As young architects, it is a very important part of our job to question our role in today’s built environment and how our actions have an effect on the future of our built spaces. With this in mind, we are starting an entirely student-led exploration group called, ‘The Inquiry’. Under this, we’d be looking at various topics about design and the built environment. 

If you're a student or recent graduate of our college and would like to be a part of this group, write to us at- [email protected].
You can also write to us if you have any suggestions, queries or feedback!

---

In 15, An Exploration of Our Neighbourhoods

One of the many things the pandemic made us realise is the importance of the quality of our built environment. This quality can be looked at a personal as well as an urban scale. How do our cities respond to the growing needs of modern lifestyle? And do the urban models of the city develop with time?
​
With our first explorative project, we wanted to explore the concept of a 15 minute city in our own context, that is, in the city of Mumbai. This was done by going out and about our own neighbourhoods, taking 15 minute walks, and observing everyday things we might have ordinarily overlooked. And to document this process of exploration, we created a set of mind maps to portray the various emotions of the neighbourhood, thus assessing the quality of life at a personal level. 

View the whole project here- 
https://issuu.com/surge-theinquiry/docs/in_15-_an_exploration_of_our_neighbourhoods_

---

Visit to Urban Villages of Mumbai

​Urban Villages of Mumbai, historically endowed with rich social and cultural aspirations that fuel the urban transformation for a sustainable future. As an exploration project for this semester students visited Ranwar Village in Bandra and Khotachi Wadi in Girgaon. These vibrant communities survive within the concrete jungle around them with resilience. Students tried to appreciate this very aspect of these places.

---

Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2023

'Art Forward' aimed to present the concept of advancement and growth in a futuristic manner. The installations were characterized by their embodiment of optimism, transformation, and advancement following a period of worldwide inactivity spanning two years. The prevalent theme for this occasion was 'Past Forward,' signifying a collective desire to acknowledge our history while simultaneously propelling ourselves into the future. The creative use of recycled materials was actively promoted in the creation of these installations.

Students from various academic years demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm and active involvement in crafting installations for the Visual Arts segment of the Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2023.