Unleashing the Potential of Mill Heritage Ecodistricts for the Future of Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is known as the “Gateway of India” to the world. This bustling metropolis is teeming with people, who are resilient in the face of crisis for they all have a singular survival goal of financial gain. This attitude and spirit has what has helped maintain this city’s role as India’s financial capital after it was established as a trade center in the 19^th Century by the British Empire. The city’s fabric, is therefore richly woven with it’s industrial heritage that boasts of the city’s special place in the eyes of the British Raj. This richness of Bombay shines through the fabric of Mumbai through its numerous architectural remnants. These architectural remains are integral to the several microcosms of life that have grown around them. One such case, is that of Mumbai’s abandoned cotton textile mills. 

New – Age Mumbai is so steeped in financial gain that it often tends to be insensitive to Bombay and it’s historical role in the growth of the city. The cotton textile mills are no longer in use, but were once the driving influence behind several key planning decisions that permanently changed the landscape of the city. These mills, now hold a vital emotional value for the people whose lives formerly depended on them and who’s lifestyles are influenced by their presence. 

This study therefore tries to make the case for the preservation and revitalization of these mills by arguing that the sustainable adaptive reuse of these mill sites, or whatever is left of them can improve the environment, quality of life and economy of Mumbai. This case has been made by annotating certain metrics to each of these impact categories and evaluating relevant adaptive reuse examples against these metrics. 

The end goal of this study is to present and demonstrate a toolkit for designers in Mumbai to sustainably reuse these beautiful abandoned mill sites.