Top floor
URBZ | Office
The urbz office opened two years
ago, and the space was found through
a local contractor. Over these two
years they have had windows put
in, installed a toilet and currently
have plans to change the roof (which
is currently made with asbestos
sheeting, a common material in
Dharavi), in the interests of both heat
and health and safety conditions.
Top floor
Sanganamma | Tenant
Sanganamma's family came to
Mumbai 25 years ago, first moving
to Ghatkopar and then to Dharavi in
the early 1990s. They rented various
places before settling into this house
five years ago. Her husband used to
work in the mills, but when they went
bust the family fell on hard times.
Her most intense recollection is of the
2005 floods in Mumbai, when some
parts of the lane were immersed
waist deep in water.
First floor
Malar e Jaffia | Tenants
Malar is the young mother of Jaffia,
aged nine; her husband is currently
working in Africa. She has been living
in this building for the last six years
and feels that the area has improved
since she has been living here.
First floor
Mohammad and Mohammad | Embroiderers
They are two of four young
men living and working in one
room. During the day they run an
embroidery business; at night the
space doubles up as a bedroom.
Ground floor
Raphel | Owner
Raphel has lived in the area since
1957, when the neighbourhood was
full of mangroves. His house was
given to him and his family, totalling
seven members, by the government in
1973. They own the building but live in
just three small rooms.
Ground floor
Razak | Tenant
Although he does not live in the
building, he has been running his
food business from a small kitchen
for five years. Razak says that it is
a safe neighbourhood with strong
community ties.
Tool House: Living and working in Mumbai
The urbz headquarters stands on the top floor of a typical three-storey structure, the uneven product – like its neighbours – of several decades of incremental growth and unabated adaptation.
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- Jose Abasolo
- 14 February 2012
- Mumbai