Aarthi Janakiraman

Aarthi Janakiraman, Ph.D., is a planner and designer whose work centers on the spatial politics of the built environment, particularly in relation to heritage conservation in rapidly urbanizing contexts. She completed her PhD in Urban Planning at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning in May 2024. 

Her dissertation titled Repurposing Colonialism: Postcoloniality and the Politics of World Heritage considers the role of colonial-era heritage in negotiating conflict in contemporary societies mired in ethno-racial politics with a particular focus on UNESCO’s World Heritage Program in South and Southeast Asian cities. Her work was awarded the ACSP 2024 Gill-Chin Lim award for Best Dissertation on International Planning.

Aarthi has over five years of professional experience as an architectural designer working in Singapore, New York City, and India. She received her Master in City Planning from MIT and also holds a Master of Science in Architecture from Pratt Institute, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Anna University.

Aarthi is currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Preservation and Urbanism at the School of Architecture at Tulane University.