| Young Vision and the Future of Indian Architecture | 

Co-ordinated by: Megha Pande

Our world has been evolving at an unprecedented pace- this exceptional development speed has brought along equally extraordinary, often paradoxical, challenges- we have officially crossed the eight billion population mark, while the strain on our resources is increasing; the narrative is shifting to promoting lesser construction, but Climate Change is heavily impacting what has been constructed. Urbanisation, infrastructure construction, growth and development, management and future development strategies are all contributing towards the increasing relevance of architecture in the present and the near future. 

With increasing awareness and connection with the built habitat, Architecture is gradually moving past the exclusivity of its bearer- the architect, as people question their built environment and public spaces, especially in the post-pandemic world. Its relevance in shaping a better, more resilient built habitat has potentially put the profession on the brink of evolution towards a future of Indian Architecture filled with new possibilities. 

Future Trajectories: Promising Architectural Practices of India was initiated by ArchitectureLive! to understand this future and the contribution of young Architectural Practices in shaping it. Several senior practices and architects supported the first part by introducing us to young practices across India, each with a different approach to architecture. We got a glimpse of their ethos and ability to explore, innovate and exploit more opportunities through technology, the internet and access to information to their benefit- their work was reflective and execution innovative. From work, we extended to the people behind- with Future Trajectories | Dialogues. The dialogue series was a set of conversations filled with anecdotes, stories of establishment, struggle, perseverance, mistakes, doubts and principles- Inspiring, thought-provoking, yet relatable.  

We are now gearing up to take the initiative forward with its second part- Future Trajectories II, scheduled to begin in the first week of December. We are bringing forth more practices that we believe are contributing to the built environment and could be inspirational for the next generations of architects. 

The complexity of building is increasing, and Architectural Practice evolving. As we release the second part’s first shortlist, we leave it for you to gauge if there is a changed approach from what we know as the ‘traditional practice of architecture’; and whether this change is what Indian Architecture requires to uplift its future. 

We are continuously curating practices for our subsequent lists. Stay tuned as we make an extra effort to reach out to practices in remote areas of the country.