About

Sandhya has lived and worked in four continents as an architect, author and researcher focused on sustainability and place-engaged architecture. Through her firm, accent architecture+design, her work has been recognized for excellence through mayor's proclamation, awards, and publications. Sandhya meets the US Secretary of Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Historic Architecture & Architectural History. 

Pursuing an advanced degree with a scholarship, entailed a multidisciplinary program at the College of Environmental Design (CED), UC Berkeley. Prior to establishing accent two decades ago, Sandhya worked with acclaimed architecture firms in San Francisco, North India and Oakland's non-profit, Urban Ecology. Indigenous construction in the Himalayas, European modernism in Paris and historic architecture in California rounded off her diverse professional experience. Sandhya's work ranges in scale, context and type- residential and institutional; rehabilitation and preservation planning; community and interior design; HRE's and Mills Act applications. Successful collaborations with teams of clients, allied professionals, builders and agencies, have honed her critical thinking and empathetic communication skills. 

The capacity of innovative design to articulate built spaces, bring in nature and nurture people's well being is powerful. Sandhya's  integrated design approach is embedded in functionality, solar energy, human connections and fine craft. Cultural wisdom and knowledge of material re-use, building technology and typologies has enabled fresh, affordable and adaptive spaces. Sandhya's work has been exhibited at the Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Francisco, Chandigarh Art Museum, AIA California Council  and Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland. Her research has been published in academic journals, a monograph and presented internationally at professional conferences.