MENTORS : Prof. Samruddhi Phalak

TOPIC : Rejuvenating the Dahisar River Edge

The water systems have a very symbolic relationship with our urban context. The presence of these freshwater ecosystems, their contribution to society, community, biodiversity, and the development of the urban fabric have been seen over the years. However, these assets are now witnessing vulnerable conditions and because of this, they are left out to be dark gloomy spots. The city of Mumbai has turned its back on these freshwater systems which were once an integral component. The thesis addresses the concern with the freshwater systems as a predominant entity integrating the public realm and also strengthening the neighboring ecology. The concept on the way forward to approach the thesis was through the lens of Landscape urbanism, one of the key principle theories of Urban Design. The site chosen was the Dahisar river, in the suburbs of Mumbai which was once in the limelight of Mumbai. The preliminary pilot study and documenting of several layers of the mapping defined the area of focus 2.5 km stretch of the entire 12km length of the river. The urban design strategies on a micro, meso, and macro-scale were urban plug-ins, pedestrian river edges, and curbing pollution respectively. The project aims to holistically redefine and rejuvenate the Dahisar river edge and to thrive on new opportunities and development around this freshwater system existing in the urban context. The heart of the project is in establishing the river edge as a public hotspot with a larger idea of sustainability and lesser concretization within the urban design domain.

MENTOR : Prof. Samir Bagdadi

TOPIC : Placemaking for the Pedestrian on an Arterial Connector; From East to West in Suburban Mumbai (Case of Milan Subway)

CREDITS : Zainab Miyasaheb, Faisal Momin & Saquib shaikh

New Urbanism is an Urban Design movement to create pedestrian-oriented settlements that also advance social equity and mitigate the environmental impacts of development. Proponents of the movement have suggested it offers a model of sustainable development. This research investigates this claim by discussing the implications of the verifiable research on new urbanism for the ways in which the movement contributes to Sustainability. The research uses the concepts of environmental and social sustainability to frame the discussion. The paper traces the origin of New Urbanism and the evolution of its interest in sustainable development. New Urbanism in practice shows the movement supports limited ways of both environmental and social sustainability. The neighborhoods would be walkable with ease in accessing various facilities, amenities and public spaces in close proximity in a time bound manner. The inclusive space thus evolved would factor in a bottom-up wellbeing to ensure quality of life for all the people. Moreover, this research also shows that some forms of New Urbanism development improves environmental sustainability goals and simultaneously also achieves social sustainability goals. Citing the diverse ways in which New Urbanism is put into practice, the research considers how understanding the heterogeneity of New Urbanism as it exists in the world will impart greater clarity to further analyze the ways in which the movement actually contributes to Sustainable Development. New Urbanism is a planning and development approach based on the principles of how cities and towns had been built for the last several centuries, walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces. In other words, New Urbanism focuses on human-scaled urban design.

GUIDE : Prof. Asif Syed, Dr Martina Spies

TOPIC : The Role Of The Arts In Transforming Cities Bandra – Then, Now And Hereafter

ABSTRACT : Civilisations and cities have always been a cradle for nurturing art and culture. From cave paintings to digital art and folk tales to cinema, a varied form of arts has shaped people and civilisations and sustained creative economies. India has a history of multicultural co- existence and Mumbai is a melting pot of this diversity. As Richard Florida has rightly put it, “Human creativity is the ultimate economic resource.” Today, however, we are moving towards an urban development which does not taken into cognizance, the significance of art and culture in its built form, leading to a growing void in the cultural understanding of the city and distancing people from the arts. Recreation and social life are moving away from places and activities that stimulate our senses and incite our curiosity leading to an experiential starvation. Bandra is a culturally rich part of the city that has evolved its own unique identity over time. But today it is undergoing rapid change in its urban form. From a place that had a notable connect to music, theatre and cinema, a unique culture nurtured by East Indian customs and food and a sensitively crafted urban form, it is today known to most only as an elitist suburb, a fashion and youth hub. The sense of localness and nostalgia is evaporating and cultural artefacts and the fragmented creative economy that exists within Bandra find no place in this new urban form. How can we attach a tangible and visible value to our arts through policies and guidelines? How do we help the fragmented art and culture in Bandra come together as a bridge between its old and new identity? This study attempts to envision a Bandra that uses urban design as a tool and the arts as a medium to connect people and influence appropriate urban transformation.