Wanna chill, but where?

OPEN SPACES
WANNA CHILL, BUT WHERE?
Hanging out means killing time at malls or shopping areas for Bangalore’s youngsters. BT focuses on the lack of public spaces in the city
The Times of India


IF you have the compelling desire to just chill in a city like Bangalore, there must be a place to satisfy that craving, you’d imagine. But while this city boasts of green parks and grand shopping malls, it can’t say much about its basic public spaces. Somewhere you can sit, read or just watch the world go by.

An ideal public space:

According to Bangalore’s youngsters, an ideal public space should be one where you can relax or hang out undisturbed. Says Irene Phillip, a student of fashion design, “An ideal public space would be one where people aren’t staring at you. It should be a place where there are no timings — but I guess that’s impossible, because every place nowadays has timings!” She also suggests that public spaces where you can sit and listen to music wouldn’t be a bad idea either. “But I am sure they’ll charge you for it.”

Call centre employee Shilpi Dewangan says an ideal public space is “one where no one forces you to buy something, or where no one stares at you. It shouldn’t be very crowded either. And since the city has become so congested, somewhere in the outskirts would be ideal.”

Where do you go:

Irene says she either hangs out at a coffee shop, where she is forced to buy a cup of coffee, “or keep walking back and forth on MG Road or Brigade Road.”

Shilpi says Bangalore doesn’t have a single decent public space. “So we meet at friends’ places. I also find that many people sit at the approach to some malls, but you don’t always find space there,” she adds.

Voiceover professional Prakash Paul says parks are great if you want fresh air. “But if you want to meet friends, I think coffee shops are the perfect choice.” Paul says parks are popular with the tourists. “But locals don’t want to be seen there because they’re considered shady.” He says he often hangs out at coffee shops. “Sure, I have to buy my cup of coffee to be able to sit there, but that’s understood. They expect that of you because they don’t want all and sundry to use their space for free,” says Paul.

What Bangalore needs:

According to architect and interior designer Kavya Thimmaiah, Bangalore needs a La Rambla. “Anyone who’s been to Spain will agree that Bangalore needs something like La Rambla in Barcelona.” La Rambla is a 2-km long stretch with a width of 100 ft being completely pedestrian. Vehicles are allowed a width of only 15 ft. “La Rambla has retail stores, music shops, pubs, theatres and museums on either side of the road and it’s open 24 hours. They have people putting up skits and playing guitars,” says Kavya. And with ample place to sit, it’s become a must-visit for everyone.

Architect Sandeep Khosla wants to endorse an interactive street life — basically something like New York — of course with due incentives for the builders. “In the commercial districts or in central Bangalore, fancy corporate buildings can be set back in the street,” says Sandeep. “This would mean public plaza spaces in front of these structures, which would have benches and water bodies. Such places can also become commercially viable with road-side cafes and shops.” Such ideas have been successfully implemented all over the world, and Sandeep says it would allow for greater interaction with the streets. “Otherwise, all we have are buildings which have become very insular. You don’t feel like pausing.”

Kavya reiterates that Bangalore needs free spaces with stone benches, where everyone is welcome. She adds, “Something like what they’re doing with Central Jail. It’s a great initiative and the authorities should do something similar within the city.”

Adds Sandeep, “Even some roads like Lavelle Road, which are developing well, could be taken over by an association which will install street lights, make the pathways cobble-stoned and set up benches. They could turn it into a shopping district.”

How can it happen:

Paul says the government should encourage people to use its parks as public spaces. “And that means all kinds of people — youngsters, professionals. Just to give it an image boost,” says Paul, adding, “Even the library at Cubbon Park is under-utilised. People should be encouraged to use that as well.”

Sandeep says that those builders agreeing to provide extra space in front of their properties should be allowed by the authorities to go beyond the stipulated height restrictions in the city, as an incentive.

Kavya says that either the BDA or builders themselves must take on the responsibility for creating more public spaces in the city. “When the BDA is making new layouts, they need to mark out an area for a public space. Even builders shouldn’t use up every square inch of space they have. They should have some public responsibility and create some basic public spaces in their properties. People’s attitude must change,” says Kavya.