Brinda Somaya

Brinda Somaya (born 28 June 1949) is an Indian architect and urban conservationist.

Early life and education Somaya was born on 28 June 1949 to K. M. Chinnappa and Ganavati Chinnappa. She later joined the Cathedral & John Connon School's science program. In 1966, Somaya won an American Field Service International Scholarship to study in the United States (North Carolina). In 1967, she returned to India and completed her Bachelor of Architecture from Sir J. J. School of Architecture in Mumbai, graduating in 1971. Somaya chose to return to the U.S. and joined Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1973 with a Masters of Arts degree. She attended a short design course at Cornell University in 1972.

Career Somaya began her architectural practice in 1978 in Mumbai, India. Her firm's first office was in the back of her garden. From 1978 to 1981 she was joined by her sister Ranjini Kalappa, also an architect. Some of these campuses include Tata Consultancy Services, Banyan Park, Mumbai; Nalanda International School, Vadodara; and Zensar Technologies, Pune. Her firm won the competition for the Restoration and Enhancement of the historic Louis Kahn Buildings of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad as well as the new Academic Buildings of the Indian Institute of Technology.

She is currently the Chairperson of Board of Governors for School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada and has built more than 200 projects in a span of 40 years. 1998, she was awarded the Indian Institute of Architects' Kitply Award for Conservation for the Cathedral and John Connon Senior School. 2006, Leading European Architects Forum award winner for the new Nalanda Schools Campus in Baroda 2019, she was awarded the AYA JK Cement Award for Indian State Architecture for the Jubilee Church at Navi, Mumbai. 2013, she was chosen as one of the "100 GLOBAL PUBLIC INTEREST DESIGN" persons working at the intersection of design and service globally. 2014, she was awarded the Indian Institute of Architects – Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement. 2015, she was honoured as the Distinguished Professor by the Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, Mumbai.

Notable projects Bhadli Village of Bhuj Bhadli Village is located 40 km northwest of Bhuj. The village was destroyed by 6.9 Richter scale earthquake. Somaya included all the villagers for the reconstruction to restore the unique identity of the village. She involved the Muslims family and assigned them for making intricate Bandhani (tie and dye-a fabric work), Patelbhai who were interested in the ecology of the village and employed skilled engineers to create a water reservoir to collect rain water. Her main focus for this project was to design in a way which promoted a healthy and hygienic environment. She designed the houses in a way which barred the dust and intense heat of the desert. There were minimized openings and concrete jaalis were used for the exchange of air for minimum sunlight and dust. Also, a cluster of 5-6 houses was made to create a close-knit community for the villagers. A separate space was created for the livestock and precious possessions. To restore fear in people, a 3 RCC plinth Beam was placed: one in the sill, one in the lintel and one in the roof base. The project maximized reusing the materials by reusing the debris, doors and windows. The trust agreed to provide materials while the labour was provided by the villagers so that the villagers. Goa Institute of Management, Goa Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani Zensar Technology Limited, Pune TCS House, Mumbai St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai Rehabilitation of Bhadli Village along with its School and community Center, Bhuj Restoration of the Indian Institute of Management –Ahmedabad (IIM-A) Louis Kahn Campus

Personal life Somaya is married to Anand Somaya, a cardiac surgeon. They completed 40 years of marriage in 2014.