The Architecture(s) of Transition, a collaborative initiative by the Graduate School of Design, Laxmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, South Asia GSD Student Group, and supported by Architecture Foundation, India. The project delves into the exploration of South Asian architecture and its multifaceted approach encompasses a lecture series, conference, traveling exhibition, and a comprehensive book capturing the essence of the research and dialogues arising from this extensive project. This publication specifically focuses on emerging practices in South Asia, originating from a lecture series (March 2022 to March 2023) which provided a platform for engaging discussions with numerous young practices featured in this book.
In the book, opens with an essay by Rahul Mehrotra which introduces project, “The Architectures of Transition: Emergent Practices in South Asia,” which is a three-year initiative on the state of architecture across the region. This project raises fundamental questions about the role of architecture in geographies of transition, aiming to create a collective dialogue that transcends political boundaries. This book believes in the power of collective questioning to address issues such as the evolving practice of architecture, its impact on the next generation, and its role in addressing societal inequities. The project consists of six major components, including a lecture series, publications, conferences, a traveling exhibition, podcasts, and a digital archive. Also included is an exhaustive essay by the coauthors (Devashree Shah, Pranav Thole and Rahul Mehrotra) which elaborates on the curatorial choices and the broader intellectual framing of the project. The book is concluded by infographics on research on the trends in practice among the practitioners included in the book – as proxy for the larger emergent form of practice and their formulation in the region.
Key Components:
• Lecture Series: The series spans three years, focusing on emerging, experienced, and mid-career practitioners. It fosters both intra- and inter-generational conversations within the South Asian architectural community.
• Publications: A comprehensive publication, stemming from the lecture series, explores the diverse practices of 41 emerging architects from South Asia. It aims to identify the pulse of the architectural landscape in the region.
• Digital Archive: Ongoing research is recorded and made available online, creating a valuable resource for future studies and discussions.
• Traveling Exhibition: The project will extend into a travelling exhibition, providing an immersive experience and showcasing the rich diversity of architectural practices across South Asia.
About the authors:
• Rahul Mehrotra is a Professor of Urban Design and Planning and the John T. Dunlop Professor in Housing and Urbanization at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Mehrotra’s most recent books are titled Working in Mumbai (2020) and The Kinetic City and Other Essays (2021). The former, a reflection on his practice and the second book presents his writings over the last 30 years and illustrates his long-term engagement with and analysis of urbanism in India.
• Devashree Shah, an architect, and alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, presently holds the position of Coordinator of Inclusive Design in Public Transit and serves as an Inclusive Architectural Designer at the Institute of Human Centered Design in Boston. Her research centers on the restoration of affordable housing (chawls) in Mumbai, integrating field studies and imaginative projections as key components.
• Pranav Thole, a 2023 Harvard alumnus, is an Urban Designer in New York. His interdisciplinary work, acknowledged in the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) competitions, emphasizes resilience infrastructure projects.
Book Details:
Title: Architectures of Transition, Emergent Practices in South Asia
Size: 225mm x 170 mm
Pages: 388 pages
Author: Rahul Mehrotra, Devashree Shah and Pranav Thole
Publisher: Altrim Publishers
Price: INR 2,750.00
Availability: Order Architectures of Transition
