Aathira Ajith is a Landscape Architect with a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (SPA), completed in 2008. She has been a faculty member at the Abate Institute of Architecture since 2014 and has been involved in academics since 2013.
Aathira's professional career began under the mentorship of Prof. M. Shaheer, a renowned landscape architect in Asia. She had the opportunity to contribute to significant projects such as the Agha Khan project on the revitalization of Sunder Nursery (Humayun’s Tomb) in New Delhi and the landscape design for the Mahindra Research Center in Chennai, a collaborative effort with Ar. Charles Correa.
In 2012, after seven years of professional experience, Aathira co-founded the architectural firm TULAA (The Urban, Landscape Art, and Architecture) with her partner. Her portfolio includes high-profile projects such as the SMART City Kochi and the Naval Officers’ Residential Apartment, AWHO, among others.
Aathira's academic and research interests lie in the field of global environmental change and its urban manifestations. Her work focuses on understanding the complex interactions between global climate change and local environmental shifts, aiming to develop policies that address these challenges. She is currently working on a book titled "Trees of Kerala," which highlights her commitment to environmental conservation and education.
Her thesis work at SPA explored the revitalization of wetlands in Cochin, Kerala, while her dissertation examined the relationship between cultural landscapes and urbanism in the backwaters of Kerala. These projects reflect her deep engagement with sustainable landscape design and urban environmental issues.
Aathira's contributions to landscape architecture extend beyond her professional practice to her academic roles, where she continues to inspire and educate future architects with her extensive knowledge and experience.