Russell market redevelopment
Russell Market, located in the bustling Shivajinagar area, is one of Bengaluru’s oldest and most iconic marketplaces. Established in 1927 during the British colonial era, the market was named after T. B. Russell, the then Municipal Commissioner of Bangalore. Its creation was part of a broader effort to develop the Bangalore Cantonment- an area administered by the British and distinct from the older “Pete” area of the native city. Despite surviving modernization pressures and urban transformations, Russell Market continues to stand as a living landmark, embodying the history, multiculturalism, and commercial dynamism that defined the Cantonment. Today, it remains not just a marketplace but a symbol of the city’s layered heritage. The existing built-up area of the project is 6102 sq.m.
The urban form of Russell Market reflects the dense, organically evolved morphology typical of Bengaluru’s Cantonment-era commercial precincts. Developed in the early 1930s, the market was planned as a rectangular enclosed structure with an internal courtyard, surrounded by narrow streets and mixed-use buildings that have grown around it over time. The built fabric combines colonial-era architectural elements such as arched arcades, high ventilated roofs, and masonry facades with later commercial additions that reflect evolving retail needs. The surrounding street network is fine-grained and pedestrian-oriented, linking the market to key commercial spines such as Kamaraj Road, Broadway Road, and OPH Road. Buildings in the vicinity display a high ground coverage (70–90%), low to mid-rise typology (G+2 to G+4), and a mix of functions including wholesale, retail, storage, and residential use.
Observational Mapping and Ennumeration Survey
At the outset, a perception survey was conducted, interviewing vendors and customers to better understand the more intangible aspects that make a market what it is- the trading networks and the relation between buyer and seller. From this it was inferred that both vendors and customers were concerned about the lack of parking infrastructure around the market. Vendors noted declining numbers of customers, observing that the once bustling market was severely affected by the rise of e-commerce, and the lack of maintenance and dumping of waste near the market. Customers were turned away by the foul smell from the meat and fish portions of the market, due to poor light and ventilation, and had major concerns about the hygene and santiation in the market.
A Waste Audit and Market Survey conducted in association with the NGO, Hasiru Dala, revealed several issues. There were no clarity on the number of compactors in operation, the segregation of waste was erratic, and that the meat and fish waste management lacked hygiene control. The report recommended the segregation of mixed waste at source rather than elsewhere,the installation of a bio-methanisation plant, dedicated bays for the collection of waste from the fish market, and a space to keep storage crates.
Structural Audit
A detailed structural assessment of the building revealed that while the front block was largely intact with some degree of deterioration, the rear block had to be demolished completely and rebuilt. While the slabs and masonry walls of the front block had to be redone, the columns and beams could be retained. To many long-term users and vendors, the facade and the clock tower held significant associations and were synonymous with the market. These would therefore be conserved and refurbished, with minimal interventions.
Design team: Nishita, Prasik, Rohan, Janvi, Sneha, Pranav, Anirudh, Liza
Structural: Synectics Engineering Consultants
MEP: Designhub
Waste Management: Hasiru dala
Quantity Survey: Mr. Byresh Gowda
Geo-technical Survey: Er. Siddhartha Baeen, Dr. Manish S Dharek, Dr. Raghunath S, Dr. Jitha PT.
