About

Sandhya is an accomplished architect, author and historic resource consultant, at the helm of accent architecture+design. Focused on sustainable design of human and place-engaged architecture, the firm has been based in the San Francisco Bay Area for over two decades. Sandhya's work has been recognized for excellence through mayor's proclamation, awards, and publications. Sandhya meets the US Secretary of Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (SOIS) for Historic Architecture & Architectural History. 

Pursuing an advanced degree entailed a multidisciplinary program at the College of Environmental Design (CED), at UC Berkeley. Prior to establishing accent, Sandhya worked with acclaimed architecture firms in San Francisco, North India and Oakland's non-profit, Urban Ecology. Historic architecture in California, indigenous construction in the Himalayas and European modernism in Paris rounded off her diverse professional experience. Sandhya's work ranges in scale, context and type- residential and institutional; rehabilitation and preservation design; community and interior design; HRE's and Mills Act applications. Successful collaborations with 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, passive solar energy, fine craft and preservation of resources. 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.