Hema Sankalia
Hema Sankalia (1934–2015) was one of the first female architects in India. In 1951, at the age of 16, Sankalia joined Sir J J School of Art with only two other girls in her class (Rashmi Daftari and Chandramani Gandhi). Sankalia and Mody went on to form (Contemporary Arts and Crafts), to create household products and educate Indian artisans and consumers about the modern world. As an innovation, they displayed the products in the store as if they were already in the home or office. Her own practice as an Architect and Interior Designer has taken many different forms and partnerships, under which she has built a diverse body of work, primarily in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
INTERVIEWEES
Tanu Sankalia is a tenured full professor in the Department of Art + Architecture at the University of San Francisco, and coordinates the Urban Studies Concentration within the Environmental Studies Program. He teaches courses in urban planning and design, architectural and urban history, and architectural design. He was trained in urban design at UC Berkeley, and in architecture at the School of Architecture, Ahmedabad, from where he graduated with a gold medal for the Best Diploma Thesis.
Formative years, setting up practice and marriage
Summary:He moves on to the beginnings of her career and describes her first job and the relationships made from the Mody and Colgan office in 1956-57. She met and married Shireesh Sankalia when she had just begun her career, and Tanu goes on to talk about her new husband’s career positions and his familial background. On her further aspirations after J.J., he mentions how she was denied the opportunity to go abroad and gain exposure. She went on to set up Contemporary Arts and Crafts (CAC), an interior furnishings firm with her husband and Ar. Piloo and Vina Mody. Tanu describes the gap in the market that the group filled in the industry and its evolution going forward. He goes on to detail how she further captured projects for the firm and the places the projects took her. Moving on to how she multi-managed her roles as a mother and practitioner, he talks about the challenges she faced with developing the nascent firm. He expands on the time when projects from Madhya Pradesh kept coming in and she was offered the Vidhana Soudha for which she roped in Ar. Charles Correa’s support.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.36.15
Online
06/04/2021
English
(00:06:26) The time Hema and her sister both began studying at Sir J J School of Art, (00:13:15) Beginning work with Piloo Mody, (00:20:20) The creation of Contemporary Arts and Crafts (CAC)
Career’s second phase, winding up her practice and teaching
Summary:By 1995, she wound up her practice and solely focused on teaching and CAC. On her aspiration to own a country house, he talks about her journey in chasing that dream and then her journey as a teacher after. He talks about Chandigarh’s architecture and the symbolism that he felt might have inspired Hema. He also talks about how she was also an exponent of space planning and carried a client-facing approach that was pragmatic while running two different practices hand-in-hand. He notes the leaps the firm took on soon into the future, as well as the collaborations she took on during the journey. He also goes into much lesser-known detail about how Hema’s partner Ar. Pravina Mehta did not seem to get due credit for her work. Concluding, he talks about several of her collaborations with eminent practitioners on the mid-1980s projects and the mixed environment of the office and home space he often felt growing up.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.28.16
Online
06/04/2021
English
(00:01:07) Creating the Research Unit for Planning Group (RUP) , (00:03:08) The challenges of underpaid professional services , (00:15:30) Space planning as a design approach, (00:16:18) Pragmatism in architecture, (00:24:45) Relationship with Pravina Mehta
Childhood, architecture education and Bombay
Summary:The conversation then steers back to the time when she was denied the opportunity to pursue further education abroad due to a gender bias within the family, which eventually affected her chances to get greater exposure as an architect, he notes B V Doshi was able to pursue. He then goes on to talk about the eminent architects that came post-independence and formed part of her group in Bombay. During the Bauhaus training, they were exposed to classical history and historical monuments through field trips, which must have influenced her early understanding of architecture, notes Tanu. Also, he notes how Chandigarh, from the mid-late 1950s, became the center of attention due to Corbusier’s work. He also includes Bombay, Mody & Colgan, and some early government work to have influenced her early thinking. Moving on to her aspirations as a fresh graduate, he notes how the young architects of her generation wanted to create the entire space with interior design. Concluding with the early beginnings of CAC Hema was involved, he remarks on the details of modern aesthetics and design aspirations of the time.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.44.05
Online
13/07/2021
English
(00:08:54) The decision to choose architecture studies, (00:15:37) Opening the first office in a garage, (00:26:55) Being denied the opportunity to go to England for the final years of architecture
Influences, notable projects and school years
Summary:Going back to her life experiences from when she was a school student, he brings up how she used to be self-deprecating about her performance in school, mentioning how she admitted to not being very studious, but that she was always very honest about her abilities. Speaking of her family’s influence on her education and how she viewed her profession and professional education in a largely male-dominated society, he talks about how she found it difficult to navigate the social milieu at the time. About the conversations they shared on his career, he describes his mother’s first reaction of disapproval of his initial choices and the instrumental role that Hema had in helping him make his later choices. Discussing the visibility that her projects began to gain, he recalls the time and concludes by describing her time doing international tours and engaging in foreign architecture styles.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.27.46
Online
13/07/2021
English
(00:11:49) "She was very self-deprecating." , (00:19:02) RIBA 100 years - presentation on Indian Architecture, (00:21:50) Hema Sankalia as an architect and her approach to the practice
Professional journey, later collaborations and key projects
Summary:He goes back to talk about the collaborations she had in the mid-1980s and mentions those from a group of 5-7 people who continued to collaborate with her for 5-7 years. He goes on to talk about her team members who worked alongside her on many projects during a very productive period and also describes details of the key projects from the time – including Kalidas Academy in Ujjain, Women’s Hostel, HUDCO Building, work with Ujjain Vikas Pradhikaran, etc. By 1987, he notes how she began to grow out of the garage office, and her partner Ar. Vilas Joshi moved on from the firm. From that point, he talks about her journey to finally collaborate with Subodh Dhairyawan to found the Research Unit for Planning, while she kept her enterprise Hema Sankalia Architect running. He talks about how her journey progressed while simultaneously running both enterprises. He talks about how the engrossing journey culminates in the period between 1993-95, as she began winding up projects while continuing to keep upbeat.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.35.44
Online
23/07/2021
English
(00:04:00) Partnership in 1962 with Pravina Mehta, (00:08:07) Hema Sankalia's mother's house was designed by her and Pravina Mehta - a memorable collaboration, (00:14:12) Began her own practice in the early 70s, (00:17:45) Designing the Kalidas Academy , (00:25:00) The beginnings of RUP - Research Unit for Planning, (00:30:56) Battling health issues and slowing down
Associations, teaching career and notable projects
Summary:Moving forward, Tanu lays out the contexts and design intricacies of many of the important projects she worked on, including Bakhle Bungalow, Rallis India, etc. He mentions significant projects that Hema Sankalia should be known for from the second phase of her career, including Kalidas Academy, EPCO, and the Office and Water Tank integrated project, among others. He also shares the contexts and design technology for which these projects should be known. He moves on to more notable projects and related associations from the mid-1980s period including the HUDCO project and a few others., and mentions the hurdles the projects faced. In terms of the budget that she had to work with for almost all her projects, he notes that financial backing was largely limited and how she navigated resource limitations. When she grew lethargic of the build-up of client dues, he notes how she shut down the firm a few years before the economy opened up and remarks that the move felt premature. Moving on to how she took all of it in her stride, he remembers her strong work personality and tireless approach in a male-dominated environment and how she negotiated the workplace. In conclusion, Tanu talks about how Hema was never that inclined toward immaculate detailing and the context of the tradition.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.38.14
Online
23/07/2021
English
(00:04:50) Design Approach of Hema Sankalia, (00:06:17) Space planning as an approach, (00:12:24) How her desire to build her own house never materialized, (00:22:22) The Sanpada Housing project in Navi Mumbai, (00:26:24) JK Cement Award, (00:30:40) Missed opportunities once the Indian economy opened up
Client relations and media recognition
Summary:She began being featured in magazines in the late 1980s, and Tanu recalls Hema’s self-marketing efforts in the early 1990s. He goes into detail about the recognition she received as a woman practitioner as well as the lack of coverage that other female practitioners like Ar. Pravina Mehta received and the reasons behind it. In concluding on the challenges society placed on her gender, he talks about the various roles she had to multitask while her male peers had largely the privilege to focus on their careers.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.20.13
Online
23/07/2021
English
(00:12:52) Sarayu Ahuja's piece on Hema Sankalia, (00:15:33) The evolving nature of architectural journalism
Winding up and Contemporary Arts and Crafts (CAC)
Summary:While discussing CAC’s many franchises and the evolution of the enterprise and its winding up, Tanu also talks about a few missed investment opportunities. Tanu moves on to talk about Vina Mody’s trajectory after remembering Hema stepping out of CAC. In response to a question, Tanu traces back his memories of CAC right from its origin to its closing between 2016-17 and narrates many stories of how he remembers CAC in its highest moments and in its time of dissolution. On Hema Sankalia’s retirement in Pune and her writing activities which allowed her as an outlet for her creative energy, he talks about her relaxed transition.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.40.33
Online
27/07/2021
English
(00:09:27) Architect's own unbuilt house, (00:12:39) Contemporary Arts and Crafts (CAC) through 1962 - 2017 , (00:34:20) Embracing her Marathi identity and exploring creative expressions within the language
As a mother, personal interests and social personality
Summary:Speaking of her social circles, he recalls how Hema Sankalia significantly cherished relationships and had friends of varying backgrounds and ages while being popular with her nieces as well. He dwells on the maternal influences he and his sibling had apart from his mother. In response to a question on the factors behind Hema setting up a base in Madhya Pradesh, he begins by stating that it began when she pursued the Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO) project in MP and simply could not have afforded to set up a secondary office in those days. He talks about how she landed the projects in MP and the associations that supported her with the leads and that she also had familial links there. This led her to pursue her dream home in the hilly regions of MP. He also notes all the places she was fond of including Pune and brings up her affection for hilly regions.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00:31:45
Online
27/07/2021
English
(00:01:01) Hema Sankalia's daily routine and habits , (00:09:00) Culture, spirituality, and religion, (00:15:30) Thoughts on family, professional engagements, and managing the two, (00:23:26) Attempts to settle in Kumaon
Teaching approach, students, and project contexts
Summary:Moving on to the contexts and details of her notable projects, he draws a common thread that connects all her projects: they were all built on a remote land. From his understanding, he talks about the rudimental structure of the plans he noticed. He mentions Jayashree Malvi who worked with Hema Sankalia for a long time. He speaks about the shoddy urban and upscale architecture in Bombay that she negatively reacted to and also described some of the architectural spaces she appreciated in Bombay. He mentions the contemporaries she respected, including Kamini Dev, while dwelling in their building approach. On bringing up the National Coalition, he talks of the gap in Indian education that fails to address urban planning which is also what Hema thought should be addressed. Concluding with his understanding of the postmodern traditions in architecture, he talks about bringing historical elements back into architecture which could be noticed in her projects.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.48.37
Online
02/08/2021
English
(00:00:45) Bauhaus education method and design, (00:15:00) Preserving simple practices of the old times, (00:28:42) Hema's response to the water tank project , (00:35:25) The study and practice of urban planning in India , (00:38:40) The 'Nature of Change' presentation
Career trajectory, feminist standpoint and social reach
Summary:On mapping timelines, he notes how there was a complete shift in terms of availability of capital and resources from the 70s-80s to the 90s-early 2000s, and remarks how it was the skill and implementation that mattered more than the technology. He mentions the Bhakle House which is superior to many of its time and even compared to projects of today regardless of the technology available. Concluding on how she was lucky to have contacts that led her to many significant projects and her dynamics with government projects she took on, he talks about her wide reach while he compares it to the reach and access to projects practitioners have today.
Hema Sankalia
Tanu Sankalia
Ishita Shah
00.30.10
Online
02/08/2021
English
(00:03:10) The provincial and traditional life of Hema Sankalia post-retirement , (00:13:14) Ambivalent approach to feminism