KVRIA Masters PG course in Urban Studies

The Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies (KRVIA), an initiative of the Kamla Raheja Foundation and the Upanagar Shikhshan Mandal has been involved with research and education on architecture and urbanism and has now announced the Masters in Urban Studies Program with two streams of study: Masters of Architecture (M. Arch.) in Urban Design; and Masters of Architecture in Urban Conservation. The Post Graduate (PG) Program in Urban Studies will be a Council of Architecture approved course and is currently awaiting approval by the Mumbai University. The new courses are part of KRVIA's endeavour to become an important centre for engagement, interaction and creation of knowledge on metropolitan urbanity, especially in the Indian context.

Prof. Aneerudha Paul (M.Arch, Urban Design), Director, KVRIA, says, "Since the courses are based in Mumbai, one of the prime metropolises of the country, KVRIA offers students and academicians an ideal laboratory to investigate the transformation that globalization creates in the urban landscape. Students will be provided with the opportunity to become involved with contemporary developments and 'live' projects in the city through the Research and Design Cell as well as through their interactions with bureaucrats and practitioners working in the field."

Vikas Dilawari ( M.Arch-Conservation), a leading conservation architect involved with the urban heritage conservation movement since its inception, adds, "Since Mumbai is a unique confluence of culture and commerce with many active projects, the institute has an advantage to empower its students to address this unique situation and to interact with practitioners and theoreticians with a multi-disciplinary understanding of contextual urban issues that our city is facing. KRIVA is well acknowledged in literary circles for its study & research. The courses will provide a strong literary and practical platform of interaction and knowledge which will illumine the sensitive development phenomenon and give the present conservation movement the much required impetus."

The two courses will equip students to deal with the complexities of contemporary cities by broadening their knowledge base and enabling them to see the built environment not merely as physical form, but holistically as part of networks and systems. They can be successfully employed in the government sector, with development authorities, municipalities, policy making agencies, etc.; in the private sector, with real estate developers, large consultancy firms, and in the social sector with NGOs working in housing environment, conservation, etc. They can also practice independently as consultants.

Both Urban Design and Urban Conservation will have some lecture courses that are specific to their subject, and some that are common to both. The students in both the courses will compulsorily take up courses on planning technique, transportation planning, urban management and environmental planning that are now central to the debate of urbanism. Subjects that are compulsory to urban design would be urban morphology and history-theory of urban design. Subjects related to urban conservation would be archaeology, art and architectural theory, etc

The two courses, Urban Design and Urban Conservation, are divided into Mandatory and Optional courses. The Mandatory courses focus on critical issues that cities of the global south are facing such as urban housing, environment and conservation of resources. The course is divided into Studios, Lectures, Workshops Exchange Programs and Study Trips. The Design Studios, which form the core courses of the program, are on-site based studios that consist of intense groundwork and analysis, leading to design proposals. The Optional Courses will allow students to choose from a range of electives; including course in fields other than their own or opt for modules available in areas such as real estate planning, participatory planning processes, etc. The Exchange Programs are aimed at establishing relationships with Universities/Institutions in India and abroad, while the Study Trips will provide an opportunity for live case studies.

Relevance of the course from the point-of-view of India's urbanization

In an increasingly urbanized world, cities occupy a central position in the future of our planet. As these metropolises expand, voraciously consuming the resources of the hinterland, increasing developmental pressures threaten to erase and rebuild their historic cores and other existing landscapes, many a times changing city fabrics, land uses and existing work and living patterns. Indian cities are experiencing these violent transformations and its landscape is changing rapidly. While the pace of these changes can be exhilarating, many often, the consequences can be tragic or simply out of sync with pre-existing conditions and peoples. Mumbai has been central in the worldwide debate on the future of cities. Being the largest metropolis in the country and its commercial capital, it is being touted as one of the most important nodes in the global network of urban agglomerations. The KRVIA, since its inception, has been deeply involved in issues concerning the city. And this initiative will help Indians perceive the results of increasing urbanization, create knowledge systems to understand and analyze them.