WHAT’S YOUR NAME?
Shreekumar Kale
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CHOOSE THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE?
It was the happiest medium I could find between my interests in art, history, politics, and science. Although I did not know much about the field, the structure of architecture education was very enticing.
WHAT TYPE OF WORK ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN?
I am most passionate about civic projects that center a community and smaller scale design work that is not traditional architecture. I see the design of books, furniture, pavilions, and exhibitions all as exciting avenues for architectural design.
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES SINCE OBTAINING YOUR ARCHITECTURE DEGREE?
Learning which aspects of my job/career to invest time in to balance what I am interested in, what I still need to learn, and what will help push my career. I have also been tuned in to the general sentiment surrounding the field and its disparity between the amount of skill and work that is put in with the compensation that is afforded.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL?
I thoroughly enjoyed the theoretical questions that were posed. The optimism with which we approached large, daunting issues in the world and the ease of a project without a real budget.
ANY CRITICISMS OF THE ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE?
I think most architectural education is biased in a western lens. We are constantly limited by the references we are used to and there is a whole world of design knowledge that we have never been exposed to in our schooling. I think my schooling also kept a majority of the technical aspects of the field at a theoretical level and it has been hard to pick up simply while working.
WHAT ARE YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS?
I would like to work on projects that range in scale and are centered on research and communities.
WHO DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARCHITECTS?
Louis Kahn, Lino Bo Bardi, Anupama Kundoo.
Photo: Markus Krisetya
Photo: Juan Nino
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE BUILDING OR CITY?
Paris, Salk Institute, Menil Collection.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET OUT OF YOUR AIA BROOKLYN CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP?
New connections and exposure to new experiences
