WHO’S CITY?

Urban Regeneration of Fishermen Community in A Century Old Indian Metropolis To Create A Sustainable And Liveable Society At Mahim Koliwada, Mumbai.

Abstract

The year 2009 shall remain a milestone year in the century probably as the year which witnessed the major shift of diaspora in urban centres for the first time in human history.

Does the growing city with an economic disparity and tremendous polarization of amenities really considers their criticality and social aspects, deeply rooted within these communities thriving in the vast, continually changing physical fabric? In this context it is also essential to understand the socio-spatial negotiations happening and may happen ahead between the physically growing city and the everyday life, work live relationship of these invisible communities within the city.

This paper in the first stage studies and presents a narrative on one such community (koli community) and their spatio-temporally manifested physical morphology (mahim koliwada) along with the allied planning framework and sociocultural attributes.

The second stage is to hypothesise and demonstrate collective strategies that would re-assert the community rightfully, with dignity in the city ensuring there is a symbiotic and humane relationship between the city and these blind-spots through an urban renewal and transformation process putting the people at centre. It is important to reach to a rationale, considering existing planning framework and creating new possibilities to ensure holistic responsible design strategies and create a sustainable society.

Keywords: Sustainability, Cultural Spaces, Urban Planning