H: Design thinking to transform living spaces
Intro: For the Haryana Police Housing Corporation, a house is far more than brick and mortar—it is
a statement of dignity, a promise of comfort, and a measure of well-being. This conviction has
become the cornerstone of its design thinking journey in recent years.
Intro: Beyond Barracks: How Haryana Police is rethinking what ‘Home ‘Means for its own.
in line with our commitment to improving the welfare and living standards of Haryana Police
personnel, the Haryana Police Housing Corporation (HPHC) has embarked upon a transformative
program rooted in globally acclaimed design thinking principles. This new approach, inspired by
leading frameworks such as IDEO and Stanford University, is focused on making housing truly
responsive to the genuine needs and aspirations of its residents.
For the Haryana Police Housing Corporation, a house is far more than brick and mortar, it is a
statement of dignity, a promise of comfort, and a measure of well-being. This conviction has
become the cornerstone of its design thinking journey in recent years. The cornerstone of this
initiative is a human-centric design philosophy that prioritizes empathy, active listening, and
continuous innovation. Rather than relying solely on conventional top-down planning, our teams
have committed to understanding the lived experiences of police families and co-creating solutions
tailored to their daily realities. The design thinking methodology guides us to first observe and listen,
and only then, through creativity and prototyping, deliver meaningful results.
“Good design is invisible. It simply works—making life easier, safer, and more dignified for the
people who use it.”
In the world of public infrastructure, design is often mistaken for mere aesthetics—brickwork,
blueprints, and budgets. Yet true design thinking goes far beyond the visual; it is about
understanding people, listening to their needs, and reimagining everyday spaces to improve lives.
Over the years, the Haryana Police Housing Corporation (HPHC) has emerged as a shining example
of how design thinking can transform the living and working conditions of those who serve society.
Under the visionary leadership of Sh. O.P. Singh, IPS, Director General of Police cumand Managing
Director of HPHC, the Corporation HPHC has embraced design thinking not as a buzzword, but as a
philosophy that drives every project. From residential colonies to police stations, and from training
academies to correctional facilities, HPHC is rewriting the narrative of government housing and
infrastructure, —placing users, their experiences, and their aspirations at the very heart of the
design process.
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The Human-Centred Approach (Workshop)
The hallmark of design thinking lies in its human-centricity. At HPHC, this begins with a simple
question: “What do end-user need?”
The Three phases of Design Thinking
a) Process and pain points
On 20.06.25 & 21.06.25, as part of the first phase, multiple field officers conducted structured
interviews with residents of police accommodations.
Framing the Right Questions and process
Perhaps the most powerful tool in design journey has been the visionary approach of HPHC to ask
the right questions. In the design thinking framework developed at HPHC, families are asked:
“What do you like most about your current home?”
“What problems do you face in day-to-day living?”
“How do you typically use each room?”
“What design features have you always wished for?”
By treating occupants as co-creators rather than passive recipients, HPHC has democratised the
design process. It is no longer about imposing structures, but about crafting solutions tailored to real
needs.
Pain points:
Voices from the Ground
The success of design thinking is best measured in human stories. Police families across Haryana now
speak of homes that feel warmer, safer, and more functional. A young officer’s wife proudly shares
how her modular kitchen saves her an hour of drudgery daily. Elderly parents speak of well-lit
corridors that reduce fall risks. Children enjoy safe play areas within housing colonies, fostering
community bonds. Such testimonials are not just feedback, they are validation of the HPHC people-
first philosophy.
The interviews explored both practical and emotional aspects, ranging from spatial challenges, safety
concerns, and utility inefficiencies to comfort, lighting, and accessibility. Residents highlighted a
range of pain points, including lack of storage, poorly conceived layouts, insufficient natural light, and
barriers for elderly members. At the same time, suggestions/pain points emerged for features such
as modular kitchens, external cylinder installation, larger water tanks, open gyms, transformer safety,
higher water pressure, concealed AC fittings, systematic waste management, lifts for older buildings,
expanded utility connections, and semi-furnished amenities for ease during transfers.
A Day in the Life – Journey Mapping Exercise
7:00 AM: Shashi, 38, uses the bathroom—highlights the need for safety features and better
layouts.
8:00 AM: Cooking begins—underscores the importance of kitchen design and storage.
12:00 PM: Cleaning & shopping—reveals the need for efficient spaces and easy
maintenance.
6:00 PM: Dinner preparation—points to better lighting and ergonomics in kitchen.
9:00 PM: Rest—emphasizes ventilation and comfort for sound sleep.
Insight: Women in Indian households spend an average of 3.5 hours daily in the kitchen
Designing smarter kitchens directly improves quality of life.
Refusing to make assumptions, each officer was reminded, “We are not the users.” This paradigm
shift, away from designer bias, has allowed us to gather powerful insights directly from those whose
everyday life is impacted by these accommodations.
Persona (A house wife ): We found that women spend more than 7 hours daily in the kitchen. So, as
an extreme user, we studied their daily routine to understand their real problems.
A Day in the Life – Journey Mapping Exercise
7:00 AM: Shashi, 38, uses the bathroom—highlights the need for safety features and better
layouts.
8:00 AM: Cooking begins—underscores the importance of kitchen design and storage.
12:00 PM: Cleaning & shopping—reveals the need for efficient spaces and easy
maintenance.
6:00 PM: Dinner preparation—points to better lighting and ergonomics in kitchen.
9:00 PM: Rest—emphasizes ventilation and comfort for sound sleep.
Insight:
Designing smarter kitchens directly improves quality of life.
b) Ideation and Action Planning
Building on these findings, a design workshop was convened at HPHC Headquarters on 02.07.25.
Teams, with the aid of video interviews, brainstormed and prototyped actionable solutions. The
session reinforced that robust design emerges from real-world testing and iteration rather than
isolated decision-making. Subsequently, on 03.07.25, a core team meeting, led by Sh. O.P Singh, IPS
and joined by experts including Sh. Alok Mittal IPS, Sh. Amitabh Singh Dhillon IPS, Sh. Chander
Mohan IPS, Sh. Satish Sharma, CE, [Link] Kumar, XEN and others, formulated a comprehensive
roadmap to address immediate needs and lay out the path for long-term modernization.
c) Implementation Roadmap
Recognizing the evolving needs of our police personnel and their families, our roadmap sets a
clear path for transforming housing into safer, smarter, and more resident-friendly spaces. It
combines immediate interventions, medium-term innovations, and a long-term vision to create
modern living environments that not only meet essential requirements but also enhance quality
of life. With targeted timelines and a structured approach, this initiative aims to set new
benchmarks in police housing design and community well-being.
Short-Term Initiatives
Housing Redesign: Reimagine layouts based on documented resident feedback and pain
points.
Right-Sized Living: Review existing housing dimensions, currently aligned with Haryana
Government norms, against family needs and modern lifestyles.
Safe Utility Upgrades: Standardize and modernize cylinder and utility connections for
enhanced safety and efficiency.
Smart Water Management: Provide higher-capacity overhead tanks and RO water
connections for reliable supply.
Sustainable Waste Solutions: Develop a comprehensive waste disposal and recycling plan,
modeled on the Gurugram Police Line initiative.
Resident Helpline: Ensure a 24/7 helpdesk service with prominent signboards at all police
lines for immediate resident support.
Dedicated Utility Spaces: Allocate defined areas for inverters and washing machines in
housing designs.
Leakage Control Drive: Conduct systematic surveys to identify leakage points, with
mandatory reporting and cost estimation by all circles.
Mid-Term Initiatives
Benchmarking Excellence: Undertake a comparative study of housing projects from other
government departments to identify replicable best practices.
Inclusive Design: Assess feasibility of lift installations in older housing blocks to improve
accessibility for elderly and differently-abled residents.
Prototype for Progress: Construct a model house with semi-fixed furniture to capture real-
time user feedback.
Long-Term Vision
Holistic Needs Assessment: Re-evaluate housing dimensions and layouts to align with
present-day family structures and practical requirements.
Government Advocacy: Preparing a detailed funding and policy framework for submission
to the State Government.
Global Insights: Research international housing innovations, such as compact yet efficient
designs in Hong Kong and Singapore—for adaptation to local needs.
Community-Centric Growth: Expand shared facilities such as gyms, libraries, and wellness
spaces to enhance overall well-being.
Next-Gen Technology: Explore the adoption of drones and AI-powered tools for proactive
maintenance, safety monitoring, and infrastructure audits.
For decades, police housing across India followed a utilitarian model—functional, but rarely
thoughtful. However, HPHC decided to go deeper. Through surveys, interviews, and on-ground
feedback from families living in police quarters, the team began to uncover invaluable insights:
Which corners of a home felt cramped or underutilized?
How important were ventilation, natural light, and outdoor spaces for families?
What design features did women—often the primary homemakers—most value in kitchens
and storage areas?
How could homes be made safer, especially for children and the elderly?
The Corporation realised that housing is not just about shelter—it is about dignity, comfort, and
well-being. And that realization became the seed of its design thinking journey.
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The Three Pillars of Design Thinking
The Corporation’s approach rests on three clear stages:
Inspiration – Through field visits, household interviews, and journey-mapping exercises, HPHC draws
inspiration from the lived experiences of police personnel and their families. One such exercise
followed “Shashi,” a 38-year-old homemaker in police housing, mapping her day from morning
chores to night-time rest. The results revealed how kitchens needed better layouts, bathrooms
required improved safety features, and storage had to be reimagined for modern family needs.
Ideation – Once challenges were identified, teams brainstormed solutions. Should semi-furnished
homes with fixed furniture be introduced? Could modular kitchens reduce daily drudgery? Would
green spaces within colonies improve well-being and social cohesion?
Implementation – Ideas are tested, refined, and executed with speed and precision. This is where
HPHC’s engineering expertise meets its design sensitivity, ensuring that projects are not only
functional but also future-ready.
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Framing the Right Questions
Perhaps the most powerful tool in design journey has been the visionary approach of HPHC to
askthe right questions. In the design thinking framework developed at HPHC, families are asked:
“What do you like most about your current home?”
“What problems do you face in day-to-day living?”
“How do you typically use each room?”
“What design features have you always wished for?”
By treating occupants as co-creators rather than passive recipients, HPHC has democratised the
design process. It is no longer about imposing structures, but about crafting solutions tailored to real
needs.
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Signature Elements of HPHC Design
Over the years, several signature elements have become synonymous with HPHC’s design
philosophy which are outcome of rigorous exercise which has gone behind the design philosophy:
Ample Natural Light & Ventilation – Recognising the link between well-being and airy
spaces.
Efficient Kitchens & Storage – Designed with inputs from women occupants, who spend the
most time managing households.
Green Spaces & Community Areas – Promoting social interaction and children’s play.
Safety-First Approach – Better locks, lighting, and secure layouts for peace of mind.
Accessibility – Design considerations for the elderly and differently-abled.
Eco-Friendly Features – Rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting, and sustainable
materials.
These are not luxuries; they are thoughtful inclusions that turn houses into homes.
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Voices from the Ground
The success of design thinking is best measured in human stories. Police families across Haryana now
speak of homes that feel warmer, safer, and more functional. A young officer’s wife proudly shares
how her modular kitchen saves her an hour of drudgery daily. Elderly parents speak of well-lit
corridors that reduce fall risks. Children enjoy safe play areas within housing colonies, fostering
community bonds. Such testimonials are not just feedback—they are validation of the Corporation’s
people-first philosophy.
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Leadership that Listens
At the centre of this transformation is Sh. O.P. Singh, whose leadership style combines strategic
vision with empathetic listening. He has championed the idea that infrastructure must reflect care,
not just construction. His insistence on incorporating user feedback at every stage has made HPHC a
model not just for Haryana, but for other states looking to modernize their police infrastructure.
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Box Feature: Design Thinking in Action
A Day in the Life – Journey Mapping Exercise
7:00 AM: Shashi, 38, uses the bathroom—highlights the need for safety features and better
layouts.
8:00 AM: Cooking begins—underscores the importance of kitchen design and storage.
12:00 PM: Cleaning & shopping—reveals the need for efficient spaces and easy
maintenance.
6:00 PM: Dinner preparation—points to better lighting and ergonomics in kitchen.
9:00 PM: Rest—emphasizes ventilation and comfort for sound sleep.
Insight: Women in Indian households spend an average of 3.5 hours daily in the kitchen
Designing smarter kitchens directly improves quality of life.
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Beyond Brick and Mortar
The adoption of design thinking has propelled HPHC beyond the realm of a conventional
construction agency. It now represents a movement to humanise infrastructure, setting new
benchmarks in empathy-driven public architecture.
This approach not only strives to modernize physical spaces but also aims at setting a new
benchmark for public infrastructure, one that puts people at its heart. It is envisioned as a replicable
model for future initiatives across police and government accommodations, embedding a culture of
continuous feedback, learning, and adaptive enhancement. As emphasized in our workshops,
“Design thinking is not a one-time effort but a continuous journey of listening, learning, and
improving.”By aligning construction with utility, HPHC has transformed homes into hubs of dignity
and efficiency. As Haryana continues to modernize its police infrastructure, the lessons of HPHC
resonate far beyond state borders. It is a reminder that when the right design is at the core, buildings
breathe life.
Our hope is that these pioneering steps will fundamentally improve the daily lives of Haryana Police
personnel and their families, giving shape to a new era of humane, efficient, and resilient public
housing.