Adaptive Vernacular Architecture: An Inclusive Housing Prototype in Kotachiwadi, Mumbai

In the heart of Mumbai, where the pressures of urbanization have relentlessly transformed the built environment, Kotachiwadi stands out as a rare pocket of preserved heritage. With its narrow lanes, vibrant facades, and a charming collection of vernacular houses, this neighborhood exudes a timeless character. Embracing the ethos of inclusive architecture design, Studio TAB’s shortlisted entry for the Nano Nest 2020 competition brings forward a compelling prototype that integrates universal accessibility with contextual sensitivity.

Titled "The Equipoise," this architectural proposal is designed for a real-life multigenerational family, including a second-generation father who is a person with dwarfism. Rather than imposing a generalized accessibility solution, the project adapts sensitively to the user's unique physical requirements. It creates a home that respects the individual's dignity while retaining the architectural language of the context.

Vernacular Integration and Contextual Relevance

Kotachiwadi's distinct character—a remnant of Portuguese influence on Mumbai's early urban settlements—provided the backdrop for this residential intervention. The architects retained the modularity and proportions typical of the neighborhood's housing stock while integrating subtle innovations in form and materiality. The facade, inspired by a butterfly's metamorphosis, reflects adaptive change. Using terracotta as both a cultural and passive design element, the project leverages traditional craftsmanship while optimizing thermal performance.

Street-facing elevations were preserved to harmonize with adjacent dwellings, featuring double-sloped roofs and rhythmic window patterns. Customized terracotta perforated blocks allow for filtered daylight and ventilation, creating privacy while encouraging airflow in Mumbai’s tropical climate. The staggered roof system further channels prevailing winds and light into interior spaces.

Principles of Inclusive Architecture Design

At the core of this project is a thoughtful, deeply personal response to inclusive architecture design. Recognizing the day-to-day challenges faced by individuals with dwarfism—from reaching standard countertops to ascending full-sized staircases—Studio TAB implemented several micro-interventions that reframe the home as an enabler of independence and comfort.

Key inclusive features include:

• A double-stepped staircase allowing easier access.
• Lowered window seats and platforms that promote interaction across levels.
• Custom double handles and lower fixture heights.
• A stepped sectional configuration offering diverse spatial volumes while maintaining visibility and proximity.
• Soft transitions between activity zones instead of abrupt vertical separations.

Every room—from the informal reading nooks to the dining space and kitchen—has been calibrated for ergonomic ease. Yet, these adaptations remain invisible to the untrained eye, subtly embedded within an architectural language that celebrates warmth, tactility, and openness.

Multigenerational Harmony Through Design

The spatial organization accommodates three generations, with each floor dedicated to different users while maintaining a fluid sense of connectedness. Grandparents and the physically challenged member occupy the mid and lower levels, while younger members reside above. Vertical zoning is informed by daylight access, ventilation patterns, and usage frequency.

Private and shared domains are seamlessly interwoven, allowing interaction without compromising privacy. The top floor offers intimate spaces for children, while the central zones facilitate communal gatherings. A sculptural staircase, flanked by built-in shelves, becomes both a transitional element and a symbolic gesture of upward movement and shared memory.

Toward a More Inclusive Urban Future

"The Equipoise" is not merely a residential design; it is a manifesto for future urban living rooted in empathy. In a rapidly densifying city, this project reclaims the potential of inclusive architecture design to merge heritage preservation, climate responsiveness, and disability justice.

Rather than viewing physical difference as a limitation, the house celebrates it as a vital design parameter. It prompts architects and city-makers to consider how inclusivity can be embedded at a granular scale—through spatial hierarchies, proportions, and tactility—without sacrificing the architectural identity of place.

By doing so, Studio TAB redefines what it means to design with care, nuance, and respect.

Project by: Studio TAB

Shortlisted Entry: Nano Nest 2020 Competition