Dear Reader,

Today (2 September 2025) the Urbs Indis Library and Garden turns one year old (and I, Robert, turn 41). Which means the space was completed the day I turned 40. In architect-years that is like being a toddler. As we slowly find our feet, here are three highlights from the last year of living with a space that constantly surprises us:

1. Walkthroughs

Tina, Kai and I have absolutely loved opening up our home, studio and library, and walking through it with others. Since September 2024 we have hosted 21 Walkthroughs with more than 600 visitors. Over the course of three hours I explain why (almost) every detail is the way it is and the various inspirations that have helped shaped the space. The first two walks were organized in collaboration with Three Flaneurs, and they were both full. So we decided to host a third on our own, and then a fourth. And then I expected the interest would die down. But, so far, it has not. The rhythm is that people visit, they hear the stories behind the making of the space, and then they tell friends. And the loop continues. It is wonderful. The 22nd Walkthrough is scheduled for this coming Saturday 6 September, with one walk per month scheduled through the rest of 2025…..and if interest yet remains, we will continue, once a month.

After every walk at least one person feels compelled to write to us, in reaction to the experience of the spaces. Some of these notes are handwritten, while others are emails or messages on Instagram. Whichever format, they are the best thing in the world, for they are straight from the heart.

Here are two of our favourite reactions shared by others, reproduced with permission from the authors:
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If you’ve visited us, may we ask for a small gift? Taking two minutes to leave us a Google review would mean the world and help us reach more people.

2. The Garden

By an accident of fate, Tina and I became the landscape designers and contractors for the garden. We selected, positioned and planted each plant. We prepared the ground as best we could with kitchen-waste compost and the principles of Hügelkultur. And for the last year we watered the garden with naturally-treated water, rich in healthy amounts of organic material. And the plants have collectively said “Thank you,” growing in ways and to such a scale that we could have never predicted or imagined.

3. The Light

Light, specifically the sunrise, has been the most powerful experience of the last year. Watching it enter the space through four east-facing colored glass windows has been a treat that is so beautiful, at times it makes me feel guilty. Who are we to receive such gifts? Colored shafts of light wash through the space, and move with the sun. Every day they are slightly different, like a freshly wrapped gift. As I said in a recent public talk at Bangalore’s Church Street, “Light does not forget to be brilliant.”

​Website! ​

Tina has worked really hard to create a website which introduces virtual visitors to the physical space, as well as 18 years of creative work that includes my aerial photography of urban India, various exhibitions, and the book, Bombay Imagined. The website also features a searchable, online catalogue of every book held in the Urbs Indis Library, so visitors can consult the selection online before browsing in person. The collection has grown to more than 1,000 titles, with a heavy focus on Mumbai, Bengaluru, Patrick Geddes, Sir M Visvesvaraya and Mohammed Fayazuddin.
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Exciting plans for the year ahead:

1. As part of the BBMP’s “Revitalizing Bengaluru’s Public Spaces campaign we (the Urbs Indis architecture studio) prepared a civic-improvement plan for the access road into Krishnappa Garden (along a tank bund). You can watch the presentation here. We hope in the coming year to transform the scheme from a paper project into reality.

2. While preparing the above mentioned plan, we did a deep dive into the history of Krishnappa Garden, speaking with various residents and neighbors who have been in this area for generations. A few neighbors shared archival material, family photos which also capture the area (formerly a paddy field before it became a Tech Park), which are incredible. Inspired by Patrick Geddes, we are working towards the creation of a Krishnappa Garden Museum in the ground floor space of the Urbs Indis Library, a growing archive that documents the life of the neighborhood, past, present and future.

3. A second edition of Bombay Imagined is currently in the works! Yay! We sold out all 1,500 copies from the first edition a few months ago. If you would like to reserve a copy of the second edition, in advance, please let us know.​
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4. Tina continues to develop hand-made lino-cut prints inspired by the Urbs Indis Library. She is currently working on the fifth print, which should come out this week and become available on the website shop. Proceed from these sales go to acquisitions for the library, and cataloguing of the books.

5. The UIL collection grows weekly, following my (Robert’s) weekly visits to Church Street in Bangalore (the used-book capital of the world). The Bangalore collection is starting to grow muscle, and includes many beautiful Kannada books which I am reading thanks to Google lens.

6. The Urbs Indis architecture studio is slowly settling. We are grateful to have a handful of projects with great clients, and are excited to see them develop. After practicing for 18 years, I feel I am starting to find my unique voice.

7. Last but not least, we hope to have more events at the space this year! Last year featured a Christmas brunch with new friends, a week-long rare-book cataloguing session with more than a dozen volunteers, and recently (just last week) a public talk by Shreya Khandekar and Anuj Kale of urbanistcomix (and Leewardists) who shared about their work on the city, through comics and humor. Do keep an eye on our website and Instagram to hear about upcoming event announcements!

In closing, we are grateful the space has come to life in such a complex and energetic way this past year!

Please stay in touch and if you would like to be involved in any way with any of the above initiatives, feel free to write to us.

All good wishes,

Smiles,

Robert, Tina and Kai (and Misty and Bonnie)