Architect Bijoy Ramachandran on public spaces, B.V. Doshi, and the deeper meaning of architecture.
🎧 About Galata Podcast
Galata is a Kannada word that means the ruckus of noise. Through candid, long-form conversations, I explore entrepreneurship, creativity, and the pursuit of meaningful work with some of India’s most interesting minds.
🏛️ About Hundredhands
Hundredhands is a Bangalore-based collaborative architecture practice founded by Bijoy and Prem Chandavarkar. Their work spans institutions, cultural spaces, and residences, known for thoughtful design, sensitivity to context, and the philosophy that architecture is less about materials and more about meaning.
🔗 Learn more: http://hundredhands.com
📚 Mentions & References
People & Practices
• Nilesh Thakkar – restorer
• Shaju & team (Kerala) – carpenters
• Prof. Vasavada – Ahmedabad, conservation mentor
• Arjun Mallik – Mumbai
• Sensing Local – Bangalore practice
• Compartment S4 – design practice
• Matter – Goa practice
• Malleswaram Rising Team – Suchitra and team
Other Mentions
• RBNMS Trust – heritage owner of Cinnamon & Sabha
• Prem Chandavarkar – Bijoy’s brother & collaborator
Books & Magazines
• Ways of Seeing — John Berger
• Invisible Cities — Italo Calvino
• Mad Magazine
• Asterix comics
Lectures
• Neil McLaughlin lectures on Youtube
Movies
• Conclave
• Perfect Days
Films by Bijoy & Prem
• Doshi (2009) — documentary on B.V. Doshi
• Doshi (2019) — follow-up film after Doshi’s Pritzker Prize
🏛️ Places, Projects & Works Mentioned
• Bangalore International Centre (BIC) – Bangalore
• Sabha – Bangalore (restoration project, RBNMS Trust)
• Cinnamon – Bangalore (RBNMS property)
• IIM Bangalore – campus designed by B.V. Doshi
• Aira School – Bangalore
• Innovation Hub at IISc – Bangalore
• Hope Orphanage – Trichy, Tamil Nadu
• Arshila Project – Kochi
• Parsi Temple renovation – Bangalore
• National War Memorial – near Planetarium, Bangalore (by Somaya & Kalappa)
• Nandi / Bhoganandiswara Temple – Nandi Hills
• Kovalam Ashok Hotel (now Leela Kovalam) – designed by Charles Correa
• Kerala temples – referenced for their spatial sequences and intimacy
• Sri Rangam Temple – Tamil Nadu (contrast with Kerala temples)
• Akbar’s Mausoleum at Sikandra – Agra
• Diamond Bourse – Mumbai (B.V. Doshi project)