--- title: "Madam Narangi: Modular Street Cart Design for Urban Commerce" description: "Discover how SIAN Architects reimagines urban commerce with Madam Narangi, a modular, upcyclable street cart design focused on empowering street vendors." canonical: https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/madam-narangi-empowering-urban-commerce last_updated: 2025-09-16 --- # Madam Narangi: Modular Street Cart Design for Urban Commerce Tribe Verified · Award-winning urban design in Ahmedabad By [SIAN Architects](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects) · Takes projects across India; Visit studio in Derawal Nagar, Delhi · ₹35 per sq. ft. (estimate) Part of [Urban & Public Realm Design](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/gallery) We reimagined the traditional street cart to create a mobile, modular system that offers dignity, stability, and economic growth for vendors. ## Photos and videos - ![The true strength of the Madam Narangi cart lies in its ability to foster interaction. Its versatile design allows it to become a bench, a counter, or a display, creating a small node of community activity on the street.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/16323572-2d4e-464d-863e-182228bd5d99) - ![This axonometric drawing shows how the Madam Narangi carts can be arranged to define a public space. The system is designed for both individual enterprise and collective gathering, transforming a street corner into a temporary, organized marketplace.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ab7bae66-c14a-494b-b969-d3cc771850fb) - ![This exploded axonometric view details the cart's components. Every element is designed for efficiency and durability, from the retractable display platforms and protective polycarbonate sheet to the simple wheel system, optimizing materials and minimizing weight.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/af803660-421e-429d-9786-0f80c9e4504f) - ![The design's core functionality is shown in its two primary states: a compact, folded form for easy mobility and storage, and an expanded shop-front form that maximizes display space for the vendor.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0bb2bc3f-c624-4b4c-be88-8bc17a7c9231) - ![The project's brief was to elevate the humble 'lari' into a device that instills pride and a sense of community. Madam Narangi was conceived as a resilient, colorful, and flexible tool to support a community facing economic challenges.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/302c80f1-9922-415d-ac9f-8a8b086bfc18) - ![The cart's life extends beyond the street. This diagram shows how its components can be disassembled and upcycled into multipurpose furniture for the home, such as a desk, a kitchen counter, or even a child's crib.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ffc8a8d9-eb02-4f93-8ce4-7f4636c8b8a0) - ![The design considers the entire lifecycle of the product. We explored how the cart could be upcycled into a kitchen unit, repurposed as storage furniture, or even rented out for events, ensuring its long-term utility.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0eb46e29-aed5-40af-b154-669c0b70c7f3) ## About Madam Narangi: Empowering Urban Commerce When you are working in a bustling market, stability matters more than anything. We prioritized the mechanical joinery of the folding roof and retractable wheels over purely aesthetic choices. This cart is engineered to be operated by a single person, so you do not need an extra pair of hands to set up your shop at the start of the day or pack it away safely at night. Madam Narangi started with a simple question: How can a piece of street furniture provide security for the person selling behind it? In cities like Ahmedabad, the street cart, or lari, is a lifeline. We wanted to elevate this tool by focusing on lifecycle and utility. ### Why the mechanics matter Each unit is built to shift states. In its folded form, it is compact and easy to move through narrow lanes. Once deployed, the polycarbonate sheets and retractable platforms expand to create a full shop-front. We integrated off-grid lighting powered by movement and simple solar cells, ensuring vendors are not dependent on external power sources to trade after sunset. ### A second life for every cart Sustainability is not just about materials here; it is about longevity. When a cart completes its tenure on the street, the design is modular enough to be disassembled. The components are sized and structured to be upcycled into domestic furniture—a kitchen counter, a student desk, or a storage unit. This is our approach to urban furniture: giving objects a narrative that continues long after the market closes. ### Community and commerce While the cart is designed for an individual vendor, the power of this system is in its aggregation. When multiple units are placed together, they naturally define public space, creating temporary markets or gathering points that encourage community interaction. We are looking to collaborate with municipal bodies and independent sellers who want to bring this level of design thinking to the streetscape. ## About SIAN Architects We are Surbhi and Deepanshu, and we see architecture as a conversation between land and the people inside. With Madam Narangi, we moved past standard commercial projects to design something that directly impacts how vendors work and feel on the street every day. [See all of SIAN Architects's services](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects) ## More from Urban & Public Realm Design by SIAN Architects - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/featured) - [The Elephant Pavilion: Architecture for Wildlife](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/the-elephant-pavilion-architecture-for-wildlife) - [Our Process: From Sketch to Structure](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/our-process-from-sketch-to-structure) - [Life at the Studio](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/life-at-the-studio) - [In the Press: Recognition and Features](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/in-the-press-recognition-and-features) - [Additional Projects & Inspirations](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design/additional-projects-inspirations) ## More services by SIAN Architects - [Commercial & Hospitality Architecture](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/commercial-hospitality-architecture) - [Residential Architecture & Design](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/residential-architecture-design) - [Facade Design & Material Innovation](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation) ## Similar work from other experts - [Placemaking: Designing Spaces for People](https://mytribe.in/studio.ata.delhi/urban-design-placemaking/placemaking-designing-spaces-for-people) by Aishwarya Tipnis Architects · Urban Design & Placemaking · Takes projects across India; Visit studio in Greater Kailash, New Delhi - [Designing Commercial Workspaces as Urban Campuses](https://mytribe.in/malik_architecture/architectural-design/the-urban-campus-reimagining-commercial-spaces) by Malik Architecture · Architectural Design · Takes projects across India; Visit office at Ballard Estate, Mumbai - [Architecture for a Better City](https://mytribe.in/architects_mathewghosh/heritage-conservation-adaptive-reuse/architecture-for-a-better-city) by Mathew and Ghosh · Heritage Conservation & Adaptive Reuse · Visit Studio in Koramangala; Projects across Bengaluru & India - [Urbanism and Public Space Design in Mumbai](https://mytribe.in/sdmarchitects/architectural-design/urbanism-public-spaces) by SDM Architects · Architectural Design · Takes projects across India; Visit office in Bandra West, Mumbai - [The Shop: Curated Brand Pop-Up Experiences](https://mytribe.in/aanchalrai.1/campaign-creative-direction-production/event-curation-the-shop) by Aanchal Rai · Campaign Creative Direction & Production · Takes projects across India; Studio in Lado Sarai, New Delhi - [Upcycled and Shipping Container Architecture Projects](https://mytribe.in/mistryarchitects/architectural-conservation-adaptive-reuse/upcycled-container-architecture) by Mistry Architects · Architectural Conservation & Adaptive Reuse · Takes conservation projects across India; Visit Design Studio in Indiranagar ## Book To book SIAN Architects, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I'm%20looking%20for%20Urban%20%26%20Public%20Realm%20Design%20by%20SIAN%20Architects.) 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