The lecture takes a historical view to the question of urban development and morphology as related to the questions of modification nature. Cities by their very nature modify the natural condition in order to create conducive living environment. However this alteration of natural condition is not a constant phenomenon and has been undergoing a shift in recent past. This lecture will highlight case studies of South Asian historical cities to establish the pattern of natural modifications and its result in the formation of cities.
Prof. Pratyush Shankar is currently the Provost of Navrachana University, Vadodara, India, and serves as the Dean of the School of Environmental Design and Architecture (SEDA) at the same institution. In 2023, he was the Creative Director for the prestigious Humboldt Residency Program in Berlin, Germany. Recently, Prof. Shankar was honoured as the International Ambassador for the University of Bonn, Germany, a recognition that complements his earlier achievement of being awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Fellowship (2015-2017) during his tenure at the University of Bonn.
Prof. Shankar has several notable publications to his credit. His book Himalayan Cities: Settlement Pattern, Public Places and Architecture, published by Niyogi Publishers in 2014, has been widely acclaimed. His most recent work, History of Urban Form: India, published by Oxford University Press, He also runs a design practice that aligns with his academic pursuits. Prof. Shankar’s contributions to architecture have been recognized with several awards, including the 22nd JK Cement Architect of the Year Award in 2013 for Residence Design.
Prof. Shankar is the founder of CityLabs India, an initiative focused on advancing urban research, training, and raising awareness about Indian cities. Before his current roles at Navrachana University, he served as the Acting Dean of Architecture and Head of the Undergraduate Program at CEPT University, where he taught for over two decades.