Behavioral Design, Ethnography, Strategic Insights for Architecture
New Delhi, India
Insightful. Grounded. Empathic. Strategic. Architectural.
Summary
We were invited by Archohm Consults, the architectural firm leading the station's redesign, to conduct deep ethnographic research that ensures the redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station is rooted in the lived experiences of its diverse users. Our role is to bring human insights into architectural conversations—bridging the gap between form, function, and behavior.
Challenge
How might architecture at NDLS evolve by making space for those who are invisible to drawings—informal workers, migrants, vendors, sanitation staff, and transient populations?
Solutions
We conducted a multi-layered behavioral design study across the station premises, which included:
(a) Stakeholder mapping across formal and informal systems, covering a wide spectrum of users—from long-distance passengers and railway staff to waste workers, auto-rickshaw drivers, and homeless families.
(b) Sensory and behavioral zoning of NDLS—documenting flows of sound, waste, heat, informal commerce, rest, and care.
(c) Geo-tagged observations and insights layered onto Google Earth, enabling architects to visualize behavior patterns in relation to spatial design.
Our final report presents 15 key design provocations—each combining observations, a way forward, and a reflective question to guide architectural decision-making with empathy and context.