urbz animated a session with filmmakers that foregrounded the idea of locality in storytelling, specifically in the making of fiction films. 

Shahid Sheikh’s dyeing unit in Dharavi may be small, but it’s full of colour, care, and quiet skill. His story is one of patience, pride, and the kind of work that speaks for itself.

It is commonplace in Brazil that ‘favelas’ are a pervasive part of the urban landscape. Recently however, alternative, bottom-up models have emerged that slowly change this scenario.

Micro homes which integrate spaces of work and are well connected to the street economy seem to be far more viable on the longer run at all levels.

How we locked ourselves in a box (The Hindu 02.02.19)

March 24th, India went into a 21 day lock down to maintain social distancing. People were asked to work from home, only step out for essentials and wash their hands frequently. Prior to this announcement, the inter and intra state transportation was restricted. These were part of ‘crucial’ efforts to curb the spread of the novel Covid-19. 

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. 

In a lane off the bustling 90 Feet Road in Dharavi, there is a tiny studio dedicated to all types of screen printing. Laxmi and Mani are an unlikely duo that expertly handle the screenprinting needs of customers across the city. They talk to us about a lifetime spent in the industry. 

The future in architecture starts with a good hard look at the world as it is.