Urban development and vulnerability of heritage hot spots in Mysore city

The present paper attempts to explain the impact of changing real estate market on urban architecture and design. The speculation in land market is rising tremendously due to the liberal economic policy adopted by the government of Karnataka which is keen to promote itself as the destination for domestic and foreign investment to catalyze industrial growth. Therefore several incentives and infrastructural development programs are underway and more is expected in the near future to make this zone as a model region. Several gigantic development schemes have triggered leading to the intensification in land market situation. The condition is still grimmer especially along Bangalore – Mysore road with an incredible growth rate. Most of the prime lands around Mysore urban fringe have already been hoarded by the multinational companies and by the local population. Any new increase in the demand for land will eventually generate pressure on the already stiff land market situation. The effects of global recession has created a slight dip in the urban land market but the overall impacts are dramatically changing the structural design into duplexes and apartment buildings and the traditional single housing system is becoming costlier for construction and maintenance. The land market situation especially in high income residential areas are undergoing transition in architectural design and the present study tries to monitor the changing land values and its impact on the urban design and vulnerability to the heritage character of Mysore and the legalities of town planning.