TENT

MODIFICATION
Finding solutions together for an improved living

TENT
MODIFICATION

THE ISSUE

14%

of the total Indian urban

population live in slums.
Only 15% have
drinking water,electricity
and latrines.
Less than 25% have
sanitation systems.

Housing is one of the top priorities for most

people, regardless of their income levels. Without the security and comfort of a home, there
is no escape to the difficulties resulting from
poverty.
Adequate housing is considered by many to be
a fundamental human right. It is interrelated
with other aspects of life such as health and
education.
For example, children cannot study in a poorly
lit house. Asthma and bronchitis are caused by
pollen grains, dust, animal wastes and several
environmental factors related to bad housing
conditions. Poor sanitation and hygiene,
inadequate ventilation and smoke inhalation
are all associated aspects of poor housing that
affect health and social development.

Slums are often looked at as

ugly, unorganised and illegal.
They are the
only solution for the poor.

But these solutions

are inadequete
due to lack of knowledge
and resources.

Why not co-design with the

slum dwellers and give a
better solution for a better
and a healthier living.

APPROACH

RESEARCH
-Secondary Research to
understand existing solutions
and approaches.
-Market Survey
-User Research through
immersive study,questionnaires,day in the life of,user
segmentation and analysis
-Understanding the ecosystem surrounding it and
supporting it by looking at
stakeholders,
businesses and barriers.

CONCEPTUALISE
-Comprehend and transfer
research into design proposal.
-Brainstorm on possible
concepts(Products, services
and systems)
-Evaluate and breakdown
possible scenarios.
-Establish baseline survey to
evaluate design.

BUILD
-Brainstorming and sketching of
shortlisted concepts.
-Co-design (design and evaluate
with feedback from community)
-Depending on community
feedback and buy-in, prototype
chosen design.
-Collect feedback on design
after usage.
-Rework till feasibility and
functionality is proven by
conparing it to baseline survey.

BUSINESS DESIGN
-Design ways in which
system can become accessible and sustainable.
-Study and involve existing
ecosystems that the solution can ride on.
-Work out a financial model
for potential small scale
businesses surrounding your
tent.

owners

BANGALORE
SLUM STUDY
AREAS

6%
8%

22%

4%

Percentage
of slums

60%

10%

of Bangalores
population lives
in slums.
49%
Females

51%
Males

BANGALORE,
INDIA
Yelahanka New Town
Yelahanka Old Town
Lingarajpuram
National Games Village
Thubharahalli

Inadequete
ventilation

FOCUS AREAS

Poor
health and
sanitation

Inadequete
light

No drainage
and
water supply

THE SOLUTION
IMPROVES
existing problems like ventilation, water,
drainage and light in the slum houses
FASTER
because government housing solutions
take time to implement

CO-CREATE
TENT
MODIFICATIONS

INVOLMENT
sharing of ideas and community involvement
UTILIZATION
of available cheap reusable materials
REALIZATION
make them realize their problems and teach
them to implement solutions themselves

ON-SITE PROTOTYPING
(THUBHARAHALLI)

PROTOTYPING OBJECTIVES

Building a slum house to understand the

basics of slum construction and understanding the efficiency of existing solutions to the problems.

Understanding new materials and their

usage, that are locally found or available
by the people staying there.

Coming up with new concepts or solutions to the problems that have not
been addressed or have been poorly
addressed.

TENT
CONSTRUCTION

On the first day we took help of a

few slum dwellers to build the inner
support frame of the tent. This way
we collected more and more curious children who got their parents
along to see what we were doing.
This way we got most of the community to take in interest and start
participating.
We took thier opinions and in the
process explained to them what we
were trying to achive and how this
would benefit them and how they
could take this knowledge and apply
it wherever they set up their tent
next.

BUILDING THE WALLS

The slum dwellers in

Thubharahalli would sit
outside thier houses in the
heat all day due to lack of
light inside the tent.
Sunlight is very important in
the tent to keep away harmful
bacteria and molding.
We used old bottles and fixed
it into the walls using cob.
Most of them complained
that the only source of light
would be if they opened the
door but that would lead to
rats and other animals eating
all their food.
We sealed it completely to
prevent rats from entering
the house.

NATURAL LIGHTING

1/2

1/4

HOLES AND OPENINGS

Rats can gain entry through holes as
small as 1/2 in diameter whereas
mice can use holes as small as 1/4
diameter.
(source: Prevention and control of
Wildlife damage 1994)

THE VENTURI EFFECT

is a jet effect, with a funnel the velocity of air increases.
We tried to replicate this effect using discarded bottles to
increase the ventilation in the tent.

VENTILATION

OIL TIN CAN

DOOR
Currently a huge chuck of thier
construction cost would be to
get a door for thier tent to
prevent rats and dogs from
eating their food.
So we took 3 oil tin cans from
the local kabadiwalla and made
a 30/- rupees door. The slum
dwellers really liked this idea as
it had more structural strenght

LOW COST
CHIMNEY
WHY LOW COST CHIMNEY?
Smoke caused due to burning of firewood in
the houses while cooking affects the health
majorly, from small bronchi problems to can
cancerous diseases. People leaving in slum stays in
very low budget houses and has very limited
access to other basic amenities of life.

BENEFITS

-Reduced fuel consumption

-Cleaner pots and vessels
-Better appearance (sense of
-pride)
-Chimney module
-Faster cooking
-Safer cooking area
-More comfortable cook