Can cities speak? Can streets, skylines and seafronts whisper stories of culture, community and change? In Episode 7 of M-Connect: Celebrating Architectural Excellence & Innovation—a campaign by Marmo Solutions in association with Forbes India—the spotlight turned to the symbiotic relationship between cities and the architects who shape them.
Themed ‘City Imprints’, the episode features a compelling conversation with three acclaimed Indian architects: Dinesh Panwar, Founder & Principal Architect at Urbanscape; Manish Mehta, Lead Designer & Founder at Nouveau Design Group; and Kiran Gala, Principal Architect at Kiran Gala & Associates.
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From reminiscing about landscapes from their formative years to interpreting the layered contexts of urban life, the panel explored how cities are lived experiences. Kiran Gala observed, “There are so many beautiful and inspiring places in the world. For instance, when you visit a city like Vienna, you immediately connect with the deep sense of art and culture that surrounds you. Closer to home, I had a profound experience visiting Pondicherry. Walking through the Aurobindo Ashram and experiencing the atmosphere first-hand gave me a deeper understanding—not just of design, but of life, humanity, and spirituality.”
Building on that view, Manish Mehta added, “Every city has a context—its own unique identity and history. And that becomes the guiding force or the starting point for the design process. Once you understand that, other elements—like local materials, the cultural nuances of the place, and even how people interact with their environment—all start to inform the design organically.”
In Dinesh Panwar’s experience, designing begins with reading the city. Whether in Ahmedabad, Kishangarh or Pondicherry, he believes that materials, climate, and local craft serve as both inspiration and instruction. “The best form of architecture is vernacular—adapted to its context—but interpreted in a contemporary way. It must resonate with the people who live there and should respond to the climate, the local materials, the culture, and the sensibilities of the region. All of these are deeply inter-connected,” he said.
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The conversation also delved into deeper questions: What aspects of design enable a dignified urban life? How do cities preserve memory while allowing for reinvention? How can architects create inclusive, people-first spaces?
Ultimately, the session was a heartfelt ode to context, community and conscience. The participants agreed that a truly great city gives you physical and mental space. Whether in designing pedestrian-friendly spaces or taking cues from heritage cities and European plazas, each speaker reinforced the idea that cities are living archives—and architects are the narrators.
Presented by Marmo Solutions, M-Connect continues to reaffirm that the most powerful architecture is not just built—but deeply experienced.
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The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and are not written and produced by Forbes India journalists.
The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and are not written and produced by Forbes India journalists,The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and a
