Bio:

The great architect,  Sudhir Jambhekar is an architect with considerable experience on a wide variety of project types and scales.  Sudhir approaches design as a perceptive search for meaning and usefulness, narrowing the infinite possibilities for a project to an idea that balances the forces at work in each.  His approach is rooted in the belief that all elements are part of the larger whole, and each element of the built environment is not only worthy of, but requires, design excellence.

​

Sudhir joined FXFOWLE (FXCollaborative Architects LLP) as Senior Partner when the firm he cofounded, Jambhekar Strauss, merged with FXFOWLE.  He led the design effort on wide variety of projects in the USA and internationally prior to stepping down from FXFOWLE partnership in 2015.  He joined Archwert/Neilsoft in 2016 as a Senior Design Director and led design effort on numerous projects prior to retiring in February of 2019.  Prior to forming Jambhekar Strauss Architects, PC, Sudhir worked with Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), John Carl Warnecke and Associates and I.M. Pei and Partners.  He is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City with undergraduate degree from University of Bombay, India.  Sudhir was bestowed fellowship in design by the American Institute of Architects in 2008 and is a member of Royal Institute of Architects, LEED accredited professional and a member of the Council of Architecture in India.

 

Sudhir’s project’s have won several major design awards including international awards.  Just to name few select awards, AIA New York chapter recognized the Sixth Crossing Bridge in Dubai and the Queens Museum Competition, The Chicago Athenaeum recognized the Mosque project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and CityScape in Dubai recognized India Tower design.

​

Many of Sudhir’s projects have been published in leading design publications, including World Architecture News, Metropolis, Perspective, CityScape Magazine, Oculus (journal of AIA, New York), Architectural record, Architecture and Competitions.  The Korean publication AW magazine featured five of Sudhir’s projects in a special issue. Two monographs on the works of FXFOWLE (FXCollaborative) include number of projects designed under the leadership of Sudhir in collaboration with various project teams.  He has also published ten volumes of e books on his work titled “Thinking Design” and autobiography in two Indian languages.   

 

Sudhir’s projects have been exhibited in Architectural league, AIA NY chapter, Cornell University, Venus Biennale and in Istanbul and Dubai.  Special traveling exhibition of his work was organized with an opening at J J College of Architecture in Mumbai.

 

Sudhir has lectured and served on design awards juries at several AIA chapters in the USA and Hong Kong, and the Indian Institute of Architects in Bangalore and Satara in India. He has spoken at tall building conferences in Seoul, Dubai, Shanghai, and Mumbai.  Additionally, he has also spoken at various conferences in Istanbul, Singapore, Mumbai and Dubai, served on design juries at IIT in Chicago and spoken at various architectural schools in India including JJ college of Architecture, Columbia University’s international chapter, Urban design Institute in Mumbai, and private venues like LOFT in Pune.    

​

Sudhir’s extensive interest in 16th to 19th century paintings from India as well as contemporary art, furniture, product design, music and history further enhanced his contribution to the design dialogue.        

​

Featured Project Name: 

King Abdulla Financial District (KAFD), Parcel 5.05.

 

Featured Project Location: 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

Construction completed around 2017-2018.

​

Role in Featured Project: 

Senior Design Partner.  Led the design effort for twelve buildings at KAFD including a museum.  Only two of the total twelve buildings on parcel 5.05 are being featured here.

​

Featured Project Description:

The King Abdullah Financial District comprises seven development parcels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Programmatic components include office, residential, educational, sports, retail, cultural and religious components.  Truly a mixed-use project.  Planning/urban design vision proposes a separation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic, while including public spaces within each site.  Projected skywalks will encourage pedestrian movement during daytime, Wadi will encourage pedestrian activities during evening hours and monorail connecting various parcels will promote public transportation. A Wadi as proposed is inspired by natures creation of dry riverbed to collect runoff, creates a continuous green open public space connecting the four of the seven development parcels and provides shelter for local plants and animals.  Green roofs provide additional landscaped areas.

 

KAFD Parcel 5.05 – Mixed-use project comprises of office, residential, retail, parking, and public spaces.  Approximately 94,000 m2 (1,011,440 Sq. Ft) project is located on a prominent site at the center of the KAFD.  Skywalk connects the project to the surrounding parcels including a museum site.  Monorail, when completed will run along the access street to the east in front of the building.

​

Design is based on a direct response to the shape of the site, optimizing site utilization, views, and efficiencies, creating a great visual statement.  Residential tower and office tower are composed on top of retail podium of three floors with circular skylight admitting day light into the space with green roof top for social activities and environmental reasons.  Façade treatments of these two buildings were in response to the climatic conditions of Riyadh.  Office tower façade with direct southern exposure is uniquely designed with faceted form with lamination of marble on a insulated glass units to diffuse the day light but in the late hours would glow from an artificial lighting within the building.      

​

Photography Credit:

FXCollaborative

​