Khotachiwadi Calling

urbz would like to invite everyone who is interested in learning about and taking action to address the current situation in Khotachiwadi. We will go over the previous studies and reports once more and speak about how we can take simple measures to reconsider the recommendations made in prior reports, as well as fresh recommendations from residents and experts.

Men of Steel

A look into the collective intelligence of Khetwadi’s steel artisans.

Beyond the Urban-Rural Binary: France, Italy and Goa

This is the second part of the Goa- Beyond the Urban-Rural Binary which explores how Goa represents a distinctive pattern of urbanization, representing the coevolution of its countryside and urban centres.

The View Out

Metal enclosures within Homegrown Developments of Dharavi

3 X 3

Understanding spatial optimization for commercial spaces in homegrown neighborhoods.

The Way Up

Vertical Accessibility within Homegrown Developments of Dharavi

Goa - Beyond the Urban-Rural Binary

The first of two posts looking at how Goa represents a distinctive pattern of urbanization, representing a coevolution of its countryside and urban centers.

Tokyo - Mess is More

Long dismissed as an urban mess, a weird by-product of Japan’s fantastic rise to economic prominence in the postwar period, Tokyo is gaining renewed attention as a model of urban development and management.

India and Jugaad: The Design Comes As We Build

This essay discusses urbz' "The Design Comes As We Build" project which recognizes local builders in homegrown settlements by providing them a space to showcase their design imagination. You can access it here

The Making of Leather Goods

In the second part of this series, we explore two leather workshops near the 90 feet road in Dharavi, to understand where and how all processes in the creation of leather products are carried out.

Hyperlocal: Travelling without moving

This text explores some reflections Andreas Ruby started to develop when participating in the workshop "Limites x Limites", organised by Aidec and ConstructLab, which questioned the uses and design of a future park in Geneva's iconic neighbourhood "Jonction".

A day's work at Kumbharwada

In a new series, we re-explore the homegrown streets of Dharavi in search of local arts and crafts. First in the series- Dharavi's famous Kumbharwada

Creating Everyday Environments

In conclusion to the study on placemaking in urban villages, we speculate some possible interventions that could enhance everyday environments.

Made in Dharavi : A digital scheme for SME’s

Digitalization can transform how SMEs operate in Dharavi. Made in Dharavi is a digital application that will support small-scale businesses in Dharavi to make them locally productive and globally connected.

A Shared Vision for the ICRC in Geneva

urbz is working with the employees, directorate and assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Museum to imagine the future of their HQ

Cool City Sécheron

An ongoing project on the ecological transition and how it can foster quality public spaces

urbz Paris

City

urbz has set up a new office in Paris! It specializes in documentation, film production and multimedia projects. 

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urbz a ouvert un nouveau bureau à Paris, spécialisé dans la documentation, la production

Dharavi works

Project

Dharavi works is a series of projects built in Dharavi Koliwada by urbz in partnership with local inhabitants and contractors.

A Participatory Plan for the ICRC

Project

urbz was selected on the basis of an international call for tenders to support the ICRC and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in the redevelopment of the Hill of Pregny. The ICRC employs nearly 20,000

Gendered Mobility and Climate Action

Project

This project is undertaken under the C40 Women For Climate mentorship program, Mumbai in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra. The Mentee, Vidisha Dhar, is supported by Lubaina Rangwala (WRI), urbz

urbz Goa

City

urbz has been engaged in Goa for over a decade through our office in Aldona. Our work in Goa is mostly centred around research on various aspects of Goa's urbanism that challenge the urban-rural binary. In the

Participatory process Onex-Centre

Project

urbz is working with the Municipality of Onex in Geneva, putting together a participatory process to evaluate and contribute to a master plan aiming at improving the quality of life, providing new housing and

Covid-19 in Dharavi

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 urbz has been researching its effect on the people of Dharavi. 

Habitat 100: A chawl redevelopment project

Project

We are excited to be working on a new architectural project in Dharavi Koliwada. Our friend, collaborator, and contractor Joseph Koli, approached us to work on his latest project - the redevelopment of a chawl

Project Étoile

Project

urbz has been mandated by the State of Geneva to develop a concept and program that integrates living, working and culture for a 60,000 m2 mixed used development in the city’s new downtown.

Handstorm in Dharavi

Workshop

Our annual Handstorm workshops in Dharavi with the "Engineers for Social Impact" from NYU Abu Dhabi generate incremental innovations that improve the quality of life in this massive settlement

Urban Typhoon Kochi, June 4-9, 2019

Workshop

June 4-9, 2019

The Urban Typhoon workshop in Kochi is open to all citizens and visitors interested in working in urban areas and are willing to engage with communities participation. Together we will explore

Riponne-Tunnel

Project

urbz is carrying a 18 month long participatory process to redefine the two largest public squares in Lausanne (Switzerland). / urbz conduit une démarche participative de 18 mois visant à réimaginer les deux

Koliwada Charcha

Exhibition

The exhibition Koliwada Charcha is an attempt at understanding the essence of Dharavi Koliwada's architectural and visual language. 

Point-du-Jour

Project

Public consultation for a densification project in Geneva / Démarche de concertation pour un projet de densification au Petit-Saconnex, Genève.

Circulatory Urbanism

Project

For the past 5 years, urbz has been following families who's lives are spread between Mumbai and their ancestral villages in the Konkan (Western India).

pots in kumbharwada

Make in Dharavi

Project

This series of interviews portrays the economic life of Dharavi in Mumbai through the activities of its inhabitants.

Delta V

Project

Project de quartier participatif à Versoix, Genève (09.2017 - 02.2019)
Participation planning project in Geneva, Switzerland.

Proyecto Escape - Cazuca

Project
Workshop

Collaborative process between communities led by Proyecto Escape and supported by different local and international organisations

Proyecto Manila

Project

Building a Community center by understanding social dynamics and participatory planning in a homegrown neighborhood in Bogota

Ecoparc Meyrin

Concertation pour faire émerger un nouveau concept d’EcoParc pour la zone industrielle de Meyrin.
 

Shinbisum

Project

Generating new models for participatory development for Ulleung island in South Korea

The Design Comes as We Build

Project

urbz invited local builders from Dharavi to design the best possible house they could imagine. These designs were translated into physical models by artisans. 

Homegrown Things

Project

We produced everyday-life objects based on the specific needs of residents and the skills available in the Shivaji Nagar area in Mumbai.

Khotachiwadi

Project

urbz has been involved with the heritage precinct of Khotachiwadi for nearly a decade. We have organized many events workshops there and produced a strategic plan for the area among other things.

Mashup workshops

Workshop

The mashup workshops take many different forms and happen in all kinds of places. They take specific neighbourhoods as sources of inspiration and unleash a maximum of creativity onto them!

Homegrown cities

Project

This experiment in affordable housing led to the co-designing and construction of a small house in Shivaji Nagar, in Govandi. A neighbourhood in Mumbai that is struggling against all odds to keep growing and

Cultura Fertilis

Étude d’opportunité pour un équipement culture d'importance majeur à future place de l'Étoie (PAV).
Opportunity study for a major cultural center in the planned neighbourhood of PAV in Geneva.

Place, Work, Folk

Publication

Place, Work, Folk is a fortnightly column in The Hindu Sunday Magazine by Matias Echanove and Rahul Srivastava, which is inspired by Patrick Geddes and analyzes current urban issues in India and beyond.

Bareilly Street

Project

Studies, workshops, street exhibition and plans towards making a small square in Dharavi children friendly

36h Workshop plage Eaux-Vives

Workshop

urbz a invité les citoyens invité à imaginer la Plage des Eaux Vives. Les idées ont été présentées sur 100 cartes postales.

Breaking Ground

Workshop

A 5 day long workshop in Geneva which produced strategies for gradual urban densification.

Vers des chantier furtifs

Enquête de terrain pour améliorer l’expérience des usagers durant les travaux de construction en ville, avec COLAS SA et le laboratoire de sociologie urbaine (LaSUR), EPFL.
Field research on how to improve the

Breaking Ground

Stratégies pour la densification participatives et graduelle des zones villas à Genève.
Strategies for the incremental and participatory densification of residential suburbs in Geneva.

Genève

City

urbz est un collectif spécialisé dans la programmation urbaine et la gouvernance participative.

Urban Typhoon

Workshop

Urban Typhoon is a 5 days long workshop taking place working with local associations to generate programmes and plans for the improvement or preservation of neighbourhoods.