Hello, my name is Nishka Kumar! As an architecture major at Northeastern, I’ve refined my design and technical skills through studio work and personal projects. I am passionate about the connection between built spaces and social interaction, primarily how that can be achieved sustainably and aesthetically.
Outside of the classroom, I run a YouTube channel sharing student life and personal hobbies. Combining my academic background and content creation experience, I bring a unique perspective to architecture, blending creativity with technical proficiency. In my free time, I love learning about astrology, making matcha/coffee, and spending time with my two beagles.
kumar.nish@northeastern.edu 817.818.0274
SUBURBAN INVERSION
Urban Design | Architecture, Infrastructure, & The City | 2025
Suburban Inversion reimagines suburban typologies as infrastructure for gathering and development. Through covered communal spaces, digital connectivity, and small-scale commercial opportunities, the proposal encourages users to comfortably occupy and activate the public realm. A central woonerf creates a safe, pedestrian-oriented environment that balances visibility, privacy, and access while supporting social, physical, and emotional growth.
existing site plan
urban framework plan
key
1- bus + drop off lane
3- information kiosk
4- public restrooms
2- rentable scooters +bikes
5- installation + hang out space
6- pavilion + stage
7- risk play + food trucks
8- private courtyard
9- ‘cul-de-sac’ (for bball)
10- patio
11- gravel seating + play
Play, Pause, & Passage
Provides seating, open green zones, and amenities that encourage use by all ages—especially adolescents.
Ensures clear but flexible pathways that allow for lingering and looping, not just movement between the transit hub and residential blocks.
Blurred Boundaries
Use of softscape (trees, planters, low seating) to create permeable transitions between the park, vehicular space, and residential/ commercial frontages.
Design the cul-de-sac chalk drawing, Design the courtyard not a public low planting,
subURBAN space
cul-de-sac area for safe, flexible use: basketball, scooters, & street games. courtyard to feel like a shared backyard, public park. Use implied boundaries, planting, and patios to define edges while maintaining openness.
Ensure garages serve both parking and storage or spillover use—bikes, workbenches, or small hobby spaces—mirroring the multi-purpose utility of suburban garages. “Driveway”
woonerf
A Dutch term for common space created to be shared by pedestrians, bicyclists, and low speed motor vehicles. It encourgaes pedestrian activity at a human-scale, while still allowing mobility in an urban setting.
IBBON COMMONS @ THE FENS
This studio explores the design of domestic space at multiple scales, from individual dwelling units to cohesive urban blocks. Through case studies, research, and iterative design, I investigated new housing typologies that bridge the gap between single-family homes and high-rise buildings, addressing contemporary issues of density, affordability, and evolving ways of living. Situated in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, my work engages with site conditions, accessibility and building codes, and market realities while challenging conventional housing models.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
‘the ribbon’: At its heart are the ribbon-like bridges that connect four student housing buildings, forming a network of elevated common and green spaces. These bridges are more than just pathways; they serve as vibrant hubs where students can meet, socialize, and build a sense of community.
OBERT LAWSON PARK PAVILION
Temporary Installation | Site, Space, & Program | 2024
This project required developing a pop-up library pavilion for the Boston Public Library at Robert Lawson Park in Egleston Square, Roxbury, designed for seasonal use from May to September. The pavilion, limited to 2,500 sq. ft. and 20 feet in height, integrates a mesh and steel structure that supports plant growth, creating a dynamic relationship between architecture and nature. The design prioritizes ADA accessibility and accommodates various age groups, offering seating, weather protection, and secure storage for a curated collection of resources. The various programs and ecological growth support the pavilion’s role as a flexible, vibrant, & communitydriven space.
EGELSTON BRANCH PAVILION
Site, Space, & Program | 2024 |
Professor Alejandro Saldarriaga
VIBURNUM
HOLLY
AMERICAN ARBORVITAE
DUTCHMANS PIPE VINE
WISTERIA
GELSTON BRANCH LIBRARY
This project involved designing the Boston Public Library Egelston Square branch in Roxbury. The existing library, built in 1953, serves a fast-growing, diverse community with large collection and evolving virtual services. As the neighborhood transforms, the library needs to expand its collection and reading spaces while functioning as a mixed-use community hub with adaptable indoor and outdoor public spaces. Students could choose to reuse and build upon the existing structure, integrating sustainable and flexible design solutions to meet the changing needs of Roxbury.
Site, Space, & Program | 2024 | Professor Alejandro Saldarriaga
Supplemental works include an exploded axonometric drawing of Therme Vals, using V-Ray, Rhino, Illustrator, and Procreate. The drawing focuses on the relationships between light, material, and thermal space within the baths.
During my professional co-op at Utile Design, I also contributed to design communications and research materials, including award submission boards and graphics for a firm housing report.
Additional works include architectural detail drawings and independent residential studies.
Housing Report
Utile Design | 2025
Assisted in diagram & graphic development and layout for UPZone PVD, a housing research publication.
Award Submission Boards
Utile Design | 2025
Developed and coordinated award submissions for multiple firm projects, including layout development, graphic refinement, and compilation of project materials across teams.
