Researchers in the UKworked with children, young people and their families living in a new urban development in India to understand the everyday experiences of urban transformation - with the results informing the future development of Indian cities.
The researchers at the University of Birmingham interacted with 350 participants. This has led to findings which are intended to help make other cities across India, indeed any cities undergoing change, citizen-friendly and sustainable.
The researchers spent almost a year living in Lavasa, a new private sector-led urban development initiative inMaharashtra - currently under construction. It is planned that the development will be home to some 300,000 people.
They gathered evidence from families across a diverse range of social backgrounds - investigating their experiences of living, playing, working and learning.
This is the first in-depth ethnographic research to explore the lived realities of new, large-scale, city-building projects in India.
Sophie Hadfield-Hill and Cristiana Zara conducted interviews, guided walks, workshops and used a mobile app 'Map my Community' to gather data on children, young people (aged 5-23) and their families experiences of everyday life, particularly in terms of sustainable design, mobility and access to nature and green space.
A series of core themes emerged, associated with education provision, infrastructures, nature and green space in the city, deepening inequalities and the hopes and aspirations of urban change.
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) the 'New Urbanisms in India: Urban living, sustainability and everyday life' project has set out 10 recommendations across the core project findings that apply to any new site of urban transformation, as well as future phases of the Lavasa development.
Sophie, Lecturer in Human Geography, said: "Children and families are hugely affected by urban change and have much to offer in terms of their vision for urban living. This research has provided space for detailed ethnographic insights into the everyday experiences of urban transformation".
"With the Indian Government putting plans in motion for a portfolio of Smart City initiatives, the recommendations proposed by the project are timely," she said.
As part of the project, 130 young people worked with the researchers and city planners to build a model, using recycled materials, to reflect findings from the research and influence the future development of Lavasa.
The researchers also designed and implemented an innovative 'Map my Community' smartphone app to gather information about mobility and experiences of place.
The app is now being used in New Delhi to map informal settlements and advocate for improved living conditions for children and their families.
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