Uttara Ramakrishnan: Designing Cities with Purpose

Cities are more than streets and skyscrapers; they are the heartbeats of civilizations, the silent witnesses to history, and the dynamic spaces where millions build their lives. They hold stories in every alleyway, promise in every skyline, and struggles in every overlooked corner. To Uttara Ramakrishnan, urban design is not just about architecture—it is about people, communities, and the invisible forces that shape human experiences.

As an Urban Designer and Planner for the City of Berkeley, Uttara is not simply building spaces—she is reimagining them, ensuring they are equitable, sustainable, and accessible. From climate-resilient infrastructure to housing policies that center marginalized voices, her work stands as a testament to what urban design can be when driven by purpose, activism, and social consciousness.

A City of Contrasts: Where It All Began

Born and raised in Mumbai, Uttara was immersed in the contradictions of urban life from an early age. A city of boundless ambition, Mumbai thrives on its energy, yet its infrastructure often tells a different story—one of uneven access, of opportunity dictated by geography, of spaces that exclude as much as they accommodate.

As a child, she saw firsthand how a city’s design could shape destinies. Some areas flourished, while others struggled under the weight of inadequate planning. The more she observed, the clearer it became: urban spaces were never neutral—they reflected power, privilege, and policy choices that defined who belonged and who didn’t.

This realization led her to architecture, a field she hoped would give her the tools to reshape cities from within. Yet, as she delved deeper, she understood that architecture alone could not solve the systemic inequalities embedded in urban spaces. Buildings were just one part of the story—true transformation required rethinking the very foundation of how cities were planned. Thus, her journey into urban design and planning began.

From Mumbai to the World: A Career Rooted in Advocacy

Uttara’s early career was shaped by research and activism. At Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, she co-authored reports analyzing Mumbai’s spatial evolution, exploring how urban development often displaced local communities rather than empowering them.

She worked on projects that sought to preserve traditional fishing settlements, pushing for policies that protected indigenous livelihoods rather than erasing them under the banner of progress. This work instilled in her a deep respect for community-driven urbanism, an approach that values local voices over top-down planning.

Her time in Mumbai’s urban development sector further reinforced her belief that cities must be designed for people, not profit. She conducted city-wide audits, engaged with policymakers, and led gender-inclusive and disability-friendly infrastructure initiatives.

Redefining Urbanism in the United States

Uttara’s commitment to equitable urbanism took her across the world. She pursued her Master’s in Urban Design at the University of Texas at Austin, refining her expertise in sustainable city-building. She later joined Perkins&Will, a globally renowned firm where she led design strategy for over twenty urban projects, spanning cultural complexes, university campuses, transit-oriented developments, and affordable housing initiatives.

One of her key contributions was the development of a sustainable development framework, a blueprint for ensuring that urban growth doesn’t come at the cost of the environment or community well-being. She understood that true sustainability isn’t just about green buildings—it’s about livable, resilient cities where people thrive.

Her work at Perkins&Will solidified her reputation as a strategic thinker, a designer with a conscience, and a leader in the new wave of urbanism that prioritizes equity alongside development.

Transforming Berkeley: Urban Design as a Tool for Change

Today, as an Urban Designer and Planner for the City of Berkeley, Uttara is shaping the future of one of America’s most progressive cities. She is at the helm of major development projects, including the Corridor Upzoning Plan and the Ashby Transit Oriented Development (TOD)—a 4.4-acre project that will redefine urban accessibility and housing in Berkeley. She is streamlining housing initiatives, interpreting state laws to make local permits more efficient, and ensuring that new developments reflect community needs. Her leadership is not about bureaucracy but about building cities that work for everyone, not just the privileged few.

Beyond Policy: Storytelling, Advocacy, and the Power of Art

For Uttara, design is not just a profession; it is a medium for storytelling. She co-founded CoTales, a platform that blends urbanism and storytelling to make city-building more accessible, engaging, and inclusive. Through this initiative, she has published an urban graphic novel series, Tales of the Urban Realm: Accessibility, which educates young people on how cities are shaped—and how they can shape them in return. Her artistic expressions have found resonance beyond the field of design. She was a featured participant in The Extraordinaries, a celebrated New York City exhibition spotlighting foreign-born creative professionals redefining their industries.

A Thought Leader in Gender-Inclusive Planning

Uttara was invited to speak at the AIA Urban Design Committee in 2021, where she championed a vision of cities designed for all—where women, transgender, and non-binary individuals are considered in every design choice, from public transit safety to inclusive housing policies. Her work with People United for Mobility Action (PUMA) further reflects her belief that transportation is a human right, earning her First Prize at the AIA Austin Force Majeure competition.

Building the Future, One City at a Time

The world is changing, and so must its cities. Climate change, housing crises, and rising inequalities demand that urban designers think beyond profit and prestige. Uttara Ramakrishnan is one of the visionaries leading this transformation. Her work is a blueprint for the future—one where cities are not just spaces to live, but places where people, stories, and possibilities can thrive. For Uttara, urban design isn’t just about aesthetics. It is a tool for justice, a catalyst for change, and an act of radical hope.