Building Communities
TEAM
Team of 25 members
TOOLS
AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop CC
TIMELINE
Nov 2019
LOCATION
Islamnagar Village, Bhopal
AWARDS
Shortlisted Top 60 (National)
Reviving the forgotten traditions, learning from past mistakes, perceiving habitats differently, and embarking on an introspective future by blending together modernity with tradition. This is the essence of the design concept. Reviving the forgotten traditions, we try to embark on a future where habitat is perceived not as a finished product, but as a process from which its inhabitants can benefit economically and socially.
ISLAMNAGAR, BHOPAL
How might we enhance the social production processes of the village?
The fortified city of Islamnagar, originally called Jagdishpura, is a panchayat-governed region in the Huzur tehsil of the Bhopal district of Madhya Pradesh. Hitherto it was the capital of the Bhopal princely state. The ruins of the inherent fort can be seen running through the farmlands of the region. Linked to Bhopal by a state highway, the village is approximately 11 kilometers away from it.
Halali river flows from the city to the Islamnagar fort and meets Patra river at a right angle. The village has a population of 3638 people residing in 724 households.
The consolidated village was established by the local Rajput chieftain as Jagdishpura and was later invaded and renamed by the Barakzai ruler, Dost Mohammad Khan.
HOUSING CONDITION
The village houses feature roofs made of locally crafted desi or factory-made angrezi kavelu clay tiles.
The village comprises of two types of houses: kutcha and pakka. The kutcha houses are one storied with walls of mud, stone and mud or brick and mud. The roofing material for kutcha houses is mainly desi or angrezi kavelu (locally made or factory-made clay tiles). The windows, if present, are either made of wood or metal. The pakka houses are made of brick and concrete walls with RCC roofs. Most of the dwellings had toilets, either attached or at some distance. The walls have niches made out of mud to create storage space. The livestock is kept under an animal shed made of wood and Khajoor stems. There was electricity supply in every house powering lightbulbs, fans and in some cases, coolers and TV.
MANCHKUTA - THE VILLAGE SECTION
SOCIAL PRODUCTION PROCESSES
The Kavelu Making Process
Before the rapid urbanization, the villagers fabricated the roofs of their kutcha houses together as a community using locally available material. Rice husk, cowdung and water were added to locally available mud and mixed thoroughly. A part of the mixture was then taken and flattened out to give the shape of Desi Kavelu. The process, mainly involving women was a non-lucrative social production proces. The price of one desi kavelu was Rs.2, whereas, the foreign kavelu costs Rs. 10.
The Brick Making Process
The Kumhaar community is involved in the brick making process which generates employment for them and housing solutions for the village. The process involves 8 months of labour and no work is done during the monsoon season. Mungaliya village of Madhya Pradesh provides the mud, which is mixed with water and rice husk and then thrown into a wooden mould to give the brick it's shape. The bricks are sun-dried and then burnt in traditional kilns to make the brick firm.
ELEMENTS OF THE SOCIAL PRODUCTION PROCESSES
Mud
It forms an essential component of Kavelu and brick manufacturing mud having appropriate clay content is bought from nearby areas or procured locally.
Rice Husk
Addition of rice husk in the mud mixture and increases water absorption compressive strength of mud and helps in binding the bricks.
Cow Dung
Cowdung is used in the traditional kilns as a potent organic fuel. Alternative layers of brick and cowdung cake are burnt in kilns.
Coal and Ash
Coal is the conventional kiln fuel, important to keep the furnace stimulated throughout the process. After the process, pulverized fuel ash appears as the combustion product.
Kavelu Skill
A number of people possess the requisite finesse in Kavelu manufacturing.