Projects
Dharavi works
Dharavi works is a series of projects designed in Mumbai by urbz in partnership with local inhabitants and contractors.
ICRC Campus
urbz is working on a comprehensive plan for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) HQ in Geneva. About 1200 people work in Geneva and another 20,000 work in over 100 conflict zones around the world
Homegrown Street
We are taking the Design Comes as We Build project to the next level - the Homegrown Street!
Gendered Mobility and Climate Action
This project is undertaken under the C40 Women For Climate mentorship program, Mumbai in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra. The Mentee, Vidisha Dhar, is supported by Lubaina Rangwala (WRI), urbz
Entekochi Urban Design Competition
Remember the Urban Typhoon workshops in Kochi? These workshops were part of the EnteKochi citylab. We are now back with the Entekochi competition. This is a national level Urban Design Competition, aiming to
Habitat 100: A chawl redevelopment project
We are excited to be working on a new architectural project in Dharavi Koliwada. Our friend, collaborator, and contractor Joseph Koli, approached us to work on his latest project - the redevelopment of a chawl
Point-du-Jour
Public consultation for a densification project in Geneva / Démarche de concertation pour un projet de densification au Petit-Saconnex, Genève.
Circulatory Urbanism
For the past 5 years, urbz has been following families who's lives are spread between Mumbai and their ancestral villages in the Konkan (Western India).
Make in Dharavi
This series of interviews portrays the economic life of Dharavi in Mumbai through the activities of its inhabitants.
Proyecto Escape - Cazuca
Collaborative process between communities led by Proyecto Escape and supported by different local and international organisations
Proyecto Manila
Building a Community center by understanding social dynamics and participatory planning in a homegrown neighborhood in Bogota
Khotachiwadi
urbz has been involved with the heritage precinct of Khotachiwadi for nearly a decade. We have organized many events workshops there and produced a strategic plan for the area among other things.
Homegrown cities
This experiment in affordable housing led to the co-designing and construction of a small house in Shivaji Nagar, in Govandi. A neighbourhood in Mumbai that is struggling against all odds to keep growing and
Homegrown Things
We produced everyday-life objects based on the specific needs of residents and the skills available in the Shivaji Nagar area in Mumbai.
The Design Comes as We Build
urbz invited local builders from Dharavi to design the best possible house they could imagine. These designs were translated into physical models by artisans.
Bareilly Street
Studies, workshops, street exhibition and plans towards making a small square in Dharavi children friendly
Visual Narratives for Participatory Urbanism: Documentation as Intervention
urbz has started initiatives in Europe, that combine ethnographic participation with visual storytelling to accompany, facilitate, or initiate urban planning, heritage, and transformation projects.
Aqua Civica
A community-led water supply project as a device to upgrade urban citizenship
A Participatory Park for the Red Cross
urbz is leading a participatory landscaping process for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) through a series of workshops, walks, talks and exhibition. The end result will be a publicly accessible IFRC Park in the center of Geneva.
Hospitality - a fundamental principle
On why we should consider Hospitality as a fundamental principle in urban planning and design
Onex-Centre
urbz collabore avec la Ville d’Onex dans le Canton de Genève pour mettre en place un processus participatif afin d'évaluer et contribuer à l'image directrice visant à améliorer la qualité de vie, à construire de nouveaux logements et à renforcer l’identité du centre.
Sangam Gully - After the first lockdown
After the relaxation of the lockdown, our interns worked on the Homegrown street project. This article presents their work and experience.
Expedition Mangrove
Over the last few months, we at urbz have been talking about interventions to engage with the ecological and economic aspects of the mangroves. So we went on an expedition to explore the mangroves near Dharavi.
VIA FUTURA: Extension of the Nations tram line in Geneva
urbz is leading a participatory process for a major transport infrastructure along the United Nations quarters, which connects local, regional and global issues linked to environment, growth and lifestyle.
Lessons in planning from Fort Kochi
Why Fort Kochi is a lesson that urban planners can integrate into a larger vision for India (The Hindu 02.03.2019)
Delta V: Neighbourhood project
This innovative plan for a new neighbourhood in the town of Versoix in Geneva will be presented at
the Swiss Architecture Museum in Basel (S AM).
The Making of the Koli Jamat Community Hall
urbz was involved in the design of a new community building in Dharavi.
Delta V: Le plan intermédiaire
Le 11 juin 2018, urbz présente ses travaux sur la forme du futur quartier Lachenal-Dégallier (dit Delta V) aux habitants de Versoix. Un résumé en texte et image.
Kumbharwada - incremental innovation to reduce pollution
A new series of Make in Dharavi focuses on the neighbourhood of Kumbharwada, famous for its pottery. We look at how the potters respond to the pollution generated by their kilns - and brainstorm with them.
Dreaming of a neighbourhood
"What could be generated by the living generation is an open work; it depends entirely on our collective good will, on the readiness of this generation to embrace a future without precedence." Architecture theorist Yehuda Safran reflects on the Delta V neighbourhood project in Versoix, Geneva.
Delta V : Introduction
Un projet de quartier participatif à Versoix!
A participatory urban planning project in Geneva, Switzerland!
From Public Consultation to Community Land Trust
How the city of Ottawa’s participatory neighbourhood revitalization project has inspired the community to take the lead in choosing their future
Proyecto Manila
The story of participatory planning in Bogota
"My bank account is in the negative".
How garment manufacturer Muzaffar makes in Dharavi. (Make in Dharavi III)
New practices for rural development in South Korea
An account of urbz Seoul's strategic planning for the island of Ulleung, in the East Sea
"It isn't about the money".
How garment manufacturer Aameer makes in Dharavi. (Make in Dharavi II)