YOU FIND A COMBINATION OF ART AND SCIENCE IN THE DISCIPLINE AND practice of architecture. The idea of a total built form takes into account not only the materiality of buildings but also the sociality of spaces and places. Architectural interventions are therefore cultural interventions that contribute to the creation of formal and informal environments that affect us in a variety of ways. 

In our issue this time, we have an array of voices addressing important trans-disciplinary themes. In their Lead Essay, Matias Echanove and Rahul Srivastava propose the Bazaar paradigm as a new, enabling way to understand and appreciate transforming cities. Himanshu Burte, in his Lead Essay, responds to the diverse architectural languages that have proliferated in India since independence and discusses Modernism and its variations. Gautam Bhatia, in his Lead Essay, explores the possibility of architecture with a social conscience. Karen Smith interviews Ai Weiwei and Prasad Shetty has a Q&A session with Hafeez Contractor. In their Lead Features, Mustansir Dalvi looks at ‘the architecture of disenchantment’; Kaiwan Mehta does a round-up of significant books on architecture in India; Sen Kapadia critically appreciates the Trident Hilton Gurgaon; and Zehra Jumabhoy and Sandhya Bordewekar look at how artists in Bombay and Baroda have responded to architectural propositions through their works.

In the Image Profile, we showcase architect  T. Khareghat’s paintings, chosen by Sangita Jindal, as Himanshu Burte introduces us to Laurie Baker, one of the most important architects of our times, in the Lead Profile. Quddus Mirza traces the evolution of architecture as a practice in modern Pakistan in his Letter as Mary N. Woods, Neera Adarkar, Sameera Khan, Shilpa Phadke, Shilpa Ranade, and Shimul Javeri Kadri participate in a debate about gender, pedagogy, and architecture – Rohan Shivkumar moderates this Panel Discussion. Kapil Gupta re-imagines Bombay by devising an ingenious plan as Allan Kram assesses India’s entry for the 10th Venice Architecture Biennale. We also have reviews of architecture-focused shows – the 2007 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, Global Cities at the Tate Modern, the 10th Istanbul Biennale, and the Turner Prize exhibition at the Tate Liverpool.

Thanks for sending us responses to our last issue. The Letters page is back, as you can see. We hope you enjoy this issue as well.

Your support and appreciation have been vital to us. In the issues to come, we promise to bring more in-depth features with greater variety and range.

Warm regards,