I am continually struck by the ‘truisms’ contained within Abraham Maslow's ‘Hierarchy of Needs’, which is a pyramid that illustrates not only what man needs to exist, but the order in which these needs must be met before others are addressed. The first, clearly defined layer is ‘Physiological Needs’ – man’s requirement for shelter, the second being ‘Safety Needs’ – security and order. Combined, these two layers form the fundamental structure that we collectively define as ‘home’, which is of course the bedrock for all mankind in his struggle for self-realisation.
For those who can’t afford the slum we are now witnessing the evolution of four-foot wide linear villages on the pavements around Mumbai’s Expressway, whose architecture is testament to Maslow’s theory.