User talk:Saaagar

Brinda Somaya is an Indian architect and urban conservationist. She received her B.Arch. from Mumbai University and her M.Arch. from Smith College. She started her firm Somaya and Kalappa Consultants in 1978 in Mumbai. In May 2012 she was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from her alma mater, Smith College.

Over three decades she has merged architecture, conservation and social equity in projects ranging from institutional campuses and rehabilitation of an earthquake- torn village to the restoration of an 18th centruy Cathedral, showing that progress and history need not be at odds. Her philosophy: "the Architect's role is that of guardian - his is the conscience of the built and un-built environment." This belief underlines her work that spans large corporate, industrial, and institutional campuses and extends to public spaces, which she has rebuilt and sometimes reinvented such as pavement, parks and plazas. Master-planning and building designs of multiple corporate and educational campuses has become one of her areas of expertise.

As member of the Committee of Environmental Impact and Assessment of New Construction Projects for the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the Mumbai Heritage Committee and Mumbai's initiative for the Protection and Improvement of Streets and Public Spaces,Brinda Somaya has been actively participating in her country's and city's development. She was also on the IAWA Board of Advisors (International Archives of Women in Architecture, USA and Founder Trustee of the HECAR Foundation which has brought out several publications on heritage and architecture.

Brinda Somaya has chaired and organized a conference and seminal exhibition of the Work of Women Architects with a focus on South Asia in Mumbai. She has delivered talks and presented papers in India and abroad, most recently as speaker at University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning for the George Anselevicius Memorial Lecture in 2013 and as a keynote speaker at the fourth International Holcim Forum for sustainable construction in Mumbai.

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