Envisioning Kerala: Karimadom (and Chenakalchoola)

The Karimadom colony is a notified slum in Kerala. It holds a population of 2341 residents, over 9.73 acres, at a density of 240 persons/ acre. A major issue in this slum, common in others, is that it sits 2’ below ground level. The site floods with sewage during monsoon season, breeding disease and causing destruction of the dwellings. A site plan was composed for this area based on early ideas of Laurie Baker. The colony will be reformed in 4 story blocks containing 20 units. The four stories (ground floor plus three upper floors) is the limit given to construction in the cases where water must be carried up. Each floor was given a benefit, whether it contained a larger terrace, or had access to the ground. Also within the colony, pockets of space were left between the housing blocks to provide places for future projects – social, health/ study centers, and anganwadis, or kindergartens. The budget for this project reserved funds for these future constructions. Those presenting on this project reminded us that community redevelopment design went beyond construction. Further components include: health, education, and livelihood. It was also important to those shaping this colony to consider aesthetics, economy, function, and the natural environment.

From the standpoint of the community organizer, housing was just one battle fought in the place she called home for the last 42 years. The first battle was against drugs, which they have largely expelled from their colony. Now that they have achieved the housing they sought, when asked what the next step was, she responded, “education for our children, so they might move out into the rest of the world.”

Karimadom, the most recent architectural project in a slum setting by COSTFORD, was preceded by the Chenakalchoola project. This project, in central Trivandrum, was in close proximity to our hotel and we happened upon it one afternoon on our way to the bookstore. We recognized it by its curved terraces, extending off each unit. This construction was 3 stories, containing 10 units, each with its own outdoor space. Seeing this project on our own was different than our experience at Karimadom, because it had been in place almost 10 years. The community had really taken over the architecture, making it individualistic. Many shops had sprung up at its base as well.