Women's Day Special: Celebrating Women in Indian Design & Architecture
Eight architects and designers share their journey, challenges and achievements to commemorate Women's Day
She draws…. She builds…. She creates…. Women are at the forefront in shaping structures, influencing architecture, and designing the homes we live in. As part of International Women’s Day celebrations on 8 March, Houzz connected with eight leading design mavens who share what it takes to make a mark in a tough field while inspiring others to do the same.
We asked them:
We asked them:
- About their professional achievement they are most proud of
- Challenges they faced as women in design and how they overcame them
- Advice to budding designers
Ninu Ahluwalia
Principal architect, Greyscale design studio
Bengaluru
Being able to start Greyscale design studio with my partners, through which we can practise responsible architecture, has been my pride to this date.
In a world full of western influences, convincing clients to build with more indigenous materials in an Indian context is not easy. It’s always a challenge to stay true to the land. However, with Indians becoming more comfortable in their skin and our previous creations, we have shown new clients how to create with all that we have around.
My advice to young designers would be to consider architecture as a lifestyle. Invest time just the way you would build up your life. It’s an ever-consuming and ever-evolving practice. Learn to create your own style, and establishing your practice shall follow.
Principal architect, Greyscale design studio
Bengaluru
Being able to start Greyscale design studio with my partners, through which we can practise responsible architecture, has been my pride to this date.
In a world full of western influences, convincing clients to build with more indigenous materials in an Indian context is not easy. It’s always a challenge to stay true to the land. However, with Indians becoming more comfortable in their skin and our previous creations, we have shown new clients how to create with all that we have around.
My advice to young designers would be to consider architecture as a lifestyle. Invest time just the way you would build up your life. It’s an ever-consuming and ever-evolving practice. Learn to create your own style, and establishing your practice shall follow.
Priyanka Khanna
Founding partner and principal architect, 42 MM ARCHITECTURE
New Delhi
We won a low-cost housing competition by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. This is an achievement I’m proud of, as improving quality of life with design excellence, and limited resources, is more challenging and rewarding.
We often find that while aiming for low-cost housing, we end up with buildings that are devoid of meaning and are low on social life quality. Along with the low-cost solution we desire to bring out the qualitative aspect of a community. To generate improved social housing design systems which may contribute to the development of more diverse public spaces, creating identity and appropriation by its dwellers. Our idea of “Architecture of place” is about creating a design that ennobles people – that makes them feel empowered, important and excited to be in the places they inhabit in their lives.
Motherhood challenged my professional journey as an architect. Initially, it was quite taxing to achieve the right balance between working hours while raising newborns. To overcome the invariable time commitment to both my roles, I devised a crèche in the office. It provided my kids with their own ecosystem and gave me the flexibility to work while attending to them. Delegating work eased out the process, and a supportive team made the teamwork effective.
My advice to young professional women is not to be reserved and rather be experimental. Be bold in your choice of work and exposure in your career. Moreover, you should invest your formative years in gathering as much knowledge as possible in terms of technical details, execution strategies and management strategies. You must work tirelessly to create strong groundwork for your professional journey ahead.
Founding partner and principal architect, 42 MM ARCHITECTURE
New Delhi
We won a low-cost housing competition by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. This is an achievement I’m proud of, as improving quality of life with design excellence, and limited resources, is more challenging and rewarding.
We often find that while aiming for low-cost housing, we end up with buildings that are devoid of meaning and are low on social life quality. Along with the low-cost solution we desire to bring out the qualitative aspect of a community. To generate improved social housing design systems which may contribute to the development of more diverse public spaces, creating identity and appropriation by its dwellers. Our idea of “Architecture of place” is about creating a design that ennobles people – that makes them feel empowered, important and excited to be in the places they inhabit in their lives.
Motherhood challenged my professional journey as an architect. Initially, it was quite taxing to achieve the right balance between working hours while raising newborns. To overcome the invariable time commitment to both my roles, I devised a crèche in the office. It provided my kids with their own ecosystem and gave me the flexibility to work while attending to them. Delegating work eased out the process, and a supportive team made the teamwork effective.
My advice to young professional women is not to be reserved and rather be experimental. Be bold in your choice of work and exposure in your career. Moreover, you should invest your formative years in gathering as much knowledge as possible in terms of technical details, execution strategies and management strategies. You must work tirelessly to create strong groundwork for your professional journey ahead.
Mitali Aharam
Managing partner and principal architect, Crafted Spaces
Hyderabad
I’m most proud of having created a design aesthetic that our brand is now associated with. We incorporate our heritage with modern design.
I think the biggest challenge earlier on was not being respected or being taken seriously at site. A lot of people had issues taking direction or instructions from a woman. At the end of the day, it’s your design aesthetic, talent and hard work that pays off, irrespective of your gender identity.
I would tell young women to be passionate about what they do, have a distinctive style, stay motivated and strive to keep doing better.
Managing partner and principal architect, Crafted Spaces
Hyderabad
I’m most proud of having created a design aesthetic that our brand is now associated with. We incorporate our heritage with modern design.
I think the biggest challenge earlier on was not being respected or being taken seriously at site. A lot of people had issues taking direction or instructions from a woman. At the end of the day, it’s your design aesthetic, talent and hard work that pays off, irrespective of your gender identity.
I would tell young women to be passionate about what they do, have a distinctive style, stay motivated and strive to keep doing better.
Monica Chawla
Creative head, Essentia Environments
Gurugram
All the challenges that I have faced or overcome have been the challenges that any professional would face. Therefore, any advice that I give is as relevant to a budding male professional as it is to a woman. And that would be to set your goals higher. Don’t accept mediocrity as a benchmark. Be committed; without commitment you are unlikely to give your all to your goal. Work hard, there is no substitute for that. Lastly, persevere. And I should also remind all the young people to have fun in the process.
Even after having completed over 1000 projects in a span of 20-odd years, I still think of us as a start-up. We are actively trying to add more offerings to our portfolio and to expand to new geographies. The desire to offer something superlative in terms of design along with unmatched value to our customers is still strong and keeps us on our toes. The fact that our entire organisation shares this vision is something that I take a lot of pride in.
The biggest challenge for us was finding the right people, whether it was our own team or the vendors and suppliers supporting us, who not only embraced our vision, but also our ethos and eye for detail. We have found it easier to align our own teams with our expectations than outside suppliers, and I guess that has been the driving force behind strengthening our portfolio. Today, we are more or less self-sufficient in terms of creating what the design room envisages.
Creative head, Essentia Environments
Gurugram
All the challenges that I have faced or overcome have been the challenges that any professional would face. Therefore, any advice that I give is as relevant to a budding male professional as it is to a woman. And that would be to set your goals higher. Don’t accept mediocrity as a benchmark. Be committed; without commitment you are unlikely to give your all to your goal. Work hard, there is no substitute for that. Lastly, persevere. And I should also remind all the young people to have fun in the process.
Even after having completed over 1000 projects in a span of 20-odd years, I still think of us as a start-up. We are actively trying to add more offerings to our portfolio and to expand to new geographies. The desire to offer something superlative in terms of design along with unmatched value to our customers is still strong and keeps us on our toes. The fact that our entire organisation shares this vision is something that I take a lot of pride in.
The biggest challenge for us was finding the right people, whether it was our own team or the vendors and suppliers supporting us, who not only embraced our vision, but also our ethos and eye for detail. We have found it easier to align our own teams with our expectations than outside suppliers, and I guess that has been the driving force behind strengthening our portfolio. Today, we are more or less self-sufficient in terms of creating what the design room envisages.
Rakhee Bedi
Co-founder and principal architect, Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates
Gurgaon
My most proud achievement has been the Kota House designed for the Indian Navy. It was exceptionally satisfying to collaborate with people from the forces and to be able to deliver a design that they could proudly call theirs.
As an architect, one of the biggest challenges was to collaborate with international designers for a domestic project. We were able to mediate effectively and convert their language and drawings into workable designs in India.
I believe that women must work as professionals without any gender-based stereotypes affecting their work. They should get rid of tags that put them into categories of a ‘woman’ architect and rather come out of their shells to catalyse this imperative change in the industry.
Co-founder and principal architect, Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates
Gurgaon
My most proud achievement has been the Kota House designed for the Indian Navy. It was exceptionally satisfying to collaborate with people from the forces and to be able to deliver a design that they could proudly call theirs.
As an architect, one of the biggest challenges was to collaborate with international designers for a domestic project. We were able to mediate effectively and convert their language and drawings into workable designs in India.
I believe that women must work as professionals without any gender-based stereotypes affecting their work. They should get rid of tags that put them into categories of a ‘woman’ architect and rather come out of their shells to catalyse this imperative change in the industry.
Jannat Vasi
Founder and interior architect, Jannat Vasi Interior Design
Mumbai
The achievement I am most proud of is yet to come! But I am deeply grateful for my work being recognised internationally and seeing my projects on the covers of European magazines.
I believe that it is the journey that counts more than the destination. Being a product of a primarily design-focused university, I honed my technical skills in the field. Design is a fraction of the interior design universe and there are several areas that you need to ace while servicing a client. That came with experience, observation, knowledge and relationship-building.
To all the strong and capable women out there, I am certain that you can succeed with hard work, grit and consistency. Innovate and be fearless.
Find interior designers on Houzz
Founder and interior architect, Jannat Vasi Interior Design
Mumbai
The achievement I am most proud of is yet to come! But I am deeply grateful for my work being recognised internationally and seeing my projects on the covers of European magazines.
I believe that it is the journey that counts more than the destination. Being a product of a primarily design-focused university, I honed my technical skills in the field. Design is a fraction of the interior design universe and there are several areas that you need to ace while servicing a client. That came with experience, observation, knowledge and relationship-building.
To all the strong and capable women out there, I am certain that you can succeed with hard work, grit and consistency. Innovate and be fearless.
Find interior designers on Houzz
Meenu Agarwal
Co-founder and principal designer, Mads Creations Pvt Ltd
Gurgaon
The biggest achievement has been growing our business into a one-stop destination to cover all aspects of architectural and interior services – turnkey solutions for all kinds of residential projects, bespoke custom furniture, statement accessories, design consultation and so on.
Initially, the challenge was finding the right kind of luxury furniture, light fixtures and fabrications we needed to suit our signature style. That’s why we started designing and manufacturing all furniture to ensure the aesthetics we had in mind.
My advice would be to give your best and work hard, and develop your own style to stay distinctive.
Read more:
I Am a Feminist and This Is How My Home Looks
Houzz Forum: What’s Missing in Indian Design & Architecture Education?
Tell us:
Which of these women designers and architects inspired you the most? Tell us in Comments below.
Co-founder and principal designer, Mads Creations Pvt Ltd
Gurgaon
The biggest achievement has been growing our business into a one-stop destination to cover all aspects of architectural and interior services – turnkey solutions for all kinds of residential projects, bespoke custom furniture, statement accessories, design consultation and so on.
Initially, the challenge was finding the right kind of luxury furniture, light fixtures and fabrications we needed to suit our signature style. That’s why we started designing and manufacturing all furniture to ensure the aesthetics we had in mind.
My advice would be to give your best and work hard, and develop your own style to stay distinctive.
Read more:
I Am a Feminist and This Is How My Home Looks
Houzz Forum: What’s Missing in Indian Design & Architecture Education?
Tell us:
Which of these women designers and architects inspired you the most? Tell us in Comments below.
Co-founder and principal designer, ns*a Architecture and Interiors
Mumbai
I am most proud of the fact that I have run a successful practice since the past 21 years. During this time, I have learnt to deal with a multitude of situations, where each one has made me into a stronger and wiser individual. Both my partner Neesha Alwani and I have been dedicated to the practice, but at the same time, we have managed to strike a beautiful work-life balance.
The biggest challenge I have faced in my career is being a woman in a male-dominated industry. When I started working 22 years ago, I realised that we women needed to prove ourselves before our voices could be heard and our opinions mattered. I wanted to break the mould of being looked at as an ‘interior decorator’. During that time, most people assumed that women in design play the role of an interior decorator and nothing more – great at coordinating fabrics and putting up art and artefacts. I had the right skills and knowledge and wanted to get the respect I deserved. Perseverance pays off; over time, my work spoke for itself and I was fortunate to have trusting clients who believed in me and my work.
My advice to young budding designers is – let no one bully you. We need to stay strong and hold our ground. Your opinions matter, so don’t be afraid to voice them. Treat both the sexes with the same respect and make sure to be part of fair competition. Encourage your female colleagues and give each other opportunities to rise.
Find architects on Houzz