studio mumbai exhibition opens at bordeaux's arc en rêve

studio mumbai exhibition opens at bordeaux’s arc en rêve
studio mumbai premises, alibaug, india 2013
© michel jacques for arc en rêve

studio mumbai: between the sun and the moon
arc en rêve centre d’architecture, bordeaux, france
now until may 31, 2015

a major monographic exhibition has opened at bordeaux’s arc en rêve centre d’architecture, showcasing the work of indian architectural practice studio mumbai. founded in 2005 by bijoy jain, the firm has developed a body of work that continues to reference aspects of both indian and western cultures. the public display, entitled ‘between the sun and the moon‘ focuses on the work processes of studio mumbai, and explores the reoccurring themes that inform bijoy jain’s oeuvre.

leti 360 resort in leti, uttaranchal, india, 2007
© studio mumbai

upon entering the exhibition, visitors are greeted with a journey through mumbai by night, which serves as the show’s epilogue. as guests walk through the main gallery, they discover the range of projects undertaken at studio mumbai, from the initial intuitions that begin to form while visiting a site, to the ultimate build that tells its own story.

‘what sets bijoy jain’s approach apart is a brilliant combination of tradition and modernity‘, comments francine fort, general director at arc en rêve. ‘thoughtful and uncompromising to the last detail, this is architecture that cares deeply about the relationship between man and nature.’

leti 360 resort in leti, uttaranchal, india 2007
© studio mumbai

after graduating from washington university in st louis, USA, jain worked with richard meier before returning to india to found his own practice. in 2005, ‘bijoy jain & associates’ became ‘studio mumbai’ – with a new production model where a small team, that includes a carpenter and a stonemason, takes charge of both design and construction. studio mumbai has its primary office at alibaug, two hours’ drive from the city center, in an area that is still partly rural. as the firm continues to expand studio mumbai will soon be opening a second studio, saath rasta, in the very heart of the city.

demolition series, 2013
© mitul desai

‘by surrounding ourselves with everything we might need to produce quality buildings and objects, we’ve made the alibaug studio into a place where we’re able to develop ideas and begin to understand the world around us’, explains bijoy jain. ‘carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers, architects and engineers work together, cohabiting in the same space; they are committed to designing and producing a form of architecture that goes beyond its own limits.’

copper house II in chondi, maharashtra, india 2011
© mitul desai

the exhibition at the arc en rêve is spread across the six rooms that make up the center’s main gallery space. the layout has been designed to highlight the items on display by echoing the look and feel of the firm’s alibag studio. with models, prototypes, materials, objects, books, videos and tools designed to help the visitor understand the world of studio mumbai.

‘between the sun and the moon’ remains open at bordeaux’s arc en rêve centre d’architecture until the end of may, 2015.