An Open and Democratic Design
A new library for Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology (SMVIT) in Bangalore, India has completed with architecture by locally-based Cadence Architects. With its monumental presence and exposed concrete structure atop an array of pilotis, the building establishes a strong landmark at the heart of the engineering university’s masterplan. The SMVIT Library is sited along a main road between the hostel buildings and academic blocks, and will soon overlook a central plaza which is soon to be completed, creating a natural gathering point for faculty and students.
images © Atik Bheda
a gathering hub for smvit
Cadence Architects shapes the library to encourage interaction across the SMVIT campus. The building does not read as a solitary monument but as an active connector. Its floorplan invites movement throughout and around the structure which, as the architects note, supports the university’s call for a democratic, inclusive hub.
The heavy concrete volume is elevated over the ground plane atop a series of columns, its footprint planned as a careful response to the site’s mature trees, weaving the building into its natural setting. Broad pedestrian paths pass through and along the structure, enhancing its role as both a destination and a thoroughfare within the campus.
the heavy concrete volume is elevated over the ground plane atop a series of columns
cadence architects’ sectional complexity
Concrete gives Cadence Architects’ SMVIT Library a sense of permanence and strength, while the building’s porosity and layered volumes maintain a welcoming atmosphere. The design team balances solidity with openness, ensuring the library feels at once grounded and responsive to sunlight and breezes.
Inside, sectional shifts create a mix of intimate reading alcoves and generous communal zones. The interplay of volumes supports focused study as well as collaboration, further embodying the architecture’s flexible and democratic spirit.
locally-based firm Cadence Architects designed the building as a gathering hub
interior spaces range from quiet reading nooks to open communal zones
the design encourages interaction and collaboration across disciplines
linear overhead lighting fixtures lend an exaggerated forced perspective
sunlight filtered through mature trees casts patterned shadows across the interiors
the SMVIT Library stands at the center of the engineering school’s campus
project info:
name: SMVIT Library
architect: Cadence Architects | @cadence_architects
location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
client: Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology
design team: Narendra Pirgal, Vikram Rajashekar, Smaran Mallesh, Anshul Deshmukh, Aishani Nath, Shilpa Ananth
completion: March 2025
photography: © Atik Bheda | @atikbheda
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