BENGALURU: The government’s decision to raze Johnson Market and rebuild it has not gone down well with the architects and heritage building enthusiasts in the city. Many are of the opinion that instead of demolishing the building, it can actually be restored to its past glory.
During his city rounds on Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramiah had directed officials to call for tenders to demolish and rebuild the market on a PPP model
Architect Naresh Narasimhan feels that the decision is absurd. “It is a beautiful heritage building. What is the point of razing it? I visited the place, in fact, and found that the building is in good condition. The authorities feel that the building is dilapidated. However, this is not the case. There are a few sheds behind the building that are old and dilapidated. Let them go if they have to,” he said. Narasimhan felt that it is very easy to restore the building.
Nagaraj Vastarey, another architect, however, has a different take on it. He believes that there must be a balance.
“One of the tenets of architecture is to maintain the past, with newer ways of looking at it. The Johnson Market is very old and people have several memories associated with it. The authorities must ensure that these memories are not wiped off. At the same time, one has to look at the life of a building as well. A serious sensibility is required. A balance must be struck, while at the same time, change must be accommodated. The greatness of a city does not lie in its buildings or skyscrapers, but in the pedestrian experience it offers,” he said.
