Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture, January 2002
Georgia Institute of Technology

Master of Science in Architectural Studies, June 1993
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Diploma in Architecture, March 1990
Center for Environment Planning and Technology
(5-year professional degree in architecture)

Keywords

architectural morphology, space syntax, behavior and perception, architectural theory, work environments, aesthetics, interpretation, design studies 

Biography

Sonit Bafna studies the principles that shape the built environment and govern its relationship with social, cultural, and imaginative life. He has published empirical studies on the impact of space on human behavior, cognition, social organization, and health, as well as critical studies of architectural works investigating topics in representation, aesthetics, and interpretation. His research has been supported by the General Services Administration, Steelcase, Ascension Health, and Kaiser Permanente. Besides design studios, he teaches the courses in architectural theory, in analysis and interpretation, on the social and psychological dimensions of architecture, and research methods. He supervises doctoral studies on topics in morphology, behavior and perception, analytical theory of architecture, and cognitive studies of design, and is currently the director of the PhD program in Architecture. Current projects include a book titled Imaginative Reasoning in the Shaping of Buildings, a study of the relationship between home layouts and mental health and everyday occupational activity or residents, and multi-methods studies on the role of the physical environment in work settings. 

Statement of Teaching Interest

My teaching covers theory of architecture, behavioral studies, and theories of inquiry, as well as architectural design. In recent years, my regular courseload has consisted of Design Strategies (core for undergraduate majors), Mind and the Built Environment (elective for MS, PhD, and MArch programs), Theories of Inquiry (core for MS and PhD programs) and Design Studio V (core for BS Arch program). The focus of this teaching is to impart to the students an understanding of architecture as a deeply institutional activity that has developed to address fundamental imaginative needs as much as to organize our lives. I have graduated five PhD students and four more are currently completing their doctoral study under my guidance.

Statement of Research Interest

I am broadly interested in discovering the principles that shape the built environment and govern its relationship with social, cultural, and imaginative aspects of life. My work has largely focused on developing techniques to analyze built space with the aim of predicting behavior and attitude of occupants. I have also developed historical and critical explanations of modern architectural work and written about architectural theory, focusing specifically on aesthetics. My work has been sponsored by the General Services Administration, Steelcase, Ascension Health, and Kaiser Permanente.