Author: Batul Lokhandwala
Site Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Institute: Rizvi College of Architecture
Advisor: Minaz Ansari

Description

Urbanisation inherently excludes the natural components that make up the city and focuses overwhelmingly on the built environment, hence distorting the perception of the environment and disconnecting its citizens from the ecosystem. Mumbai exemplifies this characteristic of cities in terms of not only the scarcity of natural areas but also in terms of what the city classifies as natural areas, a limitation of definition rather than a limitation of availability.
As cities develop, our planning needs to accommodate a cohesive environment for its natural landscape and existing biodiversity. Further it attempts to offer a more holistic design approach. An approach that reconciles the inherent disconnect by ensuring that development acknowledges and respects nature. While demand for land in the city increases, the open spaces grow vulnerable to further destruction. The need for development will forever persist but it should also foster the need to design natural pockets within the dense metropolis.
The Mahalaxmi Racecourse offers a unique opportunity to create a large urban forest within the Island city.
THE REGULATION CURRENTLY FOCUSES ON GENERATING MORE REVENUE THROUGH INCREASING FSI RATHER THAN CREATING BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE BY INCREASING OSI.

Drawings

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