Integrating scales in the public realm – Bangalore, India

Thesis project - Masters in Sustainable Urban Design, LTH. Sweden

Intention - A mixed use small scale development that integrates different parts of the urban core with the larger regional landscape

Multiple scales and their interconnected nature provide abundant opportunities and diverse conditions for informality to flourish. Their creative energies and small scale operation provides for a robust economy and vibrant social life. Isolated nature of development has caused social segregation and unstable environments. With the industries moving out of the urban core in Bangalore, it provides the city with an opportunity to facilitate the growth and inclusion of the informal work-live neighbourhoods currently surrounding it. A lack of public leisure and recreation in these areas have deteriorated the quality of living.

The proposal firstly, investigates the dynamic nature of these interconnected public realms from regional to local neighbourhoods and secondly, targets the water and green network as a means to create and retain much needed leisure and environmental qualities in the city.

the opportunity that is minerva mills

Minerva mills in bengaluru, India has escaped the plundering effects for some time now. How can an industrial heritage building be reduced to stones and gravel and sold as artifacts while the heritage value of such buildings are far greater contributors to the city. The recent fate of Binny mills has been so. The Mysore spinning mills has been ''beautified'' into a Mantri greens. 


Minerva mills stands now in a time of awareness, an opportunity to the city to claim it! a leap into contemporary times when a truly important city space can develop for the city, made by the city.
So why do it? why is it so important? Around 5000 people have traversed the doors everyday for the last 70years and more. Such a sense of time is very rare to dwell upon in a city of constant change. Such places provide alternate narratives to a city's past. Alternate stories. Architecturally these buildings stand reference to culture and a way of thinking. To learn from. To move ahead. To imagine. 


Internationally, the trend is to conserve the history of the city. In copenhagen the carlsberg brewery is redeveloping the area not demolishing it. In malmo, sweden the old industrial area (norra sorgenfri) is too, so in london, beijing china has done it through the district 789. The property prices and the footfalls have increased (if they are indicators of public use) besides contributing to a large sustainable public space to the city. Bengaluru can regain its image in the world not just by cultivating the best buildings but showcasing the best practices in sustainable urban design processes. The city is a lived space and the mills are too. It is a neighbourhood. Participatory processes and small city spaces are the need of the hour. With the majority of the population walking and cycling to their work this place provides the right connections. 


Rather, ask the question what can happen in this place. Bengaluru is not unaware of building re-use. High end coffee house and a rock cafe (pub) have been among the latest residents in an age old building. Koshys brings up memories for the young and experienced. Now this mill is as old as that!!! with this info any person can gauge the extent of possibilities with it. No architet or planner is required. 


Can the citizens engage with their city even more? the new city dynamics is of perusal. Lage raho! 

skipped the
heritage radar!

time running out!