Can a commercial building bring a sense of calm to one of Bangalore’s busiest streets?
This project explores how architecture can reconnect people with nature, even within a tight urban site.
Located on Infantry Road, one of Bangalore’s most prominent and heavily trafficked streets, the site was surrounded by noise, pollution, and dense urban development. With limited space for landscaping and the city’s green cover steadily declining, the challenge was to create a commercial environment that felt open, comfortable, and connected to nature.
The design brings greenery into the building at multiple levels, creating pockets of nature that offer occupants a visual and physical break from the busy city outside.
A key element is the contemporary Jali screen, inspired by traditional Indian architecture. Rather than using it purely as decoration, the Jali forms a protective layer around the building, helping filter harsh sunlight and reduce the impact of traffic noise while adding depth and rhythm to the façade. The gap between the jali and glazing is given to grow Plantation in between.
Straight balconies are framed by flowing parabolic forms above them, creating a striking contrast between geometric and organic shapes. Glass, greenery, and the patterned Jali work together to give the building a fresh, dynamic identity while maintaining a sense of lightness.
“The idea was not to shut the city out, but to create a softer layer between the building and the city.”
The project transforms a constrained urban site into a more comfortable and engaging commercial environment. By combining greenery, passive design strategies, and a contemporary interpretation of traditional architecture, it demonstrates how commercial buildings can respond to the city while giving something back to it.
Ultimately, the project is an attempt to bring a little of Bangalore’s lost greenery back into the everyday urban experience.