BARE FOOT Urban lab
Sensing the Urban Future
Barefoot Urban Lab is a collaborative space for sustainable,
people-centric urban design and planning in India.
We do projects and workshops that shape livable, inclusive cities of the future
About Us
At Barefoot Urban Lab, we are a dynamic, collaborative hub committed to shaping sustainable, human-centric urban futures. Rooted in the belief that better cities begin with informed, empowered communities, we bring together students, young professionals, and urban enthusiasts through a vibrant mix of comprehensive urban studies, experiential workshops, online learning modules, and insightful guest lectures.
Our interdisciplinary approach bridges theory and practice, equipping emerging voices in architecture, urban planning, and design with the tools and critical thinking needed to address the complex challenges of today's cities — from mobility and housing to public space and social equity.
We believe cities must not only function efficiently but also nurture inclusion, cultural vibrancy, and social cohesion. Through place-based learning, participatory design, and real-world engagement, our mission is to inspire a new generation of changemakers who will reimagine urban life — one street, one neighborhood, one community at a time.
Join us in co-creating the future of cities — thoughtful, walkable, and rooted in people.
Our interdisciplinary approach bridges theory and practice, equipping emerging voices in architecture, urban planning, and design with the tools and critical thinking needed to address the complex challenges of today's cities — from mobility and housing to public space and social equity.
We believe cities must not only function efficiently but also nurture inclusion, cultural vibrancy, and social cohesion. Through place-based learning, participatory design, and real-world engagement, our mission is to inspire a new generation of changemakers who will reimagine urban life — one street, one neighborhood, one community at a time.
Join us in co-creating the future of cities — thoughtful, walkable, and rooted in people.
What we Do
- 🧭 Urban Studies & Research: We conduct field-based urban studies that decode the everyday life of streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. By observing patterns, mapping lived experiences, and studying socio-spatial dynamics, we build a grounded understanding of urban systems — from mobility and housing to informality, climate, and culture. These studies form the backbone of our learning and design approaches.
- 🛠️ Hands-on Workshops: Our immersive, site-specific workshops bring students and practitioners into real-world urban contexts. Participants learn by doing — engaging with local communities, conducting street audits, prototyping interventions, and proposing actionable design ideas. These workshops are designed to foster empathy, collaborative thinking, and systems-level awareness.
- 🌐 Online Courses: Through our online courses and toolkits, we make our methods and insights accessible to a wider audience. Covering topics like urban analysis, tactical urbanism, participatory design, and sustainable mobility, our courses blend theory with real-world case studies and tools that learners can apply in their own contexts.
- 🎙️ Guest Lectures: We curate guest talks and interdisciplinary dialogues with urbanists, designers, academics, artists, and activists. These conversations broaden perspectives, spark critical thinking, and connect global ideas to local realities.
- Design & Engagement Projects : We collaborate with communities, institutions, and local governments to co-design public spaces, streetscapes, and neighborhood-scale interventions. Our approach prioritizes participatory processes, cultural relevance, and social cohesion, ensuring design solutions are inclusive, adaptive, and rooted in context.
Urban Study - Sheets
Services
Testimonials
Contact
- 1st Main Road, Sathya Nagar, Ramapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- +91-98405 90447 - SENTHIL M
- barefooturbanlab@gmail.com
- Mon-Sat- 11:00-19:00
