Indian architect and urban

conservationist.
 Brinda Somaya was born on 28 June 1949.
 She completed her Bachelor of
Architecture degree from Mumbai
University and her Master of
Arts from Smith College in Northampton,
United States.
 Her work includes corporate, industrial and
institutional campuses and extends to public
spaces, which she has rebuilt and sometimes
reinvented as pavements, parks and
plazas. Some of these campuses include Tata
Consultancy Services, Banyan Park, Mumbai;
 She believes in green technology minimizing
waste and reusing and recycling
 the Architect’s role is that of guardian – his is
the conscience of the built and un-built
environment.
 She believe that while architecture has to fulfill
certain requirements, it finally has to uplift the
visitors beyond the boundaries of the brick and
stone that surround them and raise their spirit
to a higher plane through the spatial
experience. That is perhaps the difference
between a ‘building’ and ‘architecture’.
 One has to be sensitive to the historical and
cultural context of the are area as well.
 Her goal was to do meaningful projects for
societal goods.

HER PRACTICE

COMMUNITY CONTEMPORARY

CONSERVATION
 Her ability to masterfully blend space
and light in subtle forms has turned her
into a central figure in the discussion of
contemporary sustainable design
 The context to the land, its neighbours,
climate is important.
 Simplicity and harmony in design
according to the surrounding.
 containing a clusters harmony between
buildings
 Use of courtyards
 Use of jalis and pergolas
 Use of vernacular material
 Uses crafts and cultural diversities
 Keep connection with nature
 Design itself must be an art form
 - Nalanda International School, Vadodara
- Goa Institute of Management, Goa
- Birla Institute Of Technology and Sciences, Pilani
- Zensar Technology Limited, Pune
- TCS House, Mumbai
- Restoration of the Indian Institute of Management
Ahmedabad (IIM-A) Louis Kahn Campus
 Wide open courtyards, corridor spaces, shaded
classrooms, jalis and pergolas offering a seamless
harmony.
• The courtyards minimize the use o
artificial lighting and ventilation, th
by substantially conserving energy.
 The natural stone floors are cool visually and by touch
 red brick building with its terracotta tiled roof has been
designed to
stay cool .

 corridors that acts as buffer spaces preventing the

sunlight
 clustered in the center of the site
 The zoning follows the contours of the site
and the clusters of built spaces form a
cohesive environment on the site.
 The campus is environmentally planned to harvest
rainwater from recharge
pits and swales while the Laterite extracted from the site is
used in construction.
 The clusters are composed in dynamic intersections of
spaces, volumes, surfaces and colours.
 Repetition ensures harmony.
 Colours, textures, night-lights,
vegetation and a palette of
related materials regulate and
orchestrate experiences within
and outside.
 The campus is
thought as a landscape with
architectural elements and
gestures.
 semi-open and open spaces of the plaza.

 The campus is thought as a landscape with

architectural elements and gestures.
 buildings located within rich vegetation and fertil
e land, the landscape – both natural and planned
 reflected a strong Indian ethos and tradition while
still offering spaces of peace
 the usage of elements of vernacular architecture
that encourages the introduction of courtyards for
natural ventilation and the use of local building
materials and techniques.
Working in cluster form

More use of vernacular

Materials

Harmony in form and shape

of different units
 Providingcourtyards
(both open and closed to sky)

 Combination of open and semi open spaces

 More landscaping and natural ventilation
 Deriving form from sculpture
 Bringing the theme of contemporary architecture
in whole site, divided in different units according
to elements and philosophy Brinda Somaya.
 Green or living roofs incorporate a waterproof
membrane filled with soil or vegetation, which
is intended to cool naturally through soil
temperature and growth of greenery
 Photovoltaic roof shingles, also known as PV
shingles, capture the heat and redirect the solar
power into electricity
 This flat concrete tiling is available in cool colors,
which helps to keep the roof cool. A lighter-weight
version of the bright white flat tile is made of ceramic,
elastomeric material, or a combination of fibers and
cement.
 These ranked high in testing
as they are heat reflective and
long lasting.
 reflect as much as 77 percent
of the sun’s rays
 White metal roofing can reflect about 66 percent of the sun’s
energy. While it doesn’t reflect as much of the sun’s energy as
others, it cools faster at night than the others do. It also holds
less heat for shorter periods of time. It costs 20-30% more than
traditional roofing but the energy savings, durability, and low
maintenance make it a cost saver over time.
 easy maintenance
 It adds a trendy look to the interiors and a
warm ambiance too.
 The charm of natural stone adds a lovely look
 cooling element to beat the Indian summers.
 they
also work well indoors in places that need
warmth