HIMANSHU SONI

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
ar.himanshusoni@gmail.com
+918989569441/ +919889844459
AREA OF INTERESTS
Traditional and local wisdom- its inherit appropriateness, identity aspects, sustainable aspects, architectural and
planning aspects, life enriching belongingness and cultural layer. Sustaining/Evolving local traditional wisdom to match
global standards and make it appropriate for the new patterns of urban living.
Tribal and Slums settlement study to evolve flexible space models, Historical Conservation: for techniques and space
character analysis, Documentation, Primordial and non-conceptual human responses, Kinesthetic, and Photography.
PRESENT POSITION
Period

Designation

Organization

Department

Jul,
2013till
date

Assistant
Professor
(Contract)

M.A.N.I.T.
(Maulana
Azad Institute
of
Technology,
Bhopal, M.P.,
India)

Architecture
& Planning

Subjects taught/Responsibilities
Theory of Design, Architectural Design, Art and
Graphics, Modern and Contemporary Indian
Architecture, Architectural Workshop, History of
Architecture : Lectures, Studio discussions,
dissertation guidance, study tours, formulation of
semester & exam exercises, assigning readings &
short exploratory exercise, reviewing of prestudies & study reports etc.

PAST ACADEMIC (TEACHING) EXPERIENCE

Period

Designation

Organization

Subjects taught/ Responsibilities

Sept, 2012Jun, 2013

Visiting Asst.
Professor

Faculty of Architecture
Uttar Pradesh Technical
University (formerly
Government College of
Architecture), Lucknow,
India

Design Studio- 8th & 9th semester: Studio

discussions, site visits, formulation of
semester & exam problems, assigning
readings & short exploratory exercise,
reviewing of pre-studies & study reports
etc.

Mar , 2013

External Design Juror

M.A.N.I.T., Bhopal

Vernacular Architecture- Design Studio

Feb , 2013
Thesis- Juror
F.O.A., U.P.T.U. , Lucknow
Detailed teaching experience as Annexure-1

Architecture Thesis- B.Arch.

ACADEMIC RECORD

M. Arch. (Theory & Design) from C.E.P.T. (Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology), Ahmedabad, India. Period
2010-12.
B. Arch. from Faculty of Architecture Uttar Pradesh Technical University (formerly Government College of Architecture),
Lucknow, India.
Period 2004-09.
Percentage: 80%
All India Rank 39 in GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) 2010.
HIMANSHU SONI pg. 1 of 5

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES/INSTITUTIONS

Name of the Professional Institute /Society
Council of Architecture

Type of Membership
Life- Time Architecture membership. (CA/2009/46653)

Glazette

Architect - membership

RESEARCH WORK
Year
2011

Area

Organization

Urban Restructuring and the

Formation of Social Capital
among Poor Women in
India: An Empirical Study.

Responsibilities

Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo.

Project funded by the Japan Society
for Promotion of Science (JSPS).
Head Researcher : Dr. Yutaka Sato

Conducting
closed
group
interviews, Interpretation of data
and discussions, formulation of
data, fieldwork etc.

Mr. Soni, who not only has a near native command of English, but also demonstrates the ability to communicate with poor, lowercaste people in a non-biased manner. His latter quality is particularly remarked upon, when compared with the other. Dr. Yutaka
Sato (part of experience C/F)

RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
D-locale: an ongoing enquiry focusing on appropriateness and identity aspects of local and traditional wisdom. The
scale varies from construction techniques in built forms to planning principals of small decentralized and sustainable
centers (in every aspect).
RESEARCH THESIS
Humanist Values in Contemporary Age: Study of Geoffrey Scotts proposed Humanist values in book: The
Architecture of Humanism

PAPER PUBLISHED
- A vision through glass: The use of intelligent glass & intelligent use of glass (award winning and published paper on
glazette.com and SALT : http://www.glazette.com/30-a-vision-through-glass.html)
PAPERS PRESENTED IN CONFERENCES BUT NOT PUBLISHED
Year

Title

Name and Place of Conference

Ar. Himanshu Soni, Ar. Rajat

Kant, & Ar. Sushil Km. Gupta

Sep.,
2012

LUCKNOW- The Dance of

River and Gardens

CAPITAL VISIONS- From the Imagined to

the Real, LUCKNOW
Organisers: I.U.D.I, and F.O.A., UPTU

Ar. Himanshu Soni & Ar.

Rajat Kant.

Feb.,
2013

Evolution of City
morphology with changing
Patronage- Lucknow

Conference for IP University, Delhi in

Lucknow
Organisers: F.O.A., UPTU

UNPUBLISHED PAPERS
- Sustainability and role of architect in it: through lens of humanness.
- Evolution of the formal and informal built-form: forces that shaped both and cross-connections showing form
determining factors. Case: Garhwhal and Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
- Speed as Slowness in Architecture: An enquiry in to relation of word speed with architecture, wherein speed is seen
subjectively and its relative slow part is explored.
- Peter Zumthors design theories critical analysis in his completed works.

HIMANSHU SONI pg. 2 of 5

Author(s) & Speaker(s)

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS & FELLOWSHIPS

Award Name

Awarding Organization

Awarded Work/Project

2nd Prize- Workshop on Earthquake

resistant Practices
Pidilite Award for Excellence

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Pidilite Industries Limited

Architectural DesignApartment.
Architectural Studies

Graphics Designer

F.O.A., U.P.T.U., Lucknow

Envisage Graphics.

National/International workshop/ conferences/ training program attended

Title of the workshop/ conferences/training program

Year

Conducting Organization

Alternate Construction Techniques in Architecture: Hands-on

training and exposure program
Closed group conference on ECBC (Energy Conservation Building
Code of India) implementation policies in Madhya Pradesh , India

2014

Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat

Studies, Trivandrum
School of Planning and
Architecture, Bhopal and E.C.B.C.

International Workshop on Earthquake Resistant Practices

2008

2014

Indian Institute of Technology

Kanpur

OTHER WORKSHOPS
- Wood cut print
- Photography by Dalwadi
- Clay modeling and pottery
- Digital Architecture- Theory and application

Dec, 12
till
date

Acme
Associates

Title of Project and Nature of Work

Associate Architect
Design Concept, Design development, working strategies development, quality
control at site, dealing with client and consultants, staff guidance, 3d- visualization
List of consultancies:
1.Master-plan and conservation of Bhenswamata Temple complex, Rajgarh- 205
acres
2.Engineering College, Nawgoan, Chatarpur 316 acres
3.Bella Vista farm houses, Mendori 6.1 acres
4.Resort, Jhansi 2.1 acres
5.MPEB 2nos. Traniee hostels 18000 sft.
6.Sheer- Farm House 12000 sft
7.Raj Homes, Commercial complex, Minal 9508 sft
8.Raj Homes, Commercial complex, Malviyanagar 8680 sft
9.Shams Raza, Farm house- 5000 sft
10.AIG residence 68x60 : 4080 sft
11.Johri Gold Palace, Commercial Complex : 1800 sft
12.Residence-27, Patrakar Colony
13.Lakeview complex- apartment interior.

HIMANSHU SONI pg. 3 of 5

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE
Period
Organization

Jul,2012
-Nov,
2012

Self employed

Project Title: Renovation of faade of old LIC building.

Nature of Work: Architect, elevational details, quality control on site, site execution
drawings, material specifications.

Nov,
2010

Parikh
Associates

Project Titles: Documentation of streetscapes of Delhi in Common-Wealth Games2010

Role: Professional Photographer

Jul ,09Mar,10

Vayu
Buildcon

Project Title: Pearls Royal Garden, Sehore: 100 acres of housing scheme.
Role: Assistant Architect
Nature of Work: Design development & execution, estimation, govt. approvals of
project, managing various consultants, meetings with client, presentations,
discussions etc.

2011-12: Public space intervention as a catalyst for dialogue between city and its residents- case of Bhopal.

2010-11: Myths defining the existing landscape and institutes; and need and definition of new institutes and
landscapes to reinterpret myths- an emphasis on Ramayana stories in landscape of Nasik, India.

2010-11: Worked with Chhara community to provide deprived communitys theatre group BUDHAN a stage in front of
scholars and students. A five minute short documentary movie titled ek aur sach was conceived and directed as
part of endeavor.
2012-13: A self-proposed project to re-establish lost Sufi trail of Awadh region, by documenting and bringing ahead
importance of Sufi-complex evolved over 200 years in Kakori region of Awadh.

HIMANSHU SONI pg. 4 of 5

Other Projects/Experiences

ANNEXURE - 1
COURSES TAUGHT

ARC-321,
Architectural Design
ARC-233, Modern
and Contemporary
Indian Architecture

Level
(UG/PG)
UG- 6th sem.
UG- 4th sem.

Developed by you?
Case & literature studies, concept & context, spaces without forms, new
design explorations, readings & pre-design studies
Architects and architectural works plotting on Indian map, Timeline and
categorization of architects and architectural practices, Community
architects and architecture, modern and contemporary- understanding and
case explorations, India after independence its various phases, density
mapping of architects, readings and info-graphics, book reviews, viewpoint
and counter-viewpoint, green & sustainable architecture, byelaws- hurdle
or boom to creativity, software & architecture, case studies, courtyard to
balcony- the journey, lectures, architectural styles at turn of century
Credit for contribution system, and small groups fragmentation of class
for focused study, common sense in vaastu, case studies and individual
experiences - as an approach to apprehend scale of space and historical
relation.
Studio problems

ARC-125, History of
Architecture

UG- 2nd sem.

ARC-126, Art and

Graphics
ARC-311,
Architectural Design
ARC-211,
Architectural Design
ARC-214, History of
Architecture
ARC-216, Theory of
Design

UG-2 sem

ARC-115, History of
Art & Culture
ARC-117,
Architectural
Workshop
AR-901,
Architectural Design
AR-801,
Architectural Design

UG- 1st sem.

Idea and abstraction, literature studies, transformation in typologies,

readings and pre-design studies, concept & context
Hierarchy of spaces, ways of drawings to represent design, Case &
literature studies, concept & context, readings & pre deign studies
Studio time bound problems and explorations, documentaries related to
subject, lectures
Readings and book review, abstract images, text to image to again text,
choice to exploration to understanding, design process, studio exercises
and explorations, lectures.
Lectures, studio exercises, documentaries related to subject

UG- 1st sem.

Lectures, methods and material explorations, color schemes.

UG-final yr
9th sem
UG-4th yr.
8th sem.

Exam problems, short exploratory exercises, readings and pre-design

studies.
Design Studio problem: The formulated program was outcome of pilot
research pertaining to establish and preserve the lost cultural Sufi trail of
Awadh region. The focus was on cultural sustainability of the region by
creating a Sufi cultural center. The need was to understand the broader
context of Sufi trail spanning 4 cities of Awadh region and to respond to/
respect the immediate rich heritage; evolved over period of 220 years in
Kakori (near Lucknow, India).

UG- 5th sem.

UG- 3rd sem.
UG- 3rd sem.
UG- 3rd sem.

HIMANSHU SONI pg. 5 of 5

Course No. & Title