The Aranya Housing Project, designed by the visionary architect Balkrishna Doshi, stands as a benchmark in the realm of affordable housing and sustainable urban development. Situated in Indore, India, and completed in 1987, the project was conceived to address the acute housing shortage faced by low- and middle-income groups in rapidly urbanizing regions. Moving away from conventional grid-based layouts, the project adopts an innovative, community-focused approach that integrates incremental housing solutions with participatory planning processes. Aranya prioritizes flexibility, allowing residents to gradually expand and modify their homes according to their evolving needs and resources, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment. The project’s design incorporates open spaces, mixed-use areas, and pedestrian-friendly pathways, promoting social interaction and inclusivity. Its use of cost-effective materials, innovative service delivery mechanisms, and efficient land use exemplifies a model for sustainable and equitable urban development. Beyond its architectural achievements, Aranya has had significant socio-economic impacts, enabling improved living standards, enhanced social cohesion, and economic upliftment for its residents. This paper critically explores the design philosophy, spatial organization, and socio-economic outcomes of the Aranya Housing Project while evaluating its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges of urbanization, affordable housing, and social integration. By drawing parallels with modern urban planning practices and global case studies, the analysis underscores the project’s enduring legacy as a pioneering example of inclusive urban design. Aranya continues to inspire policymakers, architects, and urban planners worldwide, offering valuable lessons for creating resilient and equitable housing solutions that are adaptable to diverse socio-cultural and economic contexts. This abstract highlights the importance of Aranya Housing as a transformative model for sustainable and inclusive urban development, reaffirming its relevance in the discourse on affordable housing solutions globally.

Keywords: Affordable housing, dwelling, infrastructure, spatial organization, urban development

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1. Doshi BV. Urban Housing: The Lessons of Aranya. Vastu Shilpa Foundation; 1985.
2. Turner JFC. Housing by People: Towards Autonomy in Building Environments. Marion Boyars; 1976.
3. McHarg IL. Design with Nature. Natural History Press; 1969.
4. Hamdi N. Housing Without Houses: Participation, Flexibility, Enablement. ITDG Publishing; 1991.
5. Abrams C. Man’s Struggle for Shelter in an Urbanizing World. MIT Press; 1964.
6. Correa C. The New Landscape: Urbanisation in the Third World. Butterworth Architecture; 1989.
7. Gehl J. Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Danish Architectural Press; 1987.
8. UN-Habitat. The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements. Earthscan Publications; 2003.
9. Patel S, Arputham J. An incremental approach to addressing shelter needs in urban areas. Environ Urban. 2007;19(2):445–62.
10. Mitlin D, Satterthwaite D. Urban Poverty in the Global South: Scale and Nature. Routledge; 2013.

The Aranya Housing Project, designed by the visionary architect Balkrishna Doshi, stands as a benchmark in the realm of affordable housing and sustainable urban development. Situated in Indore, India, and completed in 1987, the project was conceived to address the acute housing shortage faced by low- and middle-income groups in rapidly urbanizing regions. Moving away from conventional grid-based layouts, the project adopts an innovative, community-focused approach that integrates incremental housing solutions with participatory planning processes. Aranya prioritizes flexibility, allowing residents to gradually expand and modify their homes according to their evolving needs and resources, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment. The project’s design incorporates open spaces, mixed-use areas, and pedestrian-friendly pathways, promoting social interaction and inclusivity. Its use of cost-effective materials, innovative service delivery mechanisms, and efficient land use exemplifies a model for sustainable and equitable urban development. Beyond its architectural achievements, Aranya has had significant socio-economic impacts, enabling improved living standards, enhanced social cohesion, and economic upliftment for its residents. This paper critically explores the design philosophy, spatial organization, and socio-economic outcomes of the Aranya Housing Project while evaluating its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges of urbanization, affordable housing, and social integration. By drawing parallels with modern urban planning practices and global case studies, the analysis underscores the project’s enduring legacy as a pioneering example of inclusive urban design. Aranya continues to inspire policymakers, architects, and urban planners worldwide, offering valuable lessons for creating resilient and equitable housing solutions that are adaptable to diverse socio-cultural and economic contexts. This abstract highlights the importance of Aranya Housing as a transformative model for sustainable and inclusive urban development, reaffirming its relevance in the discourse on affordable housing solutions globally.

Keywords: Affordable housing, dwelling, infrastructure, spatial organization, urban development

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Doshi BV. Urban Housing: The Lessons of Aranya. Vastu Shilpa Foundation; 1985.
2. Turner JFC. Housing by People: Towards Autonomy in Building Environments. Marion Boyars; 1976.
3. McHarg IL. Design with Nature. Natural History Press; 1969.
4. Hamdi N. Housing Without Houses: Participation, Flexibility, Enablement. ITDG Publishing; 1991.
5. Abrams C. Man’s Struggle for Shelter in an Urbanizing World. MIT Press; 1964.
6. Correa C. The New Landscape: Urbanisation in the Third World. Butterworth Architecture; 1989.
7. Gehl J. Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Danish Architectural Press; 1987.
8. UN-Habitat. The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements. Earthscan Publications; 2003.
9. Patel S, Arputham J. An incremental approach to addressing shelter needs in urban areas. Environ Urban. 2007;19(2):445–62.
10. Mitlin D, Satterthwaite D. Urban Poverty in the Global South: Scale and Nature. Routledge; 2013.