Context, Culture, and Climate: GPM Architects' Mitu Mathur on Infrastructure, Public Domain, and Widespread Awareness
By Julia Gamolina
Mitu Mathur, an award-winning architect and urban designer, has expertise in housing, hospitality, public, institutional, and master planning projects. Named a Top 30 under 45 Indian architect by Forbes in 2023, she leads the development of over twenty railway stations, airports, and integrated check posts across India as Director of GPM Architects and Planners. With a background in architecture and urban design, she brings the expertise of both disciplines and heads the Research team at GPM, focusing on the evolution and sustainable design of Indian cities. In her interview with Julia Gamolina, Mitu talks about the values that drive her approach to question the status quo, advising those just starting their careers to always trust their inner instincts.
JG: You are currently leading the redevelopment and design of over twenty major railway stations across India—this is quite the undertaking! Tell me about this initiative in India right now and your approach to the projects.
MM: India has the longest railway network in the world and caters to the largest population. What particularly intrigued me was the potential of its land banks, which are predominantly located in city centers and could play a crucial role in revitalizing congested yet neglected urban areas. Indian Railways also has one of the largest land banks in the country, so when Indian Railways and allied bodies such as Rail Land Development Authority—RLDA—introduced the railway station redevelopment projects and subsequently monetized these land banks, I was quite excited to see this as an opportunity to revitalize these prominent centers.
Currently, urban infrastructure, especially transport hubs, are treated as isolated envelopes of development and must converge to form a larger picture. Under the endeavor of the Indian Railways and RLDA, we undertook the redevelopment and design of several railway stations, including Ludhiana, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Muzaffarpur, Yesvantpur (Bengaluru), and Jodhpur. Apart from fulfilling functional requirements, these new projects are designed to accommodate all safety protocols to enable a seamless and safe transportation experience for the passengers. As the stations handle huge volumes of traffic on a daily basis, which almost double during festivals and melas, the idea was to separate arriving and departing passengers, create adequate facilities, and ensure a seamless movement pattern for pedestrians and vehicles. Our endeavor was also to integrate other modes of mass transit, such as Metro and Bus, for end-to-end connectivity.
With these projects, we see these stations as new-age transit nodes that energize dead parcels of a city by molding them to alleviate traffic and congestion, unlock real estate potential, and essentially act as catalysts of change in a city—stitching the city fabric together and bridging the gap between two sides of a railway track, creating a strong public center.
Vizag Railway Station Redevelopment, Courtesy of GPM Architects.
Now let's go back a little bit—tell me about why you studied architecture and how you chose where you studied.
Growing up in a family of architects, I saw my father’s passion for making progress by spearheading change and designing for impact. The same excitement of experiencing a holistic profession grew on me gradually, and choosing architecture was a natural instinct. My undergraduate degree in architecture in Delhi and master’s degree in urban design in New York further propelled that direction and a creative thought process.
During my undergraduate studies at Sushant School of Art & Architecture in Delhi, their hands-on approach towards architecture informs my approach today. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, their focus on artistic expression taught me that architecture is not just about designing buildings; instead, it’s about designing experiences. I also developed an interest in urban planning that was reinforced by passionate projects on slum redevelopment and my thesis on the revitalization of Nehru Place and urban centers. Choosing to do my master’s in urban planning at Columbia was a natural decision for me after that. I learned how crucial it was to look at mobility as an opportunity in urban planning. It was during my master’s that I developed the idea of looking at design through the lens of three E’s—ecology, economy, and equality.
Having studied in both India and the US, what are the major differences that you see?
A major difference that I observed is the approach towards solutions that address worldwide problems, focusing on the impact on the community and getting results. While Indian urbanism was still developing, the organized urbanism of the US helped me understand the difference between organic and planned growth. This experience shaped my views on integrating planning patterns into an organic environment. Today, with these learnings and experiences, I see myself as an explorer decoding the means and ends of architecture as a profession and a responsibility towards our community.
“My mission has been to question the current norms that affect the real estate growth of our burgeoning Indian cities . . . This is where our role as designers is crucial—mitigating the gap between the existing and proposed, the economic and ecological, surreal and the tangible!”
You've been with GPM for almost fourteen years now. Tell me about your growth within the firm and the various phases you feel you've been through.
After undertaking my master’s degree in architecture and urban design, I helped establish an urban design wing at GPM, foraying into the domains of public and infrastructure projects. Over the years, we have worked on several key endeavors in housing, urban planning, and redevelopment. A conscious effort towards working with the government sector to enable better urban infrastructure for the country helped us acquire milestone projects such as the redevelopment of prominent residential colonies of Delhi, including Sarojini Nagar and Netaji Nagar.
In addition, my experience working with private developers gave me insight into the market trends and aspirations of our thriving economy, such as some prominent hotels and mixed-use commercial and retail projects. We are grateful to be accomplished as one of the very few design practices that bind the sensibilities of a social, people-centric response that matches the expectations of future generations.
What are you focused on for 2024?
Today, we proudly integrate the latest technologies and systems within our design approach, where the key objective is to establish self-sustainable development models with respect to the environment. Additionally, response to context, passive strategies to mitigate climatic challenges, and sustainable revenue models that catalyze urban regeneration are all drivers of change for us to engage and enhance the community.
We are also experimenting with advanced digital tools and computational techniques. Under GPM DRL, our design and research lab, we have leveraged cutting-edge digital tools. With a focus on AI, parametric design, generative design, optimization, and simulations, we have been working on creating parametric facades, sustainable design iterations, and complex design solutions for many of our ongoing projects, such as interior iterations for the Udaipur Airport, façade designs for the Yesvantpur Railway Station, and also generating renderings for experience development for hospitality projects like a hotel at Rishikesh.
Udaipur Airport, Courtesy of GPM Architects
Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?
The most challenging part of my career has been finding my way through the government sector, where recognizing new ideas can be uncommon. Over the years, however, there’s been a significant shift in the acceptance and appreciation of designers as partners in our country's development and growth. Having experience working in both government and private sectors, I have learned about the long-term impact our projects have on society at large.
I also think we need more acceptance in achieving a flexible working environment for professionals who are women. If given the freedom, women can do even more wonders! Over the years, I have witnessed a significant shift in the appreciation of designers who are women and their acknowledgment of leadership roles. Thanks to the media, the last decade marked a shift not only because of the change in mindset but also because of widespread awareness. A lot of recognition is being given to female design professionals, which has pushed many women, who initially took a back seat, to the forefront.
What have you also learned in the last six months?
Thanks to all my work travel, I’m getting great exposure to different regions and communities. Interestingly, languages and local culture vary in India every thousand kilometers, and it's fascinating to see how people respond to the same concerns differently. The diversity is just so fascinating. What constantly inspires me is seeing how open-minded people are, and their interest in growth enables them to make bold decisions. Thanks to global exposure and access to technology, there is an acceptance of new ideas, which is quite inspiring.
Also, with the new lifestyle of remote working, it's imperative to be in tune with the latest technology and productivity platforms that enable collaboration and ease of communication. Hence, I’m updating myself regularly by learning new systems, software, and applications available for designers and business owners.
“I am currently admiring India’s Gen Z. They are educated, informed, confident, and fearless! The start-up community in India is thriving, especially in the smaller cities. They understand that India doesn’t always need macro solutions, and that there is a need for micro solutions with maximum impact.”
Who are you admiring now and why?
I am currently admiring India’s Gen Z. They are educated, informed, confident, and fearless! The start-up community in India is thriving, especially in the smaller cities. They understand that India doesn’t always need macro solutions and that there is a need for micro solutions with maximum impact. That’s what is defining their ideas and approach to businesses.
What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And what does success in that look like to you?
I am dedicated to working on ventures that enable unlocking the potential of unexplored regions and cultures in our country. With the right impetus from the infrastructure and hospitality sectors, there is a lot we can do. With my experience in hospitality, commercial, and infrastructure projects, I’d love to explore an integration of these in projects that engage communities and bring about a sense of pride in the region, thereby creating an impact on the physical, social, and economic ecologies of these areas.
My mission has been to question the current norms that affect the real estate growth of our burgeoning Indian cities. I consider myself fortunate to witness and participate in the urban transformation of our flourishing economy. Our goal as a firm and in my personal capacity is to enhance the end-user, the community, and eventually, the country. Our approach is defined by three C’s—context, culture, and climate—which is driven towards attaining sustainable revenue models as catalysts for urban regeneration. This is where our role as designers is crucial—mitigating the gap between the existing and proposed, the economic and ecological, surreal and the tangible!
Yesvantpur Railway Station Redevelopment, Courtesy of GPM Architects.
Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?
Work towards your vision and always trust your inner instincts; nobody can take your talent away. Also, give due time to your family and to yourself. And finally, never compare yourself to others.
In terms of being an architect who is a woman, gender should never limit the kind of work you do. Being digitally available while managing your personal routine has never been so readily acceptable. There has also been a tremendous advancement in the several realms of architecture where professionals can play diverse roles— design conceptualization, product design, interactive designs, digital presentations, project coordination, and much more. There could not be a better time to join the workforce, as the flexibility at the workplace and work culture have proved wonders for many women.