Since 2016, students of the Engineers for Social Impact studio at NYU AD (New York University's campus in Abu Dhabi) have spent one week handstorming in Dharavi, Mumbai. The idea is to research, observe, ideate and handstorm during the week-long workshop, the learning of which are further researched and developed in the studio upon their return to Abu Dhabi. These annual Handstorm workshops in Dharavi generate incremental innovations that improve the quality of life in this massive settlement.

This is the first of a series of articles shedding light on the origin of the unplanned settlements in Caracas, which are home to more than half of the population. These stories have rarely been told. Multiple inhabitants were interviewed and shared their stories of struggles, talked about how they overcome hardships, and organize for improvement and self governance. 

Los colectivos Urbz Colombia y Chaal Chaal Agency (India - Colombia) proponen el taller online sobre Micro Urbanismo emergente.

A look into the collective intelligence of Khetwadi’s steel artisans.

In this article, published in The Architectural Review, Matias Echanove and Rahul Srivastava discuss the significance of local builders and contractors in preserving the functionality of the neighbourhood. It takes a simple shift in perspective to uncover the driving forces behind the vibrant growth of homegrown settlements such as Dharavi. 

As part of the ABCD project, street lighting emerged as an urgent need for the residents of Dharavi Koliwada. A need that was addressed through a year-long collaboration between urbz, the Dharavi Koli Jamat, local electricians and residents. Read about how the process unfolded and what comes next. 

This compilation of prose and poetry emerges from the most incredible time I spent in Dharavi working with urbz Mumbai.

While residents may live here and work elsewhere, this neighbourhood also shows a high level of its own economic activities.

Some interesting collages from the urbz mashup at Festarch in Italy. 

Exploring the visual anatomy of Dharavi's fishing village.