A small group of people in Govandi, living in the resettlement buildings of Natwar Parekh Compound have been able to reimagine spaces with art to improve community living and foster meaningful interactions in a tough neighbourhood. (In Pic: Tayyaba Darvesh, Parveen Shaikh and Sana Shaikh)

Community Design Agency (CDA), an architect and urban planners’ collective, recently opened two new community spaces, Humraahi and Awaz, in addition to the already existing Kitaab Mahal in the eastern suburb to create an ecosystem of creative spaces through architectural changes focused on arts and well-being of its residents. (In pic: Children play a sound bath during a healing session at Humraahi)

Tucked away in a corner of the compound is Kitaab Mahal, the area’s community library. Inaugurated in 2022, it is painted in bright colours where shelves are lined with children’s books and hand drawn paintings, the space originally cropped up as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (In pic: A view of the exteriors of the community library, Kitaab Mahal)

Natasha Sharma says that due to a murder in the area, "it became necessary to introduce interventions where people could access therapeutic tools and engage with models of well-being like expressive arts therapy, music therapy, or even dance movement therapy. That is how Humraahi emerged.” (In pic: Natasha Sharma)

Awaz, a room in another building, is a space led by the women of the area that focuses on promoting leisure and relaxation. “ The women here tend to their families and are burdened with responsibilities, 24/7. The lack of space in their homes gives them little privacy. This is why such spaces are important,” Sharma reveals. (In pic: Women in the neighbourhood take a break from their daily chores as they chat and relax at Awaz)