAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
● FEASIBILITY – TO ENSURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE GIVEN LEGAL, FISCAL,
AND ORGANIZATIONAL MILIEU
-MODIFICATIONS BY PEOPLE
● INDORE’S CLIMATE WAS EFFECTIVELY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, AND A
● MOST OF THE PLOTS ARE SMALL IN AND SIZE, AND THE HOUSES ARE
● ESPECIALLY DURING SUMMERS. THE TWO OPENINGS ON THE NORTH
DESIGN OF ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING
● ARANYA TOWNSHIP IS DESIGNED AS A SERVICES PROJECT SPREAD OUT IN SIX SECTORS
THAT CONGREGATE ON A CENTRAL SPINE, I.E., THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
● MOREOVER, ONE OF THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF DOSHI’S DESIGN WAS A HIERARCHY OF
OPEN SPACES THAT INCLUDE SMALL COURTYARDS TO BE SHARING BY THREE TO FOUR
FAMILIES, LARGER GREEN SPACES FOR EACH SECTOR.
● AND ALSO A CENTRAL PLAYING FIELD TO AID THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT.
● ALSO, OPEN SPACES AND PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS INTERCONNECT THE CLUSTERS TO THE
CENTRAL SPINE.
● EACH USER HAS AN ARRAY OF CHOICES AVAILABLE, FROM ONE-ROOM SHELTERS TO
SUPPLEMENTARY SPACIOUS HOUSES.
● THE EMPHASIS IS MAKING ON FAMILY AND NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE ENCOURAGING
ADAPTATION AND PERSONALIZATION ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS AND RESOURCES.
● THE LOWER-INCOME GROUPS WERE GIVEN
NUMEROUS OPTIONS THAT INCLUDING A SITE
AND PLINTH, A SERVICE CORE, AND ONE ROOM,
CONTINGENT ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN AFFORD.
● OWNERS WERE FREE TO USE ANY MATERIAL FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION AND DECORATION OF THE
HOUSE.
● BRICK, STONE, AND CEMENT WERE LOCALLY
AVAILABLE. BRIGHT COLORS IN THE FACADES,
RAILINGS, GRILLS, AND CORNICES COMMONLY
SEEING IN THE OLD HOUSES OF INDORE ARE
USING IN SOME OF THE HOUSES.
● INTERIOR STREETS AND SQUARES IN THE
ECONOMICALLY WEAKER SECTION ARE
STONE-PAVING, DECREASING THEIR COST AND
MAINTENANCE. PERIPHERAL ROADS ARE
ASPHALT PAVING FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC
CONDUCIVE LIVING ENVIRONMENT WAS ACHIEVING IN AARANYA.
CLUSTERED IN LOW-RISE BLOCKS. THE MORE EXTENDED SIDE FACADE
IS ORIENTED IN THE NORTH-SOUTH AXIS TO REDUCE THE SOLAR
RADIATION ON THE BUILDING.
AND SOUTH PERMIT THE NATURAL LIGHT AND CROSS
VENTILATION—THE ADJACENT BUILDINGS SUFFICIENTLY SHADE
COURTYARDS WITHIN HOUSES, CUL-DE-SACS, PUBLIC SQUARES, AND
SMALL ACTIVITY AREAS.
PLANNING:

ANALYSIS OF PLANS: INCREMENTAL HOUSING: STAGES OF GROWTH

● THE UNITS ARE DENSE, AND SPACE IS ACHIEVED THROUGH VERTICALITY AND OPENING ROOMS TO ONE
ANOTHER WITHOUT SEPARATING THEM BY DOORS.
● THOUGH THE UNITS ARE ATTACHED, THIS IS NOT DESIGNED AS EACH DWELLING HAS ITS OWN ENTRANCE
AND STAIRS, GIVING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND OWNERSHIP TO THE DWELLERS.
● MAJORITY OF THE SPACES ARE USED AS PRIVATE AREAS, AND NOT ALL THE UNITS HAVE LIVING
AREA/PUBLIC PLACE.
● THE PRIVACY IN THE UNITS IS MINIMUM SINCE IN ALL UNITS THERE IS NO LOBBY AND ONE ENTERS
DIRECTLY INTO THE PRIVATE AREA.
● NO SPACE HAS BEEN WASTED, AND MAXIMUM USE OF SPACE IS ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING OPTIMUM
SPACING FOR CIRCULATION. THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY MINIMISING THE PARTITIONS AND DOORS BETWEEN
THE ROOMS

THIS SERIES OF PICTURES SHOWS THE INCREMENTAL GROWTH OF A HOUSE FROM THE PLINTH AND SERVICE CORE, TO A
TWO-STOREYED STRUCTURE.

TYPOLOGY OF OPEN SPACES

● A HOUSE PLAN INCLUDED 2 ROOMS AND A LIVING

AREA, FOLLOWED BY A KITCHEN AND A LAVATORY
WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN THE FRONT
EXTENSION, WITH A MULTI-USE COURTYARD AT THE
BACK.
● MOST OF THE HOUSES WERE PROVIDED WITH AN
ADDITIONAL ACCESS AT THE BACK, WHICH ALSO
PROVIDED SPACE FOR KEEPING ANIMALS, A VEHICLE
OR EVEN RENTING OUT A CERTAIN PART OF THE HOUSE.
● A GROUP OF 10 HOUSES COMPRISED OF A CLUSTER
THAT OPENED INTO THE STREET. THE COURTYARD AT
THE BACK OPENED INTO THE OPEN SPACE OF THE
CLUSTER AND WAS USED AS A PLAY AREA AND SERVICE
AREA; TREES AND MULTI-USE PLATFORMS WERE
ADDED FURTHER.
SITE AND SERVICE SCHEME OF DESIGN

● (THE SITE AND SERVICES WAS ADAPTED IN THIS

PROJECT 2 ON NEW SCHEME ENTAILING CROSS
SUBSIDIZATION :THE HIG AND MIG GROUPS WAY TO
PAY FOR THEIR PLOTS ACCORDING TO THEIR
INCOME THE AMOUNT GENERATED WOULD THEN
BE USED TO BUILD THE HOUSES FOR EWS.
● THE RESIDENTS OF THE EWS CATEGORY HAD TO
PAY BACK THE LOAN ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
● FOR THE EWS, THE OPTIONS OF CORE HOUSING
INCLUDED:
A) SITE PLAINT AND SERVICE CORE (WC AND WATER
TAB) SITE PLINTH AND SERVICE CORES (WC AND
BATH) SIDE PLINTH AND SERVICE CORE ( WC AND
BATH) AND ONE KITCHEN
B) THE OTHER INCOME GROUPS HAD PLOT SOLD TO
THEM.A VERANDAH OR HOUSE EXTENSION HELPED
IN EXPANDING THE EWS HOUSES AND ENHANCED
SPACE QUALITY.

HIERARCHY AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPACES

● THE PLAN IMITATES THE INFORMAL NATURE

OF A SLUM SETTLEMENT. THE TOWN CENTRE
CONSISTS OF FOUR CLUSTERS OF SHOPPING,
RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE COMPLEXES AND
AT THE END OF CENTRAL SPINE TO MIXED
USE CLUSTERS.
● RESIDENTIAL CLUSTERS THAT OPEN ON 2 A
STREET ARE COMPRISED OF 10 HOUSES EACH
WITH A REAR COURTYARD FOR USE AS A PLAY
AND SERVICE AREA.
● OPEN SPACES AND PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS
INTERSECT AND CONNECT A CLUSTERS TO
THE CENTRAL SPINE INTERNAL STREETS AND
SQUARES ARE PAVED AND THE MAJOR ROADS
AND ARTERIES THAT LINK THE TOWN CENTRE
TO OTHER PARTS ARE ARANYA AND TARRED.

ACCESSIBILITY NETWORK

● MIXED AND MULTIPLE LAND USE FORMATION OF

SMALL NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSES
EXTENDING TO THE OUTDOORS.
● SMALL SHOPS OPERATING WITHIN CONGESTED
AREAS.
● TREES PLANTED IN PUBLIC PLACES STREETS
ACCOMMODATING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND
DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES.
 MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
● CONVENTIONAL AND LOCALLY AVAILABLE BUILDING MATERIALS AND
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES WERE ADOPTED.
● THE CRC ROOF WAS ALWAYS CONSTRUCTED AT A LATER STAGE BECAUSE
IT WAS A HIGH INVESTMENT ITEM.
● THE BLACK COTTON SOIL OF THE SITE NECESSITATED PILE FOUNDATION
EVEN FOR SIMPLE AND 2-STOREYED BUILDINGS.
● LOW COST HAND MADE CRC PILES WERE BUILT FOR THE CORE HOUSE
(LATRINE, WASH ROOM) AND THE RESIDENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH
READY BUILT FOUNDATIONS.
● THE DOORS, WINDOWS, AND GRILLS WERE MADE ON SITE BY ALL OF THE
RESIDENTS WHO MADE IT THEIR ROLE.
● RAILINGS, PARAPETS AND CORNICES WERE MADE TO ORNAMENT THE
HOUSE.
● THE STRUCTURES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD BEARING BRICK
WALLS. WALLS WERE PLASTERED AND PAINTED. FLOORS WERE MADE
OF CEMENT CONCRETE
ACCESSIBILITY
● VEHICULAR ACCESS IN THE FORM RECTILINEAR
AND FORMAL ROADS IN THE HIERARCHY OF 4.5M
WIDE TO 15M WIDE ROAD DRAWS THE VEHICLES
OUTWARDLY.
● PEDESTRIAN ACCESS IN THE FORM OF INFORMAL
INTERLINKED OPEN SPACES DRAWS PEOPLE
INWARDLY.
ZONING
CRITIQUE
● THE WORD ‘ARANYA’ MEANS ‘FOREST’ IN HINDI. IT IS AN APT NAME FOR
THIS INCREMENTAL MIXED-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT BY BALKRISHNA
DOSHI IN INDORE.
● IT REVEALS THE ARCHITECT’S INTENTION THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD
GROW SLOWLY, FROM THE BOTTOM UP- IN TERMS OF ECONOMY AS WELL
AS ARCHITECTURE.
● ‘THE INDIGENOUS CHARACTER OF BUILT FORM PROVIDES A SETTING FOR
THE CONTINUATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF SOCIETY’.
● TWENTY YEARS AFTER ITS INCEPTION, ARANYA PROVIDES AN IDEAL SITE
FOR STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF RECENT SOCIETAL CHANGES IN INDIA,
AS REFLECTED IN DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE.
● THE TIGHTNESS OF ITS SPACES FORCES AN EXTREME CONDENSATION
AND LAYERING OF THE LOCAL AND THE REMOTE.
● IRONICALLY, THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT ARANYA IS
FUNCTIONING POORLY: RESIDENTS HAVE TO COLLECT WATER DAILY
FROM TAPS IN THE STREET; STORM DRAINS FREQUENTLY BACK UP, AND
WILD PIGS ARE A MAIN FORM OF GARBAGE DISPOSAL.
● YET THE HEALTHY COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE (WITHIN THE
COURTYARDS) THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN THESE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF BOTTOM-UP DEVELOPMENT TO REVEAL
RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIETAL VALUES.
● THE ARANYA PROJECT HAS YIELDED A RICH HARVEST OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN HABITATS THAT CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND GROW THIRTY
YEARS AFTER ITS LAUNCH.
● IT FEATURES SOME REALLY ATTRACTIVE PARTS SHAPED BY INDIVIDUAL
FOOTPRINTS OF HOMES THAT PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED IN.
● THESE FOOTPRINTS ARE FRAMED BY THE STREET LAYOUTS AND
BOUNDARIES ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED BY DOSHI. A SMALL 32 X 12
SQUARE FOOT BASE HAS EVOLVED INTO AN IMPRESSIVE 900 SQUARE
FEET HOUSE THAT REACHES INTO THE THIRD FLOOR. THE
ECONOMICALLY POORER PARTS REVEAL LAYERS OF ECONOMIC
80 MODEL HOMES WERE
OMPLETED IN 1989
REFERENCES :
● https://issuu.com/iamanu333/docs/ananya_nikhilesh_manisha_report/s/12225413
● https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/revisit-aranya-low-cost-housing-indore-balkrishna-doshi
● https://www.northernarchitecture.us/urban-design-3/case-study-wyi.html
● https://www.akdn.org/architecture/project/aranya-community-housing
● Balkrishna Doshi, Aranya Low-cost Housing, Indore, 1983-86 | identity housing (wordpress.com)

SUBMITTED BY-

SNEHA DEY
6TH SEMESTER, B.ARCH
ROLL NO-10
GCAP, AZARA