Mali Apurva Ramchandra

UD4005

The Ahmedabad University precinct exemplifies the paradox of urban academic clusters in India: located centrally and commanding high intellectual and cultural capital, yet spatially gated and inward-looking. Over time, the institutions have evolved as individual campuses with their own logics and boundaries, resulting in disjointed public infrastructure and minimal integration with the surrounding neighborhoods. As Indian cities rapidly urbanize, there is a growing need to rethink institutional urbanism. This project explores the idea of “Communiversity”—a fusion of community and university—to create a precinct that is more open, porous, and embedded in everyday urban life. The transformation proposed is not only physical but also social and programmatic, ensuring the institutions serve broader urban functions beyond education. University-led transformation becomes essential to unlock latent land potential, optimize infrastructure, enhance safety and accessibility, and foster innovation districts that benefit both the academic community and the wider city. The vision is to create a Communiversity Hub. It is a framework where the university and surrounding community seamlessly interact through shared spaces, publicly accessible streets, and collaborative development opportunities.