--- title: "Public Spaces & Social Hubs: Design by Mathew & Ghosh Architects" description: "We design democratic public spaces and social hubs that connect communities. Explore our work in Bengaluru, from urban parks to vibrant commercial venues." canonical: https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/spaces-for-people-public-parks-social-hubs last_updated: 2025-09-12 --- # Spaces for People: Democratic Public Hubs and Social Architecture Tribe Verified · Architects of Bengaluru's Freedom Park By [Mathew and Ghosh](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh) · Visit Studio in Koramangala; Projects across Bengaluru & India · ₹220 per sq. ft. of built-up area (estimate) Part of [Urban Design & Master Planning](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/gallery) Architecture is a conversation with the city. Whether crafting a public park or an urban social hub, we believe spaces should remain democratic, fostering genuine community connection rather than exclusion. ## Photos and videos - [Video: A visit to Freedom Park in Bengaluru, the site of the former Central Jail that we redesigned. The park is now a living public space, used by the community for leisure, reflection, and cultural events.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/240f1c68-26d3-4f54-9e1e-e5576c108e49) - [Video: Our design for Biergarten in Bellandur embraces its urban setting, with open balconies overlooking the flyover and metro line. We turned the city's infrastructure and traffic into a dynamic backdrop for social gathering.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/86ffb259-10a2-4f66-8bc1-7e33cce29edd) - [Video: The atmosphere at Biergarten at night, where light projections and a central fountain create a playful and energetic environment, turning the brewery into a vibrant urban courtyard.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bdd3146c-f0cd-4833-bef8-58c02e0c4911) - [Video: Bob's Bar was designed to evoke the relaxed, conversational spirit of old Bangalore. The black and white visuals highlight the classic interior design, where the focus is on creating a comfortable vibe for friends and family.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0e39643d-370c-47a7-a6fa-aca3e53b07fc) - [Video: A glimpse of another microbrewery project under construction. The design works with the surrounding urban fabric, including the adjacent flyover, to create a unique spectacle that engages with the city's energy.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/13359f7a-5d12-4985-8b58-5606f4dae213) - ![This collage from an Elle Decor feature includes an image of Freedom Park, showcasing how we transform sites with difficult histories into open, democratic public spaces.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/239a8753-3ef0-4c4f-a820-a6bde23e2ace) ## About Spaces for People: Public Parks & Social Hubs Designing a social hub amidst the bustle of Bengaluru requires embracing the city rather than shielding oneself from it. At venues like Biergarten, we purposefully oriented balconies toward the flyover, transforming traffic and movement into a dynamic backdrop for conversation, proving that seclusion is not the only way to find peace in an urban environment. We approach public architecture as a duty to the city. Our process begins by listening to a site's history and observing how people already occupy the space before we draw a single line. This is why Freedom Park, built on the site of the former Central Jail, feels like a living public space rather than a static monument; we chose to keep the scars of the past visible while planting new opportunities for leisure and reflection. ### The Democratic Ideal True public spaces must be accessible. When we design commercial venues like Byg Brewski or Biergarten, we think of them as urban courtyards. We integrate elements like central water bodies or stepped seating not just for aesthetic appeal, but to create a 'social hub' logic where the building facilitates interaction among strangers. ### Designing with the City We do not seek to silence the city. We work with its infrastructure—metro lines, flyovers, and traffic—to ground our projects in the reality of Bengaluru. This context-driven approach ensures that our master planning and landscape design feel like natural extensions of the neighborhood, whether we are working on high-footfall institutional campuses or heritage markets. ### Our Approach to Public & Commercial Space: * **Heritage Integration:** Transforming forgotten or neglected historical sites into functional, public-facing areas. * **Urban Courtyard Planning:** Utilizing layout and massing to encourage social interaction in commercial settings. * **Contextual Orientation:** Designing views and circulation that engage with the surrounding neighborhood rather than turning away from it. * **Material Honesty:** Prioritizing stone, concrete, and metalwork that ages gracefully alongside the city. ## About Mathew and Ghosh I am Soumitro, and alongside Nisha, we have spent three decades watching Bengaluru evolve. We do not just build structures; we create settings for conversations, where the history of a site and the pulse of the city meet. [See all of Mathew and Ghosh's services](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh) ## More from Urban Design & Master Planning by Mathew and Ghosh - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/featured) - [Museum of Art & Photography (MAP): A Cultural Landmark for Bengaluru](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/museum-of-art-photography-map-a-cultural-landmark-for-bengaluru) - [Reimagining Heritage: Conservation & Adaptive Reuse](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/reimagining-heritage-conservation-adaptive-reuse) - [Design for Remembrance: Memorial Architecture](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/design-for-remembrance-memorial-architecture) - [From Sketch to Structure: Our Design Process](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/from-sketch-to-structure-our-design-process) - [Our Voice: Press, Publications & Awards](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/our-voice-press-publications-awards) - [Additional Works & Explorations](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/urban-design-master-planning/additional-works-explorations) ## More services by Mathew and Ghosh - [Heritage Conservation & Adaptive Reuse](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/heritage-conservation-adaptive-reuse) - [Interior Architecture & Design](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/interior-architecture-design) - [Architectural Design for New Construction](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/architectural-design-for-new-construction) ## Similar work from other experts - [Public & Community Spaces: Design and Urban Revitalization](https://mytribe.in/greenspacealliance/landscape-architecture/public-community-spaces) by Green Space Alliance · Landscape Architecture · Takes projects across India & Edmonton; Offices in Pune & Canada - [Public & Urban Space Design](https://mytribe.in/readinggrounds/landscape-architecture-design/public-urban-spaces) by Reading Grounds · Landscape Architecture & Design · Studio in Jayanagar; Projects across Bengaluru, Hyderabad & Mysuru - [Public and Community Spaces Design](https://mytribe.in/compartment_s4/architectural-design/public-community-spaces) by Compartment S4 · Architectural Design · Studios in Ahmedabad & Bengaluru; Architectural projects across India - [Community and Public Spaces Design](https://mytribe.in/studio.chintala/interior-architecture-design/community-public-spaces) by Studio Chintala · Interior Architecture & Design · Studios in Bengaluru & Vijayawada; Projects Pan-India - [Public and Institutional Architecture Design](https://mytribe.in/sdeg__/urban-design-master-planning/public-institutional-spaces) by SDeG · Urban Design & Master Planning · Takes projects across India; Visit Studio in Kasturi Nagar - [Architecture in the Public Realm: Designing for Urban Connection](https://mytribe.in/studio_thirdspace/architectural-design/architecture-in-the-public-realm) by Thirdspace · Architectural Design · Studios in Pune & Belagavi; Projects across India ## Book To book Mathew and Ghosh, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I%20am%20interested%20in%20your%20approach%20to%20public%20spaces%20and%20social%20hubs.%20I%20would%20like%20to%20discuss%20a%20potential%20project.)