The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A city out of sync with aesthetics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 17, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A city out of sync with aesthetics

Rasheed Kappan

BANGALORE: In the shade of trees, loads of them, the city glistened. The ones that flowered engulfed the city's streets with natural splendour. But did the urban jungle match the aesthetics of nature? Were the automobile colours in tune with the green roadsides? Did the signboards, the huge hoardings add value to the city's spirit of design?

Years ago, when the roads cried for variety, when the Ambassadors and Premier Padminis ruled the streets, nobody noticed. But today, when metallic grey cars rub bonnets with shocking red sports utility vehicles and when trendy, graphically designed motorcycles show off their class and looks to the competition, colour matters and so do aesthetics.

Companies spend lakhs to make their advertisements more appealing and innovative. But some hoardings still look bland and out of sync with the city. Perhaps, the backlit ads on the once-hip bus stops look classier.

Watch the BMP lay designer tiles, only for the BWSSB to rip them open for designer trenches. But in this designer digging frenzy, aesthetics often suffer. What looks appealing on a bright Sunday looks appalling the next day. The BMP, of late, has learnt to whitewash, nay greywash the sidewalks with concrete. Aesthetics? Take a walk.

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