Arguing intelligently at Bangalore International Centre's new building

The three-storey building stands seamlessly integrated with its residential neighbourhood

Last October, about 20,000 people walked into a luxury hotel to attend talks and music performances during the Bangalore Literature Festival. “To conduct a public event we had to go to a private venue,” rues V Ravichandar, one of the organisers of the lit fest and an urban expert.

But with the Bangalore International Centre, a space meant for the public, finding a permanent address in Domlur, Bengalureans now have a place for events that can’t be hosted in horticulture hubs such as Cubbon Park or Lal Bagh.

A non-profit public institution formed to promote open dialogue and the arts in 2005,