Who Ruined Indian Cities? Architects, Builders or Policy ? | Ft. Architect Reza Kabul

In this episode of The Indian Infra Show, I sit down with renowned architect Reza Kabul for a brutally honest conversation on the state of Indian architecture. We discuss why so many Indian buildings look repetitive, uninspired and disconnected from their surroundings, and whether architects, developers, government policies or buyers are responsible for this “lazy architecture.” Reza Kabul also shares his views on the rise of high-rises in Indian cities, the planning and architectural experiments happening in GIFT City, the future of Dharavi redevelopment, and how regulations, approval systems and project economics shape the buildings we eventually see. The conversation also explores why India has struggled to produce globally recognised architectural identities, whether redevelopment can improve quality of life without destroying local character, and what Indian cities need to do to become more liveable, functional and visually distinctive. A detailed conversation on architecture, urban planning, redevelopment, skyscrapers, design, policy and the future of Indian cities. #RezaKabul #IndianArchitecture #DharaviRedevelopment #GIFTCity #UrbanPlanning GET INFRA FRAME : https://powertrainmedia.in/ 00:00 Teaser: Vertical Slums and GIFT City’s Potential 01:20 Introduction: Meet Architect Reza Kabul 01:58 Why Indian Infrastructure Is Always Playing Catch-Up 03:15 Does Mumbai Need Double-Level Railway Corridors? 04:52 Why Urban Planning Agencies Don’t Coordinate 07:10 The Identity Crisis in Modern Indian Architecture 09:25 What Indian Cities Can Learn From Bhutan 10:58 Are Glass Buildings Suitable for India? 14:30 How an Architect Approaches a New Project 15:45 Why GIFT City Is an Architect’s Dream 17:35 How GIFT City Evolved From a Ghost Town 19:40 Why Government Buildings Lack Iconic Design 23:15 Can Better Architecture Be Affordable? 24:23 The Future of Mumbai’s Skyline 25:02 Why India Needs to Build Vertically 27:41 Designing India’s First 154-Metre Tower 29:15 One Marina: Creating a Jewel on Mumbai’s Queen’s Necklace 31:50 Why Mumbai Needs Cluster Redevelopment 34:16 Policy vs Implementation in Indian Cities 37:46 Is Dharavi Redevelopment a Clean-Slate Opportunity? 41:55 Reza Kabul’s Critique of the Statue of Unity 46:50 Designing the Taj Skyline Ahmedabad 51:13 Reza Kabul’s Journey Into Architecture 56:30 Working With Hafeez Contractor and Learning Every Day 01:00:10 Starting His Own Practice With No Backup 01:05:00 The 18-Storey Project That Changed His Career 01:09:24 Rapid Fire: Burj Khalifa, Marina Bay Sands and More 01:11:48 Energy-Efficient High-Rises and Closing Thoughts FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM -   / powertrain_yt   FACEBOOK -   / powertrainofficial   TWITTER -   / powertrain_yt   _____________________________________________________________________ INTRO MUSIC IF PRESENT - LEMMiNO - A THOUSAND YEARS    • LEMMiNO - A Thousand Words   CC BY-SA 4.0