Rahul Mehrotra - an overview of the architectural projects of this apparently regionalist and post modernist architect.The scale of projects undertaken by him are varied and extensive.

1. RAHUL MEHROTRA

2. AN INTRODUCTION
 Principal of architecture firm RMA Architects
(founded in 1990 as Rahul Mehrotra Associates) of
Mumbai, India
 Professor of Urban Design and Planning and Chair of
the Department of Urban Planning and Design at
the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) in
Cambridge, Mass., USA.
 Has designed projects that range from recycling
urban land and master planning in Mumbai to the
design of art spaces, boutiques, weekend houses,
factories, social institutes and office buildings across
India – thereby engaging diverse issues, multiple
constituencies and varying scales: from interior
design and architecture to urban design,
conservation and planning

3. PHILOSOPHY
 ‘Architecture is the physical manifestation of a
society’s aspirations in the broader sense.’
Unlike many other parts of the world, we don’t have restrictions on the forms or colours of our
buildings. Driving down a road in any Indian town, you’ll see all buildings different, having an identity
of its own, each standing for something totally different. And this is a reflection of our society- secular
and democratic.
 He believes that architecture is potent enough to
be a deadly tool that creates boundaries, or
thresholds between communities. His designs,
therefore attempt to visually eliminate the
threshold.
“Good architectural practice is one that acts responsibly for its broader environment and is
sensitive to the fabric and grain of a city…”

4. WHAT IS POST MODERNISM ABOUT?
The aims of Postmodernism,
including solving the
problems of Modernism,
communicating meanings
with ambiguity, and
sensitivity for the building’s
context
Postmodernism, with its
sensitivity to the
building’s context, did
not exclude the needs
of humans from the
building.
Also been described
as neo-eclectic, where
reference and ornament
have returned to the
facade, replacing the
unornamented modern
styles.
Seeks to focus on the
needs and desires of the
present generation in
terms of comfort and
design.
Combining new ideas with
traditional forms,
postmodernist buildings
may startle, surprise, and
even amuse.

5. TWO BAY HOUSE, ALIBAUG INDIA

6. Situated on a plateau at the foothills of the Western Ghats, the house is
diagrammatically separated into two bays on the basis of privacy
levels of the programs, one for the bedrooms, the other for support
spaces

7. A gravel forecourt welcomes inhabitants, leading towards a garden of raised linear planters and
elevated patio.
The residence is divided into two bays, placing the private and common spaces on opposing
sides of the site. a lap pool spans the length, creating a distinct separation of zones.

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10. A lap pool separates the two zones, thus creating physical separation yet maintaining a visual
connection. The pool also facilitates the cooling of the house — each bay is one room thick,
and thus the breezes that flow through the house are humidified as they blow across the water.

11. Raised linear planting elements extend the broad horizontal lines of the building into the
landscape.

12. Tucked away just off of the mid-landing of the entry steps, an elevated patio accessible from
the kitchen wall allows the residents to receive visitors outside of the house, with an impressive
vista west to the mountains beyond.

13. A stone base and roof canopy are given visual
separation enhancing the tectonic reading
• Reflections and subtle material hues that reflect the
changing light in the space between the bays
• (right) light and material sensibilities revealed
throughout
The materials used in the house, basalt stone for the plinth and a clay tiled roof, resonate with
the building traditions of the rural landscape in which it is set.

14. MAGIC BUS CAMPUS, MUMBAI

15. The tectonics of the building was developed as a kit-of-parts that could be configured
for various institutional uses ranging from community toilets to clinics and education
centers in the slums.

16.  Location: Panvel, Mumbai, India
 Architect In Charge: Rahul Mehrotra
 Consultants: Vijay K. Patil &
Associates, D.R.Bellare, Riyaz
Rangwala, Sunil Services, Sewri
 Area: 2,415 sqm
 Year: 2007
 The campus for the Mumbai-based
NGO, Magic Bus, contains
dormitories, administrative buildings
and a dining facility for children from
the slums of Mumbai who visit the
campus for training programs.

17. In order to create a sense of familiarity, the palette of the buildings was comprised of the
ordinary materials that are used for everyday buildings in slums and squatter settlements,
where most of the participating children live. Through the process of design, it was also
imagined how these buildings could be embedded back into the slums, to serve as
community centers and other public programs.

20. HATHIGAON, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

22.  Rahul Mehrotra’s firm RMA won a
competition organized by the
Rajasthan government for a housing
project for mahouts, the Hindi term for
elephant riders.
 The design strategy is based on the
need to improve an area devastated
by indiscriminate exploitation of sand
quarries, capitalizing on the potential
offered by the artificial orography
created by quarrying. the quarries
thus become reservoirs to collect
rainwater.

23. The elephants are housed in garage-like rooms with exits on the outer, non-courtyard-
facing, sides of the buildings.
Families cook and eat meals outside, and children can play away from the
elephants.

24. The dwellings are
small—200 square
feet—and arranged in
sets of four, wrapped
around communal
courtyards.
The housing units are
organized in clusters
and situated on
portions of the site
that are not used for
the landscape
regeneration.
Courtyards and pavilions supplement the otherwise small spaces that are allocated in the
budget for the essentially low-income housing project.
The courtyard becomes part of the living space. all the houses have electricity and running
water.

26. The limited budget available to
construct the housing led to use of
simple building techniques and
common materials available on
site.
The distribution of the plan and
volumes of the built spaces provides
an effective response to the need
for a high level of natural
ventilation and passive cooling.
The housing units are organized in clusters and situated on portions of the site that are not used for the
landscape regeneration. Unlike other architecture projects, this project has landscape as the centre
and architecture has evolved around it.

27. Over the years, as an architect, Rahul Mehrotra has
become less concerned with controlling all details;
instead, he is fascinated by the way the residents’
contributions become part of the final product.
 the individual housing units are arranged in a number
of groups integrated into the redesigned natural areas
and are additionally organized around central
courtyards which act extensions of essential living
space and an important place for socializing.
 The simultaneous presence of both elephants and
humans is resolved with a clear functional division of
the respective living spaces, while maintaining a sense
of community and genuine sharing of spaces between
the animals and their mahouts.
‘Our country certainly should not unthinkingly adopt western
ideals when it comes to an architecture competition and instead
look for local solutions. we don’t need your glass buildings and
your eco labels in India.’
- Rahul Mehrotra

28. VISITORS’ CENTRE AT PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM

29.  Located next to a grade I
heritage structure, this
building’s stainless steel-clad
elliptical roof supported by
columns secured with a pin
joint base.
 The lightweight canopy
extends to form a wrap
around veranda. the interior
offers a 200 seat auditorium as
well as filling programmatic
functions such as ticketing,
luggage storage, museum
shop and restrooms.
 Reflective surfaces of stainless
steel cladding make for a
dynamic canvas with
reflections and colors from
kinetic human streams that
pass by the building

30. 1. Baggage check
2. Security check
3. Ticket kiosk
4. Museum shop
5. Multipurpose hall
6. Cafeteria
7and 8. Toilets
9. Verandah

32. A. kalzip tapered
B. glass wool insulation
C. tie beam
D. ring beam
E. bracket web plate
F. SS sheet
G. drip mould
H. SS rectangular tube
I. column cap plate
J. SS seamless pipe
cladding
K. column base plate
L. SS plate cut to profile
M. column base plate
N. SS plate cut to
profile
O. hole for SS pin
P. SS plate
Q. stiffener plate
R. base plate
S. insert plate

33. THANK YOU
Zeus Pithawalla 37
Garima Rajput 38
Manasvi Rane 39
Rithika Ravishankar 40
Shivali Sanap 41
Vishakha Savatkar 42
Bibliography: www.rmaarchitects.com
www.designboom.com
www.archdaily.com