Shaping Civic Futures: Urban Design Interventions from Jaipur with Guest Speaker Nikhil Sharma

Nikhil Sharma is an architect, urban designer, and the Founder of OAU – Objects Architecture Urbanism, an interdisciplinary design studio based in Jaipur City. His practice bridges material intelligence, digital design technologies, and traditional building knowledge to reimagine the future of civic spaces and urban life.

After earning his Bachelor of Architecture from MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Nikhil worked with Hafeez Contractor in Mumbai before completing his Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design at Pratt Institute, New York, where he was recognized for Excellence in Academic Achievement and worked with leading international design practices afterwards.

In 2022, he established OAU’s Jaipur studio, leading projects such as the Govind Dev Ji Temple Corridor Redevelopment in the heart of UNESCO world heritage site and the Narayan Singh Circle Metro Station, alongside cultural and infrastructural initiatives addressing heritage preservation, climate resilience, and inclusive urban futures. Through his work, Nikhil explores how Urban Design can serve as a catalyst for social, cultural, and environmental transformation in rapidly evolving cities.

Shaping Civic Futures: Urban Design Interventions from Jaipur

This talk will present OAU’s major urban and architectural interventions in Jaipur, India, ranging from heritage corridor redevelopments to climate-responsive public infrastructure. Through these projects, Nikhil will explore how urban design and architecture can address heritage preservation, environmental sustainability, and civic identity in rapidly transforming urban environments.

The lecture will highlight the challenges and opportunities of designing for cities that are negotiating between historic continuity and contemporary growth pressures, showing how architecture and urban design can act as a catalyst for cultural resilience, ecological responsiveness, and inclusive public life. By sharing design processes, community engagement strategies, and on-ground outcomes, the talk will offer insights into the evolving role of architecture in shaping equitable and future-ready cities across the Global South and beyond.

When: Sept 18th, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Where: Ware Lounge, 600 Avery**

Register in advance for this meeting