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Museum and the City

(Image source: Steven Holl Architects)

 The planned extension to the Bhau Daji Lad Museum  (BDLM) in Mumbai is generating active discussion and debate within all groups. The most controversial was the opposition from MNS (Maharashtra Navanirman Sena), whose stand is that the city needs open space more than art museums. 

 The international design competition for the museum extension was won by Steven Holl Architects, competing against some very famous and well-known international star architects like Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid. In a lecture delivered by Steven Holl on March 10th at the museum, the architect presented some of his works in China and also presented his concept for the museum extension. Holl's talk focused on large urban projects in China, presented in a crisp and interesting manner. He stressed the need to integrate the project with the larger urban context, and the idea of generating active public spaces defined by the built form. His projects tie the contemporary with the traditional in a very subtle, almost sublime way. His projects also have a very strong presence of landscape, integral to the overall design.

 His design for the BDLM extension creates the built form through subtraction, inspired by the step wells of India. The design also creates a public plaza in between the old and the new museum, with a water body with reflects and ties together the old and the new.

 Mumbai is starving for good public spaces; spaces that not only relax and entertain but also intellectually engage the mind. Though traditionally Indian cities have a rich heritage of art in cities, and architecture itself was an art form, Indian cities today are severely lacking in art, public or private. Museums and art galleries are essential for the "cultural health" of cities apart from preserving art, both traditional and contemporary. As Steven Holl said, "Mumbai's youth urgently need art education. The path ahead is difficult but worth it."

 As Indian cities embark on their "mission" to become technologically "smart" and economically competitive, they will be doing themselves a huge favour by being culturally vibrant. And museums, art galleries and public spaces that foster this intellectual and creative development and vibrancy will not only make our cities smart, but sensitive and creative as well.

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