261 trees in Planetarium on the block?

Why ? what is the plan? Why the razing ? And why the need to cut 261 trees! I have visited and it shocking that these trees are on the Block

Can we have SOME detail of what is being done and why ?

This is a glorious space so why define the purpose but not share what is the project and coverage is. we have tweeted about this and also brought it to the notice of Smart City CEO and also the BBMP Commissioner.

A simple question. Why? A 20 crore project and 40350 additional square feet. Its a beautiful structure and since many of us live close, we KNOW that it is not running to full capacity except in peaks and troughs . What is the REAL reason this is being done and under the Smart City Scheme ? https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/43-trees-to-make-way-for-new-auditorium-at-planetarium/article33523277.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/nehru-planetarium-to-get-an-upgrade/article30886953.ece

BIAL and Heritage

Friday, January 17, 2020

Mr. Hari Marar

MD

Bangalore International Airports Ltd

Bangalore

Dear Hari:

As you might know, I am one of the founders of Heritage Beku, Bangalore’s preeminent citizen initiative to value and protect heritage in the city.

What you are doing at BIAL makes us proud, given the global flavor, innovation and strong touch of local impact. We have chatted many times – and what is even more reassuring is the heart that you bring to many of the things you do at BIAL, the pride in this word class airport and its people - I am delighted to hear some of the stories.

While we grow in stature, business impact and global recall, we feel that Bangalore must also be able to showcase its history and heritage that is such a source of pride and joy to us. In connection with this, I wanted to suggest that the newer airport spaces (which is Terminal 2 and the upcoming Airport City) have some heritage theme , or a portion set aside for a heritage experience and theme so that the airport space that visitors enter, is not ubiquitous and anonymous like most international airports are, but carry a strong flavor and stamp of the city it resides in . I see the new Changi Airport at Singapore has successfully set up an entire Heritage flavored Food Zone with interactive experiences and audio visuals – and visitors seem to be much struck and engaged by this.

This is just an initial thought – whether it reflects in its theme, food courts, art galleries, architectural style or experiential spaces. It may be a great win-win for BIAL to both celebrate & honor its city of origin and be able to present airport customers with the sense of space and local flavor so necessary as a USP & differentiator. Since you are at an initial stage of concept and construction, perhaps it might be a good time to incorporate – hence the liberty taken to reach out on behalf of Bangalore citizens.

We are a non-commercial citizen initiative, and we do have many global conservators and architects and designers in our informal group who may drive some ideas to help. I am sure you have access to the best conservators and architects who will best advise you , but we at Heritage Beku would be very appreciative if BIAL as one of the finest infrastructure spaces in Bangalore and perhaps one the best airports in the world, reflects the heritage of our city, be it small or big.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

Founder

Heritage Beku

HeritageBeku BIAL Letter

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The New Krumbiegel Hall

Karnataka still owns the legacy of Great Grandfather. Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel who designed and landscaped his way from Baroda, Ooty,Bombay,Coochbehar, Jamshedpur ,Delhi,Hyderabad,

Trivandrum ,Bhavanagar Madras Mysore and above all Bangalore.

He found home in Bangalore.

While reading GreatGrandfather letters there is a part of me which knows he would shrug his shoulders and say “losing Krumbiegel Hall started a wonderful movement called HertiageBeku let there be no other Hertiage buildings lost to

Neglect

The new Krumbiegel hall will never replace the original which held so much history

If a historic property can be restored, redeeming it is almost always preferable to demolishing it and rebuilding. Once restored, a historic property can be used in a new way that benefits and enriches the community,

So while I and many others were absolutely devastated when Krumbiegel Hall fell I am very pleased that he will be remembered, I’m very sure without the publicity that was created when Krumbiegel hall fell, the Krumbiegel name would have been assigned to dusty archives.

I hope the new Krumbiegel hall will be a testament to what we have lost and what we need to protect for our future generations.

We must care about heritage buildings and Hertiage trees like we care about own home‘s and I promise the world will be a much better place to live in and look at!

I think Great Grandfather would be happy with my words.

warmest wishes

Alyia