An Urban Design Vision Rooted in Vijayanagar Empire Heritage: A Case Study on Integrating Hampi's Design Language into Bengaluru's Street Furniture

Hampi, the erstwhile capital of Vijayanagar empire located in northern Karnataka, stands as a testament to an extraordinary combination of art, building, and narratives. The ancient site exudes a sense of completeness, captivating observers with its architectural brilliance, from the smallest mantapa to the most ornate structures. The distinctive design and construction elements of Hampi are utilised in this study to develop street furniture that seamlessly integrates with urban architecture at key tourist locations in and around Bengaluru. This paper aims to create a design framework that blends features inspired by Hampi’s creative history into current urban morphology in a cohesive manner. The emphasis is on spatial organisation, aesthetics, utility, and cultural richness preservation. The goal is to create a strong design language that preserves Hampi’s historical identity while simultaneously introducing new and practical urban design interventions. The proposed framework acts as a baseline for analysing existing urban design trends and allows for comparisons with various street furniture styles through interviews and surveys. This research contributes to the discourse on urban design by offering insights into the fusion of historical inspiration and modern functionality within Bengaluru’s tourism hotspots. The design concept not only offers a fresh perspective on urban areas by interweaving historical charm with modern practicality, but also underscores the importance of cultural preservation in contemporary design.