Assessing for Identity through Urban Placemaking in Mumbai's Central Business District (BKC)

Placemaking is commonly referred to as an approach that is multi-layered and multi-faced in urban studies, with the objective of the public open spaces like parks, streets, town squares or quays. They represent essence of local community identification. Urban placemaking in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, seeks to overcome the dilemma of turning a fast-emerging financial node into an inclusive, vibrant, and culturally embedded urban area. What was planned as a decentralized business district, BKC today faces fragmented public spaces, traffic jams, minimal pedestrian amenities, and a lack of connection to the socio-cultural milieu of Mumbai. This research investigates ways to rejuvenate BKC using context-sensitive urban placemaking, reconciling its global economic role with civic needs. Reflecting parallels from past urban placemaking models, focuses on comprehensive interventions that harmonize public spaces, cultural vitality, sustainable mobility, and mixed-use development.A primary analysis points to the neighbourhood’s potential for green corridors, pedestrian areas, and adaptive reuse of underutilized space, but overcoming challenges such as land-use conflicts and car domination. Methodologically, internal-external factor analysis, and spatial prioritization matrices are used to determine scalable solutions. Scalable interventions include upgrading connectivity through walkable networks, integrating public art and local cultural stories, and community-driven programming in plazas. The research highlights the potential of placemaking to link economic growth and social equity with environmental resilience, providing a replicable model for changing sterile business districts into vital, livable city centre. The study advances the field of sustainable urbanism in Global South cities by promoting contextual solutions that balance globalization pressures with place-specific identity and inclusivity.