Architect
Rajeev Thakker
Rajeev Thakker obtained his Bachelors of Architecture from Syracuse University in 1994. After his graduation, he worked for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (S.O.M.)for several years working on projects like the J.F.K. International terminal N.Y., several high rise tower projects in Manila & Jakarta & the Times Tower project which currently stands over 50 stories in Times Square N.Y.C.. In 1998, he pursued his Masters in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia Universities GSAPP & working under the influence of architects & theorists such as Stan Allen, Evan Douglis & Dean Bernard Tschumi, he focused on exploring the digital realm & alternative methods of seeing architectural production, both in idea & practicality.In 2000, to pursue pedagogy he came to Mumbai to teach architectural design & theory.
Since 2000 he has been actively teaching design & theory at several institutions including KRVIA, NMIMS, Raffles Institute & ISDI. He has been a guest critic & lecturer at Institutes such as Parsons School of Design, Rensallaer Polytecnic Institute in Rochester, N.Y. , the A.B.A.C. School of Architecture in Bangkok, Thailand and Columbia Universities GSAPP in NYC.
In 2003, he started his own practice, a-RT, which through a diametrically opposite series of processes, provides consultancy & design services for architectural & interior projects as well as takes a keen interest in documenting the city through the processes of art & architecture. These processes or methodologies are conceived and initiated to redefine and possibly discover novel methods of viewing the relationship between subject & object, in this case, the city of Mumbai & himself. Over the past 13 years a-RT has designed and realized several projects in the Hospitality, Retail, Commercial, Residential and Art space segments.
In 2010, he accepted a position to curate & direct Columbia Universities GSAPP Studio X project in Mumbai, which focuses on creating a collaborative platform for architects, artists, planners,developers, activists, etc. for engaging in research, exhibitions, debates & various other processes regarding the future of cities.
His work has been published in leading Architecture magazines such as IAB, HomeTRENDS and DOMUS India as well academic research journals doing research on issues involving urban development and architecture.
