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Imagining the Indian City
Ranjit Sabikhi in conversation with Prem Chandavarkar
Speakers
The 21st century will be India’s urban century. For the first time in history, by the middle of the century there will be more people living in urban areas than rural areas. Yet, we lack a proper imagination of the Indian city.
We locate culture and tradition in the village and perceive the city only as a technical entity – that too, inadequately. We draft land-use plans that do not serve close to half the city’s population, pushing them into slums, unregulated layouts, and other forms of unsanctioned urbanism. Municipalities lack an adequate understanding of how urban design can shape the city as a vibrant, spatially coherent, and culturally rooted form.
What are the key issues we must tackle to constructively and inclusively imagine the Indian city?
Speakers
Ranjit Sabikhi
Ranjit Sabikhi has been in practice as an Architect in New Delhi since 1961 and has had a wide variety of experience in architectural education, architectural practice and urban design. He taught at the School of Planning & Architecture in New Delhi from 1959 to 1975 and has been a Visiting Critic to the Urban Design Program at GSD Harvard University and the School of Architecture at Washington University St.Louis. His architectural experience includes a two-year stint with Chamberlin Powell & Bon in London where he worked on the Golden Lane Housing project and early concept designs for the Barbican.
As a principal in his own practice from 1961 onwards he has worked on substantial projects in India as well as the Middle East and in South East Asia. Major works include educational institutes, housing, hotels and embassies. His work has been professionally recognised by awards and has also been included as part of international exhibitions on Indian architecture. He has participated in several international conferences and has also served as member of the jury for major projects including the design of the New World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C.
Prem Chandavarkar
Prem is a practicing architect in Bangalore, India, who also writes, lectures and blogs on architecture, urbanism, art, cultural studies, politics, philosophy & education.
