UNEXPLORED MUMBAI

Project by :
Rucha Gujar
Shatada Deshmukh
Theressa Puthanangady
Kaumudi Joshi

Mentors: Prof. Rajendra Thakre

Project Brief
Concept
About South Mumbai
History
Geography
Current Scenario
Idea of ‘Unexplored Mumbai’
Base map
Selected space analysis
Extensive listing of spaces
Selected cluster
Key observations
Utility mapping
Target audience
User Persona
Problem area
Opportunities
User flow
Decision points
Factors influencing decision points
Sign programming
Mind mapping
Personality Moodboards
Color Palette and typography
Big Idea
Concept sketching and form
Concept explorations
Final Visual concept
Pictograms
Final Signage System Design
Material Study
Mobile application
To analyse and understand a space & the
interaction between people & design a
wayfinding system for that area.
Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state
of Maharashtra. A contrasting diversity that
mingles flawlessly, yet keeping its intensity
intact. Where the changing modernity of
India has been experienced most intensely.
It is a hotspot for explorers and yet it has
many unexplored places. Here, we are trying
to promote these gems of Mumbai with the
aim of creating a wayfinding system for the
tourists so that they can explore without
having the fear of being lost.
● Southern Mumbai is a treasure trove of architecture and
history, making it an ideal place to explore by Foot and on
wheels.
● South Mumbai is the wealthiest neighbourhood in India due
to the numerous business localities & expensive residential
areas around.
● The cuisine in South Mumbai is not limited, as this part of
Mumbai has people from all parts of the World .
● One can find every type of food here from all the corners of
the world.
● Due to the vast variety of place right from historical
heritage sites , open public spaces , markets to all kinds of
worship places South Mumbai will never run out of areas to
spellbound visitors.
● In 1534, the Portuguese captured the islands and
established a trading centre there. The Portuguese called
the place Bom Bahia, meaning 'the good bay', which the
English pronounced Bombay.
● The city changed its name in 1995 to Mumbai, after
Mumbadevi, the stone goddess of the Deep-sea. The
fishermen originally lived on the
Island since the beginning.
● South Mumbai is the area around the queen’s
Necklace surrounded by large water bodies known
as the Arabian Sea to the west of India.
● Many parts of this area lie just above the sea
level, with elevations.
● Most of this region fetches real high estate prices,
with high standards of living.
● The climate here is moist and humid, throughout the
year.
● It has a combination of narrow as well as wider
roads, both new and old.
● It is the country’s commercial and financial
centre and has principle ports alongside.
● The population in south Mumbai has reduced
as lower and middle income residents have
shifted northwards.
Aerial view
● It has evolved to have a tony type of Photo
establishment, in today’s time.
● Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a stunning paradox of hope and chaos, magic and
madness. Where the changing modernity of India has been experienced most intensely.
● Mumbai is a melting pot of lifestyles. It soaks everything in its fabric and makes it its own. It is one of the main centers of
culture, art, theater, dance and music in India all driven by the indomitable spirit of Mumbaikars. Mumbai is a hotspot for
explorers and yet it has so many unexplored places.
● The idea here is to make visitors aware of all these beautiful and interesting unexplored places through our ‘Wayfinding
and Signage System’ Project.
Primary roads

Secondary roads

Green spaces

Railway lines
 - Cst railway station to Navy
nagar via Queens necklace .

- South Mumbai

- Mumbai is an
amalgamation of 7 islands & surrounded by
Arabian sea .

- Mumbai is usually hot &

humid . It’s coastal nature & tropical
locations ensures temperature do not
fluctuate much throughout the years .
HERITAGE PLACES / HISTORICAL/MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS/GALLERIES

Flora Fountain Fountain sizzlers, Cafe military, kandeel

Khotachi wadi Village (Portuguese Architecture) restaurant
TImes Of India Building Yazdani bakery, Madhav Ashram
Bombay High court Aram vadapav, Canon pav bhaji, pancham
Wellington Fountain puriwala
Bombay Natural history society (D-1) Burma Burma, Khyber, Ayub’s restaurant, The
The Royal Opera house (D-2) bake house cafe,
Rajabai Clock Tower Pandora’s box, Bombay vintage, cafe royal, The
The University of Mumbai, Kala Ghoda table, Bagdadi,
The City Civil and Sessions Court Leopold cafe, Cafe Mondegar
NGMA (D-3) Pizza by the bay, K.rustom, Samrat restaurant,
Bunker Museum(Malabar hills - Raj Bhavan) (D- 4) Mockingbird cafe
National Museum of Indian Cinema, Pedder road Canto cafe and bar, Vannakkam vihar
chhatrapati shivaji maharaj vastu sangrahalaya The lab
CST Station Museum Sardar pav bhaji
Royal Bombay yacht club Cafe New York
Mani Bhavan
Cuffe Parade Art Musings (Nearby food joints)
OPEN SPACES

Horniman Circle garden (kala ghoda, fort) Bademiyan, Jimmy Boy

Brabourne Stadium (churchgate) Pizza by the bay, K.rustom, Samrat restaurant,
Colaba Woods Garden (colaba) Mockingbird cafe
Sagar Upvan Garden (azad nagar, cuffe parade) Koyla, Bay view cafe, Colaba restaurant.
Banaganga Tank (teen batti, malabar hill) (D-6) Pandora’s Box, Rustico, Ayub’s restaurant
Sassoon Dock (azad nagar, colaba) (D- 7) Fountain sizzlers, cafe military, kandeel
Aditya Birla Vatika (teen batti, malabar hill) restaurant
Priyadarshini Park (malabar hill) (D-5) Panchvati gaurav
Tata Garden Park (breach candy, cambala hill) Bachelor’s, Canto cafe and bar, Cafe New York
Country of origin
Amarsons Gardens (breach candy, cambala hill)
The Lab
Julie Aphrodi D' Zeus Beach (Chowpatty, Girgaon)
Dakshinayan South Indian restaurant
August Kranti Maidan (Tardeo, Mumbai) Hotel Kemp’s corner
Lion Gate (fort)
Walter D’Souza garden
CPRA gardens (cuffe parade) (D-8) (Nearby food joints)
Cuffe Parade garden
Cycle park, Apollo Bandar Colaba
Mukesh Mills (colaba)
Hutatma chowk
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Olympia coffee house, leopold cafe, cafe
Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue (kala ghoda) (D-9)
mondegar, cafe royal, bombay vintage.
Mumbadevi temple (zaveri bazaar, bhuleshwar) (D-10)
Burma Burma, Khyber, Ayub’s restaurant, The
Walkeshwar temple
bake house cafe,
Afghan Church (navy nagar, colaba) (D-11) Pandora’s box, Sequel, kala ghoda cafe
Babulnath Temple (chowpatty, malabar hill) Bademia, jimmy boy, kandeel, cafe military,
Banaji Agyari (Parsi Fire) ( D - 12) fountain sizzlers
Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple Taste of kerala, mahesh lunch home
Juma masjid Aaram vada pav, cannon pav bhaji,
St Thomas Cathedral (horniman circle, nariman road, fort) panchampoorivala
St Andrews Church Badshah, cafe firdoz, central restaurant, bhagat
Cathedral of the Holy name tarachand (original), cafe New York, The lab
Gurudwara Akali Dal Dakshinayan South Indian restaurant

(Nearby food joints)

MARKETS

Colaba Market Colaba restaurant, Koyla, Bay view,

Colaba Causeway Bagdadi, leopold cafe, Cafe mondegar, olympia
Crawford market coffee house, Khyber, Ayub’s restaurant, The
Chor bazar (bhendi bazaar, grant road) bake house cafe,
Bhuleshwar Market (bhuleshwar) (D-13) Pandora’s box, Sequel, kala ghoda cafe
Mangaldas market (lohar chawl, kalbadevi) (D- 14) Fountain sizzlers, Cafe military, Kandeel, Burma
Zaveri bazar (Kalabadevi) (D-15) burma
Fashion street Panchavati Gaurav, Satkar
Chira bazar(Marine line) Bombay lunch home, Aadarsh Thali, Madhav
Aashram
Manish market
Bhagat Tarachand
Lamington Road
Central Restaurant, Cafe Firdoz, Badshah
CP Tank
Flora Fountain Book street (fort) (D-16)
Kala Ghoda Pavement Gallery (Nearby food joints)
Sassoon Docks Fish Market
The Lanes of Kalbadevi (kalbadevi)
Mirchi Galli
● We further narrowed down our
space to this particular selected
cluster which ranges from CST
(Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway
Station) to Wellington fountain.
● This cluster was selected as a
sample area for this particular
project which can later be scaled up
to fit into the whole of South Mumbai
.
 ARCHITECTURE

● At first it was neoclassical style but later it got

blend with Victorian gothic, Art deco, Indo - gothic
and contemporary style.

● This style is expressive, disjointed with surfaces of live

colors, beautified with curve and narrative elements,
Incent windows, Stained glass, Ornamental
sculptures, Balconies, Etched glass.

● Mumbai is one of the most characteristically victorian

cities.

● After 19th century they have developed Indo gothic

style which is the combination of Islamic and hindu
architecture. Outer construction has domes, minar
etc but the interior have victorian influence. (Eg. High
court, Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya, Cst
station.)
 PEOPLE

● People from diverse backgrounds visit this place day in

and out, despite of which race they belong.

● The old residential buildings are lesser in comparison to

the major corporate sectors in this area of Mumbai.

● Most of the residents have shifted their livelihoods to the

northern parts of Mumbai, and so these people travel
back and forth in the day for work purpose, as it highly
proves to be the hub for employment. Whereas, the night
life here is quite enthralling and is a complete contrast to
the Daytime.

● People travel here and spend their night throughout,

visiting pubs, events, shows, having food and much more.
 EXISTING SIGNAGES

● The place is a combination of wide and narrow roads with

continuous movement taking place throughout the day.
Though there is a synergy within the existing signages, it lacks
proper Placement for the same.

● The content on these boards is limited and gives information

only about the existing place.

● There is lack of navigational signages that helps directing a

person from one place to another.

● Certain main roads only have regulatory signages and lack

directional ones.

● According to us, the orientational signages helps to give the

user an overall view of the space and makes it easy to
navigate. Here the orientation signages were only in some
parts and were placed below eye level along with its content.
The overall system has a corporate look to it.
-Utility mapping is done keeping in mind
the major spots of intervention and public traffic.

- This type of mapping ensures a symbol of assurance

for the passerby that they can arrive help or reach a
desired place of emergency at anytime and anywhere, as
travellers want to feel safe and comfortable.
 Explorers, Travel Knows that he/she knows where Knows the location
enthusiasts, On wants to explore to visit but as well as the
wheel explorers, the unexplored but does not know route, but needs a
Photo walkers, doesn’t know how the route. navigational guide
Site visitors for on to where to find along for an easy
field studies, them and how to and comfortable
Heritage walks. reach there. travel experience. SECONDARY USERS

Casual
PRIMARY USERS
visitors,
Occasional
visitors,
Passerbys,
Residents,

* The circulation pattern cannot be controlled as our area is a wide public space. There is no control over who enters the space in general.
User Persona
Name: Sarfraz Yousuf
Age: 38 yrs old
Occupation: Professor (historian)
About: Sarfraz’s specialization is in the field of history. He
spends his time gathering historical documents to explore
and understand the past.
Belief: He believes in researching and intricately studying
the essence of the places he visits. He encourages students
to explore heritage sites.
Personality: Thoughtful, Antiquarian.
Name: Janak Joshi (Photo walker)
Age: 33 yrs old
Occupation: Photographer
About: Janak born and brought up in South Mumbai,
and completed Masters in Photography in the US. After
coming back and settling in Mumbai, he started
discovering south bombay through his new lens of vision
involved with nostalgia and contemporary way of living.
Belief: He is always in search of not so discovered stills.
Personality: Loves to interact with people and capture
their emotions.
 Name: Anaya Sharma
Age: 20 yrs old
Occupation: Food Blogger (Instagram)
About: Anaya has been a resident of many
cities in India as her Father serves the Indian
Army, and so had to shift houses from one
place to another. This gave rise to her
interests in food, and made her taste buds
culturally diverse.
Belief: Trying out various cuisines filled up her
soul and encouraged her to blog.
Personality: Foodie, happy go lucky.
Name: Priyal Shah (Explorer)
Age: 24 yrs old
Occupation: Software Engineer at TCS
About: Priyal is originally from Rajasthan. Currently,
staying in mumbai for her job and loves to explore on
weekends.
Belief: She believes in maintaining a travel journal. It’s
her hobby to travel the unexplored interiors of cities she
lives in.
Personality: Outgoing, Solo traveller.
● Lack of navigational signage.
● The user is not directed to the final destination and
only realizes once he is their in the premises.
● Absence of prominent orientational map.
● Mini-orientational maps lacked ‘you are here’
feature on them.
● The users stands unaware of the potential sites in
his/her surrounding.
● Not much navigational signages and many
regulatory signages.
● Identification signages were rarely seen. These
signages were placed below the human eye level.
● Placements of the existing signages were out of
sight.
● Some signages are not designed taking into
consideration both human and vehicular cone of
vision.
● Absence of mini-directional signages on main
roads leading to small lanes those have prominent
spots.
● To incorporate an organised
directional signage system that
includes all categories of signages.
● To direct the user from start to end
point.
● Should have large orientation map at
leisure places followed by
mini-orientational maps with ‘you are
here’ features to integrate a mobile
application system.
● Incorporate identification signages of
prominent sports that can be seen
from a far distance as well.
● Rectify the cone of vision from the
existing signage system.
● Identify appropriate sports for various
categories of signages.
● Explore the visual look and feel in
terms of torm, shape and typography.
 Finds out Identification signage at the
destination.

CST railway station

Comes across Mini - Directional

Signages either leading to
Identification and Destinations or Food joints
Orientation signage

Comes across Sub - Orientation

A person chooses a signages at the main junctions
destination

Finds Directional Signages on the

Finds about nearby food way with indications of nearby
joints utilities and food joints
HERITAGE
D1- FLORA FOUNTAIN
D2-RAJABAI CLOCK TOWER
D3- UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
D4-BOMBAY HIGH COURT
D5-CITY CIVIL & SESSIONS COURT
D6-NGMA
D7- WELLINGTON FOUNTAIN
D8-BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

OPEN SPACE
D9-HUTATMA CHOWK
D10-HORNIMAN CIRCLE GARDEN
D11- LION GATE

WORSHIP PLACES
D12- BANAJI AGAYARI
D13- ST THOMAS CATHEDRAL
D14-KENESETH ELIYAHOO SYNAGOGUE

MARKETS
D15- FLORA FOUNTAIN BOOK STREET
D16- KALA GHODA PAVEMENT GALLERY
● One needs to feel comfortable within the space he/she travels.
● As the circulation patterns are not fixed within our range of space. This itself made a mark for us that its essential to place
our signages at the locations with the most traffic.
● Pedestrians have the benefit of spending more time on the signages as compared to the car drivers, so it becomes
necessary to plan the orientational signages in the most leisure spaces. Such decision complexities were sorted out with a
clear understanding and analysis of the space.
● The points of public intervention were the famous locations and heritage spaces hence, we decided upon placing our
signages near these destinations for the user to further explore the unexplored locations.
Sign Programming

● Sign programming is a process in wayfinding that enabled us

to categorize, segregate and align all our content within our
respective types of signages keeping in mind the hierarchy of
information.
Main orientational Signage - CST Railway Station Sub orientational Signage - Flora Fountain

Complete orientation map Complete orientation map (small key map)

All the Destinations and nearby Food Joints Cluster map (CST to Wellington) with 'you are here'
Place description All the Destinations and Nearby Food Joints
Architectural Icon (Cst Station Building or something) Utility & Regulatory Pictograms
Key map depicting 4 clusters QR code scanner
Utility & Regulatory Pictograms Walking distance
QR code scanner
Walking & vehicular distance
Nearby Food joints
Directional Signage - Mumbai University Directional+orientational Signage - Hornimal circle

D - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 17 D - 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16

Directional Arrows Directional Arrows
Nearby Food Joints Pictogram Name of the places
walking distance Walking Distance
Name of the places Cluster Orientation Map
Regulatory and Utility Pictograms Regulatory and Utility Pictograms
QR Code Scanner OR Code Scanner
Mini Directional Signage - Kala Ghoda Triangle Identificational Signage - NGMA

D - 9, 15, 17 You are at - 'name of the place'

Destinations Zoomed in map (you are here)
Pictograms of nearby food joints. Architectural Icon and Short Information
QR code scanner
Utility & Regulatory Pictograms
Old world charm Experiential Ethnic Mosaic City of dreams
Mumbai

Contrast
Koli fishing community has always been a very major part of
Mumbai .They have been living and working along the coastal
waters for over 500 years .The concept here was to derive the form
from the shape of the Kohli communities fishing boats & combine it
with contemporary colours.
The idea here was to take inspiration from mumbai’s well
organised transport. Combined with stained glass patterns which
shows Mumbai’s rhythmic chaos. Mumbai is not only multilingual
but multicultural too, having multiple religions, castes which
shows the organic side of mumbai, yet it has structured lifestyle.
The idea here is to give a nod to Mumbai’s past Past without making it look dated,
by combining 1930’s Art Deco elements with today’s modern art.
The signages are designed keeping in mind different Art Deco characteristics like
Parallel lines and tapering forms, Strong use of Geometric Shapes, Large areas of
unused space, Mosaic Style and Chevron Pattern.
The idea here was to bring out the contemporary style of the city
yet keeping the vintage essence alive. The forms in this concept
were an amalgamation of structured and organic shapes.
Illustrative style was used to bring out the city’s culture and history.
Mini-Directional

Sub-Orientational

Directional

Identificational
The overall idea was to maintain the best of both extremes, that
the ‘City of Dreams’ Mumbai is known for. It’s diversified vibe
inspired from the old Art Deco architectural style yet has as
commercial and contemporary feel in its Personality.
Pictograms
● The Art Deco architecture has profound stained glass fittings and tapered edges which we have tried to
incorporate into our pictographic icons.
● The stained glass effect will be given with the use of coloured yet transparent acrylic sheets, and these sheets
will be carved into the signage boards to achieve the level of transparency.
This style of pictograms was inspired by the
cuts seen in the form.
We resorted to a simplified form that has the concept’s minimalism
intact with the use of less colours as well as lesser complicated
icons. We have consciously incorporated the tapered endings to
the icons, rightly inspired from taperings of the architecture.
Signage boards will be made out of exposed RCC with UV resistant color oxides and pigment finishes to achieve the texture. MS
(mild steel) tube will be used for laying the foundational framework. The highlighted parts of certain destinations will be carved
out of acrylic sheets to give it an embossed look. The pictograms will be made out of coloured Glass sheets keeping the
transparency intact. The signages will have LED lighting system under the reliefs. The electricity will be obtained from solar
energy paneling system.
 Finds out about the ‘Audio’ feature
which gives information about the
chosen destination

Pre download the

Application Or CST Railway
Finds about Utilities and nearby food
station
joints and its ratings

Identification + Orientation
Gets information/Photos about
signage
the place

QR Code A person chooses a destination

Finds out about the

Gets the Map (With ‘Recommended Tours’ according
Destinations, Food Joints to your available time
and Utilities) on the
device
This assignment was insightful in terms of analysing spaces and its psychological and physical attributes. Amidst Covid-19
situation, Maps and google earth have been proved the most helpful tools for us. The essence of space makes it important
to understand the ‘why’s? To validate the use of graphic elements in terms of forms, shape,structure and material of the
signage system.