SMMCA launches a new Course ‘Master in Architecture (Urban Design)’, a First in Vidarbha region

Smt. Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Nagpur launches a new Course” ‘Master in Architecture (Urban Design)’, a First in Vidarbha region

Women’s Education Society’s Smt. Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Nagpur is a premier institute in Central India offering architecture education to girl students since 1992. Our Institute is recognised by Council of Architecture, New Delhi and is affiliated to Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur. Along with B.Arch, we offer M.Arch (Architecture Education) and have a Ph.D. Research Centre.

This year a new course has been added to its list i.e Masters in Urban Design, which is a 2 years full time course with 4 semesters. Urban Design is a multidisciplinary course which involves place making & practised at various scales. Urban design is a blend of various fields from  Planning, Transportation, Architecture Design, Economics, Engineering & Landscape. It plays a significant role in shaping cities & solving its day to day problems.

Masters in Urban Design was launched on the 22^nd August 2019 in the presence of various dignitaries like Shri. Ulhas Debadwar, Chief Engineer, PWD Nagpur, Mr. Nikhil Mundle, Shri. Pantula, Treasurer, WES Nagpur and Dr. Ujwala Chakradeo, Principal, SMMCA Nagpur.

Dr. Ujwala Chakradeo, Principal, SMMCA talked about the importance of Architects and Urban designers in shaping the future. She also talked about the involvement of students in live projects of Urban level in the city. Shri. Debadwar, Chief Engineer, PWD, Nagpur also spoke about the importance of involvement of students in projects in the public sector and wished the institution luck in all its endeavours, this was followed by a talk by Mr. Nikhil Mundle, who is a patron of the institute and expressed his joy and pride viewing the development of the institution.

The introduction of the college was presented by Dr. Sampada Peshwe, giving an overview about the various activities taking place in the institution. Dr. Priya Choudhary spoke about the importance of Urban design especially in a developing city like Nagpur and gave a brief introduction about the course. The program was convened by Ar. Poornima Deshpande.

Also present were Ar. Amit Pimpale, Avinash Deoskar, Ar. Ravi Sonkusare, Ar. Akshay Patil among others.

Urban Design is the need of the hour. Due to Rapid urbanization of cities, new initiatives of government, urban Design creates new opportunities & challenges for the city & its people. Well trained urban design professionals are the need for the fast developing city like Nagpur. Urban Design has an holistic approach which considers not just physical but also socio-cultural & economic factors. Urban Design is being practised in Metro cities recently. Urban Design courses are offered in Metro & mega cites, which are over developed can be good examples to study & analyse the complexities of the city and how they can be tackled at an urban scale.  But two and three tier cities like Nagpur are in real need of urban design guidelines specially when it comes to planning, designing of smart cities. Thus introducing such course in Nagpur would definitely prove to be beneficial not just for the city but for the entire region and country as a whole.