F A T H O M
.
Y E A R N
.
I N N O V A T E
INTERVIEW OF SANJEEV VIDYARTHI Interviewed by: Chinmay Kamat and Kashish Singh
What parallels can be drawn between other cities of the world and Mumbai? The true ethic of when we compare and contrast between different cities, in order to draw useful insights and lessons for future practice of city design or architecture, or city planning, is distinctions. Each city is distinct and unique. There are no two cities, even if we follow the same rules, make the same plan, the grid iron system plan and make two cities, after fifty years, they become distinct. They develop their unique persona. Even within Mumbai, Koliwada has a different culture than Colaba which again has a different culture than Bandra and then Andheri. Distinctiveness is one factor, and then there are common things. Some of the most common things are how we deal with infrastructure. How do we create resilient places? How do we create more sustainable places? And there are good examples all over the world, each city has some good aspects and some bad aspects. It’s not only a question of learning from other cities in the west, but also from cities within India. Some cities are doing better than others. The distinctiveness of each city, resiliencies, sustainability, and the social aspect are factors to be considered. Every city has some or the other social challenges. Some cities do it better than others, and we can learn from those. By looking for things that have worked, and
72
Interviewer: Yeah. So, also like, Mumbai’s longitudinal plan, it sits on a longitudinal point, so the lot of focal plans like how Chicago has its own central focal point, you know, from where it radiates into other places. How can we enhance these specific points with respect to the public-private utilization of infrastructure? Mumbai has a longitudinal plan with multiple focal points. How can these specific points be enhanced with respect to the public-private utilization of infrastructure? Mumbai has a central business district which is a strong core. Urban planners actively promoted this idea that we should not have one single core, we should have multiple cores, like there are in New Bombay, one being Bandra Kurla Complex which acts as a commercial core, while the Fort area acts as a historic core. ‘Multiple nuclei’ is a planning idea which is actively promoted by urban planners. At this point in time, in the 21 st century the central core of the city has a legacy and a history, that has a strong tourist draw. It is where the tourists go when they visit Mumbai. We realize the importance of having multiple nuclei, but we also realize the importance of the touristic, the historical, the quality of life, importance of the central
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1/ DECEMBER 2019
