Gated Luxury Condominiums in India: A Socio-Spatial Arena for New Cosmopolitans critically examines gated luxury condominiums in contemporary India, exploring their role in shaping elite power and identity within the framework of neoliberalism. It delves into the spatial structure, perception and post-occupancy experience of these enclaves, offering valuable insights into India's urban development. This book convincingly elucidates the complex socio-spatial transformations underway in India, inviting readers to understand the depth and breadth of these changes, particularly within the rapidly expanding middle and upper-middle classes. It adopts a robust multi-disciplinary approach, combining methodologies such as spatial ethnography, threshold mapping, qualitative interviews and discourse analysis. Focused on the architectural typology of luxury condominiums, the study serves as a lens for broader social transformations grounded in case studies from Mumbai and Pune. Through a meticulous dissection of the lived experiences of various categories of users – owners, visitors and service staff – the book unveils the complex socio-spatial hierarchies perpetuated within these enclaves. Drawing on theories of cosmopolitanism and postcolonial critiques, the monograph makes a significant scholarly contribution to the disciplines of architecture and the built environment. It fills a gap in the existing literature on modern domesticity in India, offering original research that highlights how architecture is instrumental in socially divisive practices of elite formation. It will appeal to scholars, researchers and students across disciplines like architecture, landscape design, spatial sociology, urban studies and area studies, focusing on India and South Asia. It is particularly compelling for those interested in the sociocultural dynamics of the middle class, encompassing themes such as domesticity, material culture and spatial politics within the context of Indian condominiums.

This book examines architecture, image, and media relationships as productive for architecture and architectural discourses. By arguing that the relationships between architecture and media cannot be dismissed via linear criticism of architecture and media or image, these relations are instead seen as a part of a sphere (a mediasphere) of complex relationships. In lieu of anything like a consensus on the contemporary condition of architecture (referring to the late twentieth and the twenty-first centuries), the starting point of this book is that the relationships between architecture, media, and images continue to multiply, owing to continuous technological advancements. Contemporary architecture considered in this book is related to the selected circumstances of high visibility, where architectural images are propelled into visibility and conflated with non-architectural images. This takes architecture outside of architectural-only discourse and into the public realm. By granting higher visibility to both the architectural images and architecture in the public realm, architecture can also be influenced by the various perceptions of the general public and can enter public consciousness via non-architectural media. With increased visibility, architecture’s far-reaching presence calls for more structured analysis of its nature and potential. As the analysed architecture in this book is associated with the discourses outside of architecture (some of which relate to terrorism, natural disaster, and branding and consumption), the limits of contemporary architectural discipline are questioned and extended. This book is written for academics and students in architectural history, theory, and criticism, particularly those interested in visual and media studies.

This is a book about sound studios, focusing on their architectural and geographical aspects. It explores how music is materialized under specific spatial and technological conditions and the myths associated with this process. Through ten in-depth studies, it examines the design, evolution and current function of sound studios amidst economic and technological shifts in the music industry. Traditional studios are in flux between the past and future. The industry, while steeped in romanticism and nostalgia, also embraces forward-driven pragmatism and an extensive reuse culture, encompassing heritage audio, building materials and existing buildings. A surprisingly diverse architectural heritage, the most significant feature is the host building, the framework around the studio capsule. Many traditional studios adapt to digitalization with hybrid solutions, reflecting a shift toward smaller, more versatile spaces. In a time when recordings in theory can happen anywhere, destination studios must excel to attract clients, balancing historical legacies with diversification. Although they may be easy to deconstruct, many of the myths endure, sustaining ideas of landmark recordings, unique locations and distinct remnants of sonic heritage. Courtesy of their capacity to keep the past alive in the present, traditional sound studios are best described as museums that work. This book aims to reach scholars and students with an interest in history, theory and preservation, as well as practicing architects and architectural students who wish to find out more about the relationship between sound and space, acoustic design and retrofitting of historical buildings into specialized functions. It also aims to reach practicing musicians, producers, music students and music scholars.

The book challenges three perspectives on the modern architectural canon: explanations that disregard impacts and effects beyond the North Atlantic (monologic), superficial modifications that simply add "Other" figures to the canon, and views that reject the canon itself. Instead, it recognizes the canon's significance in comprehending architecture, while seeking to uncover its presumed Western-centric integrity through a shift from a monological to a dialogical approach. This approach integrates concepts of identity and Otherness as dialectically articulated and mutually interrelated. In essence, the book's main thesis contends that the canon's historiographic construction overlooked the existence of “Otherness”, specifically neglecting the world beyond the North Atlantic nucleus of the West. By examining a global context to comprehend the canon formation, the book proposes a more accurate understanding of the history of modern architecture. Recognizing that this task cannot emanate from a single hegemonic center, it presents the prospect of a coral-type architectural history. This narrative should and could encompass voices from diverse cultures to explore the particular circumstances of the world intertwined with each piece or figure transiently integrated into that canon. As a result, the ideal readers of this book position themselves within multiple settings, keen on engaging in a critical global conversation about modern architectural discourse. It will be of interest to researchers and students of architecture, architectural history, and cultural studies.

This book is one of the first ethnographic studies to examine the complexities of lifestyles of the the upwardly mobile middle classes in India in the new millennium. It reveals an original theory on cosmopolitan Indianness and urbanisation in the age of globalisation.

This Handbook is the first major volume to examine the conservation of Asia’s culture and nature in relation to the wider social, political and economic forces shaping the region today. Throughout Asia rapid economic and social change means the region’s heritage is at once under threat and undergoing a revival as never before. As societies look forward, competing forces ensure they re-visit the past and the inherited, with the conservation of nature and culture now driven by the broader agendas of identity politics, tradition, revival, rapid development, environmentalism and sustainability. In response to these new and important trends, the twenty three accessible chapters here go beyond sector specific analyses to examine heritage in inter-disciplinary and critically engaged terms, encompassing the natural and the cultural, the tangible and intangible. Emerging environmentalisms, urban planning, identity politics, conflict memorialization, tourism and biodiversity are among the topics covered here. This path-breaking volume will be of particular interest to students and scholars working in the fields of heritage, tourism, archaeology, Asian studies, geography, anthropology, development, sociology, and cultural and postcolonial studies.

This book looks critically at various constructions of the Indian citizen from 1991 to 2007, the period when economic liberalization became established government policy. Examining differing images of citizenship and its rules and rituals, Chowdhury sheds light on the complex interactions between culture and political economy in the New India.

A window into the highly complex Indian luxury market, providing strategies to guide brands in entering this high potential market and capturing the luxury rupee. Sets out to uncover strategies that will help to avoid market failure and leverage opportunities to win in India.

In 2008 for the first time the majority of the planet's inhabitants lived in cities and towns. Becoming globally urban has been one of mankind's greatest collective achievements over time, and raises many questions. How did global city systems evolve and interact in the past? How have historic urban patterns impacted on those of the contemporary world? And what were the key drivers in the roller-coaster of urban change over the millennia - market forces such as trade and industry, rulers and governments, competition and collaboration between cities, or the urban environment and demographic forces? This pioneering comparative work by leading scholars drawn from a range of disciplines offers the first detailed comparative study of urban development from ancient times to the present day. The Oxford Handbook of Cities in World History explores not only the main trends in the growth of cities and towns across the world - in Asia and the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas - and the different types of cities from great metropolitan centres to suburbs, colonial cities, and market towns, but also many of the essential themes in the making and remaking of the urban world: the role of power, economic development, migration, social inequality, environmental challenge and the urban response, religion and representation, cinema, and urban creativity. Split into three parts covering Ancient cities, the medieval and early-modern period, and the modern and contemporary era, it begins with an introduction by the editor identifying the importance and challenges of research on cities in world history, as well as the crucial outlines of urban development since the earliest cities in ancient Mesopotamia to the present.

About the Book: In a global landscape increasingly defined by mobility and interconnectedness, the phenomenon of migration to new urban centres has emerged as a defining characteristic of contemporary society. For individuals seeking a vibrant and enriching experience, the top cities of India offer a myriad of opportunities, challenges, and rewards. This comprehensive guidebook is meticulously crafted to serve as a trusted companion as you embark on this transformative journey. Within the pages of this guide, you will discover a wealth of practical information and insights tailored to the unique needs of migrants. From essential details regarding employment sectors and prominent companies to invaluable advice on settling into a new environment, this book encompasses all aspects of life in India's most dynamic urban centres. Whether you are a professional seeking career advancement, a student pursuing higher education, or an entrepreneur yearning for a fresh start, this guidebook provides the tools and knowledge necessary for success. Amidst the diverse tapestry of India's landscapes, these cities stand out for their cultural opulence, historical grandeur, and economic vitality. Each city presents a harmonious symphony of tradition and modernity, from the bustling metropolis of Mumbai to the regal heritage of Jaipur. Venture into the local communities and immerse yourself in a captivating mosaic of vibrant festivals, tantalizing cuisines, and limitless opportunities for personal growth and discovery. Relocating to a new city can be both exhilarating and daunting, and this guidebook is designed to facilitate a smooth and seamless transition. With detailed city profiles, neighbourhood guides, and practical tips on housing, transportation, and healthcare, you will have at your disposal all the resources necessary to establish a comfortable and fulfilling life for yourself and your family. Therefore, whether you are a seasoned traveller or embarking on your first migration journey, this guidebook is an indispensable companion. Let it serve as your trusted advisor, confidant, and source of inspiration as you embrace the adventure of a lifetime. Welcome to the top ten cities of India—a place where dreams are realized, and possibilities are unbounded. About the Series: "A Migrant's Guide to Indian Cities" is a comprehensive guidebook series for migratory professionals, career aspirants, students, entrepreneurs and expats relocating to India's top 50 urban centres. Spanning five volumes, each book features ten cities, providing practical information, insights, and advice tailored to the unique needs of migrants. The guide covers various aspects of life in these cities, including employment sectors, prominent companies, settling into the environment, housing, transportation, healthcare, and more. It also explores the cultural opulence, historical grandeur, and economic vitality of each city, offering a glimpse into their vibrant festivals, cuisines, and opportunities for personal growth and discovery. Whether you're a seasoned migrant or embarking on your first migration journey, this series is an indispensable companion, offering valuable resources and inspiration to help you embrace the adventure of a lifetime in India's most dynamic urban centres.