Learning from Mumbai Practising Architecture in Urban India

Opening with the reflections of Indian architects Rohan Varma, Charles Correa and Rahul Mehrotra on the past, present and future of architecture and planning in Mumbai, the book continues with interviews with a wide variety of local and foreign architects and planners who work in Mumbai. The ins-and-outs of practising architecture and planning in this megacity are explored through their eyes. Small but exciting firms (such as Brio Architecture) find a place right beside massive commercial architecture firms (including Hafeez Contractor) and activist-architects (such as PK Das and Somaya & Kalappa). Teaching architecture in Mumbai is also discussed extensively, as well as several micro-initiatives that have come up with creative solutions for making the city more liveable and beautiful. Lavishly illustrated, covering the many faces and facets of Mumbai, a special place is reserved for the images of photographer Bas Losekoot. With his photo essay, he projects an intriguing new light on Mumbai and its inhabitants. This book will be of interest to architects, planners, architecture and planning students, for those thinking of starting an architecture, or planning, firm in India, as well as for anyone interested in Mumbai and Mumbai’s built environment.

About the Author

Dutch architects Pelle Poiesz and Gert Jan Scholte studied architecture at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and at Sir J.J. College of Architecture in Mumbai. Each now has their own architectural firm – hp architecten and Cityblob – in the Netherlands. Sanne Vanderkaaij Gandhi is a researcher and writer based in Mumbai. She studied History and Contemporary Asian Studies and is finalizing her PhD in International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.