While the collection of Art Deco buildings in Mumbai are much admired and are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lesser known examples of the moderne architectural style abound in several other parts of India. These examples of Art Deco structures can be found across building typologies, be it residential bungalows, marriage halls, cinemas or schools. Join us on this virtual storytelling journey, as we explore Art Deco architecture in the context of three different Indian cities – Delhi, Madras and Hyderabad. Our guests, three independent researchers, talk about the lesser-known Art Deco jewels in the rich, historic fabric of their cities, and the crucial role the style played in the transition of these colonial cities into thriving metropolises.
About the Speakers:
Geetanjali Sayal is an architect based out of New Delhi. She has a Master’s in Narrative Environments from Central Saint Martins, London. Since the beginning of 2020, Sayal has been studying the diminishing Art Deco heritage of Delhi. In 2021, her research on Art Deco Delhi won the Arts Research grant from the India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore, to support in-depth study and documentation on this subject.
Prathyaksha Krishna Prasad is an urban conservation architect with a double Masters degree in Urban Conservation, and in History and Heritage Management. She is the founder of The Heritage Art Collective, a bespoke art and cultural heritage research and conservation studio. Art Deco Madras is one such research initiative born out of her passion for Art Deco culture. In 2017, Prathyaksha helped build the early foundations on which Art Deco Mumbai stands.
Nitya Gonnakuti is an architect and a heritage enthusiast. In 2019, she started documenting Art Deco in Hyderabad with a main interest in photo documentation, research and illustrated works. Having documented more than 70 buildings in the city, Nitya continues to explore the style that reflects the transition from the Qutb Shahi, the Nizam and colonial architecture.
