The field of architecture and design, like many other professions, that are dominated by men, is steadily turning its focus towards females leading the way as leaders and entrepreneurs. People have been striving to familiarise themselves with the concept of gender equality in every professional platform, for ages. To achieve this century-old dream, every woman in India needs to step into this male-dominated world and make their mark in their respective fields.
Ar. Nikita Bajaj Pathak shares her opinions on the significance of women architects and designers in the industry.
The beauty of women being a part of the Architecture industry is that it gives them the ability to make an irrefutable impact on people’s lives through the built environment. The potential of homes and offices in defining the lives of people can never be underestimated. Therefore, the creative freedom to spark happiness and joy in people’s lives by creating epistolary forms is the most admiring part of the design process. A decade ago, women were often relegated to managerial positions, but now it is very apparent that women are recognized as capable and equal to men. And, today, the emerging women architects grown as entrepreneurs have gained a significant place in the architecture industry as well.
Women are better at multitasking and being a chef and a home cook allows them to add more life to their designs, responding to the needs of different family members. Looking at other prolific architects also enables them to interpret each design brief through a different lens. Women especially have a creative set of hobbies that allows them to have a unique thought process with a lot of room for different perspectives. A woman architect’s sensitivity to delivering the suitable space that a client expects comes from the varied experiences that she collects throughout life. Also, observing architecture from a much more objective point of view gives women an opportunity to propose inclusive solutions, resulting in structures that aid in human activity rather than constrict movement.
Besides cherishing the needs of people, women architects also tend to nurture environmental needs. Sustainability has always been part of their architectural design process. Nature inspires creativity, simultaneously being an evident path to sustainability. Also, the AEC industry has been consistently making discussions to meet climate targets, reduce heat island effects and limit the impact of the built environment over the past decades. So, as architects, we need to aim at achieving an integrated, environmentally conscious approach to building designs while retaining our creative abilities.
Women architects and designers have started gaining respect in town planning/landscaping, and I believe it is imminent for women to play their part in nation-building. Different gender experiences can define the unexplored aspects of planning needs and can stress the struggles and needs that women may experience and want to improve. Over time it has become evident that the lack of women’s representation in city planning has negatively affected the development of urban spaces and made them unsafe and uninviting.
Emerging architects should break the barriers and redefine the perception of women designers in the industry. The young designers – male or female need to grow, innovate responsibly, and create designs that sensitively encompass energy and resource optimization.