SOBIA SAEED KHAN

CHANESAR HALT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 

This project proposal aimed to create a community development plan for Chanesar Goth,
an informal settlement in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. The idea was to represent public space in a theoretical, social and experiential point of view. An in-depth analysis of the community was conducted in-terms of planning and policy, with emphasis on public space and housing. Ultimately, the report proposed alternatives and recommendations for housing and public space in Chanesar Goth. The area of interest of this study is a dense, mainly residential, urban settlement with small multiple family homes that have a tendency to expand vertically as the family grows. URBAN OPEN SPACE DESIGN
Nov-2018
Karachi, Pakistan
This figure highlights the progression of built homes towards the railway tracks that has occurred over a course of fifty years. It was observed that the houses that were older and further away from the railway tracks were more formalized and had better quality of construction in comparison to the more recent units that were constructed closer to the railway tracks.



The 3 identified areas of concern:
Housing and streets
Open space near the railway track
Pedestrian bridge and railway
The project’s vision was to create harmony between the rail and the social dynamics of the place.
The research revealed that the community wanted to have a permanent presence on the site through a public intervention specifically designed for them.

Goal 1: Imrpove insanitary living conditions- improve streets to encourange social gatherings
Goal 2: Provide alternate housing for users while maintaining a fixed ROW from the railway- vertical housing with rooftops acting as public spaces
 Goal 3: Provide a buffer between railway and the residences- providing an aternate pedestrian acess and creating a buffer for noise
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3

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