Journal of Interior Designing and Regional Planning

Cultural Evolution and Religious Shifts: A Comparative Study of Nabadwip and Mayapur through an Urban Design Perspective

2026-08-10T08:16:25+00:00

Nabadwip, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and a historic Gaudiya Vaishnavism centre, is facing cultural decline, while Mayapur, ISKCON’s global headquarters, is rapidly emerging as an international pilgrimage hub. Mayapur’s investments in infrastructure, tourism, and global outreach have shifted religious and economic flows, leaving Nabadwip stagnant with minimal heritage conservation. Despite ICOMOS guidelines, its historic sites face neglect. This study applies node theory, which examines urban areas’ attractiveness (ability to draw people) and emissiveness (capacity to transmit cultural or economic value), to analyse how Mayapur’s rise has overshadowed the socio-economic sustenance of Nabadwip. A comparative perspective highlights the need for integrated urban policies that balance heritage conservation in Nabadwip with sustainable tourism-driven development in both towns. By drawing insights from regional contemporary practices, the study offers recommendations for cultural revitalization, ensuring heritage preservation while managing the socio-economic impact of religious tourism, fostering sustainable growth and cultural equilibrium in the region.

Identity Collapse of Holy City Centres in Post-War Iraq: The Case of Najaf City Centre

2026-08-11T12:10:30+00:00

Holy city centres in post-war Iraq have undergone profound spatial and socio-cultural transformations, particularly following the extensive reconstruction processes initiated after 2003. This study examines the phenomenon of urban identity erosion in the city centre of Najaf as a representative case of sacred urban environments under rapid redevelopment’s conditions and competing institutional agendas. The research investigates how redevelopment projects, driven by religious, economic, and political imperatives, have affected the traditional urban fabric, altering its morphological continuity, spatial hierarchy, and socio-cultural functions. Adopting a qualitative case study design comprising morphological analysis, policy review, field observation, and semi-structured expert interviews .The study explores the transformation of Najaf’s historic core from a compact, organically evolved fabric into a more fragmented and functionally restructured urban space. Findings indicate that the weakening of traditional regulatory systems—such as customary practices, waqf-based continuity mechanisms, and locally embedded decision-making—has been replaced by centralized planning and investment-driven interventions. These shifts have contributed to the disruption of spatial continuity, reduction of residential presence, and increasing dominance of commercial and service-oriented land uses. Consequently, identity erosion is not merely a physical outcome of demolition or reconstruction, but a deeper process linked to changes in governance structures and the redistribution of spatial power. The comparison of redevelopment logics reveals tensions between preservation and modernization-driven approaches, particularly in balancing sacred value, urban functionality, and economic pressure. Ultimately, the paper argues that the preservation of sacred urban identity requires a redefined governance framework that integrates local socio-spatial knowledge, ensures participatory planning mechanisms, and prioritizes morphological continuity alongside functional modernization.

Evolving Preferences: A Decade-Long Study on the Choice of Interior Materials and Finishes among Practicing Interior Designers and Architects in Bangalore (2015–2025)

2026-06-12T08:14:16+00:00

Rapid urbanization and the importance of environmental awareness have elevated sustainability and innovation in interior design. This study examines how Bangalore’s interior designers and architects have shifted their material and finish choices over 2015–2020 versus 2020–2025. This study investigates the evolving material and finish preferences among interior designers and architects in Bangalore between 2015 and 2025. The mixed-method approach utilized structured online questionnaires, which were distributed to various stakeholders, including designers, contractors, and clients. The data collected from these questionnaires were then analysed using thematic coding and descriptive statistics. The results of the study demonstrate an increase in the use of sustainable materials over time. Between 2015 and 2020, architects and interior designers indicated a strong preference for solid wood, wood veneers, laminates, standard paint, and natural stone as their primary materials; however, from 2020 to 2025, there was a significant increase in the use of engineered composites, environmentally friendly finishes, and smart materials. Evaluating costs and aesthetic values has always been a primary component for practitioners when selecting materials (over 80% of respondents). Through the latter part of the study, it could be discerned that sustainability was an increasing factor for practitioners when selecting materials, with over 60% of those surveyed in 2020–2025 identifying sustainable or low-VOC paint or sustainably sourced materials amongst their priority selection criteria, up from approximately 30% of respondents in the previous period. Additionally, challenges associated with the adoption of new materials, such as high costs, limited supply chains, and low client awareness, were identified by respondents. Some of these challenges intensified as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022), creating supply shortages and price fluctuations; however, several designers took this opportunity to experiment with locally sourced or alternative materials. This decade-long analysis conducted in one city addresses an important gap in the literature regarding practitioner preferences in the Indian interior design industry by providing empirical evidence of how practitioner preferences for materials in India have changed in one of the largest urban centres in the world. Few prior studies have systematically tracked such changes over a long period in India. The insights from this study can guide designers and clients toward material choices that better balance performance, sustainability, and style. The findings also inform suppliers and manufacturers about the rising demand for eco-friendly and innovative materials, and they highlight areas where client education is needed. Academically, the results suggest that interior design curricula and professional development in India should place greater emphasis on sustainable materials and new technologies. Future research should expand to other regions and explore emerging material technologies to build on these findings.