apoorva shenvi portfolio
TRANSCRIPT
APOORVA SHENVIURBAN PLANNING PORTFOLIO
Master in Urban Planning 2016 I Harvard University Graduate School of Design
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03 URBAN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
MAPPING AND SPATIAL ANALYTICS
URBAN AND TERRITORIAL PLANNING
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MOSCOW’S ECONOMIC FRONTIERCatalyzing polycentric growth along the MKAD
REGIONAL AMBITIONS, LOCAL ASPIRATIONSBuilding resilience and stimulating local economies
HOMEGROWN RESILIENCYPlanning for Resilience in Dorchester: A block-level approach
MAPPING SOCIAL INEQUALITYSafety of school kids in South Boston and Roxbury
TEMPORAL VISUALIZATIONMetamorphosis of South Boston
MAPPING ACCESSIBILITY TRENDSPopulations living in close proximity to highways in NYC
DESIGNING FOR DENSITYConserving the Fort Precinct, a historic CBD
HERITAGE AND URBAN CULTURESingle Screen Cinemas of Mumbai
APOORVA SHENVI
I am an urban planner with a background in architecture and historic preservation. Key interests include master planning, and transportation & infrastructure planning with a focus on energy efficiency and urban resilience.
This portfolio is a compilation of urban planning and research exercises undertaken during the course of the Master in Urban Planning Program at Harvard University and the Master of Architecture Program at University of Mumbai.
Structured into three sections, the first section of this portfolio comprises of urban planning studio projects undertaken at the GSD. The second section consists of work undertaken in urban mapping and spatial analytics courses at the GSD. The final section covers urban research, documentation, and policy analysis undertaken during my Masters program in Mumbai.
EDUCATION
Master in Urban Planning 2016Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Master of Architecture in Urban Conservation 2013Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture, University of Mumbai
Bachelor of Architecture 2011Sir J.J. College of Architecture, University of Mumbai
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REGIONAL AMBITIONS, LOCAL ASPIRATIONSBuilding resilience and stimulating local economies
MOSCOW’S ECONOMIC FRONTIERCatalyzing polycentric growth along the MKAD
HOMEGROWN RESILIENCYPlanning for Resilience in Dorchester: A block-level approach
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REGIONAL AMBITIONS, LOCAL ASPIRATIONSBuilding resilience & stimulating local economies through organic growth
Merida, Mexico I Spring 2016 Urban Planning Option Studio Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Port of Progreso was established in 1871 and has been expanded over the last few decades. In recent years, a cruise terminal has been inaugurated, opening up this region to tourist traffic, with tourists travelling to Merida and further on to Chichen Itza. Looking along the corridor, City of Progreso is the major urban center with smaller settlements dotting the corridor. There are numerous extractive-based industries scattered across a very idyllic and fragile natural landscape. This area has an eco reserve and an abandoned Hacienda. This coupled with the beaches of Progreso is a strong draw for tourists. The State of Yucatan has highlighted this corridor as a major industrial corridor in the years to come. With this context, I looked at the relative location of settlements in this area and proximity to wetlands. These areas are extremely vulnerable to events such as tropical storms and any future development in the region need s to be resilient to such occurrences.
My proposal seeks to consolidate the scattered industrial uses along the corridor and leverage future growth for creating settlements around them, so that inhabitants have access to work and transit. It also builds on the tourism potential of the area to introduce uses such as eco-resorts, handicraft workshops and food and beverage processing to stimulate local economies. This project seeks to reconcile regional economic ambitions of the Yucatan state with the fragile conditions along this corridor through an organic growth strategy.
5M SEA-LEVEL RISE
INFONAVIT CREDITS
WETLANDS
TOURISM
VILLAGES
MOBILITY
VEGETATION
ROAD NETWORK
EMPLOYMENT CENTERS
SETTLEMENTS
PROGRESO
37,369
FLAMBOYANES
EL PARAISO
SAN IGNACIO
3,022
172
767
VILLAGE
HACIENDA
INFONAVIT CREDITS
MUNICIPAL PALACE
FARM LAND
INDUSTRY
WORKPLACES
PEMEX DEPOSITS
EXTRACTION
TOURIST ATTRACTION
NATURE CONSERVATION
CARGO SHIP BERTH
CRUISE SHIP BERTH
BUS STATION
RAILWAY
REST OF YUCATAN
OTHER
MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORT &COMMUNICATION
COMMERCE, RESTAURANTS & HOTELS
SERVICES
FINANCIAL SERVICES
PROGRESO
97%
14%
13%
14%
22%
19%
18%
POPULATION (Source: www.yucatan.gob.mx)
CONTRIBUTION TO GDP(Source: www.yucatan.gob.mx)
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES(Source: www.yucatan.gob.mx)
3%
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16%
3.1%
3.4%
3.8%
4.1%
4.3%
4.5%
11%
13%
15%
21%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
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BLOCK CONFIGURATIONS
BLOCK SIZE: 45M X 75M
PARCEL SIZE: 375 SQ.M
PARCEL FAR: 1.86/1
BLOCK FAR: 1.5
BLOCK SIZE: 100M X 75M
PARCEL SIZE: 375 SQ.M
PARCEL FAR: 1
BLOCK FAR: 0.64
BLOCK SIZE: 100M X 75M
PARCEL SIZE: 375 SQ.M
PARCEL FAR: 0.4 to 0.8
BLOCK FAR: 0.32 to 0.64
COMMERCIAL + WORK-LIVE SPACES WORK-LIVE SPACES + RECREATION RESIDENCES + COMMUNITY GARDENS
REGIONAL
LOCAL
METROPOLITAN
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
SETTLEMENT MASTER PLAN
METROPOLITAN ZONING
INDUSTRIAL/ECONOMIC ZONES
TRANSIT CORRIDORS
VULNERABLE AREAS
CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE
INCENTIVE FOR DEVELOPERS
HOUSING
LOCATE INDUSTRY/COMMERCE
DESIGNATE HOUSING ZONE
PLAN TRANSIT
REGIONAL STRATEGY
BLOCK TYPE I BLOCK TYPE II BLOCK TYPE III
PHASE 1: Building retrofit and permeable surfaces PHASE 2: Building elevation and securing the edges PHASE 3: Creating buffers that facilitate placemaking
PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3
RETROFIT PILES LEVEERAIN GARDEN MICRO GRIDS PROMENADECISTERNS BIOSWALE BUFFER
2015 to 2025 2015 to 2050 2015 to 2100
Ground: 0ft
BFL: 11 ft
Sea Level:2ftElevation:4ft
Securing roof to wall, floor to wall and wall to foundation with secure ties.
Elevating the building on piles to prevent structural damage during floods.
Putting a levee at the beach will prevent inundation due to flooding and sea level rise.
Rain garden at the centre of the block to drain run off from elevated surfaces.
Using solar arrays to power micro grids. Ensures supply during storms.
The top of the levee can be converted into a pedestrian walkway to access the beach.
Cisterns to harvest surface run off. Can be used for landscaping.
Absords and drains surface run off from non permeable surfaces.
Shrubs on the sea ward slope protect the levee from erosion.
2025 2050 2100
HOMEGROWN RESILIENCYPlanning for Resilience in Dorchester: A block-level approach
Boston, USA I Spring 2015Urban Planning Core Studio Harvard University Graduate School of Design
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The project area, Dorchester, is a high density, multifamily residential neighborhood overlooking the Dorchester Bay. Although located on a somewhat uneven terrain, the seaward edges of this neighborhood is low lying. The areas overlooking the Bay are in the FEMA flood zone with a 100 year flood level of 11ft as also in the Category 1 hurricane zone. Most of these areas will be affected by the 2 feet sea level rise in 2050 and completely inundated in 2100 with the projected rise of 6 feet. A demographic study reveals that most of the residents here comprise of moderate to low income individuals either owning or renting single family homes. This population group is the most vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Residential block types in this area comprise of apartment blocks, elevated buildings (on stilts) and two to three storey homes closely placed on small parcels or more dispersed on large parcels. Dorchester presents a range of edge conditions, reclaimed land, mega infrastructure, bays, coves and beaches.Based on this analysis, an approach for block level planning was formulated. The block was classified as 1. Buildings 2. Surfaces and 3. Edges. Each of these elements were treated with various resilience strategies to strengthen them. The next step was putting in place an implementation mechanism. This was done in phases. The first phase (years 2015 to 2025) comprises of small scale, homeowner initiatives to be undertaken at the property level. The second phase (2025 to 2050) expands the scope by looking at the block as a whole and brings in legislative tools such as zoning amendments for building guidelines and the third phase (2050 to 2100) looks at the neighborhood with large scale interventions and place making strategies. Incorporating sustainable practices and renewable energy sources has also been a major component. If this approach is undertaken at the block level in the entire area, it has the potential to build resiliency in the most vulnerable communities in the city.
Buildings Surfaces Edges
1. Foundation2. Elevation3. Energy Efficiency
Amphibious FoundationsStiltsEnergy Saving Techniques
Rain GardensPermeable PavingCisterns
BioswalesDune ReconstructionMarsh Restoration
1. Permeability2. Spatial Configuration
1. Natural2. Man made
RESILIENT BLOCKS
(Time Span: 0 - 10 Years) (Time Span: 10 - 50 Years) (Time Span: 10 - 50 Years)
Retrofit Existing Structures
Guidelines in Zoning for new construction
Securing the edges
HOMEGROWN RESILIENCYPlanning for Resilience in Dorchester: A block-level approach
Boston, USA I Spring 2015Urban Planning Core Studio Harvard University Graduate School of Design
NATURAL SYSTEMLeveraging existing landscape to create a hierarcy of open spaces.
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LAND USE
SEA-LEVEL RISE
The project area, Dorchester, is a high density, multifamily residential neighborhood overlooking the Dorchester Bay. Although located on a somewhat uneven terrain, the seaward edges of this neighborhood is low lying. The areas overlooking the Bay are in the FEMA flood zone with a 100 year flood level of 11ft as also in the Category 1 hurricane zone. Most of these areas will be affected by the 2 feet sea level rise in 2050 and completely inundated in 2100 with the projected rise of 6 feet. A demographic study reveals that most of the residents here comprise of moderate to low income individuals either owning or renting single family homes. This population group is the most vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Residential block types in this area comprise of apartment blocks, elevated buildings (on stilts) and two to three storey homes closely placed on small parcels or more dispersed on large parcels. Dorchester presents a range of edge conditions, reclaimed land, mega infrastructure, bays, coves and beaches.Based on this analysis, an approach for block level planning was formulated. The block was classified as 1. Buildings 2. Surfaces and 3. Edges. Each of these elements were treated with various resilience strategies to strengthen them. The next step was putting in place an implementation mechanism. This was done in phases. The first phase (years 2015 to 2025) comprises of small scale, homeowner initiatives to be undertaken at the property level. The second phase (2025 to 2050) expands the scope by looking at the block as a whole and brings in legislative tools such as zoning amendments for building guidelines and the third phase (2050 to 2100) looks at the neighborhood with large scale interventions and place making strategies. Incorporating sustainable practices and renewable energy sources has also been a major component. If this approach is undertaken at the block level in the entire area, it has the potential to build resiliency in the most vulnerable communities in the city.
Commercial-56 Feet
150 Feet
250 Feet
340 Feet
Industrial
Institutional
High Density/ Multi Family Residential
Recreational/ Open Space
Category 1
2050 (2 feet)
2100 (6 feet)
Category 2
Category 3
Category 4
HURRICANE SURGE
$10,000 to $29,000
$29,000 to $50,000
$50,000 to $72,000
$72,000 to $105,000
$105,000 to $160,000
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2 F
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2 F
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2 F
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TOPOGRAPHY
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION:MIDDLE TO LOW-INCOME HOME OWNERS IN DORCHESTER
Buildings Surfaces Edges
1. Foundation2. Elevation3. Energy Efficiency
Amphibious FoundationsStiltsEnergy Saving Techniques
Rain GardensPermeable PavingCisterns
BioswalesDune ReconstructionMarsh Restoration
1. Permeability2. Spatial Configuration
1. Natural2. Man made
RESILIENT BLOCKS
(Time Span: 0 - 10 Years) (Time Span: 10 - 50 Years) (Time Span: 10 - 50 Years)
Retrofit Existing Structures
Guidelines in Zoning for new construction
Securing the edges
MOSCOW’S ECONOMIC FRONTIERCatalyzing polycentric growth along the MKAD
Moscow, Russia I Fall 2015Landscape Architecture Option Studio Harvard University Graduate School of Design
ROAD NETWORKReconfiguring the street gridto create walkable blocks.
NATURAL SYSTEMLeveraging existing landscape to create a hierarcy of open spaces.
URBAN GRAINDensification around transit corridors.
PUBLIC TRANSITIntroducing a robust public transit network.
Commercial
Forest Subway
Mixed Use
Public Park Light Rail
Residential
Urban Farms Commuter Rail Subway Station
Urban Farms
Water Body High Speed Rail Multi-modal Interchange
Water BodyIndustrial
Public Park Existing BuildingsForest Proposed Buildings
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Commercial Core 1
Commercial Core 2
Military Base
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1000 200 500
Meters
BUILT FORM
NATURAL SYSTEMS TRANSIT
LAND USE
The MKAD is viewed as a boundary of the city of Moscow. Recent years have seen development of residential areas and expansion of peripheral towns along the MKAD. The core premise of my proposal is to reconfigure this area into a habitable neighborhood with a distinct urban character for the people residing there. My vision for the MKAD is to dissolve its physical character as a high-speed automobile highway and instead, reconfigure it as a mixed use connector. The major transit intersections are developed as high-density commercial centers, whereas the MKAD is replaced by an underground subway. At ground level, a boulevard flanked by public parks and small grained, mixed-use areas replaces the MKAD. The open spaces are used as buffers and openings in key locations to create a distinct urban quality. The intersection of public spaces with the wooded area merges it with the public realm in the form of a multi-level park. The park has retail at the underground level, which connects to other parks along the MKAD corridor under the streets. Adjoining the parks are mixed-use blocks with inter-connecting pedestrian paths that open out into community gardens, inspired by the Russian ‘Dachas’. Thus, this proposal hopes to dissolve the MKAD, cut down on automobile usage and commute distance by bringing workplaces closer to the residential areas, and create avenues for local residents to experience quality urban life by promoting polycentric growth.
SECTION BB
SECTION AA
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MAPPING SOCIAL INEQUALITYSafety of school kids in South Boston and Roxbury
TEMPORAL VISUALIZATIONMetamorphosis of South Boston
MAPPING ACCESSIBILITY TRENDSPopulations living in close proximity to highways in NYC
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MAPPING SOCIAL INEQUALITYSafety of school kids in South Boston and Roxbury
Boston, USA I Fall 2014Spatial Analysis and RepresentationHarvard University Graduate School of Design
South Boston and Roxbury are two of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Boston. While South Boston is predominantly a white, middle income neighborhood, Roxbury is an ethnically diverse, low income neighborhood with a high population density. The percentage of children in Roxbury is relatively high (0-17 Age Group is 26%). Schools in both neighborhoods and their proximity to nearest (100 m walking radius) major roads have been mapped. Also, sites of three or more car crashes obtained from the mapping tool of Massachusetts Department of Transport in both neighborhoods have been highlighted. High speed, wide throughfares cut through the Roxbury neighborhood whereas, the streets in South Boston are comparatively narrow with moderate traffic. Moreover, the schools in South Boston are located mostly along interior roads whereas numerous schools in Roxbury are along major roads. High speed vehicular traffic in the school vicinity is a major safety hazard for the school children in Roxbury.
PROXIMITY OF SCHOOLS & CAR CRASHES: SOUTH BOSTON (Source: MassDOT)
PROXIMITY OF SCHOOLS & CAR CRASHES: ROXBURY(Source: MassDOT)
ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION: SOUTH BOSTON AND ROXBURY
WhiteRoxbury
South Boston
African AmericanHispanicAsianTwo or more races
100m walking radius
Schools
Major Streets
Car Crashes
581520
20+
ROXBURYSOUTH BOSTON SCHOOL SCHOOL
AGE DISTRIBUTION(Source : American Community Survey 2010)
South Boston Roxbury
0-17 Years
18-35 Years
36-59 Years
60 and Above
45
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35
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15
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TEMPORAL VISUALIZATIONMetamorphosis of South Boston
Boston, USA I Fall 2014Spatial Analysis and RepresentationHarvard University Graduate School of Design
South Boston has been a site of numerous transformations since the 1630s. Originally the Dorchester Neck, this area was gradually infilled to make space for industry. In the early 19th Century, this area developed as a prime site for manufacturing and heavy industry and attracted Irish immigrants. The heart of South Boston developed into an Irish American neighborhood with quaint row houses. In the early 1900s, the port activities of the Port of Boston were extended here which led to more infilling.
Post the Second World War, there was a sharp decline in the neighborhood and the Boston Redevelopment Authority stepped in and invested in Urban Renewal. With the opening up of the South Boston Waterfront in recent years, this neighborhood is witnessing large scale commercial development. The original Irish American population, which occupied a majority of housing stock in this area has now shrunk to the area around Dorchester Heights. The new development is attracting a new population to this neighborhood which occupies the north and northeast quarter. Earlier a site of physical transformations, this neighbrhood is undergoing a socio-economic transition in recent years.
White Population in South Boston in 1960(Source: American ACS 1960)
White Population in South Boston in 1980(Source: American ACS 1980)
White Population in South Boston in 2010(Source: American ACS 2010)
1640
1890
1910
1985
PHYSICAL EVOLUTION OF SOUTH BOSTON
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MAPPING ACCESSIBILITY TRENDSPopulations living in close proximity to highways in New York City
New York City, USA I Fall 2015 I Group of 5Spatial Analytics of the Built EnvironmentHarvard University Graduate School of Design
Living in close proximity to the highways is often associated with negative externalities such as air and noise pollution, harsh neighborhood conditions and low property values. On the other hand, access to major roads has numerous benefits such as increased accessibility to jobs. We hypothesized that marginalized population groups are often located in close proximity to urban highways. As a part of this exercise, we analyzed residential areas in close proximity to highways in New York City and compared them with our initial assumptions. This set of maps captures the changing demograhics at different buffer zones from the highways. Average income, college education and langauges spoken have been used as indicators to map the location of low and middle-income, multi-ethnic population groups relative to the highways.
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WITHIN 200M FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 200M FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 200M FROM THE HIGHWAY
WITHIN 600M FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 600M FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 600M FROM THE HIGHWAY
WITHIN 1000M FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 1000M FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHIN 1000M FROM THE HIGHWAY
MEDIAN INCOME NO COLLEGE DEGREE
LANGUAGE(Other than English)
WITHIN 200M WITHIN 200M WITHIN 200M
WITHIN 1000M WITHIN 1000M WITHIN 1000M
WITHIN 600M WITHIN 600M WITHIN 600M
Average$54,133
NYC Average$56,600
NYC Average
0.81
NYC Average
0.49
Average0.82
Average0.54
Average$56,782
Average0.8
Average0.53
Average$56,600
Average0.8
Average0.54
$0 to $450,000 0.0 to 1.0 0.0 to 1.0
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DESIGNING FOR DENSITYConserving the Fort Precinct, a historic CBD
HERITAGE AND URBAN CULTURESingle Screen Cinemas of Mumbai
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DESIGNING FOR DENSITYConserving the Fort Precinct, a historic Central Business District
Mumbai, India I Spring 2012Second Semester Urban Conservation StudioKamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture
The Fort Precinct in Mumbai was the commercial core of the colonial town of Bombay, which has today become a major metropolis. The original fabric of this core, as built by the colonial and native settlers exists even today. However this area is threatened by the current redevelopment policies in the city which provide for optimum utilization of the F.A.R. with no special guidelines for historic areas. The studio comprised of three stages. In the first stage, the entire precinct was studied in terms of land use, open spaces, ownership patters and so on. In the second stage, one part of the Fort Precinct, the site bound by Pherozeshah Mehta Road on the North, Veer Nariman Road on the South and Horniman Circle to the South East was identified. The transformations occurring in the demarcated area were studied and analyzed. In the third stage, development projections under current policies were made and alternative policy approaches were formulated. A new building typology emerging from such policies was designed.
TYPOLOGY DERIVED FROM PROPOSED POLICY
EXISTING SCENARIO
PROJECTED IMPACT OF REDEVELOPMENT
ORIGINAL BUILDING TYPE
CURRENT BUILDING TYPE
AFTER REDEVELOPMENT
PROPOSED BUILDING TYPE
REDEVELOPMENT WITH CURRENT POLICIES DEVELOPMENT WITH PROPOSED POLICIES
CINEMA HALLS IN ORIGINAL CONDITION
REDEVELOPED CINEMA HALLS
RECONSTRUCTED/REFURBISHED
CINEMAS WITH HERITAGE STATUS
DEMOLISHED/NON-FUNCTIONAL
MULTIPLEXES IN THE ISLAND CITY
REDEVELOPED INTO A MULTIPLEX GRADE I CONVERTED SINGLE SCREEN HALLS
NON-FUNCTIONAL CINEMA HALLSREFURBISHED SINGLE SCREEN HALLS
RECONSTRUCTED (PRE 1990s)
COMMERCIAL PREMISES WITH A SCREEN GRADE II A (EXISTING) NEWLY CONSTRUCTED
DEMOLISHED CINEMA HALLSREFURBISHED INTO MULTIPLEXES
RECONSTRUCTED (POST 1990s)
COMMERCIAL PREMISES GRADE II B (EXISTING)
RESIDENTIAL PREMISES GRADE II A (PROPOSED)
RESIDENTIAL PREMISES WITH A SCREEN GRADE III (PROPOSED)
CONDITION MAPPING OF CINEMAS IN THE ISLAND CITY
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HERITAGE AND URBAN CULTURESingle Screen Cinemas of Mumbai
Mumbai, India I Spring 2013Masters in Urban Conservation DissertationKamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture
Since the advent of motion pictures in the early Twentieth century, cinema has been the most popular source of public entertainment in Mumbai. Cinema is interwoven with the city’s urban landscapes and is intrinsic to its psyche. The process of ‘watching a movie’ has manifested itself as an ‘Urban Ritual’ in this city. The single screen cinema halls of Mumbai held a pride of place in the city’s entertainment realm in the previous decades and were metaphors for human aspirations. Cinema was so alluring to the masses, that these halls were thronged by crowds on weekends and became vibrant cultural spaces in the city.
Today, as the city shifts to the multiplex culture many of these cinema halls are in a deplorable condition or on the verge of shutting down. The primary aim of this dissertation was to study the different kinds of associations single screen cinema halls have had with diverse viewers over the decades and to establish them as ‘Heritage Cultural Spaces’ of the city. It analyzed the paradigm shift that is observed in movie watching trends in recent years. This dissertation also aimed to reconfigure single screen cinemas to accommodate the present day entertainment needs and expectations of the people and at the same time, conserve buildings having cultural and architectural value.
BRITISH PLAYHOUSES (1776 to 1910): Gaiety Theatre/Capitol Cinema
EARLY CINEMAS (1911 to 1933): Bharatmata Cinema
OPULENT CINEMAS (1933 to 1950): New Empire Cinema
HYBRID CINEMAS (1950 onwards): Maratha Mandir
PHOTOGRAPHY
APOORVA [email protected]