The State’s decision to convert government guesthouse Balabrooie, situated on a sprawling 14-acre area on Palace Road, into a clubhouse for legislators has raised heckles of Bangaloreans.
Concerned citizens will gather at Balabrooie on Sunday morning and express “collective disapproval” to the government’s decision. This was the plan chalked out by representatives from several groups of artistes and organisations such as INTACH, Bygone Bangalore, and B.PAC who came together at Ravindra Kalakshetra on Thursday to discuss what can be done to stop the government’s move.
“It is a collective endeavour to have a think tank of people coming together to impress upon the government to help save the heritage structure from getting razed to the ground,” said an INTACH member. “The little of the heritage that is left in Bangalore needs to be left alone.”
Senior architects gathered there felt the conversion of Manikyavelu Mansion here to house the National Gallery of Modern Art was a case in contrast, of “adaptive reuse architecture, which is a meaningful move” without making the original structure lose its character. It was heartening that RBANM’s College had conserved its old building and continues to use it for its academic purposes, they said. “Heritage buildings need not be demolished, they need to be redeemed to help them play a different role,” said an INTACH member.
“We hope the government comprehends and reads the meaning in our collective endeavour. We are confident that our Chief Minister will intervene and help the building remain a heritage structure,” said a representative of Bygone Bangalore.
