Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road or P M Road, located in the heart of Mumbai’s historic Fort precinct, was constructed in the early 20th century as an important East-West link. Through this virtual tour, we delve into how this street became the most important commercial and financial centre in the city, as insurance and banking institutions came up along its length in rapid succession. Designed by Indian architects and built to serve the local population, this ensemble of Deco buildings along P M Road emerged in the years leading up to Indian independence, when nationalistic sentiments had reached their peak. Join us as we explore the socio-cultural landscape of this neighbourhood, and how aspirations of an independent nation and an Indian identity were expressed through the architecture.
The tour begins with the magnificent Bombay Mutual Life building at the Western end of P M Road, and ends in Ballard Estate at Karfule, one of Mumbai’s only surviving Art Deco fuel stations.
About the Speaker:
Nityaa Lakshmi Iyer is a Conservation Architect with over seven years of experience in heritage conservation and management, in India, USA, Turkey, Peru and Tunisia. She has a keen interest in conserving 20th-century heritage, preserving historic earthen buildings and enabling sensitive interventions through adaptive reuse. She has a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. She has also been part of the MOSAIKON initiative at the Getty Conservation Institute. At Art Deco Mumbai Trust, she was Head of Documentation, Research and Outreach initiatives.