One Hundred Years Of Re - Imagining Delhi | Challenging the Garden City Conceptualization of the city.

A series of panel discussions addressing the urban spatiality of Delhi.

Is high urban density a prerequisite to sustaining the growth of New Delhi?

Held on 11th September, 2018 the 38th edition of the Architecture and Society series at the India Habitat Centre, the panel discussion led by architects and urbanists – Ar. Sandip Kumar, Professor M.N. Ashish Ganju, Ar. Mitu Mathur and Scientist Vikram Soni – focused on addressing immediate concerns of the citizens for their inherited city by attempting to unpack the notion that large-scale estate regeneration is the answer to the planned densification of Delhi. The discussion was moderated by Ar. Amit Khanna.

The discussion started with the study of the city and the various situations that comprise the urban structure of Delhi. Ar. Kumar touched upon the processes that shape an urban settlement which make it fertile ground for production as well as subsequent investment.

This led to the question of urban migration, which Ar. Mitu Mathur theorized as best accommodated through densification and vertical development, further stating that Jane Jacob-esque notions of urbanism cannot be scaled to cities growing at exponential rates.

Prof. Soni, on the other hand, emphasized upon the carrying capacity of a city, and how densification drives were often symptomatic of conspicuous consumption and not likely to improve quality of life of the city’s inhabitants. Prof. Ganju supported this assertion by suggesting that urban growth be examined at a grass-root level, with a greater focus on resource allocation as well as development of infrastructure that supports existing social patterns and not supersede them in an attempt to adopt western models of urbanization.

The discussion brought to the fore the wide variety of urban perspectives that lend New Delhi its heterogeneous character. With an impassioned Q&A session with the audience, following the discussion, we are keen to continue this conversation at our next panel discussion in the series - 'One Hundred Years of Re - Imagining Delhi' in December, touching upon the agenda, 'Visions Of the City'.

The talk was held at Gulmohar Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi; on 11th September 2018.

Chair: M.N. Ashish Ganju, collab. GREHA
Communications Partner: Epistle Communications

Image courtesy of GREHA

About "Architecture and Society" Talk Series

"Architecture and Society" talk series is a monthly forum organised by GREHA in collaboration with Epistle Communications - at the India Habitat Centre. Each month, the forum invites architects, urban practitioners, academicians and research scholars from the entire country to talk about their work. The intent of the forum is to gather students, practitioners and the public of Delhi in one space where discussions on the future of built environment in India can take place.

About GREHA

Since its inception in 1974, GREHA has concentrated on the growth of knowledge in the field of environmental development, habitat design and architecture. The thrust of GREHA's efforts have been towards addressing issues of the majority of the population; the focus was the marginalised people in rural and urban settlements; the vehicle was developing knowledge and methodologies concerning settlement systems more suited to our history and cultural context.

The founder members, during the early stages of their professional careers, would meet periodically to engage with majority concerns, away from the routine of the practice.

These concerns led them towards working with the poor and marginalised people in Indian society and eventually to the establishment of a school of habitat studies.

GREHA registered in 1986 as a non-government, not for profit society, with the aim of generating a body of ideas, involving diverse professional talent and promoting expert contribution in development projects undertaken by public agencies.

About Epistle Communications

Epistle is a  communication consultancy providing bespoke, strategic consulting services for architecture, design, planning and allied disciplines.

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