Architecture, Power, and the Poor | “As a profession, architecture lacks moral position and has become complicit in the neoliberal dispossession of the poor.”—Vivek Rawal

Vivek Rawal argues that architecture—as a profession—is structurally aligned with political and economic power rather than social justice. He critiques how architectural education and practice prioritise developers and real estate over communities, turning housing into a market commodity. Even movements like sustainability and participation, he says, often become tools for elite consumption rather than genuine empowerment. True moral reform, according to Rawal, would mean architects relinquishing control and enabling community-led design and housing decisions.

Architecture, Power, and the Poor | “As a profession, architecture lacks moral position and has become complicit in the neoliberal dispossession of the poor.”—Vivek Rawal

The Chunli Guesthouse, Shanghai, China by TEAM_BLDG

TEAM_BLDG

Gender. Hysteria. Architecture. | What Might Care Look Like If It Were Not Afraid of Women?

Aditi A

“… the way architecture [profession] is perceived and practised, it needs to move from the pedestal to the ground.”—Kirtee Shah

Kirtee Shah

“It was in Shankar Kanade’s nature to be so humble, never commanding the young, but co-working with them.”—Sathya Prakash Varanashi’s tribute to Shankar Kanade

Sathya Prakash Varanashi

Seher Shah and Randhir Singh, Studies in Form, Akbar Bhavan (#3), 2018, cyanotype print on Arches Aquarelle paper, edition of 5, 22 x 30 in

Brutalist India | Akbar Bhawan, New Delhi

Bhawna Dandona

Folles de la Salpétrière, (Cour des agitées.) (Madwomen of the Salpétrière. (Courtyard of the mentally disturbed.))

Gender. Hysteria. Architecture. | “How Did a Diagnosis Learn to Draw Walls?”

Aditi A

Reviews

“The quiet elegance of the renovation has adequately paid homage to Sabha’s historicity.” —Suchitra Deep reviews Sabha’s restoration by Hundredhands

Suchitra Deep

ArchitectureLive! - Art Architecture and Urbanism Magazine - Duplicate - [#93266] 10

“As much as this book may help young students to become good architects… it seeks to restore the idealism that was once the hallmark of the profession.”—Praveen Bavadekar reviews Five Architectural Fables

Praveen Bavadekar

“…this book can also be considered as the Bible for housing—especially for the Konkan region.”—Sheikh Intekhab Alam reviews Sheltering Angle

Sheikh Intekhab Alam

“There was a need to bring outside voices to contaminate and corrupt the idealism of the academy and vice-versa.”—Pinkish Shah reviews SPADE India Foundation event by SRDA

Pinkish Shah

Book Cover. MN Ashish Ganju - Thinker and Architect

Portraits of a Departure | Sriganesh Rajendran reviews M.N. Ashish Ganju – Thinker and Architect

Sriganesh Rajendran

Apple Store Kuala Lumpur by Norman Foster + Partners

Of Glass Boxes and Domes – Praveen Bavadekar reviews The Apple Store at Kuala Lumpur, designed by Foster and Partners

Praveen Bavadekar

“Heritage without people or cultures has no meaning.” – Gurmeet Sangha Rai

Rajesh Advani

“There are no experts who can define conservation and how things should be done because heritage has very much to do with society.” – A.G.K. Menon

Rajesh Advani

Sonal Mithal - Architectural Heritage in India

“Our role begins when people approach us, identifying something as their heritage and wanting help to preserve it, promote it, or extend its life.” – Sonal Mithal

Rajesh Advani

“I believe that in conservation, 70% of the effort is research and engaging with stakeholders…” -Shikha Jain

Rajesh Advani

Sense of Itihasa; Architecture and History in Modern India

Jaimini Mehta shares a three-part series essay previewing his book “Sense of Itihasa; Architecture and History in Modern India”. The book analyses the works of several contemporary, post-independence Indian architects to demonstrate that since independence, they have revitalised traditional architectural elements and techniques, drawing inspiration from India’s itihasa.

Vernacular template of the three-layered threshold. © Emmanuel Guddu

“Space reflects people’s deep-rooted attitude to placemaking and is part of a civilisation’s core values.”—Jaimini Mehta

Jaimini Mehta

Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri. Image by Manfred Sommer

“If the received wisdom of this Western historiography is Eurocentric and subjective, how do we trace the evolution of architectural consciousness in India?”—Jaimini Mehta

Jaimini Mehta

“Unless you ask these questions, you will not realise that it is not history but the perception of history that needs to be revisited.”—Jaimini Mehta

Jaimini Mehta

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Featured Works

Your Project is not just a Building;

It’s a Story.

Architecture, Power, and the Poor | “As a profession, architecture lacks moral position and has become complicit in the neoliberal dispossession of the poor.”—Vivek Rawal

Architecture, Power, and the Poor | “As a profession, architecture lacks moral position and has become complicit in the neoliberal dispossession of the poor.”—Vivek Rawal

The Chunli Guesthouse, Shanghai, China by TEAM_BLDG

Gender. Hysteria. Architecture. | What Might Care Look Like If It Were Not Afraid of Women?

“… the way architecture [profession] is perceived and practised, it needs to move from the pedestal to the ground.”—Kirtee Shah

“It was in Shankar Kanade’s nature to be so humble, never commanding the young, but co-working with them.”—Sathya Prakash Varanashi’s tribute to Shankar Kanade

Brutalist India | Akbar Bhawan, New Delhi

Gender. Hysteria. Architecture. | “How Did a Diagnosis Learn to Draw Walls?”

“The quiet elegance of the renovation has adequately paid homage to Sabha’s historicity.” —Suchitra Deep reviews Sabha’s restoration by Hundredhands

“As much as this book may help young students to become good architects… it seeks to restore the idealism that was once the hallmark of the profession.”—Praveen Bavadekar reviews Five Architectural Fables

“…this book can also be considered as the Bible for housing—especially for the Konkan region.”—Sheikh Intekhab Alam reviews Sheltering Angle

“There was a need to bring outside voices to contaminate and corrupt the idealism of the academy and vice-versa.”—Pinkish Shah reviews SPADE India Foundation event by SRDA

Portraits of a Departure | Sriganesh Rajendran reviews M.N. Ashish Ganju – Thinker and Architect

Of Glass Boxes and Domes – Praveen Bavadekar reviews The Apple Store at Kuala Lumpur, designed by Foster and Partners

Gender. Hysteria. Architecture. | What Might Care Look Like If It Were Not Afraid of Women?

Gender. Hysteria. Architecture. | “How Did a Diagnosis Learn to Draw Walls?”

Brutalist India | Akbar Bhawan, New Delhi

Brutalist India | Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, 1974

Who really wins? — About Architectural Competitions in India, with Suditya Sinha

Who Really Wins? — About Architectural Competitions in India, with Yogesh Chandrahasan

“Heritage without people or cultures has no meaning.” – Gurmeet Sangha Rai

“There are no experts who can define conservation and how things should be done because heritage has very much to do with society.” – A.G.K. Menon

“Our role begins when people approach us, identifying something as their heritage and wanting help to preserve it, promote it, or extend its life.” – Sonal Mithal

“I believe that in conservation, 70% of the effort is research and engaging with stakeholders…” -Shikha Jain

“Space reflects people’s deep-rooted attitude to placemaking and is part of a civilisation’s core values.”—Jaimini Mehta

“If the received wisdom of this Western historiography is Eurocentric and subjective, how do we trace the evolution of architectural consciousness in India?”—Jaimini Mehta

“Unless you ask these questions, you will not realise that it is not history but the perception of history that needs to be revisited.”—Jaimini Mehta

Court Fort, Nandoli, Gujarat, by Compartment S4

Rice Museum, Mandya, Karnataka, by RC Architects

Sangam, Pune, Maharashtra, by Alkesh Gangwal & Associates

Elevated Dining Deck at RMV Club, Bengaluru, Karnataka, by Funktion Design

House of Material and Character, Lonavala, Maharashtra, by SHROFFLEóN

Drishti, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, by Hiren Patel Architects

Himāvasa, Chapar, Uttarakhand, by Ātman Studio

Amethyst, Ernakulam, Kerala, by Curved Dimension

The Courtyard School, Mandal, Gujarat, By Manayan Architects

We Need Your Support

Featured Publications

New Release

Subscribe & Join a Community of Lakhs of Readers

We Need Your Support