In a rapidly urbanising India, where cities are both the engines of growth and sites of stark inequity, Arcause Spotlight at Municipalika 2026 aims to rethink what truly makes a city safe, inclusive, and sustainable. Scheduled for February 26, 2026, the initiative is led by Gita Balakrishnan, Founder of Ethos and the Ethos Foundation, recognised for her pioneering work at the intersection of architecture, empathy, and social responsibility.
Organised as part of Municipalika 2026, this edition of Arcause Spotlight positions itself as a living urban laboratory — moving beyond discussions within conference halls to the streets and communities where design meets lived reality. The program seeks to bridge crucial divides between design, policy, grassroots action, and daily urban life.
A City as a Classroom
Participants will engage in immersive learning experiences — from heritage walks and accessibility audits to community conversations on waste management and affordable social infrastructure. Each session invites designers, students, and citizens to explore Delhi through new lenses of inclusion, sustainability, and empathy.
The morning sessions (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) include:
- Design Literacy: Stories, Identity & Resilience in Delhi’s Informal Settlements – facilitated by Ikhat Society.
- Monuments & Memory Walk – curated by Dronah, exploring Old Delhi’s layered heritage.
- Understanding Accessibility in Delhi (Phase I) – led by Inclusive Divyangjan, beginning at the CCPD Office.
The afternoon sessions (2:30 PM – 5:00 PM) feature:
- Waste, Urban Design & Innovation – facilitated by Malba Project.
- Community Spaces, Access to Design & Affordability – by Social Design Collaborative, engaging with the Yamuna riverfront community.
- Understanding Accessibility (Audit at IHC) – conducted by Samarthyam at the India Habitat Centre.
Towards a Culture of Responsible Design
By inviting participants to step into communities, heritage sites, and public institutions, Arcause Spotlight underscores socially responsible design as a tool for real-world change. The event envisions cities not merely as built environments but as evolving ecosystems shaped by human experience, collective imagination, and inclusive design practices.
Registrations for Arcause Spotlight at Municipalika 2026 are open at https://forms.gle/RDEfu5QW16yZEpiE9.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
