In this compelling Elev8 Ahmedabad 2026 address, architect Gita Balakrishnan shares a transformative personal journey. Her 1,700-kilometer walk from Kolkata to Delhi reshaped her understanding of architecture. The experience challenged conventional practice and revealed architecture’s profound social responsibility. It inspired a deeply human-centered philosophy rooted in empathy, community, and meaningful impact.
Balakrishnan argues that the architectural fraternity often operates in isolation from the communities it serves. By walking the country, she encountered the lived realities of Adivasi villages learned from traditional, non-formal construction practices, and witnessed the profound lack of inclusivity in our built environment. These revelations led to the establishment of the Ethos Foundation and the development of the Design Responsibility Compass, a framework designed to guide architects toward more ethical and inclusive practices.
She outlines six core action areas, each born from specific encounters along her journey:
Suades: Fostering awareness of design’s value among the general public and school students.
Traditional Histories: Traditional histories document the “invisible monuments” and vernacular building wisdom that mainstream discourse often overlooks.
UDITA: Promoting universal design and inclusive spaces for persons with disabilities.
Shama: Elevating the status and financial literacy of construction workers, the true builders of our society.
Access to Design: Bridging the gap between the marginalized and professional design services.
Sustainability: Encouraging circular thinking and ecological sensitivity in material choices.
Throughout the talk, Balakrishnan stresses that these shifts are not mere academic exercises but essential, collective responsibilities. She issues a clarion call to her peers: to move beyond the “curated narrative” of prestige projects and instead engage directly with the people and systems that shape our built landscape. By aligning intent with action, architects can transition from being market-dictated service providers to becoming true agents of positive societal change. The presentation concludes as a humble invitation to join this ongoing, collaborative effort to reshape the future of design.
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