Adding a pulse to street character...
Most downtown areas in India are in dire straits in almost every respect, tottering under the burden of unrestrained growth. Even though the world is largely getting its act together and evolving comprehensive plans for the revitalisation of inner cities, more often than not, the emergent solutions are stereotypical.
Studio Archohm’s approach to urban redevelopment in old city areas in India is based on a singular mandate that celebrating one’s heritage means recognising the very necessity of relating to the narratives of the past; presented not as a blind emulation but made scalable to contemporary societal needs and envisioning future possibilities. This ‘ preserved’ past never remains static but is in a constant state of change — so in reality, what is, is not, what once was. Change refers to ‘ value addition’ by subsequent generations.
The tale of the urban rejuvenation of Agra firstly bears an almost reassuring testimony to the fact that indeed there can be a transfer of epistemology to practice in the domain of urban design in India, if the vision is lucid and pursed to
‘.. India has always moved ahead with the awareness that the seeds of a solution lie within the problem itself.”
— Aman Nath in ‘ Architecture and Attitude’