Guest Lecture – Urban Transformation: Thinking through a Transdisciplinary Lens

I was invited for an online guest lecture to M. Arch in Urban Design program students at Nirma University, India. While thinking of a lecture topic for the Urban Transformation design studio, the best word I could come up with was “Transdisciplinary” reflective of my work and experience. The key takeaway I wanted to provide was “How to Approach Urban Transformation?”.

Breaking down disciplinary silos, working collaboratively, and understanding the language of various professions is a way forward to a resilient future. I made the lecture interactive to communicate with students about the thought process required to approach transformation from an architectural scale to urban design/transportation planning to a regional urban planning scale and the need to think beyond individual projects to holistically analyze an urban fabric. Cities are dynamic and not a series of static acts, and the challenge for us is to continuously work with transformation.

I absolutely enjoyed talking with enthusiastic students and knowing their ideas for the world. Connecting academics and practice is also an important bridge for self-reflection. What I enjoyed the most was staying up at mid-night for a morning lecture in India halfway across the world. It reminded me of my campus days working late hours, making models and drawings for a jury presentation!

See Lecture Slides