Slum Upgrading in Kachpura, Agra. Reuse of abandoned railways parts for the construction of a pedestrian bridge. Mass housing, water purification, irrigation and integrate agriculture for self sustainable living. Everything in this project is built from reused material. http://socratesarchitects.com

1. ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO ONLY IN INDIA SLUM UPGRADING, NORTH KACHPURA, AGRA ARCHITECTURE OF RAPID CHANGE & SCARCE RESOURCES 2012 nicholas socrates

2. SITE SURVEYS PHASE 3: THE BRIDGE
4. Land survey 74. Danger crossing the tracks
8. Water survey 75. Research: 15,000 deaths per year crossing the railway tracks in India
10. Cultural survey 76. Danger crossing the tracks on-site
13. Site impressions 77. Initial concept sketches for the bridge
14. Material survey 80. Research: Gandi & The Railways
16. Making the site model 81. Quantity survey: reusing the abandoned railway elements for the bridge construction
18. Nala direction 82. Initial structural diagrams for the bridge
19. Land use 83. Bridge construction sequence
20. Landmark buildings on site: key 84. Reconnecting two communities
22. Generic railway worker's housing blocks 85. Proposed figure ground
23. On-site Hindu temple 86. Renders showing the bridge's continuation of the existing access
24. Abandoned & built over old well 87. Plan showing the bridge's continuation of the existing access
25. Old / abandoned railway office 88. Bridge renders & sections
26. New water tower 90. The market side
27. Old water tower 91. Examples of existing bridges within a walkable proximity to the site
28. New railway office 92. Bridge renders
29. Meeting with the railway control officer 95. Making the bridge model
96. Stair access to the bridge
97. Bridge plan
98. Bridge isometric
MASTERPLAN
99. Reused construction elements
101. Bridge assembly details
32. Initial masterplan sketches
106. Bridge renders
34. Proposed masterplan
44. Phasing
PHASE 4: 'UNDER THE BRIDGE' MARKET & CONTAINER WALL
PHASE 1: DEWAT
48. Location 110. Location
49. Philosophy 111. Phase 4 proposal synopsis
50. Precedents 112. Shipping containers in site proximity
51. DEWAT Proposal 113. Research: Health issues & the lack of affordable hospitals in the area
52. DEWAT and irrigation proposal 114. Case Study: 'Smile on Wheels' Mobile medical clinic, Mumbai
53. Research: Agriculture in India 115. 3D cutout through the proposed plugin medical clinic container unit
116. Research: Health in India (UNICEF) & 'Smile on Wheels' Mobile medical clinic
117. Proposed 'Under the Bridge' market renders & sections
120. Research: 'Doc-in-a-Box' Micro-Franchising model
121. Research: Health situation in Agra
PHASE 2: CENTRAL BUILDING
56. Location
57. Existing building
58. Phase 2 proposal synopsis
59. Sections & elevations
64. Climate diagrams: Rain water harvesting
65. Climate diagrams: Solar shading
66. 1:1 prototype of the bamboo and sari silk shading wall & window element
68. Research: Nutrition in India
69. Ground floor restaurant / cafe proposal
70. Research: Education in India
71. Slum school proposal
Contents

3. PHASE 5: UN-ZONED TRADING ROUTE / ROOF EXTENSION PHASE 6-7 (b): VERTICAL SLUM / CONTAINER TOWER
126. Location 176. Location
127. Phase 5 project synopsis 177. Phase 6-7 (b) project synopsis
128. Sections & renders 178. Plans, sections & elevations
132. Research: To zone of not to zone 180. Wireframe models
133. Trading route market render 182. Assembly details
134. Research: Why official planning does not work in hyper dense areas 184. Detailed plan
135. Trading route market render 185. 3D assembly details
PHASE 6-8 (a): THE GRID. AFFORDABLE HOUSING / CONTAINER BLOCKS PROJECT SUMMARY
138. Proposed masterplan 188. Proposed masterplan
139. Masterplan renders: Areas of density, enclaves, streets & squares. Case study: Residence Buffalo, Fernand Poullion 194. Phasing
140. Shipping containers in site proximity 197. Proposal summary
141. Research: Modifications shipping containers
142. Making the 1:100 Housing block model
143. 1:1 prototype for the bamboo and sari silk shading wall and window invention
144. Affordable Housing / Container block occupied living units
146. Wireframe model and mid-site section
147. Sections & elevations
152. 'Pour Flush Toilet' (composting latrine) plan
153. 'Pour Flush Toilet' (composting latrine) section
154. Affordable Housing / Container block elevations with shading wall and windows installed
158. Climate diagrams: Rain water harvesting
159. Climate diagrams: Solar shading
161. 3D cutout through water tanks & toilet area
162. Isometric housing block & elevations
163. Isometric building elements
164. Assembly details
168. 3D assemblage drawings
170. Affordable Housing / Container block occupied living units
171. Render: Proposed idea
172. Research: India's agriculture & composting process
173. Render: Proposed idea
Contents

4. On location land survey, drawn on our first day on site. Here we had to map a part of the slum
which was not present on any map before (centre). This preliminary survey shows signs of
looking into nala flow direction, land use and locating areas of neglect. All of which were further
realised on later surveys in the following days on site.
on-site land survey 4

5. The Map shows the flow and direction of the
nalas (external drains), polluted swamps, areas of
neglect and the flow of people (the routes they
take and where they cross the railway tracks).
on-site land survey 5

6. On location sections through the route where
the locals cross the railway tracks, from the
slum dwellings to the market on the other side.
on-site land survey. Section: slum settlement blocks - market 6

7. Sections through the route where the locals
cross the railway tracks, from the slum dwellings
to the market on the other side.
land survey. Section: slum settlement blocks - market 7

8. On location section through
a polluted stagnant swamp.
Several nalas flow into this
polluted pond. It is the result of
approxamately 40 homes waste-
water. This neglected area has also
fallen into a spiral decline as it now
is also used as a small dumping
ground. The pond is likely to exist
at a very low point of the site, so
therefore the water , due to gravity
is not able to flow anywhere;
creating a stagnant pond of
polluted water. It may be possible
that this pond has been man made
as a flood relief zone, in times of
monsoon. When on site we saw
some children throw a live tortose
into the polluted pond. For sure the
tortose would die from this. This
polluted area is an important area
to clean and regenerate.
polluted lake 8

9. On location drawings showing sections
through a nala (an external drain, which
was flooding on a regular basis and was
causing dangerous situation for the locals.
This polluted ‘pond’ is the result of an
overflowed nala. Many nalas from the
site flow this way and this particular nala
overflows because it is a bottle neck and
uncapable of retaining all the dirty water.
As well as the dirty water overflowing the
area becomes a spiral of decline as much
rubbish is then consequently dumped
here. Luckily this overflow is naturally
made better than I first thought as the
naurally growing plants filter the dirty
water. This nala in times of flood will not
work as a filter and the dirty water will
spread, polluting the surrounding area.
polluted pond 9

10. Personal Experience with her husband and a crutch as This was quite disturbing, and he when we all , at the same moment,
support. The lady sat down at the was very loud. I told him ‘no’ and looked over at once, and there was
Several events, over the 10 days we same bench as us and she was in I continued to measure on my a girl of probably one and a half
were on site, took me back to the great pain. We asked her husband own, which isn’t that easy for long to two years of age standing in a
reality of what it could be like to what was wrong and it was either distance measuring. The boy went large puddle of very dirty sewage
live in this area in this way. her hip or her leg, which was away. water, and then we witnessed her
broken. She was in a lot of pain and One minute later he was back. bending down and drinking the
On our first day as we were moving made it hurt even more. This time holding his little sister water using her hands to scoop
departing the site with 30 Someone from our group asked, of maybe only 6 months of age. the it up to her mouth. She was
children following us, asking for ‘Are you going to a hospital?’ but He continued demanding and standing there alone she was
photo’s and pens and shaking for sure the answer was no. demanding, but I was busy thirsty and she did not know not to
our hands continuously - we were measuring. I finally looked up and drink it. She must of drank at least
overwhelmed: it was our first The second experience, which he was actually asking for money half a dozen handfuls of this brown
day and unaccustomed to it - we happened on site was when I whilst showing me his little sisters water. We did not see this girl again
thought it was time to leave as was on my own. A boy was really wrist, which had a severe open for our remaining 6 days on site. For
the intensity grew stronger and insisting me to give him some wound on it. The baby’s wound sure she got very ill from this.
louder. The children stopped money, I replied by saying that was the size of a packet ten of
following us as we moved away money was not a good idea and cigarettes. It looked very bad, not There is no first aid or medical
from the area in which they lived that he should continue to help me that recent, and it was not being centre anywhere close to the site.
in and we all said good-bye. At this measure the water-tower, which treated in any way. Because hospitals are costly and far
point we all decided to sit down he did, but was quite persistent away to travel, especially when not
on an old bench and rest, slightly asking me for money several times The third experience was the most well, locals who get ill or women
discombobulated from our first every twenty seconds or so, whilst sobering of all. Just as our fourth who are pregnant deal with what
days experience. At this point of holding the end of the tape. After day on site was coming to an end they have by themselves, this
stillness we saw a man walking a few minutes of this he got very our auto-rickshaw driver was there may result in extended illness,
very slowly holding on to his wife annoyed at me, stopped helping and waiting for us and we were continued disease or unnecessary
who had a single crutch, which was with the measuring and started all heading towards the ‘tuc-tuc’ death.
too big. She was hobbling along demanding money quite seriously. car to go to home to the hotel,
Waterborne Diseases
Waterborne diseases are caused is attributable to unsafe water pollution. In many areas, the
are without toilets. Even though
by pathogenic microorganisms supply, sanitation and hygiene, problem is exacerbated by falling
toilets are built in about 3 million
which are directly transmitted and is mostly concentrated in levels of groundwater, mainly
households every year, the annual
when contaminated fresh water children in developing countries. caused by increasing extraction
rate of increase has been a low 1
is consumed. Contaminated fresh per cent in the past decade. for irrigation.
water, used in the preparation Several million more suffer from In some parts of the country,
of food, can be the source of multiple episodes of diarrhea Access to protected sources of excessive arsenic and fluoride in
foodborne disease through and still others fall ill on account drinking water has improved drinking water also pose a major
consumption of the same of Hepatitis A, enteric fever, dramatically over the years. health threat.
microorganisms. According to intestinal worms and eye and skin Most rural water supply systems, The lack of toilets also affects
the World Health Organization, infections caused by poor hygiene especially the hand-pumps girls’ school attendance. Of India’s
diarrheal disease accounts for an and unsafe drinking water. generally used by the poor, 700,000 rural primary and upper
estimated 4.1% of the total DALY are using groundwater. But primary schools, only one in six
global burden of disease and is Unhygienic practices and unsafe inadequate maintenance and have toilets, deterring children
responsible for the deaths of 1.8 drinking water are some of its neglect of the environment - especially girls - from going to
million people every year. It was main causes. More than 122 around water sources has led to school.
estimated that 88% of that burden million households in the country increasing levels of groundwater
Cultural Survey: Personal experience & india health research 10

11. Introduction - North Group
Our site in India is situated, north of the Taj Mahal, across The blocks are mirrored; they face each other, therefore all
the river Yamuna, somewhat separated from main-land living and life takes place on the facing sides, but this leaves
Agra. The site is adjacent to, but set back from the railway a dead space at the backs of the blocks, either swamped by
lines, relatively close to a the Yamuna Bridge railway dirty water or used as storage for railway material, however
station. one back-to-back zone is actually used very regularly; it
being the most direct path to get from the open space
The railway tracks are not too busy. One train, either full common ground (therefore the slum settlements) to the
of passengers or cargo of industrial goods or building continuing path which crosses the railway tracks; to get to
materials comes or goes once every hour or so; more times the other side; a journey made by many twice daily coming
than not just passing by without stopping. and going from work or school or visiting the near-by
market.
With a busy market on one side of the railway tracks, and a
collection of slum settlements on the other; the two sides During our meeting with a superior railway controller in
are separated. The slums, somewhat isolated from main- his, raised 6 metres first-floor railway control centre, over
land Agra; exist as ‘Edge-Lands’ and they have a rural / looking the tracks, situated adjacent to our site said that
urban-rural feel to them. these blocks will be demolished in 3 years times; to be
replaced by a nation-wide training centre or institute for
As soon as we crossed the railway lines, from our site, to the railway company. Many residents of the area said the
the side of the market, we noticed a sudden change in the same. These centres or institutes are large in size and are
infrastructure; where everything is paved, the sewers are usually uncompromising in urban design strategy and
concreted and they are working very well; the quality of awareness; whether this will actually go ahead or not,
living is evidently higher on the market side, where the especially in India, is uncertain.
proximity to the centre of Agra (across the near-by Yamuna
bridge) is much more accessible. The market sells most The two end blocks, of the seven, are more known to be
things and has a general industrial feel to it; selling all types demolished, as they are both completely abandoned
of building materials with various factories and workshops and dilapidated. More locals know this, but whether or
in the area; here, business is relatively booming. not all 11 blocks will be knocked down to make room for
a training centre, is unclear. Maybe one of our projects of
Our site (on the other side) is a large open space (owned by regeneration or transformation, if shown in time and, to the
the railway company) and has 11 generic, low rise housing right people in India, will persuade the railway company
blocks, 7 of an identical type; handed and mirrored parallel to save these housing units, hopefully they will see our
to each other adjacent to the battered road parallel yet projects and realise the necessity and the potentials of
set back from the railway tracks - the other 4 blocks are our site; these housing blocks and the open space, as the
of another type, existing at the back of the site in a similar common ground for the 3 surrounding slum settlements.
way. These blocks are over 60 years old, built during Hopefully in our proposals we will communicate the need
the English rule in India, before 1945. They were built and the importance of our site, not only to remain but, for
for railway workers and still today are occupied by only the greater good of the local people, to be regenerated
railway maintenance low-pay employees, which over the and transformed and will make them put their railway
years, these buildings have become generally run-down, training centre somewhere else.
some seriously dilapidated, the majority of which are
abandoned, only occupied by approximately 15%.
North of Kachpura site intorduction 11

12. The community of slum residents we got to know 12

13. Photos taken from the 1st floor external gallery of the new railway control office:
Overlooking the the site; the tracks and the Blocks.
Photos taken in front of the Blocks looking towards the railway tracks.
Note: Railway control office in the centre of the image.
Photos taken behind the Blocks, looking at them from the side. Still looking towards the railway.
Note: Railway control office in the centre of the image; looking through two back-to-back Blocks,
which is the regualr path used to exit or enter the large open space to or from the tracks.
site montage photographs 13

14. material survey: measuring the elements 14

15. CONCRETE SLEEPER =
The foundations for
the container homes &
the banks for the nala’s
channel.
WOODEN SLEEPER =
Decking for bridge,
ramp and decking for
external galleries.
RAILWAY TRACK =
Column for bridge and
other constructions
on site. Use four tracks
back to back - in pairs
I-BEAMS = Beams
for bridge, external
galleries and other
construction on site.
OHE PYLON 1 = Posts
for the banisters of
stairs and the saftey
banister of the bridge..
OHE PYLON 2 = Beams
for bridge and other
construction on
site and use for the
cantilever of the bridge.
CONCRETE SEWER
PIPE = Temporary
accommodation, septic
tank, possible large
columns and idea for
recycling unit.
On location, there was & Scarce Resources’, so
an abundance of ‘railway therefore whatever materials
material’ lying around not which are readily avaliable
being used. Sleepers, railway must be utilized in the project.
tracks, OHE’s, I-beams, There were thousands of
etc, etc. I measured these materials all over the place on
materials with the intention the site, so not only is it wise to
to build with them. utilize them, they are already
The theme of the project is part of the site’s aesthetic.
‘Architecture of Rapid Change
material survey: measuring the elements 15

16. Contour
Thickness : 1mm
+4 +3 +2 +1 0
1 Story buildings
Thickness : 3mm
2 Story buildings
Thickness : 3mm
3 Story buildings
Thickness : 3mm
MAKING THE MODEL 16

17. 104.500
103.000
101.500
100.000
98.500
97.000
95.500
98.000
98.000
99.500
98.500
99.000
99.500
100.000
100.500
100.000
100.000
99.500
100.500 100.000
100.000 101.000
100.000 100.500
99.500
100.000
101.500
102.000
102.500
103.000
103.500 105.000
104.000
104.500 103.500
103.500
103.000
102.000
102.500
100.000
101.500
101.000
100.500
100.000
MAKING THE MODEL 17