Dhiru A. Thadani (architect)

Dhiru A. Thadani
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Born	Dhiru A. Thadani (1955-06-08)8 June 1955 Mumbai, India
Nationality	India
Alma mater	Catholic University of America
Occupation	Architect
Parent(s)	Ambrit Thadani Gunu Gurbaxani
Practice	Thadani Architects
Projects	Westside Atlanta Master Plan, Lyceum Block at Seaside, Florida, M Square:College Park Metro Station Development, Maryland, Limmat Valley, Switzerland
Website	www.dthadani.com

Dhiru A. Thadani (born June 8, 1955) is an Indian architect, author, educationist and an urbanist. He started his career in 1976. He is known for planning and designing towns, urban settlements, small townships, infill densification projects and academic campuses in different parts of the world. Apart from being an architect, he has been conducting research on human settlements, specifically formation of towns and cities in different continents. He also does mentoring and lecturing on varied architectural topics.

He is known for designing urban scape master plan and rebuilding the neglected and disinvested neighborhoods in Atlanta Westside in the United States in 2013. Though he was initially entrusted to develop a master plan for the 66-acre campus of Morehouse College, he conducted research and found that development of the campus could only be achieved through overall development of the areas surrounding the campus.

Raising funds from Atlanta’s commercial and philanthropic groups, he designed a master plan covering 1,700 acres focusing on the history and culture of one of America’s most significant African American neighborhoods in Atlanta. Preserving the culture, history and character of the neighborhood, he designed a plan and developed a neighbourhood having affordable/attainable housing projects.

In 2021, Thadani’s team was selected to update the master plan for Spelman College, the first private institution to educate women of color. Founded in 1881, the college is a global leader in the education of women of African descent, and it is located within the Westside and is part of the Atlanta University Center in Atlanta. His other significant projects include a new city in China for a million inhabitants and several new high-density urban neighborhoods in India.

Early Life and Education

Born on June 8, 1955 in Mumbai, India, to Gunu Gurbaxani and Ambrit Thadani, Thadani did his early education in Cathedral and John Cannon High School in Mumbai. He moved to Washington DC in 1972 to study architecture at Catholic University of America. As part of his academics, he presented thesis on varied urban housing topics that included three prominent studies : "A Non-Disruptive Approach to Sheltering the Urban Poor in Bombay", "Modular Housing as an Affordable Option" and "Affordable Housing in Historic City Centers"

While the study "A Non-Disruptive Approach to Sheltering the Urban Poor in Bombay" presented alternative strategies to house slum dwellers and homeless in Bombay as an alternative to the World bank’s Sites & Services Program, the study "Modular Housing as an Affordable Option" investigated using factory-built modular housing as an option to provide affordable housing in Washington DC. The study "Affordable Housing in Historic City Centers" presented a proposal to provide workforce housing as Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) units in the heart of dense historical centers such as Rome, Italy.

Career

During his forty-nine years in Washington DC, he taught, practiced and has strived to give prominence to traditional architecture and landscape urbanism.

Thadani began his career as a Freelance Architectural Renderer in 1976. From 1978 to 2009, Thadani held various key positions at leading architectural firms - Chapman & Associates and Ayers Saint Gross. In 1980, he also founded Thadani Architects for providing a broad range of consulting services in architecture and urban design to governments and corporations across the world. He is currently the Director at Thadani Architects and Urbanists.

Important Works

Westside Atlanta Master Plan

He was the team leader for regeneration of 1700 acres (710 hectares) of disinvested historic neighborhoods in Atlanta.

M Square: College Park Metro Station Development, Maryland

Thadani was design principal for development of master plan and architectural design guidelines for transit oriented development on under-utilized land surrounding the WMATA Metro Station. The mixed-use development includes office space, research facilities for the university, multi-family housing, townhomes, retail and social services adjacent to the station, bus transit and university shuttle station, and long-term parking facilities.

Haymount, Caroline County, Virginia

He was design principal to refine a master plan for the first phase of an existing but undeveloped subdivision of a traditional neighborhood development. As proposed, Haymount locates 4,000 residential units and 750,000 square feet of commercial / retail space on approximately 1,600-acres along the Rappahannock River. The overall plan was subdivided into five neighborhoods. Scope of work included refining the lot layout and adjusting the street network to accommodate the natural site conditions and allow for connections to adjacent parcels that may be developed in the future. Additionally, prototype plans for single-family detached homes were also developed to conform to the design guidelines.

Beall’s Hill Neighborhood, City of Macon, Georgia

He was the Design Principal for the revitalization of the Beall’s Hill Neighborhood. A number of investments to the physical infrastructure were required to support other neighborhood enhancements. These included, but were not limited to, repairing existing or installing new sidewalks and curbs, installing street lamps, and building retaining walls where grade changes occur adjacent to the public realm. Additionally, the city needed to provide utility services to vacant properties and prepare these lots for sale or development.

University City Master Plan, Guangzhou University City, China

Design consultation for the creation of a new 10,000-acre University City to house up to 30 different educational institutions in Guangzhou, China. Created on a greenfield island site, the city will house 250,000 students in seven university clusters with a total population of over 450,000. The 100 million GSF project is expected to be completed within 5 years. (50% complete)

Hiranandani Upscale, New Town in Hyderabad, India

Design Principal to design 290 acres in Lahari District adjacent to the planned ring road in Hyderabad, India. The program includes 13 million square feet of residential, one million square feet of retail and commercial, hospital, and two school sites. In addition, a 125-acre Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is planned with 5 million square feet of research and development buildings. (50% complete)

Limmat Valley, Switzerland

Lead designer for the Urban Planning Advisory Team assembled by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland, and the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP). The team consisted of an international group of architects, planners, landscape architects, economists, and graduate students. The team recommended a framework plan for transportation, transit, landscape, preservation of the watershed, and initiation of an urban growth boundary for the Limmat Valley between Zurich and Baden.

Platinum City, Koramangala, Bangalore, India

Platinum City is a neighborhood for 25,000 residents, with apartment dwellings, a commercial district, and civic buildings. The 90-acre site is distinguished by its position between two scenic lakes on the urban edge of Bangalore, which is known as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Asia. The Platinum City Master Plan and Regulations promote open spaces and street spaces which are positive settings for social interaction, thus ensuring a successful urban realm. (In collaboration with Duany Plater-Zyberk)

Township Master Plan & Design Guidelines

Hiranandani Estate, Thane, India

Master plan for 410-acres in Thane municipality, north of Mumbai, India. Program included high-rise residential, commercial office, retail, schools, hotel, public parks, and recreation. The initial buildings (approximately 2 million square feet) were designed by Thadani Hetzel Partnership to test the design guidelines and set a design standard, after which a variety of Mumbai-based architects were invited to design buildings within the township. (50% complete)

Other Works

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC Architectural and planning projects designed by Dhiru Thadani have been published nationally and internationally in the professional and popular press. Additionally, articles, drawings, and cartoons by Thadani have been exhibited and published globally.

Academia

Dhiru A. Thadani, who began his teaching career as a teaching assistant at Catholic University of America from 1976, has held key positions in the University till 1991. He was Director, Foreign Studies Program, Director of Visual Studies, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Director, Graduate Thesis Research. Thadani has taught at numerous universities across the world, including University of Miami and University of Maryland. He continues to teach students at various universities in urban design & planning.

Selected Bibliography

Thadani, Dhiru (April 27, 2021). Reflections on Seaside: Muses, Ideas, Influences, New & Future Project. Rizzoli International, New York. p. 848. ISBN 978-0-8478-7016-5.

Thadani, Dhiru (September 3, 2013). Visions of Seaside: Foundation, Evolution, Imagination, Built & Unbuilt Architecture. Rizzoli International, New York. p. 608. ISBN 978-0-8478-4153-0.

Thadani, Dhiru (2012). Chinese Translation of The Language of Towns & Cities: A Visual Dictionary. Publishing House of Electronics Industry.

Thadani, Dhiru (November 16, 2010). The Language of Towns & Cities: A Visual Dictionary. Rizzoli International, New York. p. 781. ISBN 978-0-8478-3486-0.

Krier, Léon (March 2011). Thadani, Dhiru (ed.). The Architecture of Community (translated into Chinese, Spanish, German). Island Press. p. 496. ISBN 9781597265799.

Contributor to The Teaching of Architecture and Urbanism Caleidoscópio Ediçao, Council for European Urbanism, Viseu, Portugal (2006)

E.Bothwell, Stephanie; M.Duany, Andres; J.Hetzel, Peter; W Hurtt, Steven; A.Thadani, Dhiru (June 8, 2004). Windsor Forum on Design Education: Toward an Ideal Curriculum to Reform Architectural Education. New Urban Press. p. 437. ISBN 978-0975450604.

Thadani, Dhiru, ed. (September 1993). Making Towns: Principles and Techniques (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland).

Thadani, Dhiru, ed. (1992). Five Architects: Twenty Years Later (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland).

Thadani, Dhiru, ed. (1991). Building the City: Where Nature and the City Meet.

Honours and Awards

• 2019 - CNU Charter Award for completion of the Lyceum Block at Seaside, Florida
• 2017 - CNU Charter Award for Westside Atlanta Master Plan
• 2016 - CNU Charter Award for Luhe, China, Master Plan, for a New City for a Million Inhabitants
• 2015 - ISOCARP, Design Award for Excellence for Luhe, China, Master Plan
• 2014 - Gerd Albers Book Award (ISOCARP) for Visions of Seaside: Foundations/Evolution/Imagination/Built & Unbuilt Architecture
• 2011- Gerd Albers Book Award (ISOCARP), The Language of Towns & Cities: A Visual Dictionary
• 2008 - CNU Charter Award for Vedanta University, Orissa, India
• 2007 - AIA/Baltimore Maryland Chapter, Design Awards for Excellence in Architecture for Vedanta University, Orissa, India
• 2007 - CNU Charter Award for Long Beach Mississippi Redevelopment Plan
• 2005 - Jimmy Carter Center Award for Beall’s Hill Georgia Redevelopment Plan
• 2005 - AIA / Baltimore Maryland Chapter, Design Awards for Excellence in Architecture Beall’s Hill Georgia Redevelopment Plan
• 2004 - CNU Charter Award for Lexington Kentucky College Town Master Plan
• 2003 - Vision Award, The Committee of 100 on the Federal City for the Westminster Street Playground, Cardoza-Shaw Neighborhood, Washington, DC
• 1987 - Metropolitan Home Magazine, Design Awards, Home of the Year, Honorable Mention, Thadani/Schum Residence
• 1987 - AIA / Washington DC Chapter, Design Awards for Excellence in Architecture Thadani/Schum Residence
• 1978 - Henry Adams Medal of Excellence, American Institute of Architects, Washington, DC
• 1976 - Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honor Society
• 1974 - 1978 Deans List, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

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