Pune: BNCA Wins National Award for Project on Cluster Redevelopment

Pune, 17th February 2025: MKSSS’s Dr Bhanuben Nanawati College of Archutecture for Women (BNCA) won a national award for the Council of Architecture ‘s Urban Studio Research project (USRP). The project titled Urban Renewal Schemes in Core Cities: Is the current Model of Cluster Redevelopment a Best Fit in Core Areas; was selected among the top 3 projects and won an award worth Rs. 1,00,000. The national jury was conducted on 21st Jan 2025 at R. V. College of Architecture, Bengaluru where 16 selected projects were presented by their respective teams.

The USRP project at BNCA is led by Dr. Vaishali Anagal. The project team includes Dr. Sharvey Dhongde,Dr. Sujata Karve, Prof. Chaitanya Peshave, Prof. Sonali Malvankar, Prof. Deva Prasad and Prof. Siddhi Joshi.

Dr. Vaishali Anagal and Dr. Sharvey Dhongde received an award at the hands of Ar. Abhay Purohit, President, Council of Architecture in presence of veteran architect Raj Rewal at Dayanand College of Architecture at Bengaluru on 22 nd Jan 2025.

Dr Anurag Kashyap, Principal BNCA, highlighted that BNCA is committed to undertake socially relevant projects and offering students opportunities to interact with end users to receive feedback on their projects. This project is such exemplar project and was selected under Council of Architecture’s initiative of Urban Studio Research Project in 2021.

Dr Vaishali Anagal, the project lead elaborated that this project addresses the issues of cluster redevelopment policy as a part of Urban Renewal Schemes proposed under Unified Development, Control and Promotion Regulations in December 2020 proposed by the state government of Maharashtra. Any large-scale redevelopment has significant impact on the urban fabric, urban densities, local culture and people.

All the historic cores of Pune city have a specific urban fabric, architectural character and culture. People in these core areas have a sense of place, sense of belonging and a sense of attachment to their neighbourhoods. This project investigates the impact of cluster redevelopment, and the appropriateness of the densities proposed under UDCPR guidelines in historic cores.

Students of fourth year of BNCA developed a model of prospective cluster development of Rasta Peth considering liveability parameters. A participatory workshop was organised in the Rasta Peth in April 2023 where the prospective cluster redevelopment was presented to the residents of Rasta Peth using panels, physical model and virtual reality model. The workshop received excellent feedback from the residents of Rasta Peth.

The urban design guidelines are being developed based on the feedback received through this participatory workshop and recommendations to restructure the UDPCR will be submitted to the state government as an outcome of this research project. Theseguidelines can be applicable to the historic cores across India.