Best Architects in Mumbai, India

The architecture of the city is said to be a beautiful blend of Gothic, Victorian, Art Deco and Modern. While the best architects in Mumbai, India are working to change the skyline of the city, it still holds on to its many architectural marvels that exude other influences. If you take a walk anywhere in the city, you are bound to come across a couple of commercial complexes with retail shops, a number of office buildings, one mall at least, a big or small hotel, a multiplex theatre, a number of new residential buildings, a school or college and some skyscrapers. Another thing you might notice is that behind all this is the hard work of some world-class architects, builders and developers, interior designers and real estate professionals. If you even look back at how the city looked a decade or two ago, the difference is simply mind boggling.

Today Mumbai is packed with architecture and interior design firms. Some of the country’s best professionals are based here with swanky and stylish offices. With so much continuous urbanization and developments in infrastructure, there is definitely a wider scope of work available not only in the city and its outskirt areas, but all over the country and even abroad. Many leading architects are now choosing to concentrate on specific projects like residential and commercial, urban design, hospitality, hospital design, malls, educational institutes, etc. Leading firms are expanding their teams to make departments for specific categories in their companies that can help the firm branch out and take on more work. This change has opened the doors of opportunity for a lot of fresh architecture graduates that have innovative ideas and a knack to produce unique designs. In fact, there are many architect firms that have interior designers on the team so as to help a client plan the home from start to finish.

A number of developers and builders nowadays are on a constant hunt for expert architects to add a special touch to their real estate projects, as they have realized the importance of looks, design and sustainability in the real estate market of the country. The metropolitan population that has a load of disposable income, loves beautiful and attractive things, want their money’s worth, and are smart investors. They want all modern amenities, state of the art design and stylish interiors, and won’t settle for anything; obviously architects and builders oblige.

Meeting the high demands of the investors and going above and beyond is what has made the difference and created a new breed that is known as the best architects in Mumbai, India. These are the few professionals that have understood what the clientele really wants and provides it without compromise.

Get Your Dream Home

Buying the first home as a couple can be quite challenging. In view of the fact that each person has a good idea of how he or she wants the house to look, this is at least the merging of two dream projects. The conversations about this topic are long, and sometimes end up in arguments. Well, that is if you don’t read this article. There are some basic tips that can be followed in order to be on the same page with your spouse. The first is to be considerate. Even if you want to look for houses which are in close proximity to your work, it might turn out to be a long commute for your spouse. So, it may be best to find an area that is convenient for both parties, especially in a place like Mumbai. And always pick a place that has good connectivity to other areas of the city. This means a railway station close by, a bus stand within a short walk and a rickshaw stand near the building.

Once you have an area in mind, start looking at new or up and coming projects. The best way to do this in case you don’t already live in the vicinity or visit it often is to look for advertisements in the local newspapers or ask around. Call the developers up to get a better idea of what they offer. Many leading developers and builders offer good deals and discounted prices from time to time. If you find something both like, make an appointment to see the site first hand. This can give you a clearer idea on the whole deal. There are many couples that prefer buying a pre-owned house in slightly older buildings. The main reason for this is that these houses may be a bit cheaper than brand new residential constructions that have most modern day amenities like elevators, gardens, gyms, swimming pool and high-tech security systems. Either way, seeing the rise in real estate prices these days, you are bound to need a home loan.

There are a large number of banks that offer home loans. It may be a good idea to get price quotes from a few banks and compare to find the best deal possible. When doing the comparisons pay attention to things like the bank’s reputation in the market, interest rates, EMI, eligibility amounts, payment schemes and down payment amounts. While applying for a home loan there are some factors that you must keep in mind. Get your own credit report. This can be done online too, as some websites offer this facility. It is imperative that you check the report for any errors as this may reduce your chances of getting the loan approved. Also, finalise the property before finalizing your home loan lender, because banks reserve good rates for customers that want immediate disbursement. You should be prepared to lose out on the processing fee even if you decide on not using the loan sanction. Make sure you completely understand the interest rates charged to you as even the fixed costs quoted by the lender can be revised after 12 to 60 months. So read the documents carefully and do not hesitate to ask questions if you have any doubts.

Once you have bought the house, it is smooth sailing from there on. All you need then is home design interior magazines for ideas to make it look fabulous. If you need professional help to do up the place, there are plenty of celebrated interior design firms in the city that will be more than happy to help.

Historical Sites in Mumbai

If you are visiting India or even a resident of the country, you haven’t seen it all unless you visit Mumbai. The city is deemed the commercial Capital of the country and houses some of the many marvels it has to offer. Quite the metropolitan in every sense of the word today, Mumbai has come a long way since the time a collection of seven small islands on the west coast of India were known as Bombay. It is amongst the most populous cities in the world. Through history this small island has been under the rules of the Maurya Empire and the Silhara dynasty, who built a number of Buddhist and Hindu monuments, the Islamic rule, Portuguese rule and lastly the British monarchy, who built a large number of buildings that have a then trendy gothic and Victorian influence. Thus, it comes as no surprise that you come across historic monuments and sites that are worlds apart from each other.

The Elephanta caves are one of the must-see ancient sites in Mumbai. Located about 10 kilometers from the Gateway of India by waterway, there are many waterboats at Apollo Bunder that can take you right to the temple. The site is renowned as an architectural marvel, as the entire temple is a huge sculpture carved out of a single rock. The whole temple is dedicated to the praises of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. The built site covers a large area of about sixty thousand square feet. This includes the main chamber, two lateral chambers, courtyards and a number of subsidiary shrines. There is a fascinating hall built with 20 pillars, the Shiva Linga at the western end of the temple, and an enormous 20 feet tall carving of Lord Shiva at his Sadasiva manifestation at the north south axis that are worth a visit. The temple has three entrances and bears a natural rock on the peak.

Fully functional even after two centuries, the Victoria Terminus which is now known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only standing functional structure in the world making the UNESCO list. The Victorian Gothic style architecture style of this structure is unparalleled in magnificence. In fact, even today many architectural design firms of the country yearn to recreate this style for their clients and fail. Designed by architect, Frederick William Stevens, the huge structute was made to look like the St Pancras Station in London. While the construction of the site started in the 1878, it was fully operational only after ten years and opened to the public in 1882. The building has spectacular stone domes, pointed arches, wood carvings, brass railings and an unusual ground plan.

No article about historical sites or architectural design in Mumbai would be complete without the mention of Gateway of India. Located in Apollo Bunder, it overlooks the great Arabian Sea. This monument way built during the British Raj to commemorate the landing of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary at Mumbai in 1911. The architectural style used to build the structure is Indo-Saracenic. The monument is also symbolic of the end of British rule as the last British troops that left the country following independence passed through the gateway. The central dome is 15 metres in diameter and 25 metres in height with large halls on both sides that can hold up to six hundred people.

There are many architectural design firms in Mumbai that take inspiration from the city’s history. The various influences Mumbai has had from its many rulers are intriguing to locals as well as visitors.