Soumini Raja is a Professor and Head of the Department at Avani Institute of Design, Kerala, and Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Design at the University of Calicut, India. With over a decade of academic experience, she views design as an ongoing process involving dialogue and negotiation between society, culture, and the environment. She co-founded Studio Commune and serves as its Director of Research. Soumini holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture from the College of Engineeri Read More ng Trivandrum and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning (gold medal) from CEPT University Ahmedabad. Her doctoral research at CEPT University addressed human vulnerabilities to disasters in coastal regions using a human-nature co-evolutionary framework. She has received prestigious awards and scholarships, Council of Architecture Training and Research Centre Urban Studio Research Project Award (2022), the Indian Climate Research Network Research Award (2014), the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation Award (2008), and the Eklavya Education Foundation Scholarship of Excellence (2008). She is a Fulbright - Nehru visiting scholar and has been selected for the prestigious International Education Administrators Seminar in the US in 2024. Soumini has published extensively in national and international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. She collaborates with various educational institutions, NGOs, and governmental agencies in India. Additionally, she is a canine lover and a trained Kathakali artist.

Afifa Nuzhat is an Architect with a specialization in Heritage Conservation. She received her postgraduate degree (M.Arch) in Architectural Conservation from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and her undergraduate degree (B.Arch.) in Architecture from Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Her Teaching and Research interests revolve around Built Heritage, Indian Cultural Landscapes, Traditional Architectural Knowledge Systems, Archit Read More ectural Theory, and its linkages to Humanities, which has been nourished and refined through her experience as an architect and academician.

She is the co-founder and Principal Architect of Brown Caravan, a firm based in Calicut and Manjeri. Their residential project ​‘The tropical Abode’ was recognized nationally as one of the top 4 shortlisted final entries for the ‘IIA National Awards for Excellence in Architecture’ in 2018. She was awarded the ‘Pidilite Award for Excellence’ in 2013. She worked with Incubis Pvt. Ltd., Delhi where she was involved in interior design projects. She has worked with Saythu, Bengaluru on conservation projects. After her post-graduation, she worked as an Architectural conservation consultant for INTACH, Bengaluru chapter. She was actively involved in the restoration of Fort High school, and Sajjan Rao Chaultry in Bengaluru. She was also one of the leading members to carry out the listing for Frazer Town, Bengaluru. She was involved in Tourism Destination Development projects for the Karnataka tourism department. She has also conducted several heritage walks and documentation workshops.

She has been a Guest faculty at NIT, Calicut, and CMR University, Bengaluru. Prior to joining Avani Institute of design, she was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture and planning, NIT, Calicut. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Avani Institute of Design and a member of the first-year integrated studio team.

Her philosophy as an educator is to provide a holistic-based education that sensitizes the students to the reality of their professional environment and exposes them to the concerns of people in that professional environment. She firmly believes that it is important that the values of the cultural heritage is taught to the upcoming architects and tries to inculcate this ability to address crucial issues confronting our built heritage resources through her teaching practice.

She is an active Associate Member of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Calicut Centre and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Ambili is an assistant professor with 7 years of experience in teaching.  She earned her master’s in advanced design from Manipal University after her bachelor’s in architecture from TKM college of Engineering, Kollam.

Ambili specialises in training young architects in the subjects of landscape, interior design and building construction. She believes that a teacher must continuously reflect on one's own practice with open-mindedness, adaptability and innovation. Read More Ambili is also a trained classical dancer and likes to sketch in her free time.

Being part of the architecture teaching fraternity for over 5 years, Anjali attempts to emphasize mental health and create a dialogue on its terms on the field.

She has an undergraduate degree in architecture (2014) and post-graduation in planning, specialization in housing (2016), both from Govt. College of Engineering, Trivandrum.

Being closely associated with first years, her interests lie in the comprehensive learning outlook for a foundation studio. She is passionate Read More about working with the medium of clay and is in the process of venturing into the development of the line of curated handmade products.

Anshu George is a permanent faculty at Avani with a passion for teaching. Having completed her masters in Infrastructure Engineering from PSG, Coimbatore, she has handled various civil engineering related subjects at colleges in Kochi and Pondicherry. She has a keen interest in environmental engineering wherein solutions may be developed to environmental problems in the areas of public health, waste disposal, water and air pollution control. She received the University Gold Medal at bachelors Read More level and also the Best Project Award at master’s level for her thesis on Colour Removal from Textile Effluents using Nano-technology.

Athira Balakrishnan is a graduate of the M.Arch in Architectural Design program from CEPT, Ahmedabad and holds an undergraduate degree from NIT, Trichy. She has worked for two years with Studio XS, a design firm based in Bangalore, and continues to practice alongside her partner with a set of projects up in their portfolio. Her internship at SJA, Kochi is what she believes has sparked the curiosity in architectural pedagogy and practice. Athira finds her interest in exploring the evocative po Read More tential of architecture, extended by both academic dialogues and an ideologically aligned architectural practice.

An architect and urban designer by qualification, Monisha gained her initial professional experience while working on various residential and commercial projects at A. K. Ganju and Associates, New Delhi. She completed her graduation from Mohamed Sathak School of Architecture, Ramanathapuram and her post-graduation from College of Engineering Trivandrum. As a passionate urbanist and researcher, she has had the opportunity to explore space politics within cities through her Master's thesis Read More titled Urban Democracy through Places of Power, Politics and Identity - Case of Panaji. Her other areas of research interest include gender, economic and governance policies in the urban context.

Rajina Rahiman is an architect and urban designer with an undergraduate degree from MES School of Architecture, Kuttipuram and post graduate from University School of Design, Mysore. Having briefly worked with Collaborative Architecture & Mohandas Kalipurayath and Associates, Rajina has been invested in teaching for the past 14years. She has been instrumental in infrastructure development, bringing about academic excellence, and the vision setting of the institution worked prior to joinin Read More g Avani. Rajina believes in theory-based approaches in design studios, with the need for interdisciplinary studies. Her research revolves around concepts of new urbanism; with a keen interest in assessing the walkability of streets in the Indian context.

Sanjay Veerakumar is the co-founding architect of Firsthand Practice, a conducive online practice that aims to collate the processes of inhabitation in architecture. He graduated from SPA, Vijayawada and continued to pursue professional practice. During the five years of his professional tenure, he has associated with practices like CnT Architects, Zero Studio, Insight Architects, SJA and Aambit Architects on various projects that span diversely in scale and prospects, which sets the foundati Read More on for his professional calibre.

In pedagogy, Sanjay extends his interest in phenomenology and sensorial design to sculpt the character and methodology of his approach.

He's a self-taught musician and finds joy in composing tunes in Indian pop and Indian semi-classical genres. One might find him air-guitaring or air-keyboarding when he's in a muted grove.

After his graduation in architecture from Sathyabama University, Chennai, Sebastian started his career at Pithavadian and Partners, Chennai in 2011 and joined Blocher Partners India, Ahmedabad in 2016. During his professional practice, he materialized several commercial, institutional, industrial and residential projects spread across different parts of the country. A postgraduate in Interior Design and Architecture from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, he has specialized in Indian crafts and Tech Read More nologies. He is passionate about furniture making. At Avani, he is a key member of the team that works closely with first-year students as they get their introduction to the field of architecture. He has a keen interest in model making and routinely conducts workshops at design schools.

Thushara is an Architect and Urban Designer, with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the College of Engineering, Trivandrum, and a Masters's degree in Architecture specializing in Urban Design from The University School of Design, University of Mysore. Her work experience covers a broad range: She has worked with Ar. Sathya Prakash Varanashi at Sathya Consultants Bangalore and has also practiced with internationally renowned firms in Dubai, UAE. She has teaching experience in In Read More dia and abroad: She has taught at The University School of Design and at Birla Institute of Technology Offshore campus at Ras-al-Khaimah, UAE before joining Avani in 2017.

Over the past years, her academic practice and research has always revolved around the strong inner sense that architecture is for society. She considers research/ design as an opportunity to collaboratively engage with the unique challenges of the society through responsive and sensitive architecture, thus performing a crucial social responsibility as a professional and citizen. Her broader spectrum of inquiry is based on the Sociology of life and human interactions in the urban realm. This has set the platform for her in exploring her interest in these two categories: Questions on Urban Reinvention, Revitalization, Indigenous urbanism and the dynamics of Spaces of Learning. ​Her Master thesis titled “Reinstating the Essence of the City Core of Kozhikode- Through Reinventing the Public Realm” explores the possibilities of recreating the identity of the place through connecting and activating the public spaces.​Currently working on a research paper which traverses the levels of human interactions along the street edges and the threshold spaces, in the context of Calicut city core.

She also has a true passion for performing arts and literature.

Ar. Varun Gopal graduated from T.K.M College Engineering, Kollam and completed his master's from the University of Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

Prior to his masters, he worked with Mozaic design combines, Goa and NO Architects, Kerala. An alumnus of the ‘Architecture for society’ program formulated by architect Aldo Rossi , Varun has been part of multiple state-funded projects across Europe dealing with society, heritage and urbanism which includes the likes of &lsq Read More uo;Riformare Milano's,‘Museumsinsel Berlin’ and ‘Viva la Pompeii ‘. His master thesis titled ‘Intrusive landscapes’ explored the possibilities of landscape urbanism as a tool and cure to aid urban regeneration.

Apart from being a faculty at AVANI, Varun also practices architecture and is an Associate architect with SOHO Architects, Calicut.

Sharan Krishnan is an Architect and Habitat Designer with around 5 years of professional experience in academics and architectural practice. He graduated in the year 2014 and worked for a leading architectural firm for a year at Cochin before pursuing his post-graduation in Habitat Design from      B M S College Of Architecture, Bangalore.

After earning his post-graduate degree, His teaching career started from TKMCE, Kollam as Assistant Professor & he w Read More orked with RSP India -Bangalore as Design Manager. His teaching and research interest revolves around design development, Innovative & cost effective housing ideas & Policies & integrated land use. 

Apart from being a faculty at AVANI, Sharan is also a practicing Architect & also the Co- founder & Principal Architect at Terrartis Architects- Kerala.

Conservation Architect and researcher, having accumulated 13 years of work experience in the field of high-profile architectural design in concept formulation, planning and detailing and teaching. A graduate from the College of Engineering, Trivandrum, Devakumar has worked in various firms both, in India and abroad. A PG Diploma in traditional architecture helped him to gain knowledge about the traditional and temple architecture of Kerala. Completed M. Arch in Conservation from SPA Bhopal wi Read More th Gold Medal. Conducted heritage documentation workshop and heritage walks in Kozhikode. Presented papers in various conferences in India and abroad. He is also a recipient of the UNESCO Sahapedia Research Fellowship in 2017 for studying intangible cultural heritage of India. Currently doing PhD in conservation studies from University of York, UK on ‘Interpreting Ritualistic landscape of India; Kalamezhuthpaatt, a Case Example’.

Areas of Interest: Traditional Architecture, Architectural Research, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Documentation.

Tony Joseph graduated from MIT Manipal and completed his master's in design from the University of Texas, Austin, in the Charles Moore program. Interactions and travels with Moore and his views on regional architecture had a strong influence on the direction of Tony's design. He returned to India and started Stapati in 1989, which has steadily grown into a multi-disciplinary practice emphasizing values of integrity, sustainability, and innovation.

Vishnu K completed his B.Arch degree from TKMCE, Kollam in 2012 and has since been exploring the realm of architectural practice and pedagogy. He has collaborated with EGO Design studio, PLACE/Udyana (UK-based landscape firm), Studio RECYCLE BIN, and Studio ASYLUM on various architectural and research projects. He has played a significant role in reimagining the urban fabric of Trivandrum City during his period of association as a consultant architect with the Capital Region Development Progr Read More am and IL&FS from 2014 to 2018. He has been a visiting faculty at the College of Architecture Trivandrum and TKM School of Architecture, Ezhukone, and has actively participated in design pedagogies since 2015. In 2016, Vishnu co-founded Studio Commune with Dr. Soumini Raja and is presently the Director of Design. Studio Commune is a collaborative practice based out of studio spaces in Trivandrum and Calicut. Vishnu's areas of interest include Environmental psychology, design research, and tectonic investigations.

William George Kennedy did Architecture at McGans Ooty School of Architecture, Nilgiris. He went on to work with studio Architecture Amalgam, Thrissur for a year where he also explored his passion for photography professionally by teaming up with DTale Decor. There, he was involved in product and furniture photography. It was his ingrained interest in detail, he took up his master's degree in Building Product Systems from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. He is passionate about hands-on modelli Read More ng, modular architecture. He also enjoys travelling, photographing, films and long talks over chai.

Mr Ashar Panakkat is an engineer with an undergraduate B.Tech degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Regional Engineering College (NIT), University of Calicut. Having briefly worked for more than 30 years in the field of electrical engineering and MEP consultants, Ashar has worked as Chief Project Coordinator and Chief electrical engineer in Ian Banham and Associates, Leman Project Management Inc. and later as Director at India Operations at Specialised Engineering Consultants. Read More He is the Principal Consultant at Ashar Panakkat Consultants and has been associating with Avani Institute of Design as allied faculty since 2018.

Dr. Anjali Cheriyath is a Conservation Architect and academic specializing in Heritage Studies, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Cultural Landscapes, and Spatial Studies in Folklore. She earned her PhD from the School of Planning & Architecture, Bhopal, and holds a Master’s degree in Architectural Conservation from the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. Dr. Cheriyath has served in academic roles at the Wadiyar Centre for Architecture, Mysuru; Ramaia Read More h Institute of Technology, Bengaluru; and MES School of Architecture, Kuttipuram. She has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters, and her research has been showcased at renowned international conferences. Her conservation initiatives have garnered significant recognition, including the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Excellence for the conservation of Sree Vadakkunathan Temple and the IIA Kerala State Award for academic research. Her scholarly interests focus on Intangible Heritage, Cultural Landscapes, and the preservation of Folklore traditions.