Expert Editors’Note

Combating Together

According to the UN-Habitat world cities report of 2022, proliferation of the world’s urban population can reach up to 68% by 2050 with most of them being concentrated in developing countries like India. Despite the urban issues caused during the pandemic which initiated major population decline in many cities of the country, the notion of the city often exhibits an inherent quality of drawing the population back. As we read, numerous cities are being designed and redesigned in the country to effectively accommodate and facilitate the available resources to all as part of city development. This ever-increasing population and their demand have further propelled the push for Indian cities to become more efficient, resilient, adaptive, and sustainable to combat unforeseen challenges. This issue of KALPA newsletter will reveal many such reflections of UN sustainable development goals and its broader thematic significance. The authors of this issue expand upon economic viability, social responsibility, urban voids, deepening inequalities, and the potential of sustainable development goals, its wider implications as a guiding framework for urban development. Understanding the nuances of these goals around and within the context of our country is a crucial step in building an ecosystem of inclusive communities and sustainable India.

Wishing them all the best for this issue!

Ar. Rashmi Pavagada Subbanarasimha External editor Research Scholar, IIITB

“As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” - Norman Foster

This quote encompasses the ideas we aim to bring forward through Kalpa. The magazine, which is a research initiative by the faculty and students of RVCA, intends to highlight the nuances in architecture as time goes by.

The magazine’s third issue focuses to capture the role of architecture in promoting sustainable cities and communities of the future through an enquiry of the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 11. According to this goal, an ideal city should be inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The ideas presented in this issue question, ponder, rethink and redefine the ideal city and our responsibility as architects to see it through.

While putting this edition together, we at the Kalpa Student Team were exposed to where the cities of today stand in terms of Urban Sustainability. We were also made aware of lessons we could learn from the past, and how they are regaining their relevance today.

We hope the reader too gains some insight into the intentions brought forward by the magazine and the importance of pausing, and looking back, in this world of rapidly growing cities, while we work towards a sustainable future.

Editorial team

Priyesha Anantharamakrishnan

Jahnavi Miriyala

Anisha Dara

Anish Perumal

PART 1 :

Escaping the Concrete JungleLearnings from Cities and Towns