About the practice
Also Architects is a collaborative and inter-disciplinary design practice that engages with all scales of design and questions the definition of conventional architectural practice. Bringing together architects with expertise in other creative fields like music, art, architectural theory and urban design, this New Delhi based consortium founded by Rita John, offers unique perspectives to every design project taken up. Since 2010, Also Architects’ projects have included architecture, interiors, art installations, acoustic design, product design and furniture design.
Collaborators
RITA JOHN
Master of Architecture (professional degree), University of Virginia School of Architecture, Charlottesville, USA
Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Design, Architectural Association School of Architecture, UK
Bachelor of Architecture (professional degree), Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon
Rita is an architect and mural artist with a keen interest in cultural practices, craft techniques and sustainability explored through architecture and art projects. She began her career in the non-profit sector at the Development Alternatives NGO in Delhi and has maintained a community focused approach to climate-driven design and local craft ever since. Licensed both in India and the state of California, where she currently resides, Rita has worked on a wide variety of project types across both geographies ranging from public libraries and recreation centers to residential renovations and custom art installations. Her independent mural projects include large scale hand-made installations that fuse the architectural elements of spaces into her artwork. Rita has conducted design studios and served as faculty at various professional architecture degree programs including the Delhi’s School of Planning and Architecture, Sushant School of Art & Architecture and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.
ARSH SHARMA
Bachelor of Architecture (professional degree), Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon
Arsh is an architect and a musician who specializes in acoustic and performance space design. A critically acclaimed electric guitarist, vocalist and music producer, Arsh has myriad interests in the field of music like performing in front of roaring crowds, to making music for full-fledged feature films, independent cinema and television to running a successful recording studio – Studio Fuzz. As an architect, his expertise in music crosses over into his architectural explorations in the design of multiple recording studios and performance spaces.
RUCHIKA LALL
Masters in Building and Urban Design for Development as a Chevening Scholar at the Development Planning Unit, UCL, London
Bachelor of Architecture (professional degree), Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon
Ruchika is an architect and development practitioner, with experience in a diverse range of urban projects. She has worked on varying projects that include winning entries in national competitions, interventions in housing and waste management in informal settlements, and action-oriented design research. She completed her masters degree in Building and Urban Design for Development, as a Chevening Scholar at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL, and has worked with several social impact organizations in India, UK, Italy, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
THOMAS OOMMEN
Ph.D Candidate in Architecture at UC Berkeley, California
Master of Architecture (professional degree), Texas A&M University
Master of Urban Planning, Texas A&M University
Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Urbanism, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Architecture (professional degree), National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala
Thomas is an architect, urbanist and theorist with interests in the politics of architectural and urban form within the context of 20th century and contemporary architecture. He has worked as an associate professor of architecture at Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon and as visiting faculty in the department of urban design at School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. Thomas has worked as a professional architect and urban designer for urban planning and development agencies in Delhi, India and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and is design partner in Collaborative Urbanism, an urban design firm based in Delhi.