Urmila Rajadhyaksha

Urmila Rajadhyaksha is a Landscape Architect based in Mumbai with nearly 30 plus years of experience in the field of landscape architecture especially in urban landscapes. Her expertise lies in working on Public Projects very often in precincts where the new intersects with the old. Her work with governmental organizations is at various scales ranging from Civic Bodies to Ministries as well as non profits and funding agencies. Often, these have involved handholding government organizations ranging from Ministries [MORTH-NHAI, MORD] to Civic bodies [NMC/MCGM] funded by International [UNDP] and National [Tata Trusts] bodies. She is well versed in preparing drawings and tender documents for landscape schemes, recommending implementation strategies to suit time bound requirements/ budget as well as supervising the implementation of schemes. She recently stepped down as the Founding Head of the Department for Landscape Architecture a post she held from May 2016 to May 2022 during which period she conducted several Academic Design Studios and Research Initiatives dealing with Urban Landscapes across the country. A Fellow Member of the Indian Society of Landscape Architects since its inception she currently serves as its Hon. President. 
 
 
 
AREAS OF INTEREST 
      
LANDSCAPE PLANNING & HABITAT STUDY 
 
Landscape Architect on the PMC team of IVL of Sweden for 2 Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Mumbai. 
Consultant for the TATA Trusts [Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and J.R.D. Tata Trust] Mumbai conceptualizing it an Urban Scale Open Space as trigger for social change by Design and Development of the Jawaharlal Nehru Van Udyan, Nashik into a Forest Interpretive Park for the Forest Department and Nashik Municipal Corporation. 
Consultant for the state of Maharashtra by the UNDP under the UNDP-GOI initiative for governance and Accelerated Livelihoods support [GOALS] to develop State specific compendiums for greening the Indira Awas Yojana [IAY/PMAY] a flagship program of the Ministry of Rural Development [MORD], Government of India [GOI] 
Part of the award winning team of the National Level Competition held for Rajaswa Bhawan [National Tax Headquarters] by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, GOI led by Ar. Siddharth Shirur of Vistaar –the Winners 
Appointed by M/s Dhruv Consultants, Navi Mumbai, on behalf of National Highway Authority of India [NHAI] to formulate a Manual for Landscaping of highways in India. In collaboration with Ms. Meena Nambiar, Environmental Planner 
Assisted TERI in their pilot project with CIDCO of Maharashtra for Preservation of freshwater ecosystems in Navi Mumbai for sustainable resource utilization at Khandeshwar Lake, New Panvel.  
Associated with M/s Frischmann Prabhu in their project Highway 2000 at Jamaica 
Consultant to City & Industrial Corporation of Maharashtra [CIDCO]  strategising Landscape Architecture specially on Kharghar sector and Palm beach road.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPES; THEIR DOCUMENTATION INTERPRETATION & MANAGEMENT 

Landscape Consultant for The New Children’s Museum at CSMVS. 2019 & Landscape Consultant to ANL Associates for Landscape Works in Phase 2 of Restoration works at CSMVS 2014 Also Landscape Consultant for The Visitor’s Centre then CCC at CSMVS. 2010 & Landscape Consultant to ANL Associates for the Restoration of the Front Garden of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya [formerly Prince of Wales Museum] at Fort, Mumbai - A Grade 1 Heritage Structure 
Consultant for the Landscape of the Headquarters of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbaia Grade 1 Heritage Structure.  
Associated with Abha Narain Lambah,Conservation Architect, on the Project for Deutsche Bank, Tata Palace, Fort, Mumbai an adaptive reuse of a heritage structure. 

 
TEACHING & FOSTERING CREATIVITY 

Appointed as HOD for M.Arch Landscape program at Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Architecture AY 2024-2025  . 
Founded and headed a unique three year part time Master of Architecture in Landscape from inception to closure [2016-2022] at   the L.S.Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai. 
Adjunct Faculty for Landscape Architecture in Architecture programs Bachelors and Masters in Mumbai