THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY: A STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN REVOLUTION

This dissertation investigates the dynamic relationship between university campuses and their host cities, with a focus on understanding how urban context influences campus design and how campuses, in turn, impact their surroundings. Drawing from Michael Hebbert’s work The Campus and the City and supplemented by the systematic literature review, the study explores the evolution of campus locations—from isolated greenfield developments to integrated urban campuses—and critically examines the concept of campus porosity. The research addresses two key design aspects: Site Selection – evaluating how contextual factors should inform the choice of location for university campuses, especially within the Indian context where literature is sparse. Porosity and Urban Integration – assessing methods to physically and functionally connect campuses with their surrounding urban fabric, while also identifying the potential risks and challenges of such integration. The study aims to provide architects with actionable insights for designing future-ready, contextually integrated campuses. It combines generalized international literature with several case studies and reflects on their implications for campus design in India.