Vulnerability in a Pandemic City

Through this studio we will map and analyse urban vulnerability particularly considering impacts of the COVID outbreak. COVID-19 has suddenly, unforeseeably, and disproportionately impacted populations already vulnerable as a result of occupation, class, migration status, religion, gender, and other factors, that rely on urban public spaces for their basic needs. Social and economic changes along with mandates on social distancing have meant exclusion of vulnerable groups from using public space for their basic needs. These instances raise new challenges for urban designers and planners. How might we imagine inclusive public spaces in post-COVID Indian cities? This studio is premised in the belief that inclusive public spaces in a post-covid context might be possible if : (a) Urban design takes into account the many ways in which vulnerable groups depend on public spaces for their basic needs, and (b) Design processes have a sufficiently grounded understanding of the myriad ways in which public space is used, governed, and experienced. Final outputs will include: - Mapping Pakwan junction at S.G.Highway (Ahmedabad) - Analysis presented in multiple formats (plans, diagrams, isometric views, narrative cartographies) - Design strategies prioritizing identified groups