People

Practice

Samir Shah graduated from the School of Architecture at CEPT University in 1983. His thesis work sparked a deep interest in Resettlement and Migration Patterns influenced by climate change, specifically focusing on peri-urban housing and architecture.

In 1986, Samir co-founded KSA Design Planning Services, where he played a pivotal role in researching, designing, and developing post-disaster rehabilitation projects. Collaborating with BGS Frankfurt and funded by GTZ Frankfurt and KfW Frankfurt, the practice contributed significantly to projects following major natural disasters such as the 1999 Super cyclone in Orrisa, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, and the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka.

In addition to leading the design of numerous large-scale residential townships and institutions in Southern India, Samir spearheaded the design of Gujarat’s pioneering 18-hole golf township in collaboration with Kensville Golf and Living. Over the years, Samir emerged as a prominent figure in healthcare design, having crafted more than 36 multispecialty hospitals.

Academics

In 2017, Samir joined CEPT University as a visiting faculty member, eventually ascending to the position of Dean of CFP (CEPT Foundation Program).

During his tenure, Samir played a key role in developing a new pedagogical approach for the foundation program, which has since been established and is set to be published as a resource for design schools across India. Under his leadership, CEPT has initiated and is developing courses such as short skill development courses tailored for professionals on site, as well as an introduction to design thinking at the K12 level. Furthermore, since 2021, he has led a mentorship program with partner institutes, focusing on faculty training, capacity building, and sharing teaching materials developed by his team at CEPT University.