To me, the changing landscape of the city is the architectural testimony of domestic migration and the overconsumption of lands. The city has become one of the most overcrowded and cosmopolitan cities in all of Asia. Bangalore's migrants cross half of the city's population, including techies and migrant laborers who support the entire ecosystem. The constant need for space drives demand for luxury houses that showcase the perfect blend of high standards of living and premium amenities like private garden and terrace, exclusive décor, swimming pool, choice of green view, advanced security systems, ample parking space, designer fittings, and flooring. The city has really been successful in drawing high levels of foreign direct investment, along with structural reforms. Rapid construction of technology parks, housing complexes, villas, shopping malls, international hotels, exotic resorts, pubs, clubs, restaurants, gymnasiums, ring roads, flyovers, are some of them to mention. While growing numbers of paying-guest hostels accommodate fresh migrants, affluent techies prefer to stay on the outskirts of the city. As a result, this provokes real estate companies to convert virgin green patches into residential complexes. Increased urbanization has led to “urban heat islands” and urban areas in Bangalore have become warmer than their rural counterparts. Once known for its agreeable climate, the city has now lost a huge portion of urban tree cover to infrastructure development and dredged many lakes as well. Over the years, the economic success model of Bangalore has been encouraging cities like Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, NCR-Delhi Noida, and Gurgaon, Kolkata to set up technology hubs. Urbanization that started in Bangalore has been slowly capturing the rest of India.
Over the decades Bangalore has been a prominent and trusted gatekeeper for all sorts of international business of technology products. Thousands of foreign expatriates living in the city support the growing number of technology startups and multinational corporations. Exchange of global businesses, philosophies of life, and technology are some of the reasons behind the change in this lifestyle of techies. In fact, created needs of this new way of living have made room for international brands to intrude in daily life. Techies who belong to different social classes become brand conscious by the influence of this globalization. And, their interaction with their friends and families across the country endorse these brands further. This is how a fast-growing economy and a rising number of affluent consumers have pushed India into the league of most brand-conscious countries globally. Of course, this leads to overconsumption of resources and consequently its environmental impacts. Food consumption patterns and the current growth of the culture of eating out reflect the fact that people are becoming much more globalized in terms of food as well. It’s not just about beer and music any longer in Bangalore, as the city has now become home to a wide assortment of lounge bars, neighborhood resto pubs, and cigar lounges. A network of backyard brewers has emerged because microbreweries are mushrooming. Quality, innovation, and a passion for craft brewing make craft beer unique in Bangalore. The need for social hangouts made the cafe culture a lifestyle as well. Celebrating special occasions, dating, and hanging out with friends have turned to be a routine culture driven by the youth. On the other side, the constant peer pressure of materialistic success introduces social anxieties like fear of missing out. Work-Life Balance is a common topic of discussion. International exposure of techies always encourages them to remain well-groomed. And, this has created a demand for fitness and nutrition coaches besides beauty salons and spa centers. Technology has been constantly pushing the way we think, the way we live. The city has witnessed drastic transformations that have affected various facets of people’s lives. In fact, these transformations have created favorable conditions for the emergence of globalization and individualism
To me, the changing landscape of the city is the architectural testimony of domestic migration and the overconsumption of lands. The city has become one of the most overcrowded and cosmopolitan cities in all of Asia. Bangalore's migrants cross half of the city's population, including techies and migrant laborers who support the entire ecosystem. The constant need for space drives demand for luxury houses that showcase the perfect blend of high standards of living and premium amenities like private garden and terrace, exclusive décor, swimming pool, choice of green view, advanced security systems, ample parking space, designer fittings, and flooring. The city has really been successful in drawing high levels of foreign direct investment, along with structural reforms. Rapid construction of technology parks, housing complexes, villas, shopping malls, international hotels, exotic resorts, pubs, clubs, restaurants, gymnasiums, ring roads, flyovers, are some of them to mention. While growing numbers of paying-guest hostels accommodate fresh migrants, affluent techies prefer to stay on the outskirts of the city. As a result, this provokes real estate companies to convert virgin green patches into residential complexes. Increased urbanization has led to “urban heat islands” and urban areas in Bangalore have become warmer than their rural counterparts. Once known for its agreeable climate, the city has now lost a huge portion of urban tree cover to infrastructure development and dredged many lakes as well. Over the years, the economic success model of Bangalore has been encouraging cities like Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, NCR-Delhi Noida, and Gurgaon, Kolkata to set up technology hubs. Urbanization that started in Bangalore has been slowly capturing the rest of India.
Over the decades Bangalore has been a prominent and trusted gatekeeper for all sorts of international business of technology products. Thousands of foreign expatriates living in the city support the growing number of technology startups and multinational corporations. Exchange of global businesses, philosophies of life, and technology are some of the reasons behind the change in this lifestyle of techies. In fact, created needs of this new way of living have made room for international brands to intrude in daily life. Techies who belong to different social classes become brand conscious by the influence of this globalization. And, their interaction with their friends and families across the country endorse these brands further. This is how a fast-growing economy and a rising number of affluent consumers have pushed India into the league of most brand-conscious countries globally. Of course, this leads to overconsumption of resources and consequently its environmental impacts. Food consumption patterns and the current growth of the culture of eating out reflect the fact that people are becoming much more globalized in terms of food as well. It’s not just about beer and music any longer in Bangalore, as the city has now become home to a wide assortment of lounge bars, neighborhood resto pubs, and cigar lounges. A network of backyard brewers has emerged because microbreweries are mushrooming. Quality, innovation, and a passion for craft brewing make craft beer unique in Bangalore. The need for social hangouts made the cafe culture a lifestyle as well. Celebrating special occasions, dating, and hanging out with friends have turned to be a routine culture driven by the youth. On the other side, the constant peer pressure of materialistic success introduces social anxieties like fear of missing out. Work-Life Balance is a common topic of discussion. International exposure of techies always encourages them to remain well-groomed. And, this has created a demand for fitness and nutrition coaches besides beauty salons and spa centers. Technology has been constantly pushing the way we think, the way we live. The city has witnessed drastic transformations that have affected various facets of people’s lives. In fact, these transformations have created favorable conditions for the emergence of globalization and individualism