The reference library will have books and materials focused on Bengaluru’s urban history, culture, development, architecture, urban design and public-private design.
BLR Design Centre, a collaborative workspace on Church Street in Bengaluru, will launch ‘BLR Reads’, a public reference library and multimedia archive at the centre on Saturday, August 30.
Through the initiative, the centre, run by MOD Foundation — an interdisciplinary urban research and action institute — aims to bring together books, maps, films, photographs, and oral histories related to Bengaluru’s design and planning, thereby making those more accessible.
Dedicated focus on design
“BLR Design Centre is a place where we talk about the ongoing problems that the city is facing in terms of infrastructure, traffic, culture, and other aspects,” said Greeshma S., programme manager, BLR Design Centre. “It’s run by MOD Foundation, which works on projects that help Bengaluru become a better city. We’ve been doing a lot of things that affect the city, and having talks, workshops, and exhibitions in this space regarding the same,” she added.
As part of this, the centre began collecting archival maps, books, academic texts, journals, planning documents, maps, photographs, other visual material, and newsletters related to Bengaluru. Today, it houses more than 500 of these, focused on the city’s urban history, culture, and development, alongside architecture, urban design, and public-private design. With the launch of the library, these will be made open to the public.
A dedicated design-focused reference library, it is expected to serve students, researchers, designers, policymakers, and citizens, and serve as a space for collaboration, thematic networking, and knowledge creation around issues that shape the city.
Exhibition
The library will be launched with an exhibition titled ‘Re:Reading Bangalore’, which will feature books, films, songs, artwork, and research projects. The event will include two talks and one workshop on August 30 and 31.
The library will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Membership plans for students, individuals, and institutions will also be available.
source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)