The fourth-year Urban Design Studio at MIT ADT University explored the redevelopment of Hongkong Market in Siliguri, one of the city’s most active yet congested commercial zones. The exercise encouraged students to reimagine the market as an inclusive, well-connected, and sustainable urban environment that balances commerce, mobility, and community life.

The studio began with an in-depth site study and documentation, where students mapped the social, economic, and spatial systems shaping the market’s daily rhythm. Through field observations, stakeholder interactions, and urban morphology analysis, they identified key challenges and opportunities for regeneration.

Working collaboratively, groups of six developed comprehensive master plans that addressed accessibility, pedestrian experience, infrastructure, and spatial organization. These frameworks then guided smaller groups of three to design individual architectural interventions—including vendor clusters, community facilities, and urban plazas—that responded to the character and needs of specific sites.

The studio’s approach emphasized a contextual and research-based methodology, combining analytical thinking with design imagination. It sought to bridge the gap between urban planning and architectural design, fostering sensitivity to local culture, informal systems, and human behavior.

The exhibited work features the site study report, master plan, and selected individual projects, showcasing a collective exploration into how architecture can shape more vibrant and inclusive public spaces.