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An architect has a very important role in society. Architects build the foundation of civilizations, bringing structures to life by shaping new creations and restoring old ones.
Architectural firm Somaya and Kalappa have been adding life to structures old and new, since the past many decades.
“Empty buildings make me extremely sad,” says founder Brinda Somaya. And it is this very passion with which they meet every challenge. “It’s extremely important to create a space where people would want to come in. They shouldn’t come to a building, sigh, brood and say, ‘not again’.”

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Their philosophy is simple. The new and the old need to co-exist together in all structures. A heady combination of the fresh and the traditional is what gives the creations of Somaya and Kalappa a distinct, unmatched edge. And this zeal for innovative architecture makes their creations like human beings – alive and breathing.
About Brinda Somaya
Brinda Chinnappa Somaya completed her Master of Arts degree from Smith College, USA, after graduating from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai.
Her belief that development and progress must proceed without straining the cultural and historic environment underlines her work at “Somaya and Kalappa”, the company she founded and has headed for the last three decades.
Her oeuvre, spanning corporate, industrial and institutional clients, extends to public spaces — which she has rebuilt and sometimes reinvented as pavements, parks and plazas.
These include the Colaba Woods, Ganeshpuri Temple and a slew of pavements in South Mumbai besides the reconstruction of an entire village in Kutch. Personally, she admits that working on people-centric buildings gives her the maximum satisfaction in creative terms. “When I go back to buildings and see all the hustle-bustle, it makes me really happy.”
She has won numerous personal and professional awards through the years. As she continues to preserve our heritage and create new landmarks, she brings her experience, expertise and passion to the firm she has founded — so that many more old and new structures can be brought to life.
About Somaya and Kalappa
Somaya and Kalappa is a full service architectural firm offering each client a combination of imaginative design, expertise and intense involvement.
Their reputation is based on providing the highest quality of professional services to every client. Constantly striving to produce work that is innovative and practical, they never lose sight of the social, economic, environmental and aesthetic issues relevant to each project.
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