To celebrate the closing of the participation of the research project 'How to build with Time' in the London Design Biennale 2021, we are hosting an international symposium to discuss the time-based architecture of the Bimanagar neighbourhood in Ahmedabad, India.

The symposium will introduce findings from our ongoing research into the architecture of the estate relating the design project by eminent architect BV Doshi, its original implementation, and its transformation over the last 30 years. The first two blocks of presentations bring together the perspective of academics and practitioners studying the project from different but complementary angles, such as its historical and political context, regulatory framework and everyday practices, culture and memory, and storytelling.

The last block will count with the participation of some key actors in the co-production and transformation of Bimanagar that will share their perspectives and personal stories.

Program

10.00 (UK) / 14.30 (IN) Welcome, introduction and tour of the exhibition

10.30 (UK) / 15.00 (IN)

• Riyaz Tayyibji (Anthill Design) - Housing in the new state of Gujarat
• Melissa Smith (CEPT University) - Established Tactics of Subversion. Expansion Strategies in Residential Ahmedabad
• Discussion

11.30 (UK) / 16:00 (IN) Break

12.00 (UK) / 16:30 (IN)

• Gauri Bharat (CEPT University) - An Architectural History in Words and Name
• Pallavi Swaranjali (Carleton University) - The Designed-Vernacular. Bimanagar as a warehouse of stories
• Discussion

13.00 (UK) / 16:30 (IN) Break

13:30 (UK) / 17:00 (IN)

• Oral histories of Bimanagar

• Concluding roundtable

Chairs

Christoph Lueder (Kingston University), Iñigo Cornago Bonal (TU Delft)

Discussants

Shumi Bose (Central Saint Martins - UAL), Nelson Mota (TU Delft)

Speakers

Riyaz Tayyibji (Anthill Design), Melissa Smith (CEPT University), Gauri Bharat (CEPT University), Pallavi Swaranjali (Carleton University), Ruju Joshi (CEPT University), and Dan Ryder-Cook (Kingston University).

Research credits

Editors

Christoph Lueder (Kingston University), Iñigo Cornago Bonal (TU Delft), and Vishwanath Kashikar (CEPT University)

Researchers

Dan Ryder-Cook, Ruju Joshi, Aarti Gandhi, and Dharini Tamakuwala, with additional support from Chirag Meghani, Vyoma Shukla, Nakul Shah, and Dweeta.

Chapter contributors

Riyaz Tayyibji (Anthill Design), Melissa Smith (CEPT University), Gauri Bharat (CEPT University), Pallavi Swaranjali (Carleton University)

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank for their support of our research:

BV Doshi, Khushnu Panthaki Hoof, Vastu Shilpa Foundation, The residents of Bimanagar, Bimanagar Co-Operative Housing Society Ltd., Megha Rajguru, Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, Kingston School of Art London, CEPT University Ahmedabad, London Design Biennale, TU Delft

The research project is supported by a grant from the Global Challenges Research Fund