Architecture, for me, has always been a way of life. I grew up in an environment of design, having been born to an architect father and an equally creative mother who excelled in art and nurtured in me the values of appreciating detail and goodness in everything. I was born in Chandigarh, the epitome of modern architecture in independent India.
I stepped into the professional world 35 years ago with a Bachelors (Honors) degree in Architecture, from the Chandigarh College of Architecture. Recipient of the Le Corbusier Gold Medal and the University Gold Medal, I am fortunate to have begun my professional career under the guidance of Prof.R.N.Dogra, who was a planner, designer and close associate of Le Corbusier. I began my journey with the Master Planning of PGIMER, Chandigarh. A year into it, I married architect Rajiv Khanna, and smoothly transitioned into being the creative lead of the design firm, RKAPL and its global brand Studio KIA.
UNCUBING myself from my design studio, I am involved in various related endeavours. I am presently a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects (FIIA), an Associate of Institute of Indian Interior Designers (AIIID), Founding Member of Women’s Entrepreneur Committee at PHD Chamber of Commerce (WEC-PHD), National President for Architecture Council– WICCI, and Influencer for Womennovator, a virtual incubator for women entrepreneurs.
KIA - Building Tomorrow, is our initiative to share, mentor, award, appreciate, encourage and inspire young talent and collectively work towards a better and beautiful tomorrow which has its learning’s from the past and salutes our today. Under this initiative we have an endeavour to create a better generation of future designers by establishing a living laboratory of architectural learning. StudioKIA has instituted a scholarship at the Chandigarh College of Architecture, alma mater of the principals to applaud and encourage the young students who show great calibre in their work.
