Brinda Somaya And Nandini Somaya Sampat - The Legacy Continues

Over the last four decades Brinda Somaya has created a formidable legacy. Her daughter Nandini Somaya Sampat takes on the baton to carry to chart a future just as commendable

- Seema Sreedharan

A career spanning four decades, a portfolio of commendable projects in diverse typologies, and a streak of awards and recognitions, architect Brinda Somaya has put SNK Consultants on the world’s architectural map. In the interim, she has built sprawling corporate and educational campuses, homes, restored and conserved heritage structures and spearheaded movements for a better planned Mumbai. With daughter Nandini Somaya Sampat adding a new perspective and chapter to the legacy, we catch up with the dynamic mother-daughter duo for an engaging conversation.

Two Generations: Diverse Inspirations

Brinda Somaya: My fascination with archaeology and architecture began at a very young age. I remember standing on the steps of the ruins of the ancient Buddhist university in Nalanda, and being mesmerised by the structure, imagining what it must’ve been. I guess my interest in archaeology and architecture began back then.

Nandini Somaya Sampat: Growing up I had an affiliation towards law. I followed that instinct and ended up qualifying as a solicitor. I felt something was missing…and somehow, I started veering towards design again. I decided to explore design and find out if it was really my calling. I joined my mother’s firm and shadowed her for the first few years, observing and absorbing everything I could. For me, architecture might not have been an intrinsic calling, but it certainly found its way back to me.