ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

Location - 6km from the center of Indore city, M.P.

Client- Indore development authority.
Principal architect - Balkrishna Doshi.
Total built-up area -100,000 m2.
Project cost - Rs. 100 million.
Year of completion – 1989.

The general objectives of ARANYA were:

1- To create a township where a sense of continuity of fundamental values of security exist and to plan a good living environment.

2. To achieve a settlement character by establishing a harmony between the built environment and the people.

3. To create a balanced community of various socio-economic groups encouraging co-operation, fraternity , tolerance and self help generated through a physical planning process.

4. To evolve a framework within design where incremental physical development can take place within legal, economical and organizational framework.
CASE STUDIES:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT
INDORE, INDIA
• Aranya, 6 kilometers from Indore, will eventually house a total population of 60,000 in 6500 dwellings, on a net planning area of 85 hectares. The master plan,
prepared by the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation in 1983, is designed around a central spine comprising the business district. Six sectors, each with populations of 7000-
12,000, lie to the east and west of the spine and are diagonally bisected by linear parks.

• “They are not houses but homes where a happy community lives. That is what finally matters,” says B.V Doshi, the shaping hand behind Aranya. Strong
recognition of relationships between humans and the environment, the association of our lives and culture, sensitive approach towards society, its traditions,
ways, and a conscious response towards the ecosystem are some key factors that made Doshi’s architecture instrumental in crafting the environment for people. 

• With the coexistence of functionality and poetic element, his idea behind architecture remains self-evident and expressive of its intent. During 1970 and onward,
the emerging need to house large numbers of people gave rise to various housing projects. Doshi designed Life Insurance Corporation, Ahmedabad in 1973
and Aranya Low-Cost Housing, Indore in 1989, which was one of his best-known projects. This project was remarkably unique in terms of its approach, design
philosophy, and the way it played a role in the life of users.

SOCIAL CONTEXT:
• Aranya Low-Cost Housing situated in Indore was commissioned by Indore Development Authority and co-funded by World Bank and India’s Housing and 
Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), for Economically weaker sections of society addressing the shortage of houses and shelter at that time. As the
number of slums, illegal settlements, and scarcity of shelters increased, it became important for the government to tackle this issue in an affordable and well-
served manner. 

• There were various case studies done; the housing situation then was understood, where affordable housing was equal to a repetition of a series of modules,
units that were a standard response. Aranya Housing spans 86 hectares consisting of six self-contained neighborhoods. 

APPROACH:
• Doshi’s integrated approach for mixed-income groups was with an idea to get them together. The response came purely from
the understanding of the fundamental needs of people and the fact that space and design eventually revolve around the user.
The housing township spans across six sectors and accommodates over 6500 residences. Doshi decided to provide the families
with a framework of things, where the plot consisted of provision for services, a toilet block, and a brick plinth to build over.

• Instead of a finished house, this framework allowed people to shape the space according to their fundamental needs and
lifestyles. This idea also allowed the house to grow subjectively, influencing the connectivity, human and adaptability, private
and public buffers, indoor-outdoor relationships, and flow of spaces.
CASE STUDIES: STREET HOUSE RELATIONSHIPS:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT
INDORE, INDIA

HIERARCHY AND CONNECTIVITY
• The street network has clear vehicular and pedestrian traffic segregation, drawing the vehicular road towards the peripheral main road
and pedestrians or informal pathways. This affects the nature of pathways and streets that the houses share, making the heavy traffic
inactive and instigating informal public activities and interactions. The entrances, buffer spaces between public and private, streets, space
between two houses, the scale of these pathways concerning the built spaces allow ease to spaces and functionality. 

• The community public spaces follow a hierarchy, with an even distribution of community sub-centers with active pedestrian movement.
The main public space being connected with all secondary spaces maintains a link throughout the township. As the sector roads connect
to a central spine, this spine is staggered at 2 points to reduce the traffic.  

INTERCONNECTIVITY AND SPACE INTERACTIONS

CASE STUDIES:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT
INDORE, INDIA

PLANNING, MASSES AND FORM:

• Every 10 clusters of houses shared a courtyard. The six sectors had their own green spaces and one larger public space for the whole township. The user was given
the freedom to choose how much to build, the combinations to build. As every entrance, staircase, verandahs, buffer had variations, it gave a unique character to
every house. 

• Doshi had a kit of elements that included a staircase, Openings, railings, overhangs, verandahs that allowed families to adapt it according to their needs. He planned
and constructed 80 sample homes for the families with variations in terms of size, spatial planning, mass, and movement. Houses ranging from one bedroom to
bigger were available for people to choose from depending on the income group. The proximity of two houses helps shade the common courtyard shared in
between. 
CASE STUDIES:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT
INDORE, INDIA

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:

• As the soil at the site was black cotton soil, Doshi used shallow concrete piles for footing. Every house was provided with a plinth, load-bearing masonry walls, and concrete slabs. This also reduced the overall construction cost. The
longer side of the house was oriented in the north-south axis, residing the heat exposure. Owners were free to choose the decorations, material, and color palette for the house.

LOAD BEARING MASONARY PLAY OF COLOR, MATERIAL, SPATIAL FEATURES, LIGHT AND SHADOW
CASE STUDIES:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT
INDORE, INDIA

• Doshi’s vision to have a unified sense of belonging by including

the user in the design process was an effective and practical
approach towards the housing. The growth of houses and the
evolution of spaces were purely out of need and the lifestyle of
families. Design parameters like hierarchy, movement, scale were
instrumental in the Master Plan. Every neighborhood is connected
through smaller public spaces and informal pathways. 
• This framework provides the space for users to grow and move
organically. This project stands to be one of the exceptional
attempts towards its purpose. This approach not only maximized
the functionality and usage of space but also uplifted the weaker
class.

• “Design is nothing but a humble understanding of materials, an

instinct for solutions and respect for nature.”— B.V Doshi
CASE STUDY: PLANNING STAGES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

1. Plan initially prepared by Indore development authority which shows a typical 2. Initial stage proposed plan with distributed open spaces and street hierarchies.
rubber stamping attitude without any concern for open space hierarchy , circulation Twists and staggers introduced to discourage through traffic.
system , climatic orientation or the built form. Basic grid pattern envisaged for
simple layout

3. Later stage of development with rectified orientation to minimize heat gain and 4. Proposed master plan with interlinked open spaces, built form variations,
increase natural shading. Clear hierarchy to be obtained. distributed amenities, road network hierarchies and climate friendly orientation
CASE STUDY: EVOLUTION OF MASTER PLAN
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

Initial stage of proposed plan with

Plan proposed by IDA
distributed open spaces and street Later stage of Proposed Master Plan
hierarchy
development to with
rectified orientation to
minimize heat gain
and increase shading
CASE STUDY: HOUSING CATAGORIES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

• The high income group (HIG 9 per cent), is along the

• The master plan was divided into six sectors with a
periphery of the national highway and part on the south
central spine area of commercial and institutional land
east border of the arterial road in the south.
use.

• The middle income group (MIG 14 %) is planned along

• The town center in the middle part of the spine
the periphery of arterial roads on north – west side and
consisted of four clusters of shopping, residential and
part on the south arterial road along the part of the spine.
office complexes.

DIV ISION OF SP AC ES • The lower income group (LIG 11%)and the

economically weaker sector (EWS 65%) are located in
RESIEDENTIAL PEDESTRAIN OPEN SPACES COMMERCIALS
the middle of all six sectors.
CASE STUDY: SERVICES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

1. 2.

3. 4.

•A cluster of ten houses were connected to 1 inspection •The road network, designed according to the •As shown in option 1 the conventional method of placing toilets in front
chamber and 20 houses to one septic tank. topography, allowed for smooth gravitational goes against cultural and aesthetic priorities and manages to connect eight
flow of water. Three reservoirs, each serving toilets to one manhole with sewerage line every on street.
two sectors were located at higher points of
• A conventional sewage system was developed for the sector and were interconnected in such a way
township, keeping in view the general contour of available that any two could cover the entire population. •As in option 2, 3 and 4 toilets at back create maintenance related problem.
ground slope and the road network.

• The system adopted for storm water drainage

•A well and a lift station were provided near the final manhole was a combination of an underground storm
that discharges the waste water into the treatment plant, water system in wider roads and surface
drainage on internal roads where ground
slopes were effectively used. The road section
• An oxidation pond on the north west corner of the site where dropped below ground level by six inches,
the natural slope helped in collecting the sewage and was allowing it to act as the drain.
suitable for the predominant south west wind direction to
avoid odor pollution.
CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA
CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

Sales
EWS LIG MIG HIG

- LOWER INCOME AND ECONOMICALLY WEAKER GROUP

CASE STUDY: ANALYSIS OF THE PLANNING AND HOUSING UNITS
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

• A housing plan included two rooms and a living area

• Houses have been clustered in groups of 10, separated by open followed by a kitchen.
space. • Lavatory was constructed between the front extension and
• Each sector has a main pedestrian street. the melty use courtyard at the back.
• Otta, a traditional zone, is provided in front of each house • Most houses were provided with an a additional access at
which is located between privet and public spaces. the back, which allowed for keeping animals, a vehicle or
• Otta are provided as a meeting place or interactive place. even renting out part of the house to provide income.
• A septic tank is provided between 2 clusters. • For interaction of families an otta (an important feature of
the Indian home) when completed will be sensitive to the
lifestyle and daily needs of individuals with the freedom to
integrate indoor and outdoor spaces with privacy within and
from outside the homes, by designing optional plan.
CASE STUDY: DESIGN PRINCIPLES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4

• Architect adopted a very objective approach towards

the incrementality aspect of the units.
• Image to the left shows addition of spaces over time as
expected by the designers in order to accommodate
the increasing family sizes.
• One can trace the growth of spaces desired and
understand the growth pattern in correspondence to
increase in family’s spatial requirements.

• One of the reasons of the failure of this system were

the fact that not many inhabitants chose to follow this
pattern owing to its inappropriateness for their
lifestyle.

1 room set on ground floor with Addition of a hall transforming 1 Addition of a separate kitchen and Transformation of first floor one
toilet block protruding in the room set into a 1BHK unit. another 1 room set on first floor. room set into 1BHK making the
backyard. whole unit a 2BHK.
CASE STUDY: DISTRIBUTION OF AMENITIES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

• Lower level community facilities organized in

green spaces
• Community amenities distributed evenly
• Community facilities grouped in local sub centers. • Even distribution
• Informality created
• Formal organization
• Maintains link with town center
• Accessibility improved
• Pedestrian access easier.
CASE STUDY: ACCESS TO AMMENITIES ( in minutes)
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA
CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

LANDSCAPE
• Landscape and green areas include flowering and shade giving trees with thick ground cover, including lantana, an ever-green tree , that requires little maintenance.
• Trees include casuarinas, bottle brush and eucalyptus
CASE STUDY: CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

• Foundation: Under rimmed piles in •Structural members: • Exterior finishes: Bright color in the façade, railing,
Reinforced concrete plinth beams, load
concrete, cast in situ locally was used as the soil grills and cornices seen in the old houses of Indore used in some
bearing brick walls, reinforced concrete
was black cotton soil. houses in the township.
slabs.
CASE STUDY: SERVICES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

SITE AND SERVICE APPROACH

• Cost-effective
• Progressive development of facilities.
• Houses built by the people themselves to
suit their needs.
•Each family provided with a plot having a water tank, sewerage connection, paved access
with street lighting, storm water drainage
• Service cores - key to this site and
service scheme.
- nuclei around which
houses were built.
• Houses were clustered in groups of 10.
• Septic tank provided for every 2 clusters.
• Water drawn from 3 local reservoirs.
• To economize, 20 toilets are connected to
1 manhole.
• One service line serves four rows of houses
CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM

• Very efficient and facilitates healthy and clean living.
• Combination of underground and surface drainage system.
• Underground used for wider roads
• Surface drainage used for internal roads

ELECTRICITY
• High income and middle-income groups were provided with overhead cables.
• Economically Weaker Sections were provided with underground cables
CASE STUDY: CLIMATE RESPONSIVE FEATURES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

The north south orientation of clusters The building height to street width ratio is such that streets
are shaded except when the sun is overhead

• Most of the plots small in size and clustered in low rise blocks

• Longer side façade oriented in the north-south axis to reduce the solar
radiation on the building.

• Each house has minimum exposure to wall surface and a common wall.
CASE STUDY: HIERARCHY OF OPEN SPACES
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

• Interlinked informal spaces

• Continuous system of open spaces is provided
• Staggered roads create spaces for community congregation
• A single large open space is avoided

Access to open spaces in minutes

CASE STUDY: HIERARCHY OF ROADS
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

60 m
30 m
12 m
15 m
9.5 m
4.5 m
1.5 m
CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

ROADS
• Segregation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic

• Offsets break visual monotony

• Hierarchy is based on the volume of the traffic and activities

• The roads suit human scale

• Use of cul-de-sacs to avoid traffic

For clear segregation of vehicular and pedestrian

traffic:

Vehicular access in the form rectilinear and formal

roads in the hierarchy of 4.5m wide to 15m wide
road draw the vehicles outwardly.
Pedestrian access in the form of informal interlinked
open spaces draws people inwardly.
CASE STUDY:
ARANYA HOUSING PROJECT INDORE, INDIA

CONCLUSION:
• It understands the traditional Indian habits
• Planning and design is in accordance with the prevailing socio-economic and technological conditions
• Cost –effective construction materials and techniques have been adopted
• Planning is “whole to part” – i.e. From
• township level to dwelling unit level.
• Accessibility has been an essential factor for
• designing.
• Consistency in every aspect
• Staggered roads, prevent thorough traffic, reduce speed of vehicles
• Climate responsive and site responsive design