Thoughts and views on architecture education and profession, contributed by the community of architects, students, educators and more.
All views expressed in this section are of the respective authors, and does not reflect the position of ArchitectureLive!
In Sarbjit Singh Bahga’s insightful article, he unveils the often-overlooked contributions of Mohinderjit Singh, a multifaceted figure in modern Indian architecture. Tracing Singh’s journey as an architect, sculptor, painter, and Punjabi writer, the article sheds light on his exceptional yet understated legacy.
In conversation with Abin Design Studio and M.N. Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Deepika Srivastava explores what is it like to build an architectural practice in Kolkata, a city that does not have a celebrated architectural legacy, apart from the ones left by the British, and the sense of looking up to an “iconic” building or a “guru”, which is a critical aspect of architectural education in cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, is also completely missing.
Rajat Ray reviews the book ‘Non-Aesthetic Modernity: Metaphysics of Modern Architecture’, authored by Jaimini Mehta. In the book, Mehta argues that modernity is not limited to the radical modernist movement and the ideology of “modernism” that emerged in Europe during the 18th century.
Mrinalini Ghadiok, in her post-graduate dissertation titled “What Does the Mithi Want?”, suggests reframing questions to unlock novel solutions for the issues related to the Mithi River. By exploring alternative questions, she aims to shift the way we understand the river and its place in the discussion. The dissertation was a part of her Master of Arts in History and Critical Thinking programme from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in 2023.
Prem Chandavarkar reviews “6 Metros: Urban Planning & Implementation Compared” by Sirish Patel, Oormi Kapadia, and Jasmine Saluja. Divided into two volumes, Signposts and Mappings, they provide a groundbreaking comparative study of urban planning across six global cities. The book, spanning London, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Delhi, and Mumbai, offers a dispassionate overview, presenting a humanist perspective and utilizing a unique two-volume structure.
Bijoy Ramachandran Reviews ‘Architecture Travelogues: Drawing Between the Lines’, book by Edgar Demello
ArchitectureLive! continues with Alimentative Architecture – The fourth in a series of articles by Architect-Poet-Calligrapher H Masud Taj interfacing architecture with food via geometry.
A comprehensive exploration of Ladakh’s SECMOL campus, Jit Kumar Gupta delves into its innovative passive solar architecture, use of local materials, and sustainable practices, showcasing how the institute stands as a model for climate-responsive and energy-efficient built environments in challenging terrains.
In this comprehensive analysis of architecture admissions and education, A. Srivathsan and Chirayu Bhatt reveal a concerning decline in enrolment figures, emphasizing the need for radical changes in the regulatory framework, autonomy for institutions, and a reevaluation of the profession’s role to address the structural issues and ensure the quality of architectural education.
Udaipur’s Architectural Renaissance: A Conservation Architect’s Chronicle of Heritage Amidst Climate’s Embraces
From colonial echoes to climate confrontations, the essay witnesses a city’s tale etched in bricks and resilience. Amid neglected heritage, the battle cries for sustainable rebirth. Udaipur’s past isn’t just conserved—it’s a roadmap to a defiant, luminous future, where history meets the tempest of climate change head-on! This essay by Anubhuti Jain was amongst the shortlisted essays.
Penned by Sarbjit Singh Bahga, the profound impact of AR Prabhawalkar on Chandigarh’s architectural landscape comes to life. As a trusted aide to Le Corbusier, Prabhawalkar’s contributions, both in iconic structures and as the founding Principal of Chandigarh College of Architecture, are celebrated, shedding light on his remarkable legacy.
The essay traces the transformation of Pune from a quaint town to the vibrant city it is today. Mostly it is about the city’s aspects, which make it different and unique. The narrative reminisces about the city’s cultural richness and festive glory. It also points out a bit about the challenges posed by urbanization. But despite everything, Pune successfully retains its cultural essence, making it a city that preserves its glorious heritage while transforming.
This essay by Arpita Khamitkar is amongst the shortlisted essays.
The essay reflects on the author’s childhood memories centred around the Kohinoor Textile Mill. The mill, part of Mumbai’s Girangaon, played a significant role in the city’s industrial growth until the early 1980s. The essay fondly recalls the mill’s impact on the community, its cultural richness, and personal experiences. The author expresses concern about the loss of community identity and the impact of privatization, highlighting the need for sustainable urban development that preserves the city’s history. This essay by Pornima Buddhivant is amongst the shortlisted essays.
The essay titled, ‘The case of Phalke Smarak : Nashik’s untapped potential with existing urban public space’ – discusses how a promising urban scale public space project for Nashik city in the late 90s has slowly turned desolate, despite all the possibilities and potential the architectural design, site and overall context offers. It further tries to highlight the gap between the public and failed public spaces based on this case, and points towards public engagement for successful urban design, renewal and development. This essay by Asmita Raghuvanshy is amongst the shortlisted essays.
This essay delves into how municipal corporations envision creating Western cities (instead of responding to the Indian context) and end up creating cities that only appear to work, instead of actually being more socially inclusive, dynamic and publicly active. The Smart Cities Mission then caters only to the rich and this becomes evident in not just the visuals they use, but also the manner in which they describe their vision of a World Class Infrastructure. This essay by Avani Mittal is amongst the shortlisted essays.
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