Somrita is an Architect and Urban Designer from India currently based in New York. She works as a design and research associate at the Poetic Justice Group at MIT Media Lab on the first physical artwork by the lab. The project comprises a national tree-planting campaign in partnership with American Forests and an oral history archive documenting the narratives of Covid. She is involved in designing a framework for a BIPOC-centered tree-planting network focused on long-term stewardship, built on a design pedagogy based on input from community engagement.
Somrita holds a professional Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B.Arch.) from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and a master's degree in Architecture with a certificate in Urban Design from the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. She has served as a teaching assistant for studios that introduced students to the craft and theory of architecture, guided them in developing their projects, and encouraged critical analyses of architectural history. She also served as a research assistant with Prof. Elgin Cleckley to create maps and graphics using empathic analysis as a tool to describe layers of racial history in urban sites. Further, she also serves on the editorial team of Lunch 16, the school’s academic journal.
As a Registered Architect with professional work experience in India, she gained technical and practical knowledge in design and construction. Her core competencies include community engagement in design, geospatial analyses, empathic design pedagogy, documentation of historic buildings, and preparing construction drawings and project reports. Her research interests are in the domain of cultural landscapes, adaptive reuse of post-industrial sites, and the decolonization of our historical narratives.
When not at work, she loves to take long walks to explore the city, attend music concerts, visit new art exhibitions and host a bunch of dinner parties.
MIT Media Lab, New York, NY, US, Research Associate
Created a set of graphics and maps to pitch the project, assisted in developing frameworks for outreach, project execution, and community engagement, researched and developed the hotline for collecting oral narratives, and researched the theoretical position of the artwork for a series of zines.
The University of Virginia School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA, US, Research Assistant
Empathic Design Journey (Upcoming book) - Prof. Elgin Cleckley
Created a series of collages and diagrams using empathic analysis as a tool to describe layers of racial history in sites within Charlottesville. Produced a series of historic maps to create a layered history of the city.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), New York, NY, US, Extern
Part of the SOM Global Shadowship Program where I had the opportunity to learn about the firm and its projects, meet some great people who worked there and connect with peers doing inspiring work.
The University of Virginia School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA, US, Teaching Assistant
Arch 3120 - 20th Century History of Ideas: Rewriting the Rote | Prof. Erin Putalik
Conducted sessions to critically discuss lectures and readings and created a series of workshops for building a thesis through writing. Encouraged students to find their own interpretation of history by contextualizing its contemporary impact.
The University of Virginia School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA, US, Teaching Assistant
Arch 2020 - Collective Housing Studio | Prof. Nick Brinen
Guided students on the development of their housing project through precedent analysis, speculative design and technical workshops with emphasis on forming a critical stance on urban public housing.
The University of Virginia School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA, US, Teaching Assistant
Arch 1020 - Experiencing Architecture | Prof. Sanda Iliescu
Guided students new to architecture on drawing, model making, graphic representation and introduced them to the fundamentals of architecture and design.
Pan Architecture, Gangtok, IN, Intern
Conducted site survey on hilly terrain, developed a complete construction drawing set that was passed, worked with electrical and plumbing consultant to draw layout, collaborated with structural engineer to create detailed structural drawings based on STAAD analysis, developed a set of drawings of local hand carved architectural details.
MNC One Design, Kolkata, Intern
Developed a set of electrical and furniture layout options for a range of apartment units and created a set of façade options.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, US, MArch, Master of Architecture
Post-professional Degree in Architecture with a Certificate in Urban Design.
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, New Delhi, BArch, Bachelor of Architecture
Professional 5-year Degree in Architecture.
Museum of Architecture Design Build Competition, 3rd Place
Our project "Tropical Tranquility: From Line to Space" was conceptualized utilizing the tropical rainforest biome and aimed to define a renewed relationship with the forest landscape as a space of pause.
Panelist and Young Scholar Travel Grant at IIHS Urban Arc Conference 2019, Award
Presented paper titled "Architecture and the Urban setting of Bazaar: defining Socio- economic City- Region Linkages in the process of Urbanisation in India Case of Mullickghat Flower Market, Kolkata" on the panel of Livelihoods, migration, and the urban economy
