URBAN CALM: A Socio-Climatic Phenomenological Framework for Reclaiming Infrastructural Voids in Bengaluru

Rapid urbanization in Bengaluru has created numerous infrastructural voids, spaces beneath metro viaducts, flyovers, and building setbacks that remain neglected, fostering environmental discomfort from noise, heat, and visual disorder. This research develops a socio-climatic phenomenological framework to transform these lost spaces into restorative urban environments. A mixed-methods sensory audit evaluated case studies along MG Road and Indiranagar metro corridors plus Richmond Road flyover under-space, combining quantitative measures of decibel levels, temperature differentials, and height-to-width ratios with qualitative tools including behavioral mapping, serial vision photography, and user interviews. Findings reveal that strategies like morphological enclosure, deep shading, acoustic masking, and hospitable edges enhance thermal comfort, reduce sensory stress, and boost pedestrian dwell time. The study proposes a design toolkit featuring urban room geometries, shaded sequences, tactile materials, and climate-responsive landscapes. Infrastructural voids should be reframed as opportunities for urban calm rather than residuals. Small-scale interventions can yield inclusive public sanctuaries promoting environmental comfort, mental well-being, and social interaction in dense tropical cities.