The Changing Role Of Architects In Mumbai

By Author: Sibani Sarma
Total Articles: 14
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The role of architects in Mumbai has changed from time to time. Mumbai has been the birthplace for architecture, as far as India is concerned, because Mumbai has been the economic hub of India. A lot of commercial developments traditionally started in Mumbai.

Even during the British period most of the commercial establishments were set up largely between Mumbai and Kolkata and later on establishments in Kolkata slowed down and Mumbai started developing. This gave a lot of impetus to architects in Mumbai to get involved in new-age projects over the last 100 years or so. Looking at established architects like Charles Correa or Hafiz Contractor, it is observed that they have built landmark buildings across the city. This was when Mumbai had land mass available for developments with large foot prints.

Over time, due to the scarcity of land and nature of the land mass in Mumbai, buildings have become slimmer and taller. This has given rise to different career options. With people living in apartments today, a lot of architects are now designing interiors of homes and interior designing as a career option ...
... has become popular in Mumbai. Interior designing has progressed much in the last fifteen years. Every new home buyer wants to design their home immediately after their purchase, as against the earlier practise of placing existing or new furniture after purchasing a new home. Interior designing is not only being carried out by interior designers but also by a large number of architects.

Besides interior designing there are new concepts in the market like retail designing. Retail designing is something which was non existent ten years ago. This sector is now opening up new avenues for interior designers and architects. Different retail formats have to be designed to reflect the brands’identity in the design of the stores. This is largely a job which is given shape by architects and brand managers and this is paving a new way for projects for architects.

Green building designs is another new area of opportunity for architects in Mumbai. Today most of the new developments seen in Mumbai have a ‘Green' tag attached to it. New age architects are learning how to design 'Green'. They are learning how to design as per LEED standards and this is a speciality architects are now focussing on.

So from designing simple buildings 20 years back, architects in Mumbai today are doing interior designing of homes, offices which was not much prevalent before multinational companies came into existence in India. Green Designs and Retail Designs are other focus areas. So thereby the level of progress of interior designers has increased tremendously and on a very large scale in the last 15 – 20 years. This is only the beginning of many more larger things to come.

About Sibani Sarma:

Sibani Sarma is a Mumbai based Architect and Writer. She writes on subjects related to Architects in Mumbai and Interior Design