Development Delirium: How Architecture Nurtures Inequality | Nafeel Qureshi

With more than 55% of the world’s population living in cities, cities need to equip themselves to cater to the needs of all their inhabitants. But that is not the case. Limited resources, drastic climatic conditions, poor management, and economic limitations result in the underprivileged suffering more.

Eduwik Architecture Excellence Awards 2022 (Students)
Second Award | Housing

Project Name: DEVELOPMENT DELIRIUM: HOW ARCHITECTURE NURTURES INEQUALITY
Project Category: Housing

Studio Name: Student
Design Team: None
Area: Pakistan
Year: 2022
Location: Karachi, Pakistan.
Consultants: None
Photography Credits: None
Other Credits: Wajiha Siddiqui, Muhammad Mehdi Hyder, Sadia Siddiqui

Architecture does not solely work as a way to provide space but it also works as a social mediator. As half of the metropolis citizen lives in informal settlements, it is fundamental to explore design by means of bilateral negotiations and architecture which fulfill citizens’ needs. In order to explore means to mitigate the situation, research is conducted via informal discussions with the residents, urban planners, and surveys.

Retrofit Housing typology is explored based on residents’ needs and encourages communities to rebuild their homes while utilizing their expertise to improve community engagement through design. Using cost-effective techniques, housing units can be rebuilt with help from individual members of the community to improve livability.

Through an interface with the community, design guided by inhabitants’ needs will allow them to improve their livelihood and develop the sensitivity of community engagement. The implication is that in a city with more than half of its population living in urban squatters, it is necessary to seek ways to provide sustainable, equitable design solutions. At the end of the day, every citizen matters.