Sheila Sri Prakash
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text : : aziz amin people inputs : : shailendra mehta ifj architect profile: SHEILA SRI PRAKASH trying something new at every turn, ar. sheila sri prakash is one of grt regency | madurai the first indian women to have successfully mahindra world city customs office | kanchipuram incorporated her own As the only child of a World War 2 veteran and a classical singer, Ar. Sheila Sri architectural firm in a Prakash was encouraged to balance studies and extracurricular activities and knows what it is male dominated society to juggle such preoccupations. Born in Bhopal and brought up in different parts of the country, she learned to maintain a balance between studies, sport, art, music and dance. She says, “My childhood was a whirl of music, dance, travel, play and studies. I also liked to sketch and would immerse myself in school work making collages and models.” In dance, she was an eager sishya and had her bharatanatyam arangetram (graduation performance) at age six. “I have danced as the protagonist in several Kuchipudi dance dramas, and performed with legends like Kamala Laxman, Hema Malini, Sri Vidya and Rekha. Those unforgettable memories, I cherish.” Ar. Sri Prakash says, “Dance is a meditative art form combining movement, drama and music. I see a connection in the fundamentals of dance and architecture. They share similar features like line, rhythm, mass, harmony and balance. I think architecture mystically connects art with space and ecological thinking. Humans react to space in complex ways and I find that exciting. I call this Spaciology.” In 1972, when the mainstream “I began working with brick and lime sector companies, as well as co-operative A holistically sustainable design Indian living styles. In such nuances and professions were engineering and along with vernacular artisans. I tried societies and NGOs. “Cholamandal Centre sensibility emphasizes the values of embellishments the “indian-ness” in medicine, Ar. Sri Prakash enrolled to these systems of architecture in my early for Contemporary Art, Kuchipudi Dance harmony as defined by balance, flow buildings connects with people. study architecture. She graduated from projects and realised they were cost Academy, KPMG’s Office, L&T – ECC’s South and respect, which motivates people the School of Architecture & Planning, effective solutions to our hot and humid City Master Plan, SBI’s local head office to sustainable behavior. The question : How is the architectural practice Madras University in 1977 and was climates. The designs were Spartan and OBO Bettermann’s factory along with is how to overlay local traditional values different in India? What are the mentored by Professors Pithavadian, Md. and aesthetic.” The Archaeological several residential developments for some on top of modern realities. And how to positives and negatives? Harris and Md. Altaf. She later attended Survey of India commissioned Shilpa of India’s leading and aspiring developers leverage people’s pride in crafting this SSP : In developed countries, a city the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Architects to design the son et lumiere helped SHILPA evolve as a design studio. new communal identity, as well as make planner plans a city and coordinates all Executive Education Program. at the incredible Brihadeswara temple They fostered collaborative partnerships with this new vision of prosperity personal and aspects from transportation and roads to at Tanjore. “I was ecstatic. My daughter some of India’s finest minds and firms in local. In the built environment, the most infrastructure. Society at large is a part of At a point when women entrepreneurs and I danced during the World Tamil engineering, professional and educational critical question is how improvements this collaborative effort. Our city planning did not truly exist in the country, Ar. Conference in the temple’s pavilion with institutions,” says Ar. Sri Prakash. can be implemented in megacities in the efforts are less inclusive and rather slow. Sri Prakash, breaking all norms started the majestic Nandi as the backdrop and developing world, where infrastructure A major problem for urban India is the Shilpa Architects as a one-woman in front of an audience packed up to the and governance are generally generally poor quality of governance practice in 1979 with the support of her ramparts – it was transcendental!” underdeveloped. In creating a “smart and services, shortages, traffic jams, family, well-wishers and mentors after she exclaims. city”, innovations in governance and garbage collection and disposal working under an engineer for 2 years. urban planning are at least as important problems, sewage treatment and She says, “Women in architecture were Learning and experimenting at every as technological advances. Sharply rising disposal, unauthorized construction and confronted with the difficulties of a curve, Ar. Sheila believes in trying urban populations associated with higher other socio-economic issues. nascent profession, societal conventions something new for each of her projects. vehicle use, greater energy generation, and limited opportunity. In India when “I have always experimented with a new and the concentration of industries in The institutional structure of urban lone women drivers were fair game material or done something differently in and around cities and towns are key governance could be simplified and for hustling, predominantly male site many projects. Some of them have been sources of greenhouse gas emissions. cleaned up. Currently, there is a confusing engineers and masons at construction remarkably successful and some have The future will dare urban designers multiplicity of agencies that manage sites found it demeaning to accept not. They have enriched my experience, and architects for path breaking ask the cities. It involves the national working in projects under a woman as helped me understand sustainability, innovations, for multi-use of buildings government, the state government the lead. It called for conviction and reinforced the India-centric design ethos so that a workspace can morph into a and local government. Municipal laws courage to face them off on the scaffolds and induced me to include art while sbi local head office | chennai cholamandal artist village | chennai living space. that govern our cities need to under the scorching mid-day sun. The seeking solutions for architecture and be comprehensively revisited and foundations for Shilpa were laid under urban design.” The extensive portfolio : What is your opinion with regard then enforced. towering challenges of skepticism and of Shilpa Architects includes residential to the current scene of Indian heart breaking prejudices. As in all buildings, custom designed villas, architecture? Which way is it headed? : What would you like to suggest to fields, women have gradually gained mixed use townships and hospitality, SSP : Architecture in modern times is all the younger generation of budding : How do you see sustainable and green social acceptance because of their industrial, sports, educational, health about high rise buildings that incorporate architects? architecture in the Indian context? relevance and sensitive approach to and retail constructions and has received modern technologies for conservation SSP : I would strongly urge our nation’s SSP : In the single area of green building problem solving and team building.” wide recognition for its design, with of energy, water, recycled materials and best talent towards the profession codes, we have at least three sets of rules: citations and awards. The firm has other things. The standard practice in of Architecture and Urban Design. the Energy Conservation Building Code, In the initial stages of her career, Ar. worked with foreign direct investment cities with limited land is to raise the It is paramount that designing for under the Ministry of Power; the National Sheila started building efficient spaces funds, developers, corporate houses, permitted FSI over time to accommodate India’s future be done with sensitivity Building Code of India 2005 constituted by that people could respond to, she says, multi-national corporations, public urban growth, as in New York; Singapore; and balance between gender, to paranur railway station | paranur the Bureau of Indian Standards, under the Hong Kong and Shanghai. The principles achieve comprehensive solutions Ministry for Consumer Affairs; and Green of design, construction and maintenance for our societies. As with any other Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment are universal, and therefore there is a entrepreneurial venture, starting an (GRIHA), created by TERI supported by the superficial sameness about in Gurgaon architectural practice takes a robust Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. and Nariman Point, Mumbai. attitude, immense self belief, resilient Many Indian builders also use international spirit and stamina to stay the course. standards such as the LEED. Intrinsically Indian Architecture is Opportunities to discover the true sensitive and frugal, and the quest professional architect in one self are now Inclusion of Solar panels in sustainable to adapt their principles in modern aplenty and India needs the energy and facades has become hugely exciting with architecture is exceedingly important vision of architectural entrepreneurs, to falling costs of production and technological to secure our future. Characteristics like create a positive blueprint for our future. possibilities like gluing carbon nano tubes foyers, verandahs and courtyards