Creative Soul

PavitraSriprakash drew inspiration to become an architect from her mother Sheila Sriprakash, an architect of international acclaim and founder of Shilpa Architects. Since childhood, she was exposed to the world of architecture and design, having learnt drafting software at the young age of 12.

Sriprakash studied architecture at Anna University in Chennai before pursuing her master’s in architecture and urban design from Columbia University. She gained experience in urban design, planning and sustainability in the US for a decade before joining the Global Design Studio at Shilpa Architects as chief designer and director.

Indo-centric sustainability is the ethos of Sriprakash’s designs. She tends to use elements of local architectural practices and aesthetics in her designs. Her designs and architecture are inspired by India’s legacy and culture, and philosophy of yoga and vaastu. For a new project, spaces are set for landscape, ecology, and built form based on the geography of the site and its contribution to the sustainability of our planet. “I have learnt the importance of infusing every project with a unique ‘soul’—an indelible character which comes from a creative abstract of the connection between the project and its culture,” she says.

The design of Eluru Convention Center in Andhra Pradesh has a Buddhist influence with a traditional stupa design. Another piece of remarkable architecture is the Mahindra World City Clubhouse in Chennai, with an Indo-centric reciprocity and sustainable design.

Success comes with its own challenges like when they faced setbacks at a project in Dubai. “There was a lot of learning here, and the experience of coming out of this disappointment has been a defining moment in my career,” she says.

Sriprakash is interested in urbanism and hopes to work on projects that serve the city, environment, and shape the modern lives of urban India. “I would like to be part of bigger and more significant projects that have the ability to shape our cultural, aesthetic, and environmental footprint.”

By Mohan Siddharth