”Our infrastructure systems, public well-being, and environmental health are deeply interconnected— yet they continue to be managed in isolation. It’s time to bridge these gaps.
On 25 June 2025, the BLR Design Centre, in collaboration with Purpose, hosted a workshop on Reimagining Urban Waterscapes of Bengaluru as part of our Building a Resilient Bengaluru campaign. The session marked the start of a city-wide conversation on transforming stormwater drains (rajakaluves) into resilient, inclusive public spaces that both manage water and enrich everyday life.
The workshop brought together residents of flood-prone areas, community organisers, and professionals in water management, ecology, and design. Their stories revealed the lived realities of these spaces, from vulnerabilities during flooding to tensions between institutional priorities and community needs.
Through interactive exercises curated by Purpose under its People First Cities initiative, participants stepped into the roles of residents, civic officials, and designers—mapping priorities, uncovering connections, and surfacing practical suggestions for the way forward. The dialogue underscored that resilience must be built collectively and empathetically.
Presentations from government agencies, civil society organisations, and neighbourhood groups highlighted ongoing efforts—from large-scale rejuvenation projects to grassroots initiatives—showing how diverse approaches can complement one another under a shared vision.
With the recent approval of the $426 million Karnataka Water Resilience Project, which aims to restore and reconnect Bengaluru’s stormwater network, this conversation is more urgent than ever.
This workshop is both a starting point and an invitation: to see our waterscapes as shared public assets rather than forgotten backwaters, and to work together towards resilient, inclusive, life-affirming urban waterways.
See a detailed report of the workshop and our larger Building a Resilient Bengaluru project below.
