Across Indian cities, redevelopment is becoming an increasingly visible part of the urban landscape. Ageing buildings, changing lifestyles, rising infrastructure demands and the scarcity of land are prompting homeowners and housing societies to reconsider how, and where, they live. But while redevelopment is often discussed in terms of additional floor area, new amenities and financial returns, the larger question is what kind of urban environment we are creating in the process.

For Ar. Harshal Kavdikar, Founder and Principal Architect at E Group Architecture and Partner at Nilay Sarathi, redevelopment presents an opportunity to rethink not just buildings, but the everyday experience of living in a neighbourhood. From planning for changing demographics to preserving open spaces and improving infrastructure, he believes the conversation needs to move beyond the individual apartment and towards the larger urban ecosystem.

In this conversation, Kavdikar discusses what homeowners should consider before entering into redevelopment, how architects can balance diverse resident needs, and why the success of a redevelopment project should ultimately be measured by the quality of life it creates.

1. Redevelopment is becoming an increasingly common reality in Indian cities. What is driving this shift, and what does it mean for the way we will live in the future?

Redevelopment is increasingly becoming a necessity rather than simply an opportunity. A large number of buildings and neighbourhoods in our cities were planned several decades ago, when population densities, lifestyles, mobility patterns and infrastructure requirements were very different. As these buildings age, their maintenance becomes more difficult, while residents’ expectations around safety, accessibility, space and amenities have also changed.

At the same time, cities have limited land, so redevelopment allows us to renew existing urban areas rather than continuously expanding outward. The important question is what we replace the old building with. The future cannot simply be about taller buildings or larger homes. Redevelopment will increasingly need to consider how people move, interact, access open spaces and connect with the larger neighbourhood. In that sense, redevelopment is an opportunity to rethink not just individual buildings, but the way our cities function.

2. For a resident, redevelopment can be a once-in-a-lifetime decision. What should people look at beyond just a bigger home, better amenities or financial benefits?

Residents should look at redevelopment as a long-term decision about their quality of life. The first consideration should be the overall planning of the development: How will the building age? Is there adequate natural light and ventilation? How will parking work? Are there provisions for senior citizens and children? What happens to open spaces? How well does the development connect with the surrounding neighbourhood?

They should also understand the practical and contractual aspects of the redevelopment, such as the developer’s track record, timelines, temporary accommodation, project approvals, financial safeguards and the responsibilities of all stakeholders. Most importantly, residents should ask themselves what kind of community they want to create for the next 30 or 40 years. A larger apartment is valuable, but a well-planned environment around that apartment can have an even greater impact on everyday life.

3. How can redevelopment improve everyday life for residents, rather than simply replacing an old building with a new one?

Good redevelopment should begin by understanding how people actually live. It can improve everyday life through simple but meaningful interventions: better natural light and ventilation, safer circulation, accessible entrances, well-planned parking, usable open spaces, places for children and senior citizens, and better waste and service management.

There is also an opportunity to create stronger relationships between private homes and shared spaces. A lobby, courtyard, terrace, garden or community space are spaces that influence how neighbours meet, how children play and how communities develop. Ultimately, the success of redevelopment should be measured by what changes in people’s daily lives. A new building is the physical outcome. Better living should be the real objective.

4. As cities become denser, how can new developments balance the needs of residents with larger concerns such as open spaces, parking, mobility and neighbourhood infrastructure?

Density itself is not necessarily the problem. The challenge is density without adequate planning and infrastructure. Every redevelopment project needs to be understood in relation to its surroundings. If we add more homes to an area, we also need to consider the capacity of the roads, public transport, water supply, drainage, parking and social infrastructure around it.

Open spaces are equally important. They need to be consciously designed as part of the development. This requires moving from a plot-by-plot approach to a neighbourhood-level approach. Redevelopment can contribute positively to a dense city when buildings, streets, mobility, infrastructure and public spaces are planned as parts of one system. Current urban planning initiatives in Maharashtra are also increasingly emphasising integrated mobility and infrastructure planning alongside development.

5. What role can architects play in making redevelopment more thoughtful and future-ready, especially when the needs of residents can be very different from one another?

The architect’s role should go beyond designing the building. An architect can act as a bridge between the aspirations of residents, the realities of the site and the larger needs of the city. In a redevelopment project, residents may have very different priorities. A young family may need play areas and flexible spaces, while an older resident may prioritise accessibility, safety and proximity to essential services. The design needs to accommodate this diversity rather than assume that one solution will work for everyone.

This requires listening, asking the right questions and translating those inputs into a coherent design strategy. Architects should also think beyond the immediate handover of the project and consider how the building can adapt to changing lifestyles, technology, climate and demographics. A future-ready building is not necessarily one with the most technology. It can continue to work well as people’s needs change.

6. If you could change one thing about the way redevelopment is currently approached in Indian cities, what would it be and why?

I would change the way we define the scope of redevelopment. Too often, redevelopment is discussed primarily in terms of the building: how much additional area residents will receive, how many floors can be constructed or what amenities will be provided. I would like us to look at it at the neighbourhood level.

When one building is redeveloped, it changes the intensity of that particular site and its relationship with the surrounding streets, buildings and infrastructure. If several buildings in a neighbourhood undergo redevelopment independently, the cumulative impact can be significant. We therefore need stronger integration between individual projects and larger urban planning. Redevelopment should be an opportunity to improve the building, the immediate neighbourhood and, wherever possible, the infrastructure around it. The real measure of successful redevelopment should be whether it creates a better place to live, not simply a newer building.

Author: Ar. Harshal Kavdikar

Founder and Principal Architect at E Group Architecture | Partner at https://www.nilaysarathi.com/