Commons are the traditional lifelines that nurtured socio-cultural mix & economic activities, yet is severely undervalued. During the pandemic, poor quality and disintegrated spatial resources, affected the liveability of vulnerable populations, particularly children during extended school closure. The complex gender, power dynamics, and legalities furthers adds to this scenario.
‘Reclaiming Community Commons’ was initiated to tackle this growing urban injustice, to create spaces for recreation, resilience and livelihood. Moreover the pandemic has helped leapfrog new public design ideas. With 11 million people, Chennai is one of India's largest metros. The project is a right fit for a city starving for open spaces, less than 0.8 sq m per capita open space. (Per capita standard of WHO is 9 sqm & URDPFI is 10-12sqm). It is a state of emergency therefore to save & reimagine every sq foot of defunct commons. 
Climate challenges also call for equipping tools first at the community level, which in most cases go unattended to. During quarantine with poor access to essentials, almost no access to public open spaces within walking distance, mental health in India dropped by 20%. (Source: Indian Psychiatric Society). Responding to such trends, the project embraces the value of reclaiming commons, while Doing it Together.
‘Reclaiming Community Commons’ project sows the values of design as a problem solving mechanism and demonstrate impactful pilots that showcase transformation at scale. 

While the project is structured on the strong purpose of access to commons, the process we take sets the difference we intend to make: DO IT TOGETHER, from start to end. The project lifecycle is laid out in four phases: Initiate, Mobilize, Implement, Sustain to achieve these goals. Our impacts align with SDG goals on building Sustainable Cities and Communities(SDG 11) & Partnerships(SDG17). 
The process involves tool-making, serious gaming, and collective place-making. At the first stage, a diverse set of space activation objects were identified to prepare a bilingual toolbook. Next, a scenario-building ‘Game of Commons’ will be developed to implement a collective place-making programme. By demystifying technical information (toolbook), embedding systems for decision-making (Game of Commons), and training for tool implementation (Collective place-making) the project will contribute to the long-term development capacity of the community. The needs of women and children would be translated and amplified as primary programs with relevant tools for planning, designing, building, and maintaining commons.

Through this pilot initiative, around 1600 sq m of commons at Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai can be reclaimed. The implementation would impact the lives of 450 residents (appx.) from 127 households, in Rajiv Gandhi Housing. The intervention will also enable community members to effectively use 70% of the identified pilot site. 
Most important outcome aims to alter the community’s perception of commons & build a sense of ownership that is currently a point of conflict.

As a long-term resident of this area, I was curious to know more about the open space I always walk past. It was poorly maintained yet hosted several activities.  I was introduced to SHG leader, Kalaivani from Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam who introduced me to the Panchayat Leader. This meeting led to further discussion of ideas related to creating usable spaces which she identified along a 0.5 km stretch. As a leader, she has been active in resource pooling and getting support from multiple stakeholders. 

Jayanthi Premchander- resident of Valmiki Nagar and Solid Waste expert. Article

Kutty Ma, Resident Steward at Rajiv Gandhi Housing Colony. Together they Initiated spatial upgrades for educational and recreational purposes for residents of the Rajiv Gandhi Housing colony during COVID. 

T Radhakrishnan, radOFFICE - Planning & Design Consultant. Global experience across architectural, spatial strategy, participatory planning, and urban systems thinking. Top 10 Social Innovators in India, UNDP - Youth Colab 2020. Currently pursuing MAUD at Harvard GSD.

Landscape & Urbanism Studio (PLUS) initiated the project in Feb 2021 before the second wave of COVID. The team includes:
Ari Daman, ASLA, LEED AP, Founding Director, PLUS Experienced Landscape Designer with large scale resilience, social design and Architecture projects in India, and globally. MS Planning Clemson Univ. Primary funder
Dhanya Rajagopal, Program Director at PLUS, experience in placemaking, participatory mapping and research, public space design & management. MS Urban Placemaking Management, Pratt Institute

How we Engage and Co-design