The exponential population growth of Navi Mumbai and the Global South results in urgency for housing, quality of life and resources. Maker Housing proposes through architectural design and spatial organization an alternative mode of living in these unique urban contexts. Gaothans is a Marathi word which is derived from the words ‘Gaon’ (which means ‘village’). Many of these villages have become under threat from urbanization to cater to the over demand in population. The project aims to use vernacular construction materials and methods to promote sustainable architecture and traditional craftsmanship to reignite to usage of original techniques. Due to India’s colonial past many artisans abandoned their ancestral trade to find a more sustainable and stable income. This damaged the self-sufficient village economy and integrated poor infrastructure into village and slum communities in Navi Mumbai.

Maker Housing proposes a design toolkit aimed to accommodate all urban conditions of the village and surrounding area. By investigating craftsmanship in every scale from brick to urban the project allows for identity and collective memory of the village to not only thrive but also protect its future survival.