
The Studio

Where Ideas, People, and Purpose meet.


Founding Story

Design Response was founded in 1996 by Ar. Udayan Agarwal with a simple aspiration: to create thoughtful architecture for Dehradun, a city he deeply admired and believed deserved design that responded to its people, climate, and landscape. Over the years, the studio earned its reputation through meaningful projects, lasting relationships, and a commitment to architecture rooted in context, empathy, and care.
In 2018, Ar. Akshay Agarwal joined the practice, bringing a new generation of ideas while strengthening the values on which the studio was built. Together, they have grown Design Response into a collaborative practice with 300+ completed projects, 25 lakh sq. ft. currently under design, and a close-knit team of architects, designers, and collaborators.
The next chapter began in 2025, when Ar. Richa Panigrahi joined to shape the studio's brand, voice, and strategic direction, giving clearer expression to a philosophy that had always been at the heart of the practice: Architecture of Care.
Today, Design Response is defined as much by the relationships it nurtures as the spaces it creates. With 50+ active clients and nearly 90% repeat engagements, the studio continues to grow through trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. From the city that inspired its beginning to the communities it continues to shape, Design Response remains guided by one enduring belief.
Design that Listens. Spaces that Speak
The Des'Resians
Different Journeys, One shared Purpose.
Our Purpose

Where Conversations become Spaces.
We believe every meaningful space begins with a conversation. By listening deeply : to people, place, and purpose, we uncover what truly matters. This dialogue shapes our process and guides us towards creating spaces that balance beauty, functionality, and human experience, ensuring every user feels seen, heard, and valued.
Caring for the Land that Shape us.
The mountains and valleys of Uttarakhand have profoundly shaped who we are and how we design. In these landscapes, we see both extraordinary beauty and a shared responsibility to protect it. They remind us that architecture must respond with care : to climate, to ecology, and to the character of place. Through this lens, we seek to create spaces that are deeply rooted in the Himalayas and mindful of the future they will inherit.
Care Ethos




















