Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world I completely agree with this quote on women by Hillary Clinton. As I sit here, trying to collate my thoughts on welcoming the women’s month, I could not help but revisit the numerous memories I have had with some of the most talented women of the world in Architecture, Design & Art, that you will find in the following pages. Thanks to WADe Asia, I have had the opportunities to learn & grow with some of the most creative people on Earth. It is through such interactions, I have realized no matter where we are, we face more or less similar challenges. Our backgrounds could be different, but our need for a strong ecosystem, where each one of us can flourish, remains the same. Sharing some of the quotes by women for women which have inspied me: “The most common way women give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” - Alice Walker, Activist “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” - Malala Yousafzai, Youngest Nobel Prize laureate “The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” - Ayn Rand, Author, Fountainhead “The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.” - Mohadesa Najumi, Writer “Leadership is about making others better by your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook Last but not the least, Zaha Hadid who realised late how important it is for women in power to show the possibilities to other women, said, “I used to not like being called a woman architect. But I see the incredible amount of need from other women for reassurance so I do not mind at all.” It is the need for recognising the deserving and giving women a common platform to engage, collaborate, learn and network that led to the inception of WADe ASIA in 2016. We are glad to see how positive affirmations bring in more positivity. The encouraging support from the industry gives us the confidence to announce WADe ASIA 2019. With more inspiring stories, some wonderful speakers, and a lot of opportunities for everyone who will attend, we are waiting to greet you, on October 11 & 12 at the NSIC Exhibition Ground, New Delhi.
VERTICA DVIVEDI
Editor-in-Chief, Surfaces Reporter Founder, WADe Asia, vertica@surfaces.in
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Oct, 11-12, 2019 New Delhi
Women in Architecture & Design
T
Indian Perspectives
he story of Indian women in the field of architecture and design is equally fascinating. The story started taking shape as early as the 1930s with Perin Jamshedji Mistri. She is believed to be the country’s first qualified woman architect. In 1936, she graduated with a diploma in architecture from Mumbai’s Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy School of Art and went on to work in the family business, designing everything from churches to factories in a career that spanned almost half a century. With time, many Indian women have taken to architecture, but their efforts have gone largely unrecognised. In 2012, a team of #SurfacesReporter was researching on Zaha Hadid and also wanted to list the works done by past women architects & interior designers of India. However, due to lack of availability of enough information, the feature was dropped. This was disturbing. Vertica Dvivedi, Founder of WADe Asia shares, “So far as I remember, that was the 1st instance when my mind registered this gap, and I thought, the void needs to be filled.” Mid 2015, through a formal declaration, the initiative was started by inviting nominations for Role Models. Thereon, WADe Asia has been the most engaging repository of the journeys, struggles and accomplishments of Indian women architects and designers. As we leap into the 4th year of this phenomenal initiative, we are glad to share a few heartfelt stories. Space constraints limit us to share only 5-10% of the content, love, support and encouragement we have received.
“You ask women to carry earth on site and you don’t know how heavy that is, you don’t know what it feels like to do it. Participating in that process is the most important thing a young architect should do.” - Didi Contractor, Dharmsala Recipient of WADe Asia Lifetime Achievement Award 2017
Oct, 11-12, 2019 New Delhi
Women in Design & Architecture Through the Eyes of WADe Asia u Women architects and designers have started to come out of their silos and are collaborating, many for the first time. “I was interacting with so many women peers for the first time in the last 25 years. It was such an enriching experience for me as I have been mostly working in my own silo for years,” shares Pratima Joshi, founding member, Shelter Associates, Pune. u Women architects like Namita Singh and Didi Contractor, who are engaged in great work, received the much deserved recognition through WADe Asia. u Young women architects from 10 states nationwide coming together and competing for awards. u Top women architects mentoring young professionals by way of an open platform, the Masterclass, for the first time. WADe Asia has seen 3 successive Masterclasses and each one is priceless for young, aspiring architects as well as those who are stuck between levels, striving to scale up. u Leading women architects sharing ‘how they did it’, thereby inspiring the young. A young architect, Tanvi Jain from CEPT shared, “For a young architect such as me, hearing architects of the like of Didi Contractor was truly inspirational. It’s absolutely commendable to have seen the architects WADe brought together from such diverse backgrounds, and with such a rich body of work.” u WADe Asia has watched calmly how proud fathers bring their daughters to attend the confluence where the industry comes together to celebrate. u Yes, we have seen sons helping their mothers to get the much deserved recognition. u As the news spread, WADe Asia is receiving
delegate requests from non-architectural background to attend the event for knowledge and inspiration. u How men are not against women; how they complete them; how much strength their support brings to the ecosystem for women-led development. WADe Asia is seeing it all with eager eyes and a proud heart. WADe has even created a hashtag #MenWhoSupportWADe. u How women are the strongest friends of women, facilitating each others’ growth, much against the popular belief, ‘women hate to see women progress.’ u Both seasoned and young architects and designers meeting old friends, connecting with new peers, networking, learning and evolving. Nela de Zoysa from Sri Lanka shares, “The WADe Asia Conference gave me the opportunity to reconnect with many long lost Indian friends through my journey in life.” Neilesh Kenkare, co-founder of Arch Aid from Mumbai who accompanied his wife & partner Bhavya Kenkare commented, “WADe was one of the most memorable events I have attended. Felt more like a close family function where you literally feel sad while leaving. Didn’t feel like an architectural event for even a minute. Best part was seeing all Asian women architects on same stage with superb array of works.” u What a beautiful impact can positivity create - as participants shared stories of their journeys-their challenges and accomplishments, the inspiration was contagious. Nikita Mathur, a delegate was enthralled by the optimism prevailing in WADe Asia. She said, “The optimism in WADe Asia was worth watching. I was amazed to see men participating enthusiastically, celebrating the recognition of women in design.”
Oct, 11-12, 2019 New Delhi
I-Me-Myself Collected from the interactions of #SurfacesReporter with some of the prominent women in architecture, design, during the launch of WADe Asia in 2016, we feel their words continue to inspire. Few names are added this time. If you know a woman of substance in architecture, art, design or engineering (civil) background, share with us at info@wadeasia.com.
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