URBAN PLANNING

Placemaking is an approach to the design and management of public spaces that draws upon the strengths and aspirations of the local community. Whereas ‘space’ is a physical entity, a ‘place’ is imbued with memories and evolves as people interact with each other socially and culturally in the public realm. It is a term that Architects and Urban Planners in the western countries began to use in the 1970s to describe the process of creating parks, plazas and streets that could attract people. In India, the street was already a vibrant place with a family celebrating a wedding; the temple deities…

One thing led to another. I was looking for feedback on sketches of the street life at Russell market and that led to the suggestion: “Why don’t you try meeting Mr.Zaffar Sait? He has been an old resident of the neighbourhood” So, that’s what I did and then couldn’t help but turn it into a post just so that others would have the chance to listen to this story as well. So, here is the account of life in Bangalore in the 50’s as narrated by Mr.Zaffar Sait, who belongs to one of the most well-respected mercantile families of the…

One thing led to another. I was looking for feedback on sketches of the street life at Russell market and that led to the suggestion: “Why don’t you try meeting Mr.Zaffar Sait? He has been an old resident of the neighbourhood” So, that’s what I did and then couldn’t help but turn it into a post just so that others would have the chance to listen to this story as well. So, here is the account of life in Bangalore in the 50’s as narrated by Mr.Zaffar Sait, who belongs to one of the most well-respected mercantile families of the…

As long as I remember, the Shiva Bala Yogo Ashrama has had two locations, one in J P Nagar 3rd Phase, and one on Bannerghatta Road. A couple of years ago, I noticed that the trees in the Ashrama on Bannerghatta Road had been cut down, and the building was no longer being used.  Now it looks as if the building is going to be demolished. I wonder what will come up in its place! This has been a landmark for a long time (the bus stop nearby is still called the "Ashrama" bus stop).  Certainly, the loss of the…

As long as I remember, the Shiva Bala Yogo Ashrama has had two locations, one in J P Nagar 3rd Phase, and one on Bannerghatta Road. A couple of years ago, I noticed that the trees in the Ashrama on Bannerghatta Road had been cut down, and the building was no longer being used.  Now it looks as if the building is going to be demolished. I wonder what will come up in its place! This has been a landmark for a long time (the bus stop nearby is still called the "Ashrama" bus stop).  Certainly, the loss of the…

An INTACH walk took some of us to Avenue road last Saturday with Lathasshree KS, an archaeologist who unearthed for us the Avenue road of old times. We saw that morning a beautiful past that had been preserved for centuries, low-relief deities in the ground or a nandi that was partly submerged. One step at a time, we moved from the contemporary urban chaos to the ancient serene landscape of shrines, snake stones and peepul trees. The axial symmetry of Chikpete If we look at the map of the fort or Pettah area, there are two axes – the N-S…

An INTACH walk took some of us to Avenue road last Saturday with Lathasshree KS, an archaeologist who unearthed for us the Avenue road of old times. We saw that morning a beautiful past that had been preserved for centuries, low-relief deities in the ground or a nandi that was partly submerged. One step at a time, we moved from the contemporary urban chaos to the ancient serene landscape of shrines, snake stones and peepul trees. The axial symmetry of Chikpete If we look at the map of the fort or Pettah area, there are two axes – the N-S…

When the country was formed after Independence we had a Central government, and the state governments were formed quickly after that. However, much of 'local' administration was not in a third tier, but simply controlled by the Centre and State itself. The 'collector' system that we have in the districts even today is a legacy of this start. It was only in the early 1990s that the Centre passed laws to devolve power and responsibility to the local bodies. First the panchayati raj amendment, and then the urban governance amendment (73 and 74) were passed.Broadly, the 74th Amendment mandates three…

When the country was formed after Independence we had a Central government, and the state governments were formed quickly after that. However, much of 'local' administration was not in a third tier, but simply controlled by the Centre and State itself. The 'collector' system that we have in the districts even today is a legacy of this start. It was only in the early 1990s that the Centre passed laws to devolve power and responsibility to the local bodies. First the panchayati raj amendment, and then the urban governance amendment (73 and 74) were passed.Broadly, the 74th Amendment mandates three…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUwxV7_pYyE&feature=youtu.be The film was taken in 2010 and the background music is a recording I made from the loudspeakers that played on Bull temple road during the Kadlekai Parishe (Groundnut fair) that same year. The purpose of the film had been a simple one - to record how people use space on an everyday basis. It was a time when the street vendors had not yet been evicted. That happened in Jan 2012. The reason cited by the government for the eviction was that the gandhi bazaar main road was becoming very congested. But, was this the only solution? In…