The Devil is in the Details
The primary focus of Anagram’s work on Sammaan right now involves detailing out the working drawings for each of the facilities. As one can imagine, providing the granular details for each of the 119 facilities being built is quite an undertaking. This is especially so considering that each drawing requires the inputs of several project partners.
A lot of our time is dedicated to interfacing with these partners to ensure that their questions are answered in a timely manner and any necessary changes are incorporated as quickly as possible. Anagram is working closely with CDD on the designs of the sewerage systems, with Codesign to detail out spaces for signage, and with Arkitechno to review and evaluate each drawing. Additionally, we’re reporting into Quicksand along the way to keep them abreast of developments and challenges we’re facing.
This takes a lot of coordination and effort. Every individual partner’s inputs are important, but at times they can conflict with another’s. Figuring out and deciding what is better for overall good of the end users, and the environment, plays a very significant role in making Project Sammaan a success. Despite individual goals and objectives, the important thing is to ensure what is being designed, and ultimately built, is a functional, sustainable utility that people will use with pride.
Presenting one of the facility models to the CMC
The real challenge that we are facing now is simply the quantum of work. The team is working on very stringent deadlines in order to get the tenders released and construction started as soon as possible. We are glad we do have highly experienced extra set of eyes of Arkitechno appraising the working drawings, but it still leaves a daunting amount of detailing work for us.
Looking forward, we will continue adding additional details to the working drawings for the facilities based on feedback from our partners, as well as internal observations. Each new detail adds to the quality of design and usage of toilet as details are devised, always keeping in mind ease of use and, more importantly, the impact each will have in creating a facility that fosters healthier, hygienic communities.
One of the early iterations of a Sammaan facility
Though there is a great deal of work to be done and the process can be exhausting, Anagram is excited to be a part of the Sammaan team. Apart from helping in providing improved sanitation, we take great pride in the fact that we (while working in kind collaboration with all our partners) have created a design that has the potential to become something identifiable and valuable for the slum dwellers who otherwise have had their basic needs ignored.
Women and girls in a Bhubaneswar slum