The essay studies the context of social segregation visible in the city of Ahmedabad (capital of Gujarat, India), caused by the violent strife between Muslim and Hindu communities culminated in the riots of 2002. Social segregation within a city requires a reflection on possible places where design solutions could help to create meeting spaces. The article tries to understand the reasons for these social frictions, wondering whether urban space has changed as a result of these tensions by answering the need for privacy of the two communities. After studying three areas in different border conditions between Muslims and Hindus, this study finds in the ‘disputed areas’ places to investigate social and architectural strategies aimed to create space of relation.
Keywords: Religious conflict; disputed borders; meeting spaces