Finding meaning in the chaos.
In the midst of vibrant urban landscapes, where life paints a lively picture, an often-overlooked reality persists – the stark existence of slums. Defined by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, slum households lack access to improved water, sanitation, security of tenure, and sufficient living areas.
To address the profound challenges faced by underserved communities, exemplified by Salia Sahi, our organisation embarked on a transformative mission. Recognising the inherent potential within slums, we aimed to bring together the collective power of people, resources, and innovation.
FINDING
MEANING
IN THE
CHAOS
In the midst of vibrant urban landscapes, where life paints a lively picture, an often-overlooked reality persists – the stark existence of slums. Defined by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, slum households lack access to improved water, sanitation, security of tenure, and sufficient living areas.
To address the profound challenges faced by underserved communities, exemplified by Salia Sahi, our organisation embarked on a transformative mission. Recognising the inherent potential within slums, we aimed to bring together the collective power of people, resources, and innovation.
At the core of our mission was the commitment to create self-sustaining slums, introducing order into apparent chaos. Understanding the challenges faced by slum dwellers and the power divide, our focus extended to empowering these communities. We aimed to bridge the gap, acknowledging that slum dwellers needed external support for transformation. The lack of necessary human and financial resources posed significant barriers to a clean break from their enduring challenges.
AHA was brought in to shape the construct and architecture of the project, crafting the project’s identity and designing and developing a portal for seamless information dissemination and collaboration.
INJECTING AHA IN THE IDEAS
Slums exist in a legal gray area, often unrecognised, arising from encroachments. This complex reality is deeply intertwined with ‘humanity.’
Despite external efforts by governments and NGOs to enhance living conditions, the fundamental issue persists, and the system relies heavily on external aid, creating a perpetual state of uncertainty.
While acknowledging that fundamental needs like water, sanitation, and education pose challenges in slums, the solution must organically emerge from within.
Slums serve as hubs for various skill sets, such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
Rethinking urbanisation requires embracing a new vision where slums are integral components of cities, evolving into Smart Slums. Often perceived as chaotic, these slums possess untapped potential to act as catalysts for inclusive growth.
While there is inherent chaos in the system, we wanted to engineer reverse chaos. Reverse chaos, symbolising order emerging from chaos, hinges on an organisation’s balance between stability and change. Understanding this balance is key for sustainability, enabling an organisation to thrive amid complexity.
The transformative journey from Smart Slums to Smarter Cities signifies a holistic approach to urbanisation, where every segment, regardless of its initial perception, plays a crucial role in shaping the cities of the future.
This led us to our AHA moment – harness the intrinsic strength and skill set within the slum, rather than relying on external assistance.
By harnessing the collective power of these skills, we can transform a slum into a ‘smart slum’.
TAKING THE IDEA TO THE CONSUMERS
Identity:
The concept of self-similarity and self-sufficiency finds expression in fractals, where overlaps bring complexity but also form an intelligent pattern that ultimately resolves the chaos. This notion mirrors cultural elements, such as the Mandala which in Hindu mythology, represents prosperity in every house. The symbol is drawn in front of main doors and courtyards to welcome positivity and good vibes. In our quest for a meaningful essence, we chose the lotus petal as our symbol, representing purity and beauty thriving unexpectedly.
Applying sacred geometry, the lotus petal transformed into a mandala—a circular design. The interwoven lotus petal fractals at the logo’s core symbolise chaos, while the overall shape radiates symmetry and geometric precision, portraying a sense of order emerging from chaos.
Website:
In response to the growing challenges posed by the exponential increase in slum populations since the 2011 Census, a visionary approach emerged – the need for ‘Smart Slums’ within the concept of ‘Smart Cities.’ Urbanist Sanjeev Sanyal, in 2014, advocated for integrating ‘Smart Slums’ into the urban landscape, envisioning a design that fosters social and financial mobility for the underprivileged.
The website development embraced this vision, utilising a robust and user-friendly platform to ensure accessibility. The design incorporated seamless storytelling, leveraging creative elements to effectively convey the narrative of empowering slum communities. The website became a digital gateway, advocating for and supporting the integration of ‘Smart Slums’ as an integral component of urban development.
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