Building Green: Environmental Architects and the Struggle for Sustainability in Mumbai

223 Pages·2017·7.242 MB·English

by  Anne Rademacher

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BUILDING
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ARCHITECTS AND
THE STRUGGLE
FOR SUSTAINABILITY
IN MUMBAI
ANNE RADEMACHER
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Building Green

Building Green
Environmental Architects and the Struggle for
Sustainability in Mumbai
Anne Rademacher
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university
presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing
scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its
activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic
contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information,
visit www.ucpress.edu.
University of California Press
Oakland, California
© 2018 by Anne Rademacher
Suggested citation: Rademacher, A. Building Green: Environmental Architects
and the Struggle for Sustainability in Mumbai. Oakland: University of
California Press, 2018. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/luminos.42
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license.
To view a copy of the license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Rademacher, Anne, author.
Title: Building green : environmental architects and the struggle for
sustainability in Mumbai / Anne Rademacher.
Description: Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2018] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017044981| ISBN 9780520296008 (pbk.) |
ISBN 9780520968721 (e-edition)
Subjects: LCSH: Sustainable architecture—India—Mumbai. |
Architects—India—Mumbai. | Architecture—Environmental
aspects—India—Mumbai. | Urban ecology (Sociology)—India—Mumbai. |
Rachana Sansad (College). Institute of Environmental Architecture.
Classification: LCC NA2542.35 .R335 2017 | DDC 720/.470954792—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017044981
Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Preface ix
1. City Ascending, City Imploding 1
2. The Integrated Subject 23
3. Ecology in Practice: Environmental Architecture as Good Design 40
4. Rectifying Failure: Imagining the New City and the Power to Create It 65
5. More than Human Nature and the Open Space Predicament 91
6. Consciousness and Indian-ness: Making Design “Good” 108
7. A Vocation in Waiting: Ecology in Practice 133
8. Soldiering Sustainability 162
Notes 169
References 185
Index 197

Illustrations
1. Construction in Mumbai, 2012 2
2. Dr. Joshi delivers a lecture on rainwater harvesting in an RSIEA
classroom 28
3. Dr. Latoo talks with RSIEA students during a field study visit 32
4. A team of RSIEA students prepare a topographical map of the Pali field
study site 54
5. RSIEA Design Studio students explore the Pali project site 62
6. An exhibit-goer ponders a map of Mumbai’s open spaces at the Open
Mumbai exhibition 70
7. “City Forests” were highlighted among the many different types of open
spaces in Mumbai at the Open Mumbai exhibition 72
8. Entering the Breathing Space exhibition at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse 75
9. Breathing Space exhibit-goers explore signboards about open space in each
of Mumbai’s twenty-four Municipal wards 76
10. Looking outward from the edge of the Doongerwadi forest, new
construction looms 100
11. Students and faculty on the field study tour of Govardhan Eco-village
listening to their guide describe the sustainability features of one of the site’s
main buildings 129
12. RSIEA students exploring new construction in one of BCIL’s housing
developments outside of Bangalore 132
13. A graduating RSIEA student presents her team’s final Design Studio
proposal for an eco-resort at Pali 135
vii