RICS National Conference

on Affordable Housing
30th November 2010

Slum
redevelopment
or
Community
Case Study:
KARIMADOM COLONY
Building
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

P B Sajan
Architect and Jt. Director,

COSTFORD

COSTFORD (Centre of Science and Technology

for Rural Development) was formed on March 15th 1985 under
the leadership and guidance of Shri. C. Achutha Menon, former
Chief Minister of Kerala. The Head Office of COSTFORD is at
Ayyanthole, Thrissur.
Our teacher and guide
Padmasree Dr. Laurie Baker, our late Chairman

Centre Of Science and Technology For Rural

Development (COSTFORD)

A non profit making voluntary organization

Scientists, technologists, educationalists, professionals and
social workers

Striving to facilitate empowerment of poor and weaker

sections of the society to improve their living conditions
By the application of appropriate and people friendly
technologies

Adopting participatory, democratic, transparent and gender

sensitive processes

DR. LAURIE BAKER

COSTFORD had published a
booklet by Dr. Laurie Baker
Are slums inevitable?- in
1996.
It outlined his ideas regarding
slums both philosophical and
practical

Booklet Are Slums Inevitable?

DR. LAURIE BAKER

Dr Laurie Baker adopted these concepts to design

residential
5
blocks when COSTFORD took up the work at Chenkalchoola.

DN

D1

LIVING RM

BED RM

JALI
JALI

2.03 X 2

JALI

3.76 X 2

TOILET

JALI

D2
D2
D2

TOILET

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1. 62

W1JALI

BED RM
2.59 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1.62

D2

LIVING RM

BED RM

2.62 X 2. 47

D2

BED RM

3.03 X 2.59

LIVING RM

3.03 X 2.59

2.62 X 2.47

D1

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

0.23

OP EN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

FRONT ELEVATION

UP

W1

1.19

W1

0.11

3.02
0.11

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2

LIVI NG RM
3.76 X 2

D1

TOILET

JALI

D1
JALI

TOILET

TOI

W1

D2

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

D1

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2.47

D2

D1

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

D2

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

1.19
0.11

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

0.11

D1

UP
LIVING RM
2.59X 1. 86

LIVING RM
2.59 X 1.86

D1

D2

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

JALI

TOI

D1

W1

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

DN

D1

D1

W1

3.01

0.23

D2

D2

JA LI

W1
W1

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

UP

D2

CHENKALCHOOLA

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

A'

OPEN TERRACE

OPEN TE RRACE

TOILET
JALI

TOILET

JALI

BED RM
2.03 X 2. 47

3.5 X 1.5

W1

W1

W1

BED RM
3 X 3.04

BED RM
3 X 3.04

D1
W1

W1

W1

JA LI

D2

D1

W1

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3. 04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3.04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

W1

OPEN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

D1
W1

W1

W1

UP

RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

JALI

3.5 X 1.5

W1

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

Each block is designed for

accommodation 10 families
Ground floor 5 families
First floor 3 families
Second floor 2 families

DN

D1

LIVING RM

BED RM

JALI
JALI

2.03 X 2

JALI

3.76 X 2

TOILET

JALI

D2
D2
D2

TOILET

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1. 62

W1JALI

BED RM
2.59 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1.62

D2

LIVING RM

BED RM

2.62 X 2. 47

D2

BED RM

3.03 X 2.59

LIVING RM

3.03 X 2.59

2.62 X 2.47

D1

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

0.23

OP EN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

FRONT ELEVATION

UP

W1

1.19

W1

0.11

3.02
0.11

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2

LIVI NG RM
3.76 X 2

D1

TOILET

JALI

D1
JALI

TOILET

TOI

W1

D2

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

D1

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2.47

D2

D1

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

D2

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

1.19
0.11

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

0.11

D1

UP
LIVING RM
2.59X 1. 86

LIVING RM
2.59 X 1.86

D1

D2

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

JALI

TOI

D1

W1

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

DN

D1

D1

W1

3.01

0.23

D2

D2

JA LI

W1
W1

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

UP

D2

CHENKALCHOOLA

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

A'

OPEN TERRACE

OPEN TE RRACE

TOILET
JALI

TOILET

JALI

BED RM
2.03 X 2. 47

3.5 X 1.5

W1

W1

W1

BED RM
3 X 3.04

BED RM
3 X 3.04

D1
W1

W1

W1

JA LI

D2

D1

W1

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3. 04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3.04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

W1

OPEN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

D1
W1

W1

W1

UP

W1

W1

W1

W1

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

35 m
2 bedrooms, multipurpose
room, kitchen, toilet
Open areas
GF designated ground spaces
FF & SF open terrace
Water tap, sink, work
slab, chimney in kitchens
Water tap, closet in toilets
One light point in all rooms 6 nos
Fan points 2 nos
2

FLAT

JALI

3.5 X 1.5

W1

D1

DN

D1

LIVING RM

BED RM

JALI
JALI

2.03 X 2

JALI

3.76 X 2

TOILET

JALI

D2
D2
D2

TOILET

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1. 62

W1JALI

BED RM
2.59 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1.62

D2

LIVING RM

BED RM

2.62 X 2. 47

D2

BED RM

3.03 X 2.59

LIVING RM

3.03 X 2.59

2.62 X 2.47

D1

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

0.23

OP EN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

FRONT ELEVATION
FIRST FLOOR PLAN

A'

UP

W1

1.19

W1

0.11

3.02
0.11

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2

LIVI NG RM
3.76 X 2

D1

TOILET

JALI

D1
JALI

TOILET

TOI

W1

D2

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

D1

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2.47

D2

D1

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

D2

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

1.19
0.11

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

0.11

D1

UP
LIVING RM
2.59X 1. 86

LIVING RM
2.59 X 1.86

D1

D2

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

JALI

TOI

D1

W1

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

DN

D1

D1

W1

3.01

0.23

D2

D2

JA LI

W1
W1

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

UP

D2

OPEN TERRACE

OPEN TE RRACE

TOILET
JALI

TOILET

JALI

BED RM
2.03 X 2. 47

3.5 X 1.5

W1

JALI

3.5 X 1.5

W1

D1
W1

W1

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3. 04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

BED RM
3 X 3.04

BED RM
3 X 3.04

D1
W1

W1

W1

JA LI

D2

D1

W1

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3.04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

W1

OPEN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

D1
W1

W1

W1

UP

W1

W1

W1

W1

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

CHENKALCHOOLA

DN

D1

LIVING RM

BED RM

JALI
JALI

2.03 X 2

JALI

3.76 X 2

TOILET

JALI

D2
D2
D2

TOILET

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1. 62

W1JALI

BED RM
2.59 X 1.47

D2

KITCHEN
3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1.62

D2

LIVING RM

BED RM

2.62 X 2. 47

D2

BED RM

3.03 X 2.59

LIVING RM

3.03 X 2.59

2.62 X 2.47

D1

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

0.23

OP EN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

FRONT ELEVATION
FIRST FLOOR PLAN

A'

UP

W1

1.19

W1

0.11

3.02
0.11

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2

LIVI NG RM
3.76 X 2

D1

TOILET

JALI

D1
JALI

TOILET

TOI

W1

D2

TOILET

KITCHEN
3.2 X 1.47

D2

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

D1

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

W1

BED RM
2.03 X 2.47

D2

D1

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

D2

W1

KITCHEN
3.03 X 1.5

1.19
0.11

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

0.11

D1

UP
LIVING RM
2.59X 1. 86

LIVING RM
2.59 X 1.86

D1

D2

KITCHEN
1.62 x 3.7

JALI

TOI

D1

W1

LIVING RM
2.5 X 2.47

DN

D1

D1

W1

3.01

0.23

D2

D2

JA LI

W1
W1

BED RM
2.59 X 1.73

UP

D2

OPEN TERRACE

OPEN TE RRACE

TOILET
JALI

TOILET

JALI

BED RM
2.03 X 2. 47

3.5 X 1.5

W1

W1

W1

BED RM
3 X 3.04

BED RM
3 X 3.04

D1
W1

W1

W1

JA LI

D2

D1

W1

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3. 04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

LIVING RM
3.82 X 3.04

KITCHEN
1.65X3.04

W1

OPEN TERRACE

OP EN TERRACE

D1
W1

W1

W1

UP

RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

JALI

3.5 X 1.5

W1

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

CHENKALCHOOLA

COST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY

COSTFORD

Exposed Flemish Bond

load bearing wall
Parapet Jali walls
Frameless windows
Glazed shutters hung on
hinges in grills
Grey cement flooring

Booklet Are Slums Inevitable?

DR. LAURIE BAKER

11

Karimadom colony
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Karimadom

Population : 2341 nos

Extent: 9.73 acres
Density: 240 persons/acre
Average family size: 5.19

Topography
Site lies 60 cm below the existing roads
Slight slope toward the sewage collection pond

Karimadom

Housing and Settlement pattern

632 families residing in the colony

Karimadom

Housing and Settlement pattern

72 families have been provided with habitable
houses 20 years ago

Housing and Settlement pattern

560 families live in shacks and in dilapidated houses.

Karimadom
Major issue
During monsoons,
storm water enters
the city sewage
system and reaches
the sewage
collection pond
Any overflow
floods the colony
Leads to further
dilapidation and
disease

Endeavours in Participation
Preliminary survey

Data collected by women within colony itself having

minimum +2 education

Preparation of preliminary design

Presentation before beneficiaries
Over 3 days
All families allotted dates
Time of presentation 5-6 pm

Purpose of presentation
Collection of feedback
Clearing of doubts regarding design and phasing
Ensuring involvement of beneficiaries

Proposed facilities
Community Facilities
Play Areas
Study Center Cum Library
Anganwadi
Multipurpose Open Spaces
Others
Bio fencing
Smokeless Chula
Earth Filling
Retaining Wall
Tree planting and Landscaping
in Multipurpose Open
Spaces

Services
Water Supply
Rejuvenation of Pond
Biogas Plant
Sanitation
Electricity
Drainage
Rainwater harvesting
Social Amenities
Market
Kiosks
Community Cluster center
Housing 28 blocks, 560 DU

Layout

First Phase

Ground and 1st floor

2nd and top floor

Beyond the built environment

Detailed Survey

Social developemnt work health, livelihood,

education needs

Strengthening existing neighbourhood

groups
Formation of boys and girls clubs
Study groups

Outcome of detailed survey

Collaborative intervention
COSTFORD and Kudumbasree

Health Palliative care

Livelihood Production centres for bakery
items, tailoring unit with marketing
Education Meeting with teachers, provison of
study centres
Waste management units

Karimadom

Karimadom

Karimadom

Conclusion
The ultimate objective
Improving the Quality of Life

Community based
&
Integrated Approach

COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH

Participatory planning
Local conditions and preferences
Target women and children
Service delivery on individual
household basis
Involvement in all stages of
service delivery

COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH

Support Services for total growth
and sustainability
Daycare Centre (0 5), Play School
Centre for counseling (medical, legal,
psychological family
Study Centre/Hostel (Library,
Computer, Class room)
Community Halls
Elders House - Community Building
Environment study Centre

INTEGRATED PLANNING
Infrastructure
Access systems
Area level Drainage schemes
Site level sewerage, drainage
and waste disposal
Water supply
Street lighting

SLUMS
are a

SHAME

and a

DISGRACE

NOT to those who have

to live in one
But to US

Planners, Architects, Builders &

Contractors, our Government
departments, others in authority,
AND
All of us who pass by on the other side of
the road and pretend that a slum is none
of our business.
Laurie Baker

THANK YOU .
36