Learn how to make your own Mumbai

Members of the Urbz group

"People come with different experiences," says Rahul Srivastava, founder-member of Urbz, a Dharavi-based group that believes in organically developing a city by weaving in its residents.

"The idea is to create that urban experience of intense cosmopolitanism and creativity through which you start thinking of neighbourhoods in new ways." The focus this time is on Kalbadevi and Bhuleshwar, two of the oldest areas in the city.
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"It's important to know about history and how it can shape the present and the future. There are people who are still nostalgic about earlier forms of architecture. Why can't we be in a situation where a new building can be modelled on an old one?" asks Srivastava.

As part of the workshop, you can choose any locality in the area along with a theme of your choice. This would be followed by intensive fieldwork and exploration on Friday, processing the information and finding new solutions to existing problems on Saturday and a public display of the works at Khotachiwadi on Sunday.

"The reason why we have concentrated on the Khotachiwadi area is to raise awareness about its heritage issues," says Matias Echanove, who has also been involved in starting Urbz too. "We hope to provide visibility to residents who are into small businesses, so that a tourism-based economy can be based in this area."

At: Sir JJ School of Art, DN Road, Churchgate. Time: 10 am. To register, log on to urbz.net. Cost: Rs 300 for students, Rs 500 for others

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