17/05/2026
Sem 6
SETTLEMENT STUDIES: UPPADA, ANDHRA PRADESH
“The Shifting Edge”
Uppada, a coastal village in Kakinada district along the Bay of Bengal, exists at a constantly shifting edge between land and sea. The study revealed how deeply fishing and weaving occupations shape everyday life and spatial organisation with nets drying in courtyards, boats resting beside houses, looms occupying living spaces, and storage spilling into streets. Facing high humidity, monsoon rains, cyclones, and severe coastal erosion, the village continues to adapt through incremental changes to homes and settlement patterns. Conversations with residents often recalled the 1977 cyclone through stories of displacement, loss, and changing shorelines, reflecting how environmental conditions remain embedded within the life of the settlement.
Our study documented ten clusters across the village through mappings, measured drawings, observations, and conversations to understand variations in occupation, density, and settlement patterns. Narrative drawings were used to trace not only physical spaces, but also routines, shared thresholds, and everyday negotiations within the settlement.
Studio Co-ordinators:
Prasad Khanolkar .pk
Rohit Mujumdar
Dipti Bhaindarkar
Richa Shah