Project Description

A Space that Listens, Shelters, Inspires

If we go a little backward, like 20-22 years back, when mobile phone, internet were not this much available, tea stalls were meant to be a place for social gathering, knowledge sharing and also, recreation. There used to be this tiny television at a corner, in a village bazaar area or in an urban marketplace or slum, that TV would play Alif Laila every Tuesday. People would sip tea from glass cups and excitedly discuss - "Did you see shahjadi jumping off the horse? I tell you there is a deep meaning behind it!" The stalls have the same feel, except now, there's no shared moment of watching Alif Laila together.

Now, let's think about a community in an usual, busy urban area. People gather to have tea and cigarettes for a 10 min break or tea-adda after class, office. Along with them, comes the slum kids. One or two strays sit around for a piece of waste bun. On a cold night, they make a place to sleep curling up nearby.

A School for the Robinsons

In the tea stalls around universities, office areas, we usually get along with the children living around. They talk to us, learn from us. A knowledge sharing happens between the students/ office workers who come to have tea and the kids. We consider benefitting these children who grow up around these spaces, observing but rarely being included in structured learning environments. We can use the tea stall as an informal learning space, much like informal learning spaces that already exist in universities or neighborhoods.

Where do the dogs go?

Our feline friends like spaces like cupboards - which make them feel safe, covered, and cozy on a cold or stormy night. We provided space for the strays to take shelter when needed under the stall.

Materials and Functionality

Foldable walls expand for multipurpose usage and retract when needed. Shelves hold supplies by day and tiny potted plants for a green touch. Built with bamboo bound by wooden clamps, reclaimed kerosene wood forms the operable walls along with tin roof. Foldable shelves store supplies and greenery, merging sustainability with function.