Ukiyo Habitat: Designing with Intention for Cities of Tomorrow — A Studio Rooted in Research, Resilience, and Climate-Conscious Urbanism
In a world grappling with rising temperatures, disappearing green spaces, and inequitable urban growth, the role of design has never been more urgent — or more questioned. Enter Ukiyo Habitat, an emerging design studio founded by Garima Dubey and Vidushi Singh, two dynamic professionals driven by the belief that cities must be built not just for today, but for the resilient, inclusive, and climate-adaptive needs of tomorrow.
At the intersection of landscape architecture, urbanism, and sustainability, Ukiyo Habitat is more than a studio — it is a vision. A vision where design meets technology, and where empathy, systems thinking, and long-term impact replace superficial aesthetics. Garima Dubey holds a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from SPA Delhi, while Vidushi Singh earned her Master’s in Urban Design from CEPT Ahmedabad — bringing together complementary expertise in landscape and urban systems., came together after realizing how detached mainstream design practices can be from real-world ecological and social concerns.
“We wanted to break the pattern,” says Garima. “Design should not be an isolated act; it must respond to the climate crisis, urban inequities, and public health needs.”
Why Ukiyo Habitat Exists
Ukiyo Habitat was born out of a pivotal realization — that conventional design often ignores community voices, ecological systems, and long-term resilience. The founders chose to reframe their roles not just as designers, but as facilitators of change, combining research, collaboration, and advocacy.
Starting as a self-funded initiative, the journey hasn’t been easy. Balancing idealism with the hard realities of budgets, timelines, and client expectations meant slow, deliberate growth. “Convincing institutions to move beyond aesthetics and adopt climate-conscious design took time,” adds Vidushi. “But with every workshop, prototype, and project — we’re building trust.”
What Sets Ukiyo Habitat Apart
Ukiyo Habitat isn’t just a design consultancy — it’s a living lab for urban experimentation based in New Delhi, India. The studio is known for its pioneering approach that blends co-design, evidence-based research, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-aligned frameworks to create resilient, inclusive, and climate-responsive urban environments.
Their multidisciplinary work spans a variety of impactful typologies:
- Climate-responsive farmhouses in peri-urban regions, designed with passive cooling strategies, vernacular materials, and rainwater harvesting systems.
- Nature-infused school play areas and learning environments, where the studio reimagines education spaces by merging pedagogy with ecology.
- Public realm improvement projects that promote walkability, social inclusion, and mental well-being in urban neighborhoods.
Drawing from regenerative systems and ecological intelligence, Ukiyo Habitat also specializes in permaculture-informed landscapes and natural swimming pool designs — spaces where natural processes are restored and celebrated. These efforts reflect their core belief: that healing environments must be co-created with nature, not engineered against it.
As a New Delhi-based sustainable design studio, Ukiyo Habitat collaborates with universities and research institutions across India, conducting design research workshops that center community voices. Their selection for incubation at IP University (Delhi) further validates their forward-thinking practice model.
In recognition of their context-sensitive and people-first design philosophy, Ukiyo Habitat was invited to speak at South India Talks OOH 2025 in Chennai. Co-founder Garima Dubey presented on the integration of out-of-home (OOH) media with public space design, offering a fresh perspective on crafting urban environments that are inclusive, immersive, and designed for the future.
The Philosophy Behind the Name
The name “Ukiyo” is inspired by a Japanese concept that translates to “living in the moment, detached from the burdens of life.” This philosophy lies at the heart of Ukiyo Habitat’s design ethos — creating spaces that offer stillness amid urban chaos and presence in an increasingly distracted world.
For the studio, design is not merely about shaping physical form — it’s about crafting experiences that help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and feel held by their surroundings. Whether it’s a green courtyard, a school playground, or a contemplative public space, their designs invite awareness, calm, and connection to nature.
Each project by Ukiyo Habitat is an invitation to live mindfully, rooted in the present while gently guiding individuals and communities toward a more conscious, inclusive, and climate-resilient future.
Why Public Space and Landscape Design Matter
Ukiyo Habitat strongly advocates for the role of landscape architecture and public space design in addressing 21st-century urban challenges like heat islands, mental health crises, and social fragmentation. Through early collaboration with communities, governments, and technologists, the studio believes we can create adaptive, regenerative, and just cities.
Connect With Ukiyo Habitat
📍Website: www.ukiyohabitat.com
📩 Email: ukiyohabitat@gmail.com
📞 Contact: 9767106855
🔗 LinkedIn: Garima Dubey | Vidushi Singh
