Tara Murali made remarkable contributions to city planning and conservation

Tara, as she was known to her friends and colleagues, will be remembered for her remarkable contributions to city planning, heritage conservation, consumer protection and environmental issues. Her work in the conservation of the Palani Hills and the protection of heritage buildings, such as the Director General of Police Office and Queen Mary’s College, both located on Marina, are among the well-known efforts. She was also deeply involved in the restoration work of the Senate Building in Chepauk.

Wetlands restoration, coastal regulations, or planning for metro rail, she insisted on keeping the city and public interest at the centre. Tara fearlessly pursued public causes and challenged civic actions that she believed overlooked the greater good or were non-compliant with regulations. She made valuable contributions to a range of urban issues, including affordable housing and the city’s master plan. She never hesitated to reach out to the Courts when things went amiss.

In her active architectural practice, as a partner at Bharath & Associates from 1971 to 2012, she paid meticulous attention to detail, total transparency, and adherence to all rules and regulations. With her architect-partners, she designed many of the first wave, innovative vertical housing projects in Chennai, characterised by distinctive architectural treatments. She had an enviable ability to complete work on agreed-upon time schedules and within budget, which immensely pleased her clients. Tara served as the Jt. Hon. Secy of the Indian Institute of Architecture’s Tamil Nadu Chapter, and contributed to the improvement of the profession.

(V. Balaji is Tara Murali’s friend from college days and partner at work.)