Adani Group on January 1 announced partnering with renowned architect Hafeez Contractor for its ambitious Dharavi project, which involves redevelopment and rehabilitation of 0.7 million residents in one of Asia’s largest slum clusters.
Contractor is a big name in the Indian real estate sector with apartments being easily sold in top cities if the Padma Bhushan recipient is the architect.
He has done many social housing projects along with US design firm Sasaki, consultancy firm Buro Happold from the UK and experts from Singapore.
Contractor has also designed skyscrapers in several cities in India including Mumbai and the world, including the UAE and the US.
His works include The Imperial Towers in Mumbai; 23 Marina, Dubai, which is one of the tallest residential buildings in the world, two busiest airports of Mumbai and New Delhi, and DY Patil Cricket Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Early days
Contractor was born in Mumbai and studied at Boy’s Town Boarding School, Nashik. He completed his architectural studies at the Academy of Architecture in Mumbai and graduated from Columbia University, New York, in 1976-77. However, his career began far earlier, in 1968, when he apprenticed with Ar. T. Khareghat, a firm where he became an associate partner in 1977. Between 1977 and 1980 Contractor was a visiting faculty at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai.
Also read: Dharavi redevelopment: Developers’ body seeks relaxations in buying TDRs from Adani Group project
Contractor's company has grown from a modest three-person firm in 1982 to a team strength of over 550-plus people now. The firm has over 2,500 clients and 7.2 billion square feet of ongoing projects in 100 cities and 5 countries, according to the website of the Hafeez Contractor.
He is the winner of over 75 national and international awards for contributions to architecture including CWAB Architect of the Year (2006 to 2013), A+D Hall of Fame for the Decade Award, the website adds.
The Dharavi project
In November 2022, Adani Group was declared the winner of the Dharavi redevelopment project. The Group had won the bid by promising an initial investment of Rs 5,069 crore for the over Rs 20,000-crore project.
Also read: Exploring Dharavi: A reflection on complex realities of slum life and political dynamics
Dharavi came into the spotlight as one of the locations where the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire was shot.
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