Author: Ar. Dilshana Siyad, Assistant Professor, DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon.
Urban Design plays a vital role in shaping cities by bridging the gap between individual buildings and the broader urban environment. It focuses on creating spaces that are functional, sustainable, and visually engaging while responding to the needs and aspirations of communities. Institutions such as architecture colleges in Kerala emphasize this holistic approach, preparing students to design cities that support quality of life and cultural identity.
As part of the Semester 9 studio, students from DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon—recognized among the best architecture colleges in Kerala—undertook an immersive educational visit to Goa and Panjim. This hands-on learning experience exposed students to real-world urban challenges through a bottom-up approach that prioritized direct engagement with local communities.
During their two-week stay, students interacted with government officials, residents, and visitors to gain insights into the social, cultural, and functional dimensions of urban spaces. Their study explored multiple layers, including history, morphology, transportation, ecology, housing, infrastructure, and activity patterns, allowing them to build a comprehensive understanding of the region.
Daily collaboration with faculty ensured continuous reflection, critique, and refinement of ideas. This iterative process helped students remain responsive to site complexities while shaping a long-term vision for the area. Such studio-based learning methods are a hallmark of top architecture colleges in Kerala, where academic rigor is closely linked with real-world application.
The studio concluded with design proposals grounded in community feedback and contextual understanding. These proposals demonstrated not only technical and creative excellence but also a strong commitment to designing inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered urban environments.
This immersive experience reaffirmed the importance of community participation in Urban Design and highlighted the role of architecture education in shaping cities that reflect local culture, environmental responsibility, and social well-being.
