KIRUTHIKA N

I am Kiruthika Nidhiyarasu, an architect and researcher whose work is rooted in the belief that architecture can bridge heritage, technology, sustainability, and social impact. Growing up in Kanchipuram within a family connected to its centuries-old silk-weaving tradition gave me an early understanding of how culture, craft, livelihood, and the built environment are deeply intertwined. This connection has continued to shape the way I approach architecture, not merely as the design of buildings, but as a means of understanding communities, responding to context, and creating meaningful change. My undergraduate thesis, Nesavu: Centre for Silk Weaving & Business Development, returned to my roots in Kanchipuram, proposing an architectural ecosystem that brings together weaving, livelihood, tourism, business development, and community life.My broader work reflects a continuing interest in socially responsive and environmentally conscious architecture. From designing a library for a marginalised fishing community in North Chennai to researching the feasibility of Net-Zero Energy office buildings across India's diverse climatic zones, I am interested in architecture that responds to real environmental and societal challenges through rigorous research and design.I see myself at the intersection of seemingly contrasting worlds: tradition and computation, craft and technology, intuition and research, local knowledge and global experimentation. For me, architecture begins with empathy—an attentiveness to people, place, memory, and the systems that shape everyday life. I aspire to create architecture that is environmentally responsible, culturally grounded, technologically progressive, and, above all, meaningful to the people who inhabit it.