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location
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BY STUDIO NAQSHBANDI
BY STUDIO NAQSHBANDI
BY STUDIO NAQSHBANDI
Mona Doctor-Pingel
Principal Architect
After her graduation in Architecture from School of Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Mona worked in Auroville for two years with architect Poppo Pingel, before moving to Germany for her Masters in Appropriate Technology as a DAAD scholar. There she was introduced to Baubiologie (Building Biology), the science of holistic interactions between life and living environment. She also had a chance to learn earthen dome construction techniques from German architect Gernot Minke, at Kassel University.
Since 1995 Mona has her independent practice, Studio Naqshbandi, based in Auroville where she lives and works.
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Rooted in the essence and philosophy of Auroville, her Studio offers a holistic approach to the science of building by using biologically enhancing and environmentally friendly building technologies which are rooted in the local context of climate and culture. Working with architecture, interior design and landscaping simultaneously on every project allows the studio team to enhance the sensory experience through the built form and create a space that responds to the surroundings, bringing in Nature and a sense of wellbeing.
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Her current field of exploration also includes teaching, writing and research.
Research: From 2012-17, under the umbrella of Auroville Center for Scientific Research (CSR), she has been part of a 5-year joint research project funded by Indian and American governments as part of the Obama-Singh Treaty headed by CEPT, Ahmedabad and LBNL, Berkeley on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. As part of this consortium of 10 eminent institutions, Studio Naqshbandi data logged 7 naturally ventilated buildings for the warm humid zone in and around Pondicherry for one year. The results of this research are published in scientific journals such as Elsevier’s Building and Environment and Elsevier Encyclopaedia of Sustainable materials. Publications: She is the author two books on the works of Poppo Pingel and Piero & Gloria Cicionesi as part of the Series of Monographs on Auroville Architects, published by Mapin publishers in 2012 and 2018. Academics: Currently she is Adjunct faculty at Europa University’s Environment and Energy management (EEM) Masters program at Flensburg where she co-teaches a course on Rational Use of Energy with Prof Wulf Boie. She has been visiting faculty at CARE school of architecture at Trichy and MIDAS, MARG Swarnabhoomi, Tamilnadu. She has been joint secretary of the Planning Team at L’Avenir d’Auroville/ Town Development Council, which is the official body for guiding the development and planning of Auroville, from 2010- 2012. Mona is President of ANGIRAS - a registered NGO for Indian Alumni from German Universities working towards sustainable solutions, since 2011. She is a registered architect with COA, Indian Council of Architecture, a fellow of IIA, Indian Institute of Architects and Life member of IIID, Indian Institute of Interior Design. She has written on the architectural practices of Auroville for journals and other publications and her work has been published in several Indian and German magazines and has won several awards
NAQSHBANDI FAMILY, AUGUST 2021
CURRENT TEAM
Shrey Narigara
Intern
Shrey joined Studio Naqshbandi in May, 2025. He is studying bachelors in Architecture at the Indubhai Parekh School Of Architecture ,Rajkot.
Anjalakshmi Amma
James Ogetonto
Intern
James joined Studio Naqshbandi in June 2025. He is studying Bachelors in Architecture at SAL School of Architecture , Ahmedabad.
Mocca
Caretaker
Ever smiling and always eager to help; Anjlakshmi is the caretaker of Studio Naqshbandi.
Mocca was born in Auroville, is 6 years old, self-taught, cookie lover.
COLLABORATORS
Madhivanan Gnanavel
Landscape Designer
Madhivanan is born in Auroville and worked 4 years as Junior Architect with Studio Naqshbandi. He earned his degree at McGan'S Ooty School of Architecture, 2018.
Shrishti Dangi
Visual Artist
Studied at International Visual Art School, Last School, Auroville (2009). She is currently collaborating with the studio for Temple Tree retreat Extension and SAIL.
Online presence: Behance, Instagram
Mohan Ayynarppan
Contractor
Self taught from Alankuppam Village, constructed projects including Cottage Showroom, Fish House, Studio Naqshbandi and Temple Tree Retreat.
Rene Janssen
Building Biology Consultant
Rene Janssen is an electrical engineer and Building Biology consultant from the Netherlands. He is living in Auroville since 2004 and is involved in various construction projects which promote sustainable building solutions and social well being. In 2014 he founded the Centre for Building Biology in Auroville, with the aim to bring this needed science to a wider audience in India.
Prakash Raj
Model Maker
Prakash Raj is a professional model maker from Auroville. He is self taught and has worked extensively with us on several projects. Key project models include Cottage Showroom, UTSAV and Kalpana Apartments.(Unbuilt).
Tushita Gandhi
Interior Designer
Tushita assists in the interior designing and execution of several projects of the Studio. She earned her degree at APIED, Vallabh Vidya Nagar in 2000.
Baskar
Contractor
Self-taught, Aurovillian, constructed projects including Elizabeth House, currently constructing Utsav mixed-use development.
Vinayagam
Contractor
Self-taught, Aurovillian, constructed projects including White Peacock and Aikido Dojo.
Puneet Brar
Ceramist
Puneet Brar is a ceramist based in Auroville. She studied Ceramic Design from the National Institute of Design and Art Ceramic Atelier De la Rue, France. Her studio Windglaze studio pottery is a design led ceramic studio that has been producing functional and decorative objects and art pieces for the international market for over two decades.
Late Arusha Shridhar Drouin
Architect
Arusha had worked on several of the studio's major projects from 2007-2012. She earned her degree at BNCA, Pune, 2001.
NAQSHBANDI FAMILY
Name | Role | School | Period of work at Studio Naqshbandi
Priyansh Vyas I Architectural Intern I Ganpat University, Mehasna I December 2024 - March 2025
Harshitha Pannala l Architect | Maestro School Of Planning & Architecture | July 2024 - November 2024
Divy Jajodia | Architectural Intern | Nirma University | July 2024 - December 2024
Drashti Nadoda | Architectural Intern | Nirma University | July 2024 - December 2024
Jahanvi Tripathi | Interior Architecture Intern | Indian Institute of Art and Design, Delhi | June 2024 - September 2024
Sanjithi Meda | Design Intern | Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and technology | May 2024 - July 2024
Yash Indane | Architectural Intern | School of planning and Architecture, Bhopal | December 2023 - June 2024
Sheel Mutha | Architectural Intern | Navrachana University , Vadodara| December 2023 - June 2024
Swetha Prakash | Architect | Rajalakshmi College of Architecture, Chennai | July 2023 - February 2024
Mathangi M. | Architectural Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | July 2023 - December 2023
Rishabh Falodia | Architectural Intern | Nirma University | July 2023 - December 2023
Urmi Godasara l Architectural Intern | APIED College, Anand | October 2023 - December 2023
Lipi Maun l Architectural Intern | Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Manipal | January 2023 - June 2023
Mihir R. Desai l Architect | Aditya College of Architecture, Mumbai | August 2021 - June 2023
Keerthana Arun l Architect | C.A.R.E School of Architecture | July 2022 - July 2023
Shrinivas Tele l Architectural Intern | CTES College of Architecture, Chembur | January 2023 - May 2023
Ganesh S. l Architect | VIT University, Vellore| January 2022 - January 2023
Naga Sai Santhan l Architectural Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | June 2022 - December 2022
Narmadha l Project Manager | Annamalai University, Chidambaram | January 2021 - December 2022
Krishi Jhaveri l Interior Design Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | January 2022 - June 2022
Madhivanan Gnanavel l Architect & Landscape Designer | McGan'S Ooty School of Architecture | August 2018 - June 2022
Maitri Shah l Architectural Intern | Navrachana University, Baroda | December 2021 - June 2022
Pavni Porwal l Interior Design Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | July 2021 - December 2021
Priyanka Salunkhe l Architectural Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | June 2021 - December 2021
Mathura Maathangi l Architect | VIT University, Vellore| February 2021 - November 2021
Ridho Cairns | Architect | University of Melbourne, Australia | September 2019 - August 2021
Abinaya Varshni | Architectural Intern | Wadiyar Centre For Architecture, Mysore | March 2021 - August 2021
Shyambhavi Shukla | Interior Design Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | December 2020 - July 2021
Almitra Roosevelt | Architectural Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | December 2020 - July 2021
Ralph Sequeira | Architect | MIET, Gondia | March 2019 - March 2021
Abishek P | Architectural Intern | CEPT University, Ahmedabad | June – December 2020 | June - July 2023
Ibn Talib | Architect | John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto | July - September 2020
Geetika Tyagi | Architectural Intern | AIT School Of Architecture & Planning, Greater Noida | January - August 2020
Saloni Mahajan | Interior Design Intern | SID, CEPT, Ahmedabad | September - December 2019
Renuka Gupta | Architectural Intern | MBS School of Planning and Architecture | Delhi, ​August 2019 - April 2020
Shaan Lyngdoh Lakshmanan | Architectural Intern | Syracuse University, United States of America | July - August 2019
Henrik Dutz | Architect | TU Dresden, Germany | December - March 2019
Abhishek K. Ramesh | Architectural Intern | CMRU School Of Architecture, Bengaluru | July 2019 - January 2020
Anshul Rathore | Architectural Intern | IIT, Roorkee | February - July 2018
Aakansha Jain | Architectural Intern | Manipal University | April 2017 - May 2018
Vishnu Vardhan | Research Engineer | VIT Mechanical Engineering,Vellore | November 2017 - November 2018
Nancy Agarwal | Architect | RV College, Bengaluru | September 2017 - September 2019
Nitya Kalyanaraman | Architectural Intern | Sushant School of Art and Architecture | Gurugram, June 2017 - November 2017
Ines Dahl | Architectural Intern| ETSAM Madrid / CEPT, Ahmedabad | June - July 2017
Divij Bhardwaj Architect | MNIT, Jaipur | April - May 2017
Ipsita Mallick | Architectural Intern | Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, NMIMS, Mumbai | February - Sept 2017
Roshita Sudhir | Architect | NIT Trichy | December 2016 - June 2019
Sukirth Gowder | Architect | SAP, Anna University, Chennai | December 2016 - May 2017
Yann Robichon | Research Engineer | ESIROI, Reunion Island | August - September 2016
Malvika Singh |​Interior Design Intern |SID, CEPT, Ahmedabad | June - December 2016
Nehaa Bhavaraju | Architect | NIT Trichy | February - December 2016
Chandana Reddy | Architect | SAP, Chennai | January - December 2016
Pratha Bhagat |Architectural Intern | Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies | Mumbai, November 2015 - April 2016
Akash Puthuparambil | Architect | Kerala | August 2015-March 2016
Anant Mairal | Architectural Intern |National Institute of Technology | Raipur, June 2015- April 2016
Tanushree Charan | Construction Intern | SBST, CEPT, Ahmedabad | June - July 2015
Melina Wiedera | Interior Designer | HfT Stuttgart, Germany | June - July 2015
Hugo Lavocat | Research Engineer | ESIROI, Reunion Island | May - August 2015
Eleanor Figueiredo | Architect | Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, United Kingdom | May - June 2015
Suraj Dwivedi | Junior Architect | College of Architecture, SVIT, Vasad | December 2013 - May 2014
Ana Antunes | Architect | Porto School of Architecture, Portugal | August - September 2014 & February 2015
Aashna Agarwal | Architecture Intern | CEPT, Ahmedabad | June - December 2014
Pankti Mehta | Architecture Intern | Navrachana University, Vadodara | June - December 2014
Aanchal Subbaiah | Architecture Intern |RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru | March - May 2014
Darpan Arora | Architectural Intern | College of Architecture, SVIT, Vasad | February 2014 - January 2015
Anjali Ramachandran | Architecture Intern |School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Mysuru | November 2013 - May 2014
Anna Alma Bakhlina | Architect | Moscow Institute of Architecture MARKHI , Russia and KTH, Sweden |November 2012 - August 2014
S. Kishore Rajaram | Architecture Intern | Architectural Intern | SAP Anna University, Chennai |Dec 2012 - May 2013
Niharika Sanyal | Architecture Intern | SA, CEPT, Ahmedabad |May 2012 - Jan 2013
Parth Pandya | Interior Design Intern | SID, CEPT, Ahmedabad |June - December 2012
Rakesh N.M. | Architect | Manipal University | December 2011 - June 2012
Sachin Patil | Architect | Sir J. J. College of Architecture, Mumbai | June - December 2011
Kriti Gupta | Interior Design Intern | SID, CEPT, Ahmedabad | May - Dec 2011
Tejal Bafna | Architect | Academy Of Architecture, Mumbai | March - May 2011
Ojas Vyas | Architect | IPSA, Rajkot | January 2011 - January 2012
Sonam P. Kesarkar | Interior Designer | BNCA, Pune | January 2010 - January 2011
Sindhu Gopal | Architecture Intern | SRM University, Kattankulathur | July 2010 - January 2011
Shashank Achanthodi | Architecture Intern | NIT Trichy | June - December 2010
Annam Vaishnavi | Architect | CSI Institute of Technology, School Of Planning & Architecture, Secunderabad | June - December 2010
Sneha Bakshi | Academy Of Architecture, Mumbai | March - June 2010
Deepti Gangwal | Planning Intern | SP, CEPT, Ahmedabad | May - June 2010
Kaushal Jajoo | Planning Intern | SP, CEPT, Ahmedabad | May - June 2010
Swastika Mukherjee | Architecture Intern | Aayojan School of Architecture, Jaipur | January - June 2010
Prakash Raj | Architect and Model Maker | Self taught | October 2009 - January 2010; February 2016 - Present
Nidhi Dixit | Architecture Intern | University of Mumbai | December 2008 - March 2009
Joana Marques | Architect | Porto School of Architecture, Portugal | August - September 2009
Kanika Puri | Interior Design Intern | SID, CEPT, Ahmedabad, | May - August 2009
Akshaya L.N. | Architecture Intern | TVB School of Habitat Studies, Delhi | July - December 2009
Marcia Oliviera | Architect | Porto School of Architecture, Portugal | March - October 2009
Noble George | Architecture Intern | Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology, Surat | August - December 2008
Abhiruchi Anand | Interior Design Intern | SID, CEPT, Ahmedabad | May - November 2008
Venu Sivan | Architecture Intern | College of Engineering Trivandrum | June 2007 - January 2008
Tushita Gandhi | Interior Designer | APIED, Vallabh Vidyanagar | 2006 - 2009
Vishal Chudgar | Architect | APIED, Vallabh Vidyanagar | June - October 2007
Nithya E. J. | Architecture Intern | College of Engineering Trivandrum, | April - June 2007
Aamir | Architecture Intern | University of Lucknow | August - December 2004
Garima | Architecture Intern | University of Lucknow | August - December 2004
Pallavi Gopalkrishnan | Architecture Intern | B. M. S. College of Engineering |March - June 2003
Samir | Architecture Intern| Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology Surat | July - November 2002
Deval Gandhi | Architect | School of Architecture, CEPT, Ahmedabad | June 2000 - April 2001
Amorette Pereira | Architecture Intern | BNCA, Pune | January - April 2000
Arusha Shridhar | Architect | BNCA, Pune | January - April 2000
Batul Raaj | Architecture Intern | SA, CEPT, Ahmedabad | June - December 1995
Kanal Shah | Architect | MSU, Vadodara | June - December 1995