Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 25: Instruments of Advocacy, Rahul Mehrotra

In episode 25, Rahul Mehrotra offers a sharp critique of the current state of architectural media in India, arguing that it is plagued by self-indulgence, the tyranny of images, and a lack of criticality, often serving as an echo chamber for architects rather than engaging society at large. He insists that media should function as an “instrument of advocacy,” enabling architects to fulfill their societal mandate by fostering critical discourse, curatorial practice, and feedback loops that bridge the gap between professional insularity and public engagement. Drawing from his own experience, Mehrotra distinguishes between scholarship and advocacy, emphasizing the need for generosity, reflection, and the willingness to let ideas permeate culture. He calls for a pedagogical shift toward writing, reflection, and the study of broader contexts - social, political, and economic; arguing that critical thinking is not merely about criticism but about synthesizing multiple perspectives to generate robust, contextually responsive solutions. Ultimately, Mehrotra envisions media as both an archive and a catalyst, urging practitioners to situate themselves critically in the world, embrace evolving frameworks, and leverage media’s potential to mobilize collective action and shape more equitable futures.

Guest: Rahul Mehrotra

Designation: Founder Principal, RMA Architects. Professor of Urban Design and Planning, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Bio: Rahul Mehrotra (b.1959) is an architect, urbanist and educator who is the Founder Principal of RMA Architects and is Professor of Urban Design and Planning at the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Mehrotra has designed projects that range from recycling urban land and master planning in Mumbai to the design of art spaces, boutiques, weekend houses, factories, social institutes, and office buildings across India – thereby engaging diverse issues, multiple constituencies and varying scales: from interior design and architecture to urban design, conservation and planning.

He studied at the School of Architecture, Ahmedabad graduated with a Master’s Degree in Urban Design with distinction from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard (1987). Apart from his engagement with the design of buildings, Mehrotra has been actively involved in civic and urban affairs in Mumbai, having served on commissions for historic preservation and environmental issues, with various neighborhood groups. He was the Executive Director (1994–2004) of the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), where he is now a Trustee and has taught at the University of Michigan (2003–2007) and at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at MIT (2007–2010). Mehrotra has written and lectured extensively on issues to do with architecture, conservation and urban planning in Mumbai and India.

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