India, Sept. 21 -- The best time to see Kamla Nagar is when the market is shut, an early morning walk in September, reveals the architecture behind the flex and signage of a crowded commercial area. As the monsoon sky still lingers, the sweet, dramatic sky during the rains sets off the terrazzo in these houses. The buildings, built between 1950 and 1955, are streamliner deco clustered around the Gol Chakkar, combining Art Deco with colonial neo-classicism, indigenous traditions, and haveli architecture. Broken down, these influences produce a consistent set of features: a central courtyard that connects the mansion internally with light and community, a street-facing concrete verandah that filters the transition into the house while keeping...