Kabir Sahni
I am a designer from India, working at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, graphic design, interiors, writing, and social advocacy. I received my Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University along with the Dean’s academic scholarship, and previously my Bachelor in Architecture from School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. Post my graduate studies at GSAPP, I received the Lowenfish Memorial Prize for a project titled “Potluck Publics” that tackled squatter settlements in Lima through social urbanism, economics, and programming along with ad hoc and prop-style architecture. My work aims to coalesce critical thinking with real-world pragmatism, employing trans-scalar and trans-disciplinary methodologies, and supported with my predilection for romanticism and vernacular piquancy.
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Work Experience
Hening Larsen / Designer
February 2021 - Present
Martin Hopp Architect / Architectural Designer and Consultant
October 2020 - February 2021 / New York, NY
Bureau-Spectacular / Architectural Designer
August 2020 - October 2020 / New York, NY (long-distance)
Columbia Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes / Architectural and Urban Designer
June 2020 - October 2020 / New York, NY (volunteer)
Freelance / Architect
May 2018 - May 2019 / New Delhi, India
Enso Design / Architect
February 2018 - February 2019 / New Delhi, India
Hive India / Design Consultant
April 2018 - December 2018 / Gurugram, Haryana, India
Atto Atelier / Architectural Intern
January 2016 - April 2016 / Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Hening Larsen / Designer
February 2021 - Present
Martin Hopp Architect / Architectural Designer and Consultant
October 2020 - February 2021 / New York, NY
Bureau-Spectacular / Architectural Designer
August 2020 - October 2020 / New York, NY (long-distance)
Columbia Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes / Architectural and Urban Designer
June 2020 - October 2020 / New York, NY (volunteer)
Freelance / Architect
May 2018 - May 2019 / New Delhi, India
Enso Design / Architect
February 2018 - February 2019 / New Delhi, India
Hive India / Design Consultant
April 2018 - December 2018 / Gurugram, Haryana, India
Atto Atelier / Architectural Intern
January 2016 - April 2016 / Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Education
Columbia University GSAPP / Master of Science - Advanced Architectural Design (M.S.AAD)
2019 - 2020 / New York, NY
recipient of academic scholarship
School of Planning and Architecture / Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
2012 - 2017 / New Delhi, India
graduated First Class
Fachhochshule Erfurt / Student Exchange Programme / New Delhi, India
2015 / New Delhi, India
Columbia University GSAPP / Master of Science - Advanced Architectural Design (M.S.AAD)
2019 - 2020 / New York, NY
recipient of academic scholarship
School of Planning and Architecture / Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
2012 - 2017 / New Delhi, India
graduated First Class
Fachhochshule Erfurt / Student Exchange Programme / New Delhi, India
2015 / New Delhi, India
Awards
Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize / Columbia University GSAPP
2020
best project for the final semester studio
project, “Potluck Publics”; critic, Anna Puigjaner
Dean’s Scholarship / MS-AAD, Columbia University GSAPP
2019 - 2020
Nomination / COA Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis / Council of Architecture
2017 / India
architectural thesis, “Exit Music”
Winner / INTACH Heritage Awards for Excellence in Documentation / INTACH
2015 / New Delhi
project, “Mukteshwar Temple Complex”
Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize / Columbia University GSAPP
2020
best project for the final semester studio
project, “Potluck Publics”; critic, Anna Puigjaner
Dean’s Scholarship / MS-AAD, Columbia University GSAPP
2019 - 2020
Nomination / COA Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis / Council of Architecture
2017 / India
architectural thesis, “Exit Music”
Winner / INTACH Heritage Awards for Excellence in Documentation / INTACH
2015 / New Delhi
project, “Mukteshwar Temple Complex”
License
Architect / Council of Architecture, India / CA-2017-89354
Issued 2017
Memberships
AIA Associate / American Institute of Architects
Issued 2020
Architect / Council of Architecture, India / CA-2017-89354
Issued 2017
Memberships
AIA Associate / American Institute of Architects
Issued 2020
Publications & Press
Published on KooZA/rch / “Potluck Publics” / November 2020 ︎︎︎
Published on The Best New Architects / “Poluck Publics”
October 2020 ︎︎︎
Video coverage by InsideClimate News ("Cool Streets" Responds to NYC's Extreme Heat During Covid-19) / Cool Streets
September 2020︎︎︎
Published on InsideClimate News (Video: As Covid-19 Hinders City Efforts to Protect Residents From the Heat, Community Groups Step In) / Cool Streets
September 2020︎︎︎
Video coverage by STREETFILMS (Red Hook “Cool Streets”) / Cool Streets
September 2020︎︎︎
Published on The Best New Architects / “Daily Soaps”
August 2020 ︎︎︎
Selected student work / Columbia GSAPP and End of Year Show websites / projects, Liminal Ecology, Daily Soaps, Potluck Publics, Manhattan Billboard, Door to Policy
2019 - 2020︎︎︎
Published in “il Giornale” (an Italian daily newspaper) / “Rapallo: la stazione diventa green” / project, Coulomb, Rapallo
2018 ︎︎︎
Editor, Archichakkar / School of Planning and Architecture / New Delhi
2017 ︎︎︎
Exit Music, thesis / School of Planning and Architecture
2017 / New Delhi︎︎︎
Modern Times, seminar / School of Planning and Architecture / New Delhi
2016︎︎︎
Editor, Tirtha at Mukteswar / School of Planning and Architecture/ New Delhi
2015
Music & Architecture - Mapping the Transposition Process, dissertation / School of Planning and Architecture / New Delhi
2015 ︎︎︎
Published on KooZA/rch / “Potluck Publics” / November 2020 ︎︎︎
Published on The Best New Architects / “Poluck Publics”
October 2020 ︎︎︎
Video coverage by InsideClimate News ("Cool Streets" Responds to NYC's Extreme Heat During Covid-19) / Cool Streets
September 2020︎︎︎
Published on InsideClimate News (Video: As Covid-19 Hinders City Efforts to Protect Residents From the Heat, Community Groups Step In) / Cool Streets
September 2020︎︎︎
Video coverage by STREETFILMS (Red Hook “Cool Streets”) / Cool Streets
September 2020︎︎︎
Published on The Best New Architects / “Daily Soaps”
August 2020 ︎︎︎
Selected student work / Columbia GSAPP and End of Year Show websites / projects, Liminal Ecology, Daily Soaps, Potluck Publics, Manhattan Billboard, Door to Policy
2019 - 2020︎︎︎
Published in “il Giornale” (an Italian daily newspaper) / “Rapallo: la stazione diventa green” / project, Coulomb, Rapallo
2018 ︎︎︎
Editor, Archichakkar / School of Planning and Architecture / New Delhi
2017 ︎︎︎
Exit Music, thesis / School of Planning and Architecture
2017 / New Delhi︎︎︎
Modern Times, seminar / School of Planning and Architecture / New Delhi
2016︎︎︎
Editor, Tirtha at Mukteswar / School of Planning and Architecture/ New Delhi
2015
Music & Architecture - Mapping the Transposition Process, dissertation / School of Planning and Architecture / New Delhi
2015 ︎︎︎
Skills
Languages
Hindi / English
Digital
AutoCAD / Revit / SketchUp / Rhinoceros / Photoshop / InDesign / Illustrator / Premier / Microsoft Suite / 3D printing / laser and router cutting
Analog
design / conceptual thinking and development / research / writing / organisation / planning / leadreship / physical modeling
Critics
Anna Puigjaner / Jimenez Lai / Miku Dixit / Karla Rothstein / Andreas Tjeldflaat / Enrique Walker / Mark Wigley / Andres Jaque / David Eugin Moon / Ife Vanable / Michael Rock / Whitney Dow / Oskar Orn Arnosson / Rahoul Singh / Dr. Amit Hajela / Parul Kiri Roy / Manish Gulati / Ranjana Mital / Prof. Dr. Jaya Kumar / Anjali Mittal / Henry Fanthome / Gauri Gandhi / Prabhjot Singh Sugga / Kapil Mathur / Rajiv Bhakat / Leena Gupta / Moulshri Joshi / Saptarshi Sanyal / Ryan Christopher Sequeira / Dr. Leon Morenas
Collaborators
Professional / Miku Dixit (Kamara Projects) / Andreas Tjeldflaat (FramLab) / Martin Hopp / Jimenez Lai (Bureau-Spectacular) / Cullen Fu / Ekin Bilal / Tanvi Rao / Men Yushan /
Xavier Ramirez
/ RETI Center / Columbia Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes / Red Hook Initiative /
Niharika Shekhawat / Savannah Wu / Deborah Morris / Gentry Lock / Kate Galbo / Chinglemba Chingtham / Chhavi Gupta / Gagandeep Singh Sabharwal / Anubha Singhal / Vivaan Kamath / Vikrant Sharma / George Attokaran / Anna Maria James / Niyati Thakkar
Academic / Niharika Shekhawat / Andrew Keung / Seid Burka / Tarun Abraham / Shouchang Zhou / Xinglu Zhu / Prabhash Dhama / Shweta Sundar / Alankrit Gupta / Sarth Khare / Protyasha Pandey / Gautam Vohra / Radhika Ravindran / Meher Nishchal Bahl / Girisha Sethi / Deepansh Tyagi / Arghya Mandal / Mitali Joshi / Sharda Bhagat
Academic / Niharika Shekhawat / Andrew Keung / Seid Burka / Tarun Abraham / Shouchang Zhou / Xinglu Zhu / Prabhash Dhama / Shweta Sundar / Alankrit Gupta / Sarth Khare / Protyasha Pandey / Gautam Vohra / Radhika Ravindran / Meher Nishchal Bahl / Girisha Sethi / Deepansh Tyagi / Arghya Mandal / Mitali Joshi / Sharda Bhagat