Before diving into this essay, I felt the need to set a creative boundary to guide my exploration. I wondered, “What is the least discussed architectural element I could explore deeply?” Stuck at my desk, I found no breakthrough ideas. So, I decided to take an evening walk. As I wandered, I observed an elderly lady picking flowers within her building’s compound, while I looked on from outside. This mid-rise building, one of the last remaining in the neighbourhood, stood in sharp contrast to the sleek, redeveloped towers across the street. The modern residential complexes, with their high, unyielding walls, exuded a sense of fortress-like seclusion. In contrast, the old building’s compound wall offered a warm, living embrace, inviting both people and nature to mingle freely.

Long before concepts like “green walls” became a design fad, mid-rise residential buildings often featured compound walls that were both poetic and profoundly humane. These walls weren’t the result of any star architect’s ideas or design trends, rather they were crafted with a heartfelt awareness of community life. Observing this compound wall served as a metaphor for me, allowing me to explore and grasp the essence of design embedded in the rhythms of everyday life in the city of Mumbai.

While walking in quiet contemplation, the chime of notifications lured me into a digital distraction. I briefly opened Instagram. After ten-fifteen minutes of doom-scrolling, I stumbled upon a post that poignantly captured the cultural nuances of boundary-making.

Stumbling upon this post felt like a profound invitation to explore how we craft and experiment with boundaries in our rapidly evolving cities. I encountered three distinct interpretations of boundary-making: the first wall, which created a welcoming, interactive space; the towering compound wall, imposing a rigid security barrier; and the Mandana art, embodying boundaries through cultural expression. It felt as though I was witnessing three parallel threads of thought and time interweave before me.

This reflection led me to seek out a local example of a compound wall adorned with art in Mumbai, and my memory guided me well. Just outside the revered Jehangir Art Gallery lies a vibrant street art walk. This space transforms the elite precinct of South Bombay into a more inclusive and participatory environment. The compound wall beside the city’s prestigious museums and galleries invites people from all walks of life to contribute their stories and interact with art. It stands as a simple yet profound testament to how design can foster public expression and participation.