Project Minerva as we commonly call it is actually one of Mumbai’s most successful and model Slum Redevelopment Projects. The Shramik Ekta SRA Project is a complex 6.5 acre, 3 million sq ft redevelopment in the heart of Lower Parel; out of which 5 acres is used for the Slum Rehousing component and 1.5 acres is used for the Free Sale component making this a model for future SRA projects in Mumbai. The Shramik Ekta Redevelopment houses around 1900 slum tenants spread over 1 million sq ft; and the Free Sale project spread over 1.5 acres of land has a constructed area of nearly 2 million sq ft rendering a Built-up to Land Ratio of nearly 13.5. Project Minerva, designed in 2009, took 15 years to complete including the Rehousing Component, which played a major role in the developers ability to build out the Free Sale Part. The project witnessed 2 major changes in Development Control Regulations (DCR) for the island city of Mumbai, as well as 2 major revisions in Structural Codes of India; demonstrating our design team’s forward thinking as the genesis of the design never changed despite the regulation changes forced upon the protect. The frequent changes and compliance to new regulations for tall buildings, are also a testament that the original envisaged design was always future proof. Lastly, enduring and delivering this project over its 15 years time span serves as a reminder of our design team’s resilience in getting the job done! Besides breaking many records such as being India’s Tallest Building, it is the only building in India to have crossed 300 mtr in height.
About the building itself - Minerva is a unique and inspiring piece of architecture arranged on an impossibly narrow and linear site that overlooks the majestic Mumbai Racecourse and Arabian Sea beyond. The design demanded very high gross floor area and with the pressure of area consumption it became evident very early in the design evolution that a super high rise would be the eventual outcome. It is designed with two joined towers having a total width in excess of 105 mtr and a height in excess of 300.6 mtr. The building hosts an impressive 91 storeys, and as recorded in Sky Scraper Centre CTBUH website, it is India’s tallest skyscraper. The project had to undergo a major re-shuffle of the design 50% into construction catering to a new set of changing local bye laws which came into effect during the life cycle of the project. This is evident at the 2/3rd height of the Towers where the building is divided into two arms. The design language of balconies continues all the way to the top. The end result is a beautifully proportioned super high rise with 100% forward facing apartments taking advantage of the views.
