Sem 06 / Form and Space Studies
Community Dynamics and Infrastructural Forms

Prasad Khanolkar  

The sixth-semester design studio, Community Dynamics and Infrastructural Forms, was conducted in the neighbourhood of Santacruz East, Mumbai, centred around the Joseph Baptista Maidan. The course aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the relationship between social difference and urban space by examining neighbourhoods as spatial configurations of diverse communities operating at multiple scales. It also encouraged programmatic and architectural explorations of common infrastructures that mediate relationships between these communities.

The studio commenced with an intensive week-long spatial study of the maidan and its surrounding settlements, including Kunchi Kurve Nagar, Kolivery Village, and an informal industrial enclave. Students undertook detailed spatial documentation of the park, its public spaces, and existing infrastructures, complemented by interviews with residents and local institutions. This engagement revealed complex community dynamics marked by both friction and interdependence. Narratives from stakeholders highlighted a perceived loss of the maidan’s earlier vibrancy following its transformation into a conventional garden, alongside a shared aspiration for inclusive spaces that support everyday activities and foster social connections.

Building on these insights, students translated their research into individual design proposals. The projects envisioned a range of community-oriented programs—libraries, spaces for women and children, youth facilities, areas for rest and celebration, and platforms for dialogue and cultural exchange.

Emphasis was placed on developing these ideas into coherent architectural responses, with careful attention to spatial strategies, structural systems, and material expression. The course enabled students to critically engage with urban social complexities while demonstrating how thoughtful architectural interventions can nurture collective life.

Nirav Chougule

Lavanya Parab



Ishwari Gorwadkar