OF PORTABLE TOOLSHEDS

Located in Bhid Bazaar (Bhuj, Gujarat), this project delved into the rich urban fabric of historic marketplaces, blending architectural heritage, dense demographics, and complex ownership structures. Central to our endeavour was a collaboration with the Sathwara community, predominantly women street vendors who drive circular economies by bartering local vessels for second-hand clothes, amidst extreme weather conditions and economic uncertainty. Within this, we focused on crafting a series of portable toolsheds as expandable black boxes that incorporated the voices of the Sathwara women in every stage of an urban design proposal. These toolsheds —in stages of co-mapping, co-design, and building consensus— formed the basis of an inclusive approach deeply rooted in social engagement and contextual sensitivity.