Indian-Origin architect & design advocate Nairita Chakraborty appointed for coveted role of Commissioner of Historic England
Grown up in Delhi with extended family roots in Kolkata, Nairita Chakraborty acquired professional knowledge at the School of Planning and Architecture before moving to the UK and has over 16 years of experience in heritage, townscape and design.
Being already a member of Historic England’s Advisory Committee, she has taken up her new role as Commissioner of Historic England, a public body championing the country’s historic environment and heritage from July 1 for a tenure of four years until June 2026.
Historic England is actually an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Commission is its governing body which provides expert advice and guidance.
Accepting the prestigious position of cultural significance she said, “I am really looking forward to working with my colleagues who have inspired and mentored me throughout my career.”
“We are living in times of extreme challenges as well as opportunities and I am hoping to promote the role of heritage as an important resource, one that enhances our cultural identity as well and contributes to a carbon neutral society,” she said.
The design advocate has been the proponent of sustained use of historic buildings along with delivering large scale regeneration, housing and infrastructure projects.She is credited with accomplishing the significant work on the adaptation and conversion of drafty and complex listed buildings such as Alexandra Palace in London, Tottenham High Road, Holborn Town Hall and also work on the Historic Dockyards of Middlesbrough public area, and conservation area schemes.
“My public and private sector experience has given me a unique insight on the planning and conservation practices from both sides of the table, giving me the ability to critically but constructively look at both sides of arguments and offer best plausible solutions,” said Ms. Chakraborty.
Having deep connection with the city of joy, Kolkata, colonial heritage has always been her inspiration too.besides this travelling was always an important part of her childhood that enabled her to see and experience India’s heritage from a young age, ultimately motivating her to choose architecture and design as a career.
The young professional has recently established her own practice, Revive and Tailor, which focuses on integrating existing buildings within regeneration proposals innovatively and resourcefully.She is also engaged with the Havering and Kensington and Chelsea’s Design Review Panels in the UK capital and is a full member of the Royal Town Planners Institute and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
