Guest lectures 2026

7th August & 17th August 2026

 

Ar. Sofiya Nathan & Ar. Denis Amirtharaj                     Ar. Indumathi

As part of AR 411 – Architectural Design VII, the current seventh-semester students attended a guest lecture by Ar. Sofiya Nathan and Ar. Denis Amirtharaj, both associated with Shanmugam Associates, Tiruchirappalli on the topic of Hospital Design. The speakers presented some of their own healthcare projects and shared valuable insights into the design process, planning considerations, and practical challenges involved in hospital architecture. They discussed various aspects such as circulation, coordination, and the complexities encountered during design and execution. The session offered students a deeper understanding of hospital design through real-world professional experiences and case studies, making it highly relevant to their academic design studio.

The students also attended a guest lecture by Ar. Indumathi, who has been associated with L&T, Chennai, for the past 22 years, an expert in the field of Healthcare Architecture. The session was highly intensive and interactive, offering students a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects involved in designing healthcare facilities. Drawing from her extensive professional experience, Ar. Indumathi discussed planning principles, functional requirements, circulation, zoning, service coordination, technological advancements in the field, materials and construction, and other critical considerations that influence hospital design. The lecture encouraged active participation from the students and addressed both conceptual and practical aspects of healthcare architecture. The session proved to be highly enriching and provided valuable professional insights relevant to the students’ ongoing design studio.

05th August 2026 & 10th August 2026

As part of the AR 211 Architectural Design III studio for second-year students, guided by Professor Sangeetha G and Dr. Aravind Kumar, second-year students attended a guest lecture by Ar. Parvathykartha (Alumna, NIT- Batch of 2007) on 5th August 2026, which centered on empathetic and human-centric residential design. Grounded in the philosophy that architecture holds the power to shape everyday lives, Ar. Parvathykartha highlighted the delicate dialogue between client aspirations and an architect's vision, urging students never to lose their creative identity. The lecture guided students through micro-planning strategies; such as ergonomic clearances, room-level layouts, integrated storage, and custom furniture,while demonstrating how to use Gordon Cullen's serial vision to design spaces experienced through movement. Emphasizing empathy and deep listening, the session provided students with practical methodologies for transforming complex user needs into tailored spatial solutions.

Also as part of their studio, they had an insightful guest lecture by Ar. Shanmugananth, a Landscape Architect, filmmaker (Cannes 2016 nominee), and Anna University (SAP) faculty alumnus on 10th August 2026. Focusing on residential design and spatial dynamics, the session delved into shifting perspectives from macro to micro scales, exploring how the built environment asserts power to shape and control human behavior and emotion. Ar. Shanmugananth unpacked user-versus-program relationships, spatial hierarchy, and design methodologies; emphasizing that true architectural design must balance user-driven requirements with site-specific contexts to cultivate a strong genius loci (sense of place) and overcome creative blocks.

02 April, 2026

We are pleased to share the successful completion of our guest lecture for the Tenth Semester Course AR504 on “Professional Practice and Work Ethics for Architects in India,” held on April 2, 2026, at the Department Seminar Hall. The session was delivered by Ar. Parthasarathi Dutta Gupta, Managing Director of Pithavadian and Partners (PNP), Chennai, who shared valuable insights from his extensive professional experience. The lecture covered key aspects of architectural practice, including project execution challenges, legal frameworks, documentation, and workplace ethics. Through practical examples and engaging discussion, participants gained a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining technical integrity, clear communication, and thorough documentation. We extend our sincere thanks to Ar. Parthasarathi Dutta Gupta for an insightful and enriching session.

25 March 2026

The the Architecture Students Association hosted an insightful guest lecture by Ar. Oveas Ahmed, Director at architectureRED, Chennai. The session provided a deep dive into the firm’s "two-fold" approach to design, which bridges the gap between large-scale urban ecology and localized architectural interventions. Ar. Ahmed challenged students to look beyond mere construction, asking how architecture can reclaim its role in fostering social equity and civitas. Using the "Design by Diagram" methodology, he illustrated how the practice negotiates the relationship between the "Figure" (the object) and the "Ground" (the context). He demonstrated how evolving a clear vision and strategy allows for a seamless transition from traditional city-making values to modern construction requirements.

12 March 2026

As part of Climate Responsive Architecture (AR302) under Prof. Amalan Kaushik, the department hosted an online guest lecture by Mrs. Sashikala Ananth, noted architect, Vaastu scholar, and educator with four decades of work in traditional Indian building sciences. Her philosophy centred on Vaastu as a holistic, climate-responsive design system that harmonises the five elements, human wellbeing and spatial geometry. She emphasised simplicity, proportion, movement and culturally rooted wisdom applying traditional principles flexibly and meaningfully to contemporary architecture.

26 February 2026

The Department invited Mr. Vanjul Aggarwal to deliver a guest lecture on “Cost of Housing” as part of the course AR552: Housing (Elective), conducted online on February 26, 2026. The session provided students with valuable insights into the economic dimensions of housing, drawing from the speaker’s extensive experience in multi-asset portfolio management. Key aspects such as investment strategies, asset valuation, and market dynamics were discussed, enabling a deeper understanding of housing costs within broader financial and real estate frameworks. The Department appreciates Mr. Vanjul Aggarwal’s contribution and acknowledges the value added to the students’ learning through his professional expertise and experience.

  

The Department extended an invitation to Dr. Vishal Chettry to serve as a Guest Lecturer for an online session on “Affordable Housing and Low-Cost Construction Materials” scheduled on February 26, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, as part of the course AR552: Housing (Elective). The session aimed to provide students with valuable insights into sustainable and cost-effective housing solutions, drawing from the speaker’s extensive expertise in housing and sustainability. It was expected to encourage innovative thinking among students regarding affordable housing strategies and the use of low-cost construction materials. The Department acknowledges the importance of such academic interactions and looks forward to the enriching learning experience for the students through this proposed engagement.

09 February 2026

The Department was honoured to host a guest lecture titled “From Studio to Site: Design Work as a Professional Pitch” as part of the Core Course AR504 - Professional Practice. The session was delivered on 09 February 2026 and focused on bridging the gap between academic design processes and professional architectural practice. The lecture emphasized the integration of design thinking with professional ethics, regulatory frameworks, and practical execution. The speaker shared valuable insights into presenting design work as a professional pitch, offering students a clearer understanding of real-world expectations and industry standards. The session also highlighted the importance of aligning academic training with professional responsibilities.

30 January 2026

The second year students also attended an intensive guest lecture and hands-on workshop by alumni Sarath Chandra (Alumni-NIT, Batch of 2017), filmmaker, and Naveen G (Alumni, NIT- Batch of 2007), architect and educator. They conducted multiple sessions on filmmaking, videography, creative direction, documentation techniques, rural architecture, hand drafting, and book-based research methods. They also accompanied the students to Sundarapandiyapuram, guiding them in on-site visual storytelling, spatial documentation, and narrative mapping. Their sessions offered exceptional insights into blending design thinking with creative media.