Evolving Practices in Architectural Heritage: Study, Making, and Meaning

Dr. Annapurna Garimella is an art historian and designer whose research focuses on late medieval Indic architecture and vernacular visual and built cultures in post-Independence India. She is the Managing Trustee of Art, Resources and Teaching Trust (ART), a not-for-profit research and teaching initiative, and heads Jackfruit Research and Design, an organisation with a specialised portfolio of design, research, and curation.

Dr. Shikha Jain is an architect with over 100 projects across conservation, world heritage, and museum planning in India and internationally through her organisation DRONAH. She has advised government bodies and UNESCO offices across Asia and has represented India on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Her work spans architectural heritage, urban conservation initiatives, and the development of museums and cultural sites across the world.

Soumitro Ghosh is co-founder of Mathew and Ghosh Architects (est. 1995), a Bengaluru-based practice whose work has shaped the city’s architectural landscape over three decades. The practice has received several national and international awards for architecture and design.

An educator and speaker, Ghosh has taught widely and held several academic chairs. His interests lie at the intersection of politics, culture, history, and philosophy, which inform the practice’s work across public, conservation, hospitality, adaptive reuse, corporate residential, art, and exhibition projects.

Vikas Dilawari is an architect, educator, and advocate for the cultural preservation of India’s urban heritage with over 35 years of experience. With a degree in conservation from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and the University of York, he has led major conservation projects in Mumbai. His repertoire includes 19 projects that have been awarded the UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards for Cultural Preservation in Southeast Asia, including the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum and CSMVS Museum.