Ila Deep is a writer and policy professional specialising in climate action. She has contributed to policy reports for international development organisations focused on the Global South. She studied Philosophy at Ashoka University and is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Hertie School in Berlin. In her free time, Ila likes doing crosswords, browsing Wikipedia, and making sketches of animals. Ila led community engagement for the malleswaram.org project, helping shape its ethos as a people-powered initiative uncovering the stories of Malleswaram.

Bhagirathi is an architect, artist, and illustrator based in Bangalore. She studied architecture at the M.S.Ramaiah Institute of Technology, and her practice focuses on design, visual storytelling, and cultural documentation. Her love for architectural drafting informs her illustration style, which blends analog and digital mediums to create detailed, immersive scenes. Beyond design, she is a classically trained vocalist with a wide range of musical tastes, from metal to Carnatic. She enjoys sketching old buildings and capturing people and places through her art. Malleswaram is where she first interned as an architect, and in many ways, it became her earliest muse for understanding how neighbourhoods hold memories. At Malleswaram.org, she works as a visual designer and illustrator, creating the project’s visual identity and documenting its architecture and history through illustration.

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"As creatives, we craft stories through our chosen media. Listening to stories from the past has revealed how generations are interconnected through shared spaces, providing insight into the foresight and sacrifice needed to keep these neighbourhoods vibrant. This project enhanced my storytelling practice and deepened my belief that the most compelling narratives come from closely observing the spaces, faces, and everyday life that make a neighbourhood unique."

Sid is a technologist, artist and an educator. He likes working with software, media, electronics, lighting, and other mediums. He fancies himself as a problem-solver, whose work bridges logic and creativity. His other hobbies include making music, films, and building useful tools, with intention and precision. He worked as the technical consultant on this website.

Preethi is an Architect and Habitat Designer based in Bengaluru. She studied B.Arch from Nitte School of Architecture and M.Arch in Habitat Design from B.M.S College of Architecture. Her hobbies are reading, creative writing, and painting. She is driven by an interest in history, culture, and the subtle stories embedded in the built environments. She believes that it is important that we listen to the whispers of the past to understand the present.   

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"I'm passionate about uncovering the stories of places, and understanding how architectural styles shape neighborhood identities, recognizing their role in shaping cultural identity and community memory. Through documenting Art Deco buildings and landmarks in Malleshwaram, I discovered that buildings are vessels of identity, belonging, and time. I am driven to preserve these narratives and create meaningful, rooted environments that honor cultural memory and support a resilient future."

Vadiraj Kulkarni is an Architect and Habitat designer. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Architecture from K.L.S.G.I.T, Belagavi and Masters in Architecture (Habitat Design) from B.M.S College of Architecture, Bengaluru. He is also a culinary enthusiast with great passion in cooking and exploring cultures and places associated with food and culinary history. Vadi helped in documenting and mapping the trees and landmarks of Malleswaram, and the Art Deco homes in the neighbourhood.

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“I was interested in exploring places and people, their history and heritage, and that brought me to this project. My work in Malleswaram has focused on documenting its unique character — from the elegant Art Deco buildings and iconic landmarks to the majestic heritage trees that define the neighborhood’s charm. It strengthened my belief that every street, building, and open space carries stories that connects us to our past. My interest lies in tracing these narratives and discovering the traditional urban systems, and through this, I find ways to reimagine our cities. I believe our cities should keep traditions alive, retain their ecological and cultural richness, and build meaningful living environments for future generations.”

Sagarika Wadiyar is pursuing a Master's in Material and Visual Culture at University College London. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Manipal Centre for Humanities, MAHE. Her research interests include visual methods in ethnographic work, with a focus on identity, belonging, gender, memory, and grief. She works across painting, illustration, and photography, and hopes to pursue a career in the museum and gallery sector. Sagarika contributed to field research and documentation for the malleswaram.org project, helping foreground the stories of sanitation workers, street vendors, auto drivers, and business owners who shape the everyday life of the neighbourhood.

Bhavna is a designer and teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology. She is driven by her curiosity for the stories and histories that shape spaces. Beyond design, she finds inspiration in trekking, traveling, and animal welfare, guided by her love for nature and empathy for the voiceless. Bhavna’s role in the Malleswaram project focused on content writing and creation, translating the neighbourhood’s layered identity into meaningful and engaging narratives.