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Books by Pratyush Shankar
The History of Urban Form of India covers key historical moments in the country from the point of... more The History of Urban Form of India covers key historical moments in the country from the point of view of urban development. The book is divided into ten chapters that are representing a larger regional and historical era or a particular political-economic arrangement. This book is an attempt to make sense of the complex spaces of Indian cities from a historical perspective. The focus is toward understanding the unique morphology of cities in the Indian sub-continent while trying to unearth the forces that influence the same. The author is particularly interested in understanding if at all Indian cities of the past manage to create a public life or public sphere; a hallmark of a true city. For example how the cities of Deccan develop a culture and spatial practice of suburban public spaces on account of the presence of tombs and abodes of the Sufi saints or how Princely states managed to make good of the partial autonomy they enjoyed during the colonial rule and few of them managed to create new urban practices that contributed to social life and well-being of its citizens. The book also has an interesting comparison between the British, French, and Portuguese colonial practices and its different manifestations in the spaces of their respective colonial cities in India. The book is ideal for scholars of architecture, urban planning, urban design, urban studies, and for people generally curious about cities.
The book is a result of documentation and research on the city and architecture of Himalayas. It ... more The book is a result of documentation and research on the city and architecture of Himalayas. It explores the idea of settlements in the Himalayas and their relationship with their landscape. It makes the case for peculiarities of the Himalayan City from the point of view of their settlement pattern, nature of public places and architecture. The underlying theme of the book is the relationship between natural systems and human ingenuity as projected through its built traditions. The book is illustrated by hand drawings by the author and his students covering examples of different parts of Himalayas such as Ladakh, Himachal, Gharwhal, Kumaon, Kathmandu, Dhulikhel, Mustang, Manang and Bhutan. The illustrations depict settlement patterns, public places, water structures, temples, monasteries, housing and dwelling, covering a range of classical and vernacular examples including Buddhist Monasteries and British Colonial buildings.
This books looks at at the material and perceptual changes in Indian cities after globalization i... more This books looks at at the material and perceptual changes in Indian cities after globalization in the digital age
Book Chapter by Pratyush Shankar
A study that looks at changing material practices in design of public places due to advent of mob... more A study that looks at changing material practices in design of public places due to advent of mobile internet enabled devices
An introductory text to the forthcoming book "Spaces of Digital"
The paper looks at landscape and urban form setting of a historic Jaina Settlement in Karnataka, ... more The paper looks at landscape and urban form setting of a historic Jaina Settlement in Karnataka, India
Papers by Pratyush Shankar
De Gruyter eBooks, Mar 6, 2023
Pedagogy - Course Curriculum at CEPT University, 1963-2001, 2011
Buddhism is the fundamental factor that defines the way of life and as a result the built environ... more Buddhism is the fundamental factor that defines the way of life and as a result the built environment in Ladakh. The monasteries of the early period of 10th and 11th century were representative of the political and religious landscape of the time. Buddhism was being reinforced and popularized throughout Tibet and Ladakh regions and monasteries played the predominant role of place of worship and learning. Standardization of practices as well as the architectural elements takes place during the later period (14th century onwards). This is also the time that monasteries play a very important..
The Himalayan chains of mountains form the northern boundary of India. Many settlements in the re... more The Himalayan chains of mountains form the northern boundary of India. Many settlements in the region have maintained unbroken traditions in their cultural practices and their built form. But as the otherwise remote settlements become more connected with other parts of the country and the world, vernacular architecture traditions of the area are undergoing change. Change in vernacular architecture of the Himalayas needs to be deconstructed and understood in a comprehensive manner, to be able to evolve a holistic view on the issue of change and continuity in this region. Case study of village..
Ways of reading cilies Cities historically have been complex entities both in terms of their phys... more Ways of reading cilies Cities historically have been complex entities both in terms of their physical fonn and the processes that they support. Cities have been sites of action, inno'l,lIioo and convergence of new ideas and carry immense meaning for communities. Using multiple narratives to understand cities or urban spaces might lead a richer and comprehensive understanding or lhe city mlher than a definitive nomm!ivc way of interpreting the city. The burden of 'Art and Architectural hi5lOrialls' way of looking al c il ies as an artifact does nol help either. A piece of Architecture is easy 10 abstract and attribute its form to some singular factor like power statement, climate or construction system. I1 is doubtful how onc can use such a si ngular defini tive narrative for a city. To complicate matters fu rther, the history of Architecture for Asia mostly written ignores the vernacular tradition and has almost always concentrated on the classical iconic examples to fon...
Framework, 2006
... pp. 101-115 Mirasdar, Mangala, 1995, The concepts of great element in Jain cosmologyIn: Vat... more ... pp. 101-115 Mirasdar, Mangala, 1995, The concepts of great element in Jain cosmologyIn: Vatsyayan Kapila ... Figure 1 drawn by Anar Memon for her undergraduate thesis which was guided by the author Figure 2 and 3 drawn by Dhaval Limachia using google earth images ...
The paper analysis the morphological features of the monastery of Likir in Ladakh, India
Change in vernacular architecture of the Himalayas needs to be deconstructed and understood in a ... more Change in vernacular architecture of the Himalayas needs to be deconstructed and understood in a comprehensive manner, to be able to evolve a holistic view on the issue of change and continuity in this region. Case study of village Mukhba in Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal state has been taken up to understand the issues of change in vernacular building traditions in the area
The History of Urban Form of India covers key historical moments in the country from the point of... more The History of Urban Form of India covers key historical moments in the country from the point of view of urban development. The book is divided into ten chapters that are representing a larger regional and historical era or a particular political-economic arrangement. This book is an attempt to make sense of the complex spaces of Indian cities from a historical perspective. The focus is toward understanding the unique morphology of cities in the Indian sub-continent while trying to unearth the forces that influence the same. The author is particularly interested in understanding if at all Indian cities of the past manage to create a public life or public sphere; a hallmark of a true city. For example how the cities of Deccan develop a culture and spatial practice of suburban public spaces on account of the presence of tombs and abodes of the Sufi saints or how Princely states managed to make good of the partial autonomy they enjoyed during the colonial rule and few of them managed to create new urban practices that contributed to social life and well-being of its citizens. The book also has an interesting comparison between the British, French, and Portuguese colonial practices and its different manifestations in the spaces of their respective colonial cities in India. The book is ideal for scholars of architecture, urban planning, urban design, urban studies, and for people generally curious about cities.
The book is a result of documentation and research on the city and architecture of Himalayas. It ... more The book is a result of documentation and research on the city and architecture of Himalayas. It explores the idea of settlements in the Himalayas and their relationship with their landscape. It makes the case for peculiarities of the Himalayan City from the point of view of their settlement pattern, nature of public places and architecture. The underlying theme of the book is the relationship between natural systems and human ingenuity as projected through its built traditions. The book is illustrated by hand drawings by the author and his students covering examples of different parts of Himalayas such as Ladakh, Himachal, Gharwhal, Kumaon, Kathmandu, Dhulikhel, Mustang, Manang and Bhutan. The illustrations depict settlement patterns, public places, water structures, temples, monasteries, housing and dwelling, covering a range of classical and vernacular examples including Buddhist Monasteries and British Colonial buildings.
This books looks at at the material and perceptual changes in Indian cities after globalization i... more This books looks at at the material and perceptual changes in Indian cities after globalization in the digital age
A study that looks at changing material practices in design of public places due to advent of mob... more A study that looks at changing material practices in design of public places due to advent of mobile internet enabled devices
An introductory text to the forthcoming book "Spaces of Digital"
The paper looks at landscape and urban form setting of a historic Jaina Settlement in Karnataka, ... more The paper looks at landscape and urban form setting of a historic Jaina Settlement in Karnataka, India
De Gruyter eBooks, Mar 6, 2023
Pedagogy - Course Curriculum at CEPT University, 1963-2001, 2011
Buddhism is the fundamental factor that defines the way of life and as a result the built environ... more Buddhism is the fundamental factor that defines the way of life and as a result the built environment in Ladakh. The monasteries of the early period of 10th and 11th century were representative of the political and religious landscape of the time. Buddhism was being reinforced and popularized throughout Tibet and Ladakh regions and monasteries played the predominant role of place of worship and learning. Standardization of practices as well as the architectural elements takes place during the later period (14th century onwards). This is also the time that monasteries play a very important..
The Himalayan chains of mountains form the northern boundary of India. Many settlements in the re... more The Himalayan chains of mountains form the northern boundary of India. Many settlements in the region have maintained unbroken traditions in their cultural practices and their built form. But as the otherwise remote settlements become more connected with other parts of the country and the world, vernacular architecture traditions of the area are undergoing change. Change in vernacular architecture of the Himalayas needs to be deconstructed and understood in a comprehensive manner, to be able to evolve a holistic view on the issue of change and continuity in this region. Case study of village..
Ways of reading cilies Cities historically have been complex entities both in terms of their phys... more Ways of reading cilies Cities historically have been complex entities both in terms of their physical fonn and the processes that they support. Cities have been sites of action, inno'l,lIioo and convergence of new ideas and carry immense meaning for communities. Using multiple narratives to understand cities or urban spaces might lead a richer and comprehensive understanding or lhe city mlher than a definitive nomm!ivc way of interpreting the city. The burden of 'Art and Architectural hi5lOrialls' way of looking al c il ies as an artifact does nol help either. A piece of Architecture is easy 10 abstract and attribute its form to some singular factor like power statement, climate or construction system. I1 is doubtful how onc can use such a si ngular defini tive narrative for a city. To complicate matters fu rther, the history of Architecture for Asia mostly written ignores the vernacular tradition and has almost always concentrated on the classical iconic examples to fon...
Framework, 2006
... pp. 101-115 Mirasdar, Mangala, 1995, The concepts of great element in Jain cosmologyIn: Vat... more ... pp. 101-115 Mirasdar, Mangala, 1995, The concepts of great element in Jain cosmologyIn: Vatsyayan Kapila ... Figure 1 drawn by Anar Memon for her undergraduate thesis which was guided by the author Figure 2 and 3 drawn by Dhaval Limachia using google earth images ...
The paper analysis the morphological features of the monastery of Likir in Ladakh, India
Change in vernacular architecture of the Himalayas needs to be deconstructed and understood in a ... more Change in vernacular architecture of the Himalayas needs to be deconstructed and understood in a comprehensive manner, to be able to evolve a holistic view on the issue of change and continuity in this region. Case study of village Mukhba in Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal state has been taken up to understand the issues of change in vernacular building traditions in the area
An introduction to historical evolution of city form around the world from beginning (5000 B.C) t... more An introduction to historical evolution of city form around the world from beginning (5000 B.C) till today (post-globalization)
This paper tries to lay out key formulations that can help us theorize the urban form characteris... more This paper tries to lay out key formulations that can help us theorize the urban form characteristics of cities in the Himalyas
The paper looks at the unique form of Himalayan Cities as a product of the landscape condition of... more The paper looks at the unique form of Himalayan Cities as a product of the landscape condition of the region
A blog article on anonymous strangers in Indian cities
A blog article on notions of public life and space in Indian cities
A blog article on the state of Indian cities that are always work in progress
A blog article on Urban innovations
A blog article on road art in Indian Cities
A blog article on Tradition, Modernity and change in Indian Cities
A blog article on role of cities in forging new identity and hope
A blog article on surviving the city