REHABILATING THE EVICTED SOUL (CASE OF GHARIBABAD/QUAID-E-AZAM COLONY)

University of Karachi, Department of Visual Studies

Project idea

“Eviction....Why? Then Resettlement.........Again....Why??
An active railway route with an acceptance for the KCR evictees celebrating the essence of the area through architecture proving a better sustainable solution.”

Project description

INTRODUCTION:
On the doom day the judgment was passed to evacuate the premises of the railway route for the launch of circular railway. This was the date when more over a thousand household came to streets homeless staring at the open skies above. Later on this judgement was further proceeded that roofs be provided over their heads as a resettlement proposal in such a way that it doesn’t become another slum of the city.

HYPOTHESIS:
Plantation of a tree is done when it’s in the process of early growth. Once its roots are deep then cutting it at the base and moving won’t make the roots grow rather the roots are based back home. Same is the case of resettlement thus having a hybrid architecture celebrating the essence of the place with the understanding of the roots is the concept proposed.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Studying past resettlement projects the enlightenment settled that resettlement is a failure as the roots are left behind thus it never flourishes. Take the Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project as case study. It is a live proof that the residents sell their provided plots and return to the roots to save their daily commute no matter the slums they create.

CONCLUSION:
A narrow never ending street in an organized patterned housing with an upgraded living standards; a green canopy overhead leaving traces of light on the passage with a vista of cultivated gardening. A hope left behind for the betterment and future expansion of the habitat. Manicured heights celebrating the surroundings with a clean
and resolved circulation pattern. Whistling sounds and vibratory ground with a hidden commute as circular railway beneath the feet. A once abandoned railway track and a slum of the city now shining as landmark of the city.

Technical information

The width of the underground RCC tunnel defines the width of the houses overhead and the idea is to use tunnel slab as a footings for the houses it will reduce the construction cost of the house.