Name : Chandni Thadani
Profile/Designation : Assistant Professor
Education :
Master’s in Urban Planning (2019 – 2021)
Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), Delhi
Bachelor of Architecture (2014 – 2019)
Vastu Kala Academy, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
Email : chandnithadani@sushantuniversity.edu.in
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandni-thadani-221a37162
Short Biography (250- 300 words)
Chandni Thadani is an architect, urban planner, and heritage conservationist with extensive experience in architectural conservation, urban research, and sustainable planning. She is the Founder of IKHAT, a Public Charitable Trust base in Delhi, dedicated to non-traditional education, skill development, and heritage awareness amongst the underprivileged youth.
With a Master’s in Urban Planning from Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women and a Bachelor of Architecture from Vastu Kala Academy, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi she has worked on urban conservation projects and policy research across various institutions.
Previously, she served as the Principal Conservator at a heritage solutions firm, overseeing architectural conservation and restoration projects. Her professional journey also includes roles at INTACH, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and HUDCO, where she contributed to conservation reports, heritage documentation, and urban planning initiatives. She has also been an invited lecturer at INTACH Heritage Academy, sharing insights on cultural preservation. Her research explores heritage legislation, GIS applications in historic city management, and cultural landscapes, published with organisations such as ICOMOS India, the INTACH, IIT Delhi.
Her core strengths lie in architectural conservation, GIS-based urban analysis, sustainability in urban planning, and heritage-driven education. She specializes in integrating historic preservation with modern planning methodologies, focusing on sustainable development and adaptive reuse strategies. Her main research on the Baul community, published in the Intach Journal of Heritage Studies and Conscious Urbanism, examines the community’s relevance as a living heritage, emphasizing its architectural and cultural continuity.
She has further expanded her expertise through online courses from leading global institutions, including Circular Economy for Sustainable Built Environment (Delft University, Netherlands), Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs (University of British Columbia, Canada), and Cultural Heritage in Transformation (RWTH Aachen University, Germany).
Teaching at Sushant University has deepened her research on sustainability and innovative learning methodologies. Her emphasis on experiential learning and "learning by doing" is her pedagogical
philosophy. The cross-disciplinary and research-driven environment has further helped her refine innovative teaching strategies that bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application.
Research Interests
Chandni Thadani’s research interest lies in the intersection of sustainability, heritage conservation, and urban planning, emphasizing experiential learning and "learning by doing." She focuses on integrating modern sustainable strategies with historic urban landscapes through GIS-based spatial analysis, cultural mapping, and policy evaluation.
Publications
"Integrating Sustainability Through Legislative Framework: A Novel Pedagogical Approach in Architectural Education"
Presented at SIDE Symposium, IIT Delhi (2025)
"Analyzing the Legislative Existence of Historic Cores of Traditional Settlements in the Absence of a Master Plan"
Presented at ICOMOS India Scientific Symposium (2023)
“Baul” – The Living Heritage of Kenduli Village
Published in INTACH Journal of Heritage Studies (2020)
"Journey of a Cultural Landscape from a Haveli to a Mahalla: A Case of Shahjahanabad" Presented at ICOMOS India Scientific Symposium (2021)
“Baul” – A Communal Form of Architecture in Kenduli
Published in Conscious Urbanism, Journal of Planning, Architecture, and Design (2022)
"GIS Software as a Guiding Tool in Times of Pandemic for Historic Cities – Case of Shahjahanabad" Published in an Academic Research Journal (2021)
Research Projects
Young Heritage Walk Leader Program (Ongoing, IKHAT Public Charitable Trust)
A training and research initiative aimed at empowering young individuals with the skills and knowledge to conduct heritage walks.
Focuses on experiential learning, cultural storytelling, and community engagement to foster heritage awareness.
Explores the role of youth participation in heritage conservation and urban identity.
Workshops participated
Workshops:
1. Workshop on New Technologies in Conservation of Traditional Architecture (INTACH, Delhi) 2. Hands-on Workshop on Mud as a Building Material (CEPT University, Ahmedabad)
Online Courses
1. Circular Economy for Sustainable Built Environment (Delft University, Netherlands) 2. Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs (University of British Columbia, Canada)
3. Cultural Heritage in Transformation (RWTH Aachen University, Germany)
FDPs Attended (Starting from the Latest)
1. Attendee: Five Day Online National Faculty Development Programme Institutional Strengthening for Funded Research Projects and Publications Sponsored and organized by Council of Architecture Training & Research Centre (COA-TRC) In collaboration with School of Art & Architecture, Sushant University, Gurugram.
Awards and Achievements (including Scholarship)
1. Best Paper Award at SIDE Symposium, IIT Delhi | 2025
Received the Best Paper Award for the research titled "Integrating Sustainability Through Legislative Framework: A Novel Pedagogical Approach in Architectural Education."
2. Recognized as a Pathbreaker at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports | 2025
Identified as a Pathbreaker for founding IKHAT at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Affiliations and Memberships
COA Membership : CA/2020/118853
