AT A GLANCE
Vishwesh Viswanathan
Area of Practice:
OVERVIEW
Vishwesh Viswanathan has two decades of experience working with public space and settlements. He joined SMI (then SI) in 2019 where he facilitates units related to Public Space Design, Urbanism and Research for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Prior to this Vishwesh worked in Delhi with Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates, a design studio for around fifteen years, working on urban design, institutional and hospitality projects across India. He was also part of the studio’s affordable housing venture, Nilayam.
Vishwesh has Bachelor of Architecture from the D C Patel School of Architecture, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, and a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University where he studied on a scholarship from the Aga Khan Foundation. At Cornell he was also a part of the Sustainable Global Enterprise Immersion at the Johnson School of Business.
EDUCATION
Cornell University, Department of City and Regional Planning, Ithaca Master of Regional Planning, February 2010 Sustainable Global Enterprise Immersion 2009 at the Johnson School of Business Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship, 2007-09 for Master of Regional Planning degree at Cornell University D C Patel School of Architecture, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, India Bachelor of Architecture, 2003
WORK EXPERIENCE
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bengaluru
Faculty, April 2020 onwards
Head of Studies, M.Des (Public Space Design), September 2021 to June 2023
Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bengaluru
Faculty, June 2019 to March 2020
Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates, New Delhi
Senior Architect and Urban Designer, July 2010 to May 2019
Architect, 2003 to 2007, Summer 2008
Intern, August 2001 to December 2001, Summer 2002
Nilayam Projects Private Limited, New Delhi
Director, April 2012 to May 2019
Nilayam Housing Private Limited, New Delhi
Director, May 2011 to May 2019
Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University, Ithaca
Graduate Teaching/Research Specialist, August 2007 to July 2009
INTEREST AREAS
- Public spaces, and their changing relevance in cities
- Deign Pedagogy and Curriculum Development
CURRENT PRACTICE AT SRISHTI
Vishwesh primarily facilitates units related to public space design and urbanism at SMI. He is currently part of the Academic Office of the Postgraduate Program and is responsible for coordinating the Summative Assessment and Postgraduate Capstone.
TEACHING PORTFOLIO
- Transdisciplinary Research 2, Postgraduate Program. Even Semester 2023-24
- Dystopian Utopian Dystopias: Imaginations And Realities of Cities in the Past and Present, General Studies Unit, Undergraduate Program, Odd Semester, 2023-24
- Rethinking Urban Metabolism, Theory and Understanding Unit, Postgraduate Program, Odd Semester 2023-24
- Balancing Natural and Built, Theory and Understanding Unit, Even Semester 2022-23
- Generic Skill: Design Thinking Tools Workshop – 2: Thinking Beyond 2D, Foundation, Workshop, Even Semester 2022-23
- Reading the City, General Studies Unit, Undergraduate Program, Even Semester, 2022-23
- Interpreting nature: Imaginings of nature in India, past and present, Interlude, Postgraduate Program, 2022-23
- Reimagining the School: Design Beyond Minimum Standards, Undergraduate 7th Semester Pre-Thesis Project, B.Des (Public Space Design), Odd Semester, 2022-23
- Tall in Flatland: Reimaginations of Space, Undergraduate 8th Semester Thesis Project, Even Semester, 2021-22
- Mentor Lab, Final Year B.Voc (Interior Design and Build), Odd Semester, 2021-22
- Business of Interior Design, Final Year B.Voc (Interior Design and Build), Odd Semester, 2021-22
- Professional Outlook and Design Identity, Final Year B.Voc (Interior Design and Build), Odd Semester, 2021-22
CREATIVE PRACTICE & OUTREACH
Prior to joining SMI, Vishwesh worked at Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates, New Delhi where he worked on the studio’s public space design, urban design, master planning, institutional and hospitality projects across India. He was also involved in conceptualizing the studio’s affordable housing venture Nilayam, where he was responsible for business planning, market research & product development. He has also organized the Windmill Design Festival held in collaboration with Pure Ghee Designs at the studio between 2016 and 2019.
