Selvee Pandoriya

LA4012

Catching breath with Hooghly

The project is observed from the lens of idol making and its associated stakeholders in the streets of Kumartuli. From the interactions and ground truthing in the intense artisan streets of Kumartuli, the region is observed in three cores - the inner core, outer fringes and the river bank edge. The inner core comprises mainly the artisan community, the outer fringes are commercial areas while the river bank edge is more towards manufacturing of clothing and textile oriented business and leisure activities. These cores are very different from each other but are dependent to each other in their unique networks. These networks are intricate and intensely woven. Any change in the link shifts the orientation of these networks and exchanges.The project as a tool looks at the pressure and constraints in the streets of artisans. It identifies the discontinuity and disconnection as a point of inquiry. The frame of green corridor is a tie back to the first impression of the commons. The idea of commons breathing in the cracks and fissures is represented by the streets of Kumartuli. The art of idol making is  intangible commons held by tangible commons that are the streets. They symbolically represent the breathing of commons and its lost connection with the river Hooghly. The project aims to integrate the commons and its stakeholders with the idea of reviving the lost connections. The tools for the integration are the keys to the green corridor- Strengthen, Revitalize, Intensify and Opportunity. 

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First impression | Commons are breathing! The initial understanding and first impression of the commons initiates the idea that they are an intricately woven fabric of dynamic and organic relationships and alliances that are discrete in nature and specific to their region symbolizing their vernacular character.

Storyboard | Entwine of Kumartuli. The outcome of the ground truthing is that tangibly the streets are the commons and intangibly the process of idol making is the commons for the communities and the art surviving here in Kumartuli. In all the three cores the river has a very connected as well as disconnected association. From utilitarian and cultural connection, in some ways it has lost its importance of existence as the morphology of Kumartuli have changed over time. And this ground reality is very contrasting to the initial perception.

Analysis layer | Arrival. A step back to understand larger systems and networks that formed Kumartuli and still continue to support it. River Hooghly has played the prime role in this development.

Analysis layer | Settlement. The culture based hierarchy of various communities in terms of common practices and spaces.

Analysis layer | Settlement. The current social fabric represents more economy based user groups. And the simpler configuration has evolved into much complex system of ghats and system of streets. The communities are interrelated to each other forming a dense networks of interdependencies.

Analysis layer | Spatial compositions of common spaces

Strategic development for pressures and constraints | Socio-cultural

Strategic development for pressures and constraints | Ecological

Strategic development for pressures and constraints | Spatial

Conclusion | Green corridor (tangible and intangible) The green corridor is a tie back to the first impression of commons. The idea of commons breathing in the cracks and fissures are represented by the streets of Kumartuli. The art of idol making is an intangible commons held by tangible commons that are the streets. The streets symbolically represent the breathing of commons and its lost connection with river Hooghly.