Applause!

IAnD Exclusive

Eminent Indian Woman Architect, Ar. Brinda Somaya, who has to her credit several key accomplishments in the field of architecture, conservation and urban planning initiatives is awarded Honorary Doctorate by the Smith College...

Brinda Chinnappa Somaya, Indian Architect and Urban Conservationist steps into the prestigious Smith College league of celebrated Honours.  An alumnus with a Master of Arts degree from Smith College, USA, she joins the ranks of other notable alumnae, architects Sara Elizabeth Caples and Laura Hartman; Julia Child, Gloria Steinem and honorary recipients like Eleonor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, Nadine Gordimer and Toni Morrison among others.

“Ar. Brinda Somaya”, says Ms. Carol Christ, President of Smith College, “Will be the first woman, as an internationally acclaimed architect, to win the Wienerberger Golden Architect Award for lifetime achievement, and pioneer of the conservation movement in India. Brinda Somaya has won admiration for her philosophy of design as well as the beauty of her buildings”. 

Winner of sevarl national and international awards, Ar. Somaya’s most fulfilling involvement has been in Progressive Conservation. She firmly believes and practises that development and progress must proceed without straining the cultural and historic environment. She emphasizes, time and again, on focused environment-conscious (and history-sensitive) architecture, where conservation is an intelligent meshing of the old and new to develop an architectural form that serves the present.

Her philosophy: the Architect's role is that of guardian - his is the conscience of the built and un-built environment.

 Ar. Brinda Somaya can be reached at http://www.snkindia.com