DIKSHA JAIN
Portrait courtesy of Diksha Jain.
Architectural Designer, Morphitecture, New York
As an architectural professional, Diksha is driven to advocate for sustainability, equity, and diversity in the profession. She has over two years of global professional experience across New York, Milan, and New Delhi and has worked on a variety of projects including residential, commercial, educational, and civic projects. Currently working as an architectural designer at Morphitecture, she is designing a net-zero energy home and an elementary school building in New York City. Outside of work, she is also a guest critic at the Pratt Institute and a core member of the Sunrise Movement against climate change. She received her MS degree in Sustainable Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan where she graduated at the top of her class with a thesis titled “Positive Impact Architecture”.
Advocating for Sustainability in Architecture
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture, especially in sustainable architecture?
I am motivated to move the needle on climate change in my career. As a young architecture student, I came across a report released by the UN and was taken aback by the fact that the built environment is one of the biggest contributors to global warming, releasing 39% of all carbon dioxide emissions. This shaped my resolve to pursue a specialization in sustainable architecture and dedicate my career towards lowering the environmental impact of buildings.
After working as an architect and sustainability professional in New Delhi, Milan, and New York City, I believe that we need to address sustainability not only by using the wisdom of traditional architecture but also using the advancement in urban technologies that help monitor and process data from the built environment to our advantage.
Diksha receiving her Master’s degree in Sustainable Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan, 2019. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
In emerging cities such as New Delhi, Milan, and New York city - how can new technologies be used to help monitor and process data from the built environment to our advantage?
I believe the possibilities are endless. The ability to predict through artificial intelligence and data processing has disrupted other industries in a drastic way - giving birth to autonomous driving, robotic surgeries, and other technologies. In the building industry itself, data collection and analysis has led us to find opportunities for improvement in our HVAC systems, lighting energy consumption, water consumption, and so on. What can be measured can be managed! The use of data processing during the design process has already started to optimize not just the energy consumption but also the manpower used for management. As architects of the 21st century, I believe we need to embrace technological changes in addition to being sustainable.
I am excited to be part of the generation that explores the integration of technology to make buildings increasingly sustainable, efficient, and customizable. I believe that since buildings use up the majority of the energy produced, we as architects have a challenge and an opportunity to reverse the trends by working on making our buildings low impact and ultimately net-zero.
Diksha fostered and led a community of architects passionate about sustainability while in Milan. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
Tell us about your thesis project, “Positive Impact Architecture” from the Polytechnic University of Milan. What is the importance of using different techniques such as active and passive methods, structural efficiency, ecological balance, and different building materials to help achieve energy efficiency?
In my thesis project, I explored “Positive Impact Architecture”. Positive Impact Architecture is a step towards increasing human responsibility for the environmental crisis. It represents change from a reductionist paradigm to a recovery paradigm and it aims to re-weave human and natural communities into a co-evolutionary whole, where humans exist in a symbiotic relationship with the living lands they inhabit. The project was a strategic urban intervention on an abandoned building complex in the city center of Milan with a focus on regenerating the neighborhood by creating a focal point and a catalyst for urban activity.
I believe it is very important to have a holistic approach to sustainable architecture. In order to minimize the environmental impact of our designs, we need to combine different approaches and come up with tailored solutions for each unique project.
Diksha presenting her thesis project titled ”Positive Impact Architecture” on October 4th 2019. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
Based on your phenomenal thesis project, you received the opportunity to further explore your passions within architecture. How did the opportunity to pursue a thesis studio help you become a better designer? What did you learn about yourself as an emerging architect?
Pursuing a thesis studio allowed me to explore my aspirations as an architect. While I was learning the theoretical aspects of sustainable architecture I got an opportunity to apply it to my project and get invaluable feedback and lessons from my thesis supervisor and other experts at the university. This not only helped me in experimenting and recalibrating my design approach but also solidified my theoretical learnings.
Another important aspect of doing a thesis project is learning to see a project from different perspectives - through the community lens, environmental lens as well as a monetary lens. Leading a design project exposed me to think about how design impacts surrounding areas, communities and how to weave your design style with the requirements of the clients and communities.
Some of Diksha’s most valuable learnings have come through working collaboratively with peers from diverse backgrounds. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
What is your advice to students who are thinking about enrolling in a thesis studio but feel overwhelmed?
I’d say work hard but have fun in the process! School is a place to learn and you should explore a diversity of subjects and studios. Even if a project is not perfect there are a lot of lessons to be learned in the process.
A thesis studio gives you the experience of working on a project but with the support of a supervisor. You might have to work with deadlines, teammates, do design development and presentations which are all a great starting point for you as you prepare for your professional journey.
In addition to being exposed to all stages of the design process, pursuing a thesis studio also gives students the opportunity to develop their soft skills such as presenting designs, convincing teammates and professors, taking constructive criticism, and many more lessons. It is also a valuable addition to the portfolio!
In 2019, you were awarded the International TensiNet competition for Sustainable Innovation in Minimal Mass Structures and Lightweight Architecture. Tell us about your prototype. How did you feel seeing it built and displayed in the symposium?
To see my design fabricated and displayed at the Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci as a competition winner was a proud moment in my life. At this moment I realized that I could not have done it without my team of peers and advisors that worked equally hard to develop the design through physical and digital modeling and finally, fabricating it.
The ten-s-piral is a structure inspired by the logarithmic spiral system found in nature. It consists of 3 structural components: the rigid pole, the tension cables, and the bending active rod. The tension cables originate from the rigid pole at fixed intervals and connect to the bending active rod. The bending active rod tries to go back to its original linear form and the tension cables try to pull it back. By playing with the directions of the cables we achieve a floating spiral form. All the elements of the prototype are designed for disassembly with sustainability being part of the initial concept.
The novelty of the structure lies in the creation of a unique form using minimal materials in their simple shapes. The prototype depicts a structural concept that could have real-world architectural applications in dynamic facades and retractable structures.
Diksha won the International TensiNet competition for Sustainable Innovation in Minimal Mass Structures and Lightweight Architecture in 2019. She designed this prototype that was subsequently fabricated and displayed at the Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
Throughout your educational career, you have been diving into sustainability. As an architectural designer with Morphitecture in New York City, how do you advocate for sustainable architecture?
My thesis professor used to say “There is no such thing as sustainable architecture - every design should be sustainable!” This thought stuck with me as I transitioned from my academic to a professional career. I believe that we should aim to make every design sustainable even if it is not required by the client.
From my personal experience, I think that most clients and communities want to be sustainable but they find themselves constrained by budgets, approvals, paperwork, professional support, and the lack of precedents. There are a lot of myths around sustainability, higher initial costs being one of them. Designers are problem solvers and we have the capability to be sustainable within fixed budgets as well. It is important to understand and fulfill the requirements of the client but we can also incorporate sustainable design features while meeting the project’s needs.
There is a long way to go to net zero carbon and clean energy but I am optimistic that we are going to get there.
In her career, Diksha wants to explore the integration of technology to make buildings increasingly sustainable, efficient, and customizable. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
Congratulations on becoming Co-Chair Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) Committee at AIA New York! As a leader, how do you hope to encourage participation and leadership within the chapter? What are some of the initiatives that you have taken to better community engagement, social responsibility, and environmental design?
As the incoming Co-Chair of ENYA I want to focus on increasing support for new graduates who are going through a particularly tough time. The pandemic disrupted the way we study, connect, network, mentor, hire and work together. Students and professionals alike are going through a difficult time adjusting to the new normal but people who are just transitioning from school to the work have been isolated without a professional network and opportunities to connect with architecture firms.
While adapting to the new trends in interviewing, hiring, and networking I wish to introduce a Career Series that explores best practices for maintaining digital profiles, ways of sharing digital portfolios and CVs as well as new ways to network and mentor.
The AIA has connected me with so many peers and mentors and I realize the value of a support system in the profession and I want to facilitate this experience for the new graduates as well.
The AIA New York Board of Directors unanimously elected Diksha to the position of Co-Chair of the Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) Committee in 2021. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
The current generation of architectural designers and architects must mentor and guide the next generation of aspiring architects. Tell us about your time at the Pratt Institute serving as a guest critic for “Architecture and Society'' focusing on the American environmental movement, resiliency ecology, and related design practice.
I have been extremely fortunate to have great mentors throughout my professional life. And I know how valuable a single actionable piece of advice at the right moment can be for an emerging professional. My mentors have inspired me through tough times in my career by sharing their wisdom and unbiased opinion. Realizing the importance and impact of mentorship has motivated me to mentor others and share lessons I have learned.
Before I was invited to be a guest critic at the Pratt Institute, I also served as a teaching assistant at the Polytechnic University of Milan where I was part of the sustainable architecture studio. Mentoring and sharing my experiences with students have been equally fulfilling for me as I get to understand new perspectives related to architecture, design, and society.
The Architecture and Society course at Pratt Institute took a different approach to understanding society as students reinterpreted history books into graphic stories. I really enjoyed being part of the jury and sharing my advice with young architects and designers.
Diksha moderating a panel discussion with AIA Fellows on Social Responsibility and Community Engagement in 2020. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
What advice do you have for the next generation of aspiring architects who want to focus on sustainability?
We have a long way to go to achieve our goals but the most important thing is to stay focused. The most important part of this equation is to understand the “why”...” why should we adopt sustainability in architecture?” Only when we have conviction in our minds would we be able to advocate to others why sustainability is the right path. We need advocates for sustainability and the next generation of students are well primed to be our advocates.
While it is important to gain knowledge and expertise in sustainability through education and practical experience, it is also important to keep learning as a society, the environment, and technologies keep evolving.
In my career so far I have learned that you need a great team to achieve anything in life. Being involved with the community as well as AIA committees, industry forums, and groups of like-minded people brings a lot of value for a young professional as it gives them a platform to share thoughts and collaborate. We can’t solve all the problems by ourselves but together we can be part of the solution!
Here is Diksha at the top of Brunelleschi’s iconic double dome at the Florence Cathedral exploring her deep interest in structures pushing the boundaries of physics and architecture. Image courtesy of Diksha Jain.
In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wish saw would happen and it did not? This can be in an educational and/or work atmosphere.
I wish I saw more support from the profession for new graduates.
