In the midst of the cold, grey, Danish winter you could escape on a sensuous trip to India! What does Indian contemporary architecture look like? What traditions does it build on? Visitors could experience the Indian architectural firm Studio Mumbai that challenges the contradictions between tradition and modernity, city and countryside and insists on the importance of genius loci.

More craftsmen than architects

India is the world’s third largest economy and the world’s second most populous country. In the exhibition the founder of Studio Mumbai, Bijoy Jain shared his view of India and gave an insight into the philosophy, inspirations and workflow of Studio Mumbai – something that could challenge our Western outlook. For example the company consists mostly of artisans who, together with a few architects, prepare prototypes in scale 1:1 which gave a totally different way of testing things.

The spirit of the place in focus

Studio Mumbai has especially worked with housing in India and their work is closely linked to the local context and the genius loci (spirit of the place). They focus on the use of local materials, craftsmanship, building techniques, etc.  An understanding of the landscape and the specific climatic conditions  is crucial for them in order to be able to create buildings that fit the local context – eg buildings that can withstand the heavy monsoons.

The Land of contrasts

Studio Mumbai is located between east and west, the sun and moon – and to them opposites are not problematic. Rather, they are an end in themselves. It is in the tension between poles – between tradition and modernity, urban and rural – that interesting and exciting spaces arise. It is in this space that the perspectives cross-pollinate and fertilize each other.

Read the press report