In the city of Bangalore in southern India, the predominant architectural language is that of conventional global commerce. ‘Bland high‐rise developments’ jostle with shanties and urban sprawl. Anooradha Iyer Siddiqi, AIA, explores an alternative way, by Shilpa Sindoor Architects and Planners. The practice invests in a sense of place, but also uses a knowledge of the local construction market and materials to its economic advantage.