Author: Somaya Brinda, Mehta Urvashi
Place: Mumbai
Publisher: The HECAR Foundation
Year: 2000
Pages: 157
ISBN: 81-7525-194-8
Subject: Urbanisation
Sub-Subject: Urban Development
Keyword: Women in Architecture– 2000 Plus, HECAR Foundation, Urban Development, Heritage Conservation, Women architects’ Contributions
Shelf: C9R5
Accession No: B1634
Contents: poem, Foreword, Introduction, Contemporary South Asian Architecture- I, Contemporary South Asian Architecture- II, Contemporary Asian Architecture, Regional and Contextual Architecture, Urban Issues and Conservation, Epilogue, Exhibitors
Abstract: The passage reflects on the journey and success of the “Women in Architecture – 2000 Plus” conference and exhibition, initiated to celebrate the significant contributions of women in architecture across South Asia. The 1990s marked a turning point for women in the field, prompting the author and architect Urvashi Mehta to organize a platform showcasing built architectural work, intentionally excluding interior and landscape design to emphasize the profession’s core. With funding from the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and others, a dedicated committee was formed, and the event brought together women architects from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The conference highlighted diverse projects — from slum upgrades to heritage conservation — and fostered professional unity across the region. The exhibition is now archived by the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA) at Virginia Tech. The HECAR Foundation, host of the event, aims to educate the public on architectural and urban issues. Despite some exclusions due to the conference’s contemporary focus, the organizers plan a historical sequel. The event was a celebration of achievement, a platform for exchange, and a call for continued visibility and collaboration among women in architecture.