New-look city in the making

New-look city in the making
Mixed land use and rapid commercialisation will change the city’s skyline
– P B V


Arapidly developing, vibrant and happening place like Bangalore that is bursting at its seams will soon see the opening up of commercial spaces across the city, because of the increased FAR (floor area ratio) incorporated in the new Master Plan 2015. Increased commercialisation may spell the demise of exclusive residential layouts, giving way to commercial and corporate offices, retail shopping complexes, restaurants and convention centres. High rises, posh office spaces, increasing number of traffic signals and flyovers, while making the city more highdense, will also make it a vibrant place.
With increased commercialisation, change in land use patterns is inevitable. Land, being a limited resource, has to be used effectively and efficiently to keep pace with development and technology. Old structures are bound to give place to new ones and it is in balancing the aesthetic aspects of a city's landscape and its growth that the challenge lies.
With mixed land use being encouraged, the city will have more commercial hubs all over, including in the oncepurely residential spaces. Mixed land use will also mean proximity to the workspaces, something that will make the commute to the office less cumbersome. There will also be a spurt in the growth of retail outlets, multiplexes, exhibition centres, amusement centres, hospitals, and other such commercial spaces. It may well be the beginning of a city that does not go to sleep. A city that's young, vibrant and active.
The social and economic changes that come with rapid urbanisation, particularly in a city like Bangalore, will make people reminisce about the past and the memories associated with it. There's a lot of social meaning that defines the relationship between a place, its people and the cultural aspects. People identify with the space in which they live in more ways than one. There's a sense of belonging and emotional attachment that comes when people identify with a place and its history; it's all about feeling at home. However, with rapid urbanisation, change is inevitable.
The changing face of Bangalore will also mean that new-age enterprises like coffee shops and boutiques will come up everywhere. Cement, glass and chrome facades will add another dimension to the city's landscape. Cafes, offices and shops will become the new hotspots that provide contacts, and the much-needed connection between people, places and businesses; emerging new spaces where people can interact and enter into business and personal relationships in an otherwise busy set-up. The old order will definitely change, yielding place to new.