The Woman who Influences the Past and Present in Architecture
ABHA NARAIN LAMBAH Founder and Principal Architect, Abha Narain Lambah Associates
The Mumbai-based architect has refurbished many of India’s historic buildings over the last two decades. From the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad, the Royal Opera House in Mumbai, a 15th Century temple in Ladakh, the Golconda Fort and the Charminar in Hyderabad, Lambah has left her signature on some of the most valued heritage monuments across the the country. More recently, Lambah worked on the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Kala Ghoda, returned it to its original colour palette and resplendent Victorian interiors. For her work in conservation, she has been honoured with 9 UNESCO Awards. Lambah strongly believes that to see a monument in its entriety, the urban settting needs to be holistically conserved. An excerpt from a deeply insightful interview.
Seema Sreedharan: Let’s start with your statement in one of your interviews where you referred to Fountainhead— “Why should Howard Roark be a make figure? Why can’t Howard Roark be a woman? Can you elaborate?
Abha Narain Lambah (ANL): I think its self-explanatory. The idea of a male architect is a generic architype that is a societal construct. It is time we changed the narrative and each woman architect who contributes to the urban landscape adds her voice to this new construct.
SS: Architecture was once considered a male-dominated field. When you started off, especially when you chose conservation architecture as your field of choice, did you face any bias or restrictions?
ANL: I have always believed that there is nothing holding back women architects and the choices we make are our own. We might consider architecture to be a male dominated field but that is also because there is a huge percentage of women who do not practice due to family issues or other choices. I personally have never felt any bias or restrictions as a professional and always felt that glass ceilings are meant to be shattered.
SS: In a panel discussion you said, “Architects should be responsible for the way a city looks. That’s why we are called architects.” In the past two decades, you’ve worked on a number of restoration projects. But what led you to choose this path?
ANL: That is a personal choice I made to make a difference to the urban landscape, when I became an architect. I have always believed that as architects we have a responsibility to the urban environment and any positive difference we can make in our own practices, would have a multiplier effect. I began as an intern at Stein Doshi Bhalla 29 years ago working on the India Habitat Centre and since then my conservation and new build projects have engaged primarily with the public realm– be it the restoration of the opera house or urban streetscaping projects, urban conservation projects or public placemaking such as at Bikaner House, Delhi or Crawford Market, Mumbai.
SS: Every project must be challenging, with the building’s age, the techniques used, the intent that you still have to preserve the past, and make it relevant to the present. Tell
We might consider architecture to be a male dominated field but that is also because there is a huge percentage of women who do not practice due to family issues or other choices. I personally have never felt any bias or restrictions as a professional and always felt that glass ceilings are meant to be shattered.” —ABHA NARAIN LAMBAH, Founder and Principal Architect, Abha Narain Lambah Associates