Rajeev Thakker obtained his Bachelors of Architecture from Syracuse University in 1994. After his graduation, he worked for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (S.O.M.)for several years working on projects like the J.F.K. International terminal N.Y., several high rise tower projects in Manila & Jakarta & the Times Tower project which currently stands over 50 stories in Times Square N.Y.C.. In 1998, he pursued his Masters in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia Universities GSAPP & learning under the influence of architects & theorists such as Stan Allen, Evan Douglis & Dean Bernard Tschumi, he focused on exploring the digital realm & alternative methods of seeing architectural production, both in concept & production. In 2000, to pursue pedagogy he came to Mumbai to teach architectural design & theory.
Since 2000 he has been actively teaching design & theory at several institutions including KRVIA, SEA, NMIMS, Raffles Institute & ISDI. He has been a guest critic & lecturer at Institutes such as Parsons School of Design, Rensallaer Polytecnic Institute in Rochester, N.Y. , the A.B.A.C. School of Architecture in Bangkok, Thailand and Columbia Universities GSAPP in NYC.
In 2003, he started his own practice, a-RT, which through a series of investigative processes, provides consultancy & design services for architectural & interior projects as well as takes a keen interest in documenting the city & various spatial conditions through cartographic, architectural & other diverse means. Over the past 13 years a-RT has designed and realized several projects in the Hospitality, Retail, Commercial, Residential and Art space segments. Most recently, he has completed several retail projects for Provenance Coffeehouse & Gift Boutique and ROYCE’ Chocolates in India for the BBCollective. He has also just completed the 30,000 sq.ft. Vivarea Welfare Center Residential Amenity project for KRaheja Corp in collaboration with Soumya Raja from Traction-Studio.
From 2010-2017, he curated Columbia Universities GSAPP Studio X project in Mumbai, which focused on creating a collaborative platform for architects, artists, planners, developers, activists, etc. for engaging in research, exhibitions, debates & various other processes that initiate debate regarding the future of our cities.
His work has been published in leading Architecture magazines such as IAB, HomeTRENDS and DOMUS India as well academic research journals doing research on issues involving urban development and architecture.
In 2016 he was invited as an artist to participate in the 2016-17 edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in Kerala. His installation work entitled ‘HOME’ 2016 was on display at Aspinwall House until March 29 2017. In addition, a collaboration between a-RT, DCOOP & RGB Architecture Studio have produced 3 public infrastructure installations entitled ‘Happy Medium’ also located at the Aspinwall venue and David Hall in Fort Kochi.