Academic Engagement and Architectural Mentorship

A Practice of Enquiry

Teaching is not a departure from my daily work in the studio; it is an extension of it. When I engage with institutions like CEPT University or participate in forums at Sangath, I am not merely delivering a lecture. I am participating in a collective learning process. Architecture, to me, is a discipline that requires constant re-evaluation, and the questions posed by students during a design charrette often force me to articulate the 'why' behind my own design decisions.

The Design Review

I view the final review as a 'crit' culture—a space for intense, critical dialogue. My approach focuses on stripping away the superficial to reach the core of the project. We examine the socio-political context, the material logic, and the structural integrity. Whether working with students in Kochi or Ahmedabad, I push them to consider the responsibility we owe to the city. We move beyond the immediate design problem to address the broader implications of how a building touches the ground and how it interacts with the people who inhabit it.

Speaking and Workshops

I am regularly involved in:

• Design Reviews: Providing critical feedback on semester-long projects and thesis work.
• Workshops & Charrettes: Leading intensive, short-term sessions where we generate solutions for complex urban sites, from colonial precincts to old city markets.
• Keynote Lectures: Reflecting on the evolution of my practice, the importance of adaptive reuse, and the lessons learned from masters like B.V. Doshi.

These engagements are about fostering a vibrant intellectual culture. If you are an academic institution or an organization looking to host a discourse on architecture, I invite you to reach out to discuss potential collaborations.