Urban Design & Placemaking
Available across India
We co-create urban spaces with communities, reuse existing materials, and design places that fit naturally and serve local needs.
Pricing Guide
Placemaking Strategy & Workshop
Phase 1: Context & Discovery
- Site Reconnaissance: Senior architect visit to analyze usage patterns, memory of the site, and identification of dead zones.
- Stakeholder Mapping: Analysis of user demographics versus ownership structures to identify key decision-makers.
Phase 2: The Workshop
- Design Charrette: Facilitation of a 1-day on-site interactive session using restoration tools and techniques.
- Vision Boarding: Collection of community aspirations via sketches and reference images.
- Conflict Resolution: Mediation between diverse user groups to align on a common design ground.
Phase 3: Strategic Roadmap
- Concept Note: Digital report summarizing findings and workshop outcomes.
- Zoning Strategy: Diagrams defining potential usage zones (e.g., quiet areas vs. event spaces).
- Feasibility Check: Budget and timeline assessment based on the concept.
Tactical Retrofit & Pocket Design
Design & Concept
- Integration Concept: 3D views and sketches blending new interventions with existing natural or heritage elements.
- Material Audit: Inventory creation of on-site waste (wood, stone, metal) specifically for upcycling purposes.
Technical Documentation
- Fabrication Drawings: detailed joinery specifications for local carpenters or welders to construct flexible furniture.
- Lighting Plan: Tactical lighting design including string lights or focused spots for night safety.
Execution Support
- Prototype Review: Quality check of the initial furniture or paving unit.
- Site Visits: 3 to 5 visits to supervise aesthetic execution and structural safety.
- Vendor Guidance: Instructions for local labor on non-standard upcycling techniques.
Adaptive Reuse & Hub Architecture
Architectural & Interior Design
- Space Re-programming: Layout redesign to convert historical footprints into modern functional spaces.
- Structural Consulting: Coordination with engineers for strengthening walls and roofs.
- Acoustics & Lighting: Specialized design integration for performance or high-traffic community spaces.
Conservation & Materiality
- Restoration Specs: Technical recipes for traditional materials like lime punning, stone cleaning, and timber treatment.
- Modern Infill: Design of contemporary insertions, such as glass partitions or steel mezzanines.
Service Integration (MEP)
- Climate Systems: Strategies for natural ventilation and light to reduce mechanical load.
- Concealed Services: Routing plans for electrical and plumbing lines to preserve heritage aesthetics.
Project Management
- BOQ & Tendering: Bill of Quantities creation for contractor bidding.
- Site Supervision: Regular monitoring to ensure construction aligns with conservation standards.
About Urban Design & Placemaking
Why We Do What We Do
I’m passionate about turning everyday corners of the city into places that just feel right. Sometimes, the best urban design isn’t flashy - it’s the stuff that feels like it’s always been there, blending in so well people forget it was ever different. That’s what placemaking means to me.
How I Work With Spaces and People
- Co-creating is the heart of my process. I don’t just show up and decide what goes where. I run workshops, talk with locals, and try to work out what makes a space tick. The final design always reflects the vibe of the people actually using it.
- I’m big on adaptive reuse in urban design. If something’s already there, I’d rather fix it up than tear it down. Repurposing old materials and spaces - with a little jugaad - keeps things sustainable and unique.
- Using local materials is a no-brainer for me. They help the design fit in and keep things eco-friendly.
- Heritage isn’t about keeping things stuck in the past. I look for ways to give old places a fresh life, so they stay relevant.
Projects I’m Proud Of
- Turned a forgotten corner at Woodstock School into a lively outdoor hub under the deodars.
- Restored a haveli in Old Delhi, making it a community spot for art and events.
- Brought daylight into a cramped attic workspace from the 1920s.
- Revived Chandernagore courtyards for pop-up art and dinners.
Beyond Design: Sharing What I’ve Learned
I run workshops for locals and students, helping others shape their own spaces. With my Restoration Clinic, I offer free support to people trying to save heritage properties, guiding them through the process step by step.
Meet your Expert
Aishwarya Tipnis Architects
47 connects in last 3 months
My Story
Old buildings have always spoken to me – not literally, but you know, they’ve got stories. That’s why I started ATA, with my small gang in Delhi. We’re all about mixing old soul with new ideas. We work with clients, engineers, and locals, bouncing ideas off each other. Our Jugaadopolis thing keeps us sharp, sharing and learning with students. Every job, whether it’s reviving a Darbargarh or jazzing up an attic, is a full-on adventure for us.
My Work
What We Do - We design for heritage conservation, adaptive reuse architecture, retrofit design, placemaking, interiors, and run workshops.
Reuse, Retrofit, Reimagine - We transform tired spaces into lively ones, seeing potential where others see rubble. No demolition, just new life.
Circular Design & Jugaad - We use what’s on-site, upcycle, and work with local hands. Smart, sustainable, a bit of jugaad (clever fix).
Bold but Sensitive Touch - Our heritage building retrofit is modern but respects the old bones. Design blends in, not shouts.
Placemaking with People - We build for and with communities. Outdoor classrooms, music spaces, hubs – all about impact that lasts.
