AR+UD Studio

06/08/2026

A biography of Buckminster
Fuller’s “thought development,”
Ideas and Integrities presents an intimate self-portrait of the experiences and discoveries behind his groundbreaking ideas and inventions. Through in-depth essays like “Total Thinking,”
“Design for Survival —Plus,” and “The Comprehensive Man,” spanning the period from his earliest writings to the invention of the geodesic dome and his explosion onto the world stage, he delivers a powerful manifesto for the comprehensive design revolution he had championed:
“To make man a success on earth.... we must design our way to positive effectiveness.”

30/07/2026

If you are in Thane on Sunday and interested in transportation and urban design you might want to drop in

28/07/2026

A form always starts as a simple block. The site, climate, functions, and costs shape it into architecture.

27/06/2026

Mumbai floods every monsoon, and everyone acts surprised. The city desperately needs “sponge city” infrastructure — permeable surfaces, wetlands, and retention ponds that absorb rainwater instead of letting it swamp streets. The Mahalaxmi Race Course is a massive, underused green space sitting right in the heart of the city. It’s a perfect candidate for a retention pond and flood buffer. But what’s being proposed instead? A sports complex, partially underground. That’s genuinely backwards. You’d be waterproofing and concreting over one of the few places that could actually breathe and hold water. Mumbai needs sponges right now, not stadiums.

24/05/2026

A city is not its infrastructure
Thane’s explosive growth has brought wealth and jobs, but its quality of life has not kept pace. Today, we are building monumental infrastructure at an impressive scale, but not creating a city. And both are not the same.

People-first urban design can transform Thane streets into safe, inclusive spaces for the community.

17/05/2026

01/05/2026

Sketching is nothing else but thinking on paper.

13/04/2026

Cities across the world are being urged to rethink urban design with children at the centre, as a new global guide highlights the urgent need for safer, inclusive, and accessible public spaces.

A recent report by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and UN-Habitat stresses that designing cities for children ultimately benefits everyone.
Public spaces are not just recreational areas but are essential for a child's physical, emotional, and social growth. Access to parks, streets, and open areas enables children to play, explore, and build relationships.

However, fewer than half of urban residents worldwide have access to nearby public spaces, and the situation is significantly worse in low-income regions.
The idea of public space should be expanded beyond traditional parks and playgrounds. Streets, schoolyards, markets, and even small unused plots can serve as valuable play areas.

This approach is particularly important in densely populated or under-resourced neighbourhoods, where formal recreational spaces are limited.
A key challenge is inequality. Well-developed neighbourhoods often have better infrastructure, while poorer areas lack safe spaces for children.

Safety concerns such as heavy traffic, poor lighting, and unsafe environments further restrict children's mobility. Social barriers, including exclusion and harassment, disproportionately affect girls and vulnerable groups. Environmental factors such as pollution and extreme heat also pose risks, reinforcing the need for greener and healthier urban spaces.

Cities can adopt simple yet effective measures, including traffic calming zones, safer school routes, improved lighting, and opening school grounds for community use after hours. Transforming unused land into small parks and involving local communities—especially children—in planning is a good strategy.

Urban planners and policymakers must prioritise child-friendly designs and invest in underserved areas. Even small interventions can significantly improve quality of life. Creating cities that work for children is not just an ideal but a necessity—one that leads to healthier, more inclusive, and resilient urban environments for all.

This guide, developed by WHO, UNICEF and UN-Habitat, highlights the importance of public spaces for optimizing children's health and well-being, and realizing their comprehensive rights. It provides support for practitioners in developing and improving public spaces for children in planned urban con...

16/02/2026

"If you are not drawing, you are not thinking." - Louis Kahn

11/02/2026

At AR&UD Studio we don’t separate architecture from urban design. Each project is a chance to improve the city: a carefully designed building should serve its users and contribute positively to the surrounding urban environment.