UID School of Architecture

Vibhuti Sachdev

Vibhuti Sachdev qualified as an architect from the School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi, 1989). After a period spent in practice and research in India, she undertook a Phd in architectural theory at the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London, 1996). She was later Lecturer in History of Art in the University of Sussex (UK, 2000) - a post she left to return to India in 2004. She then worked as independent writer and lecturer and as consultant on the restoration of the Jal Mahal, Jaipur. She joined the Sushant School of Art and Architecture as Professor in 2015 and worked there for 8 years, of which 5 years as Dean till 2022. She has published four books and over a dozen scholarly articles. She is now the Director of UID at the G D Goenka University, looking after Design, Architecture and Art programmes.

“My primary area of expertise is Vastu Vidya (India’s classical architectural knowledge system). Many of my publications concern this (Indian Architectural Theory, 1998) and related knowledge systems and their expressions in architecture and art. I have worked extensively on the city of Jaipur, focusing on its architecture and craft traditions. My second book Building Jaipur (2002) uses Jaipur as a test case for exploring changes planning theory and practice in India between the pre-colonial and post-modern eras. Jaipur City Palace (2008) discusses both the visual and social cultures of the city’s primary royal residence. My fourth book is on the Festivals at the Jaipur Court (2014).

I used my expertise in Vastu Vidya in hands-on conservation and design, especially at the Jal Mahal. I have experience of teaching architecture, and history of art at SOAS, Sussex, JNU and SSAA. Throughout my career I have managed research projects and academic conferences and I currently hold a senior position in academic administration.”

Badrinarayanan Srinivasan

Qualifications: Bachelors of Architecture (School of Planning & Architecture , Delhi ), PG Certificate in Higher Education (Nottingham Trent University, UK), PhD (School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi)

Badrinarayanan Srinivasan (Badri) graduated as an architect in 1982 and worked in the design industry for 12 years before setting up a multi-disciplinary design practice in 1994. In the span of 20 years, he executed many architecture, interior, graphics, products, and exhibition projects. He has been involved with academics for over 30 years and has a taught as visiting faculty at TVB School of Habitat Studies, SPA, Jamia, and Guru Gobind Singh University. He has a PG certificate in higher education (PGCHE) from Nottingham Trent University (UK), and a PhD in architecture (SPA, Delhi). The subject of his research was architectural education, focusing on design studio pedagogy.

He taught at Pearl Academy from 2010 to 2021 in the Interior Architecture department, where he took the lead in curriculum design, development, and conducting interdisciplinary design workshops. He taught at the School of Design UPES Dehradun from 2021 to 2022. He has been actively involved in training and conducting training workshops in design pedagogy at Pearl Academy, and other design institutes.

Badri has many publications to his credit and has been national level jury member for IIID (Indian Institute of Interior Designers). He is on the jury panels, PhD review panels, and board of studies in many architecture and design institutes. His interests include Indian classical music, craft, and Nalanda Buddhist philosophy. Badri joined UID NCR in January 2023 as Professor.

MANJARI KHANNA KAPOOR

Dr. Manjari Khanna Kapoor is the Head of Department of Architecture and a Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, GD Goenka University, Sohna Road, Gurugram. This is her way to contribute to future architects after many decades of successfully practice since 1995.

She is the first in the country to pioneer ‘security through architectural design’, propagating the concepts of CPTED and counter terrorism through design. She is the Founder President of ‘Association for Building Security- India’ and a Director on the board of the International CPTED Association (ICA). She is also the author and Chairperson of the SEQURE standards for design of buildings and audit systems.

VIKAS GOEL

Prof. Goel is a visionary Architect with24 years in Project Management and techno-commercial operations across the Real Estate sector. He shares his experiences of Office Buildings, Institutes, Factories, District Court Complex Saket, Judicial Academy at Dwarka, guest houses, Group housing, plotted development work and residences, with key focus on optimal utilization of cost and available resources. Vikas is a valuable resource towards detailed drawings and construction methodologies. His ethics of mutual respect are his tools to leverage Human Capital. His strategy towards education is to Motivate, mentor and lead students and projects by way of leading by example.

ALEX KALENGA

Alex is a Congolese national living in India since 1994 when he joined the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi for his Bachelor degree. He is an environmental Architect consultant working between India and his country of origin, the DR Congo. He has a master degree of MSc in Architecture and Renewable Energy from the University of Nottingham in the UK. He is member of Indian Council of Architect, South Africa Council of Architect and Professionals and DR Congo Architect Association. He is currently part- time PhD. Scholar with the Anant National University In Ahmedabad, Gujarat where he is researching on Sustainability Development for African future Mega cities.

HARMANPREET KAUR

Harmanpreet Kaur has more than 15 years of multidisciplinary experience in practice as well as teaching. Her experience spreads over canvas comprising large-scale projects in institutional, hospitality, and residential sectors. After working for many years in the industry, she completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning & Development (PGDUPDL) and then her Master of Architecture.

She has worked with different schools of Architecture, involved in various academic and co-curricular activities of the Institutions she has worked with and proven to be an experienced educator with a demonstrated history of delivering high standard results.

JALAJ AGGARWAL

Jalaj Agarwal is an architect & urban planner by profession and education in Delhi NCR and Ahmedabad. His professional experience with various organizations dealing in architecture, interior design and real estate valuations included large scale group housing projects and small scale residential and commercial projects for reputed companies like ATS and GMO Global Sign.

Jalaj was ranked 8th in GATE at the post graduation level and believes that there is an urgent need to close the gap between education and industry. Besides this, he also tries to keep himself updated with the latest software and holds good fluency in AutoCAD, Photoshop, ArcGIS, etc.

Tapasya Samal

Tapasya Samal is a conservation architect involved with research and documentation of built heritage, adaptive reuse, traditional building practices, efficient information design, photography and site management. She has undertaken conservation projects across the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand. She has also experimented in academics, teaching in department of Architecture and Design since 2014 under various roles. Tapasya has recently founded Heritage Network Studio, a practice dedicated to heritage conservation and cultural development and is actively involved with INTACH as the Co-convener of its Gurgaon Chapter.

Research Interest: Heritage conservation, interpretation &promotion including tangible & intangible, Up-gradation, utilities management & adaptive reuse of historic building, historic evolution of building typology, industrial & military heritage (forts), BIM in existing buildings, documentation & listing, Building construction & conservation process, Museum design