Afrin was a very active Student Ambassador from the 2025-26 cohort. She began by responding to the C20 Initiative by sharing information and photographs of the Ripon Building in Chennai. Built in 1913, the building is the historic headquarters of the Chennai Corporation and designed in the Neoclassical Style. Over the years, it has undergone several restoration efforts to preserve its heritage and now stands as a symbol of Chennai’s rich architectural and civic heritage.
She then held a screening of the Nagari films — Level Up!, Sparrow, Udta Banaras, and Homes on the Line, for the student body of her college. She shared how different batches responded to films based on their academic exposure — the juniors reflected on growth and learning through ‘Sparrow’ and ‘Level Up!’, the mid-level batches had engaging discussions on culture and urban identity after watching ‘Udta Banaras’, and the senior students had a meaningful conversation on housing, displacement, and the social responsibility of architects through ‘Homes on the Line’.
The task she carried out was a design exercise involving students across all five batches of architecture. They took an abandoned and under-utilized site — the area under the Maduravoyal bridge in Chennai — and redesigned it for the people using Charles Correa’s principles of design. The session was engaging and very interactive.
Sukhi was a very active Student Ambassador from the 2025-26 cohort and contributed regularly during the monthly meetings.
She chose to screen the Nagari films on two separate occasions as a part of her task. Four films—A Work in Progress, While Walking Through the City, Level Up!, and Udta Banaras– were screened, each followed by a 20-minute discussion that the student helped guide. These discussions critically explored both cinematic techniques and the underlying architectural and urban themes. Key conversations included reflecting on the long-term life of buildings and the idea of “building to last,” examining issues of walkability and livelihoods in urban spaces, emphasising the importance of universal accessibility as a fundamental design principle, and debating the complexities of development versus displacement. Through these curated screenings and thoughtful dialogues, the student created a collaborative and reflective learning environment, encouraging participants to engage deeply with contemporary urban issues while also setting the stage for future discussions and debates.
She also initiated a series of diagramming sessions and discussions centred around Charles Correa’s work, using them as a starting point to expand into the study of other architects and their projects. These sessions aimed to help students better understand architectural works while also introducing diagramming as an analytical and representational tool. In addition, the student regularly organised debates inspired by the Nagari film series, creating a platform for critical dialogue and encouraging participants to engage with broader urban and architectural issues. Overall, the program has influenced how she thinks about her college experience and future opportunities. She has already discussed ideas with the student council and is interested in introducing initiatives such as the diagramming sessions, a session on universal accessibility, reading sessions, and a 60-hour design brief, potentially linked to insights from the diagramming exercises.
For the 2021–22 batch of student ambassadors, the Foundation maintained an ongoing dialogue by providing monthly updates about ongoing and forthcoming projects, forums, and publications, ensuring that ambassadors stayed informed and engaged with its activities.
One of the primary initiatives focused on raising awareness of modern and postmodern Indian architecture among students in their own cities. Ambassadors were encouraged to actively explore their surroundings, identify modern and postmodern buildings nearby, and delve into their histories. Working in collaboration with the Foundation, they contributed to the creation of a live map of these buildings, highlighting their significance and helping them gain the recognition they deserve. The Foundation also offered support in reaching out to the architects or relevant authorities and explored the possibility of hosting open-house events, where the entire student cohort could visit these sites and experience the architecture firsthand.
Another key initiative, Re-interpreting Charles Correa, was linked to the Foundation’s effort to publish a monograph on his work. As part of this project, student ambassadors were invited to redraw and reinterpret various works of Ar. Charles Correa. The initiative encouraged students to engage with his architectural legacy creatively, giving them the freedom to explore their own perspectives while understanding the design principles and thought processes behind his iconic works.
The third initiative, Pedagogy Dialogue, was conceived as a conversation series aimed at gaining deeper insight into the diverse teaching methods employed in architecture and design colleges across India. Through these dialogues, students were able to learn about different approaches to architectural education, the philosophies guiding them, and how pedagogy shapes the way future architects think, design, and respond to their environment. Together, these initiatives provided a holistic platform for the ambassadors to connect with architectural history, contemporary practice, and education in meaningful and engaging ways.
2021-2022 Cohort
Shannon Maria – Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad Vama Shah – Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, Mumbai Rachit Somani – School of Environment & Architecture, Mumbai Drashti Shroff – Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai Ayushi Thakur – Sir J. J. College of Architecture, Mumbai Varun Phadke – D.Y. Patil College of Architecture, Navi Mumbai Anisha Hemanth Kumar – SJB School of Architecture, Bangalore Sheikh Mehruk – UVCE, Bangalore AN Muthuswamy – SRM school of Architecture and Interior design, Kanchipuram Diganth D – BMS College of Architecture, Bangalore Sakshi Ahuja – Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Art University, Hyderabad Dulçio de Melo – Goa College of Architecture, Panaji Shevi Saxena – Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi Aaditi Sharad Tantak – Hiray school of design, Mumbai Manasa Ravikumar – Academy of Architecture, Mumbai Pinak Dalwadi – SAL School of Architecture, Ahmedabad Megh Mittal – VIT’s PVP College of Architecture, Pirangut Sathia Priyan – National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli Poornima H – Acharya’s NRV School of Architecture, Bangalore Muskan Singhania – National Institutes of Technology, Rourkela Srabasti Lahiri – Piloo Mody College Of Architecture, Cuttack Kushal Jaiswal – Lokmanya Tilak Institute of Architecture and Design Studies, Navi Mumbai
Aashumi Shah – Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad Shreya Gupta – Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, Mumbai Akshay Savla – School of Environment & Architecture, Mumbai Yashvi Gala – Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai Shreya Joglekar – Sir J. J. College of Architecture, Mumbai Gayatri Verma – D.Y. Patil College of Architecture, Navi Mumbai Nithya – SJB School of Architecture, Bangalore Keerthana Kishor – UVCE, Bangalore Amrutha Viswanath – SRM School of Architecture and Interior Design, Kanchipuram Shree Shakthi Vani – Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore Tarun – BMS College of Architecture, Bangalore Sakshi Ahuja – Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Art University, Hyderabad Ayesha de Sousa– Goa College of Architecture, Panaji Dyan Kavan Lobo – Wadiyar Centre for Architecture, Mysore Snigdha Rao – Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi Vedant Desai – Hiray school of design, Mumbai Krish Jaiswal– Academy of Architecture, Mumbai Ragini Jain – School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal Vaidehi Joshi – SAL School of Architecture, Ahmedabad Shivam Agrawal – VIT’s PVP College of Architecture, Pirangut Keerthi – National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli Rehan Gattu – Acharya’s NRV School of Architecture, Bangalore Muskan Sighnania – National Institutes of Technology, Rourkela
The next edition of the CCF Student Ambassador Program will be open for nominations shortly.
Eligibility
A student from the 3rd year of a Bachelor’s program in Architecture, Urban Design, or Urban Planning.
Highly interested, motivated, individuals who are interested in building a network, and contributing to our repository of resources.
Roles and Responsibilities :
To raise awareness and inform fellow students of CCF’s various initiatives.
To facilitate and ensure a wider reach of CCF’s resources and to expose students to Correa’s ideologies – this might include coordinating various public forums between CCF and your unique institution.
To participate in monthly update meetings (approximately 45 minutes long) and help in administering various tasks/activities/programs that are being proposed.
To represent your College at specific events, where you may present the work of your institution and engage in a greater public discourse.
To organize activities by hosting book clubs/film screenings/sketching activities within the campus.
To inform students on the CCF publications and their availability on our website.
To suggest potential collaboration between CCF and the student body during college festivals, events and college clubs.
To have fun! The Charles Correa Foundation encourages all Student Ambassadors to willingly embrace their roles and responsibilities, and explore new avenues that we can facilitate for you, ensuring that your participation is both meaningful and enjoyable!
Nominations
The next edition of the CCF Student Ambassador Program will be open for nominations shortly.
