The BMW Guggenheim Lab in Mumbai explored the growing need for public spaces that enhance everyday life for more of those who live Mumbai. As part of this exploration, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Mumbai Environmental Social Network (MESN) launched a global search in November, 2012 for innovative proposals to redesign one of Mumbai’s busiest transportation hubs, the Kala Nagar traffic junction. Connecting Island City to Mumbai’s western suburbs through five main traffic arteries, this junction has one of the highest traffic volumes in Mumbai, with about 60,000 drivers and cyclists passing through per hour, both above and below the flyover, at peak times. Research also shows that the Western Express Highway, which connects with the junction, ranks among the ten most dangerous roads in Mumbai, as measured by casualty rates.The BMW Guggenheim Lab in Mumbai explored the growing need for public spaces that enhance everyday life for more of those who live Mumbai. As part of this exploration, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Mumbai Environmental Social Network (MESN) launched a global search in November, 2012 for innovative proposals to redesign one of Mumbai’s busiest transportation hubs, the Kala Nagar traffic junction. Connecting Island City to Mumbai’s western suburbs through five main traffic arteries, this junction has one of the highest traffic volumes in Mumbai, with about 60,000 drivers and cyclists passing through per hour, both above and below the flyover, at peak times. Research also shows that the Western Express Highway, which connects with the junction, ranks among the ten most dangerous roads in Mumbai, as measured by casualty rates.
The competition, administered by Lord Cultural Resources Private Limited, spearheaded by Lab Team member Trupti Amritwar Vaitla, and supported by Vivek Phansalkar, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, was open to students and professionals; it challenged applicants to restructure the junction’s traffic flow and explore ways to refit its infrastructure with new public space and pedestrian functions. The selection committee awarded three honors in the professional category and two honors in the student category. A “people’s choice” winner, selected from either category, was decided by more than 200 community votes at the skywalk of the Kala Nagar Junction and visitors to the Lab at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Visit here for more