Non Human Intervention

Urbanization and habitat loss is increasingly becoming a focus of concern in the world, especially in adjacency to large metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Bombay and Delhi. There are only two options, face the consequences or adapt to this new environment, which means incorporating non-human habitation into our urban fabrics. As seen on the larger scale, the green spaces and ridge habitat surrounding Delhi have been continuously fragmented to the point of habitat loss and perhaps more concerning for some...wildlife and human conflict.

To tackle at least one of these issues – habitat loss- the idea of integrating non-human habitats into new building construction came to light, parts and ideas that can be implemented into any building new or old could provide Shahjahanabad with a restored sense of connection to its animal counterparts while combating the global crisis of biodiversity loss.

However, as an experienced issue arose, there was a realization that a sanctuary was needed for the numerous street dogs; which will fondly be called community dogs from this point. Considering that there are approximately 35 million community dogs in India (numbers vary by source), they can be considered just as much citizens as us humans and to help both them and the concern of wildlife/ human conflict that has been documented as roughly 20,000 rabies
deaths per year in India and many biting incidents, the non-human architectural intervention focuses on a safe space for community dogs using existing havelis as a space to retrofit for these sanctuaries.

As a 'come and go as you please' space, the dogs would have access to a safe space, provided with shade, food, water and medical care, living in conjunction with the different inhabitants of the building from humans to macaques in the trees and pigeons in the nesting wall.