Dr. Soumini Raja is an Associate Professor at College of Architecture Trivandrum and brings to the table a deep interest in understanding the complex human - nature relationships and their process of co-evolution, especially in the coastal regions. She is the founding partner at Studio Commune, a collaborative design studio in Trivandrum that engages in meaningful conversation between Architectural practice, urban research and social activism.
She is an alumnus of College of Engineering Trivandrum and completed her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from CEPT University Ahmedabad. Her doctoral research addressed socio-spatial investigation of Human vulnerabilities to disasters in coastal areas - A case of Chellanam. She has worked with various institutions in the past such as EPCDPM, Gujarat Institute of Development Research, CEPT Research and Development Consultancy, and AVANI Institute of Design. In practice, she attempts to see design beyond the linear narrative of a product and as an on-going process encompassing dialogue and negotiation between society, culture and built environment. She has published various peer-reviewed papers and has served as a juror in various institutions in India. At present she is also a consultant Urban Planner at IL& FS and an active member of Architecture Sans Frontiers India. She is also the co-founder of B-Organ, a web platform where construction materials can be donated. It serves as a domain which promotes scientific reuse of demolition materials.