Embracing nature at scale: Architecture, Urban Design and Planning

The lecture will explore designing with nature at a spectrum of scales in these times of transition. The projects both built as well research speculations will be premised on the notion that we are  living in ‘transitional times’ and  the need for societal transitions to more sustainable futures requires design to play a key role these transitions. The presentation will explore an understanding of the interconnectedness of social, economic, political and natural systems to address problems at all levels of spatiotemporal scale in ways that nature is privileged in the design considerations for emerging challenges. The projects that will be presented  will advocate  for the re conception of planning , urban design and architectural  imaginations, with the aim of making them more place-based, convivial and participatory while embracing  the natural environment.
 

About the Speaker

Rahul Mehrotra is a  Professor of Urban Design and Planning and the John T. Dunlop Professor in Housing and Urbanization at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. He is the  founder principal of RMA Architects which has studios in Mumbai and Boston. In 2018 RMA Architects were awarded the Venice Biennale juror’s ‘Special Mention’ for ‘three projects that address issues of Intimacy and empathy, gently diffusing social boundaries and hierarchies’. In 2012-2015, he led a Harvard University-wide research project with Professor Diana Eck, called The Kumbh Mela: Mapping the Ephemeral Mega City. This work was published as a book in 2014 and the research extended in 2017 in the form of a book titled Does Permanence Matter? Mehrotra’s also co – authored a book is  titled Taj Mahal : Multiple Narratives which was published in Dec 2017. Mehrotra’s most recent books are titled Working in Mumbai (2020) and The Kinetic City and other essays ( 2021). The former a reflection on his practice evolved through its association with the city of Bombay/Mumbai. The second book presents Mehrotra’s writings over the last thirty years and illustrates his long-term engagement with and analysis of urbanism in India. This work has given rise to a new conceptualization of the city which Mehrotra calls the Kinetic City.  Since 2014, Mehrotra has been a member of the CICA – the International Committee of Architecture Critics.

Video recording: