Habitat Interplay – Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis

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Habitat Interplay – Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis

Information

  • Project Name: Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums
  • Student Name: Jayraj Pratap Mistry
  • Softwares/Plugins: AutoCAD , SketchUp , V-Ray , Lumion , Rhinoceros 3D
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Excerpt: ‘Habitat Interplay – Repurposing Dead Podiums’ is an architecture thesis by Jayraj Pratap Mistry from the ‘Rachana Sansad’s Academy of Architecture’ that aims to transform isolated free-standing structures into interactive, collaborative spaces by integrating an urban park over dead parking volumes in the context of Mumbai. The design prioritizes accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement, balancing the needs of a growing urban population. It creates a dynamic, people-first urban ecosystem, combining high-density living with interactive public spaces.

Introduction: The project reimagines Mumbai’s isolated free-standing structures to be more interactive and collaboratively incorporates the urban realm into private projects by integrating an urban park over the dead parking volumes that, in the case of high-rise residential buildings, separate social life. With a focus on accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement, the design strikes a balance with the needs of a growing urban population.

The residential volumes are vertical, modular buildings with shared amenities and green terraces that optimise space utilisation and foster a sense of community. Mixed-use podiums at the base of the buildings house cafes, coworking spaces, and retail shops with direct access to pedestrian paths and public plazas. These spaces are designed to host a variety of events, including pop-up exhibitions, farmers’ markets, and cultural gatherings, which encourage interaction between residents and the larger urban population.

This approach redefines the relationship between private and shared environments in dense cities by establishing a dynamic, people-first urban ecosystem that combines high-density living with interactive,  public spaces.

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Site Context

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
The Site in Magathane, Borivali, Mumbai
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Diverse Neighborhood Around the Site

Mumbai, a sprawling urban fabric with a severe lack of green spaces, is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Due to the city’s relentless vertical and horizontal growth brought on by its fast urbanisation, there is very little room left for open, natural spaces. The landscape is dominated by densely populated slums, residential high-rises, and busy commercial centres, forming a mosaic of glass and concrete. The site has an extended boundary running east to west and is connected by roads on three sides: the Magathane metro station to the east, commercial areas to the north, a food storage depot to the west, and residential areas to the south.

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Site Boundary with Site Dimensions

With more than 20,000 people per square kilometre, there are too many people in public areas, and the only places to find greenery are a few small parks. The lack of green spaces exacerbates monsoon flooding, urban heat island effects, and deteriorating air quality. Social disparities are evidently visible because the lack of recreational and environmental resources adversely affects lower-income communities. Mumbai is an ideal location for creative, sustainable, and space-efficient design solutions because of its relentless pace and spatial constraints.

Design Process

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Graphical Concept of the Project
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Urban Park Zoning Diagram

The site’s linear layout provided an opportunity for more organic horizontal growth, as opposed to simply adding vertical volumes. The process began by repurposing underused urban parking podiums to incorporate public parks into private developments. The hexagonal massing of the apartment buildings improves the design by creating central urban atriums that connect different levels. These atriums provide shade to the urban park during hot weather and help ventilate the surrounding city at ground level, thanks to the building’s urban voids.

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Statutory Requirements of the Site
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Concept Of Urban Gateways on the Site for Public Interaction
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Interactive Urban Volumes with Hexagonal Massing Arrangement

Due to the high volume of traffic and metro movements, setbacks are positioned along the sides to provide a buffer between the areas and to allow access to the amenities plot that was handed over to MCGM. Urban gateways serve as a transition between public green spaces, improving both the ground planes at the urban level and the voids that permit cross ventilation along the direction of the prevailing air. Without any dead volumes that alienate the people in the urban setting, the final massing features varying degrees of interactions. Thus, enhancing the sense of community in densely packed areas.

Final Outcome

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Hexagonal Plan Layout for Maximum Interaction
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Unit Configuration on Medium Series
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Section Showing the Environmental Efficiency

The final hexagonal, interconnected massing creates urban atriums that transform into expansive parks for the people below, concealing the inactive podiums underneath. This massing design fosters interactive environments across different levels, promoting social engagement. Rethinking the core layout was crucial in broadening the potential for urban connectivity.

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Hexagonal Core Layout for Maximum Efficiency
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Section Through Urban Park

The new relationship between public and private spaces is essential for improving the urban qualities of densely packed cities, encouraging growth in a way that prioritizes people over profit. By shaping the city’s image at an urban scale, this approach serves as a model for future development, offering a vision that can reshape the character of overcrowded cities.

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Unit Configuration on Large Series
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Unit Configuration Around the Core
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Skybridge Details at Urban Gateways

The structure is not only energy efficient, but it also optimises flexibility in unit configurations, offering a range of options to accommodate families of all sizes and backgrounds. Special features include interactive core spaces to improve interaction in dead corridors, sky bridges as interactive connectors, and urban voids to enhance cross ventilation. Together, these components produce nine different levels of interaction.

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Hexagonal Massing Arrangement
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
View From Urban Park Through Urban Gateways

Conclusion: Ultimately, this project transforms Mumbai’s high-rises into interconnected, community-driven spaces. By integrating urban parks, mixed-use podiums, and shared amenities, it fosters social interaction, accessibility, and sustainability, creating a vibrant ecosystem that balances private and public spaces for a more inclusive urban future.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]

Site Context

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis

Design Process

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis

Final Outcome

Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis
Habitat Interplay - Repurposing Dead Podiums: Redefining High Density Living in the Context of Mumbai | Architecture Thesis

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