REBOOTING OUR CITIES

Redevelopment projects are stepping up as key solutions to transform these urban areas into sustainable and livable spaces. Mansi Sahu, Director, Urban Designer, Studio POD, stated, “As an urban designer, I perceive cities as living entities that must evolve. Considering India's relatively young cities, which are currently undergoing significant transformation, the decisions we make now will sculpt their future community, lifestyle, architecture, and public spaces. Key elements for successful urban renewal include public-private partnerships, sustainable growth, addressing urban development challenges, leveraging technology, and fostering community engagement.”

Parth Mehta, CMD & Chief Mentoring Officer, Paradigm Realty, added, “The primary focus should be on creating functional spaces with safety, security, and fostering an exceptional community living experience for all residents. The government must refine policies and support developers with greater freedom and a visionary approach.”

Ar. Prashant Deshmukh, Principal Architect, Prashant Deshmukh & Associates, stated, “I believe redevelopment presents an exceptional opportunity for architects, developers, and builders to revamp the entire structure. Technological advancements in construction are causing a paradigm shift, with a focus on cost-effective, high-quality building methods. Similar to the contemporary trend of remaking classic films in multiple languages, we now have the chance to re-evaluate and redesign our urban areas to align with current and future lifestyles.”

Kunal Kuwadekar, Principal Ar- chitect, Naren Kuwadekar & Associates, agreed, “Embracing technology can save time, decrease costs, and ensure quality structures. Today, urban renewal is unavoidable. However, it is quite challenging as it offers a pre-established framework within which to operate. Over the past two decades, most urban projects have focused on vertical development, emphasizing shared infrastructure like water and electricity and sustainable practices such as composting, rainwater harvesting, and alternative energy sources are becoming mandatory. Architects and technology companies are con- stantly innovating to minimize the carbon footprint and make urban living more sustainable.”

Karan Daisaria, Principal Architect · Daisaria Associates, added, “Urban renewal impacts everyone. As society evolves in various aspects of daily life, from shopping habits, to living conditions, and modes of transportation, adaptation to these changes becomes essential. Urban renewal signifies modernization and adaptation for an improved future lifestyle. Public-private partnerships have been quite successful in the infrastructure sectors of India's major cities. Yet, when it comes to residential redevelopment projects, collaborations often fall short and eventually hamper the quality standards. To truly harness the potential of public-private partnerships in the residential domain, it is imperative to focus not only on providing housing but also on enriching livelihoods.”

Sanket Jayakar, Director, Kapadia Associates, added, “The relevance of redevelopment extends across all societal levels from evaluating open spaces to infrastructure. Thus, the necessity to reposition functions and address deteriorated buildings becomes apparent, prompting us to consider successful international precedents for more efficient future advancements. I feel finding a singular solution is challenging, particulary at the policy level, where diverse policies are needed to develop specific areas effectively.”

The experts concurred that it is crucial that redevelopment is not seen in isolation but, as part of the master plan and integrates all necessary infrastructures. Community involvement and a coordinated plan are essential for achieving urban revitalization of our cities.

We often misunderstand urban density, neglecting its diverse applications at precinct, city, and plot levels. Instead of simply imitating, embracing the unique contexts, can lead to innovative solutions.

ISSUES OF REDEVELOPMENT

Lack of consensus and transparency among residents, developer and authorities breeds mistrust, undermining project viability.

Lengthy pre-construction approval process with offline submissions and long wait times, many a times derails the project execution.

Legal disputes in agreements can put a redevelopment project in jeopardy, dragging it year on year.

In many cities, bureaucratic hurdles and lack of coordination impede implementation of government initiatives and regulations.

Funding for redevelopment projects which entail significant financial investments in demolition, compensation & construction is a big chal- lenge for developers.

This is a highly specialized space as not all developers have the experience or band- width to enter this segment of property development.