DYUTHI PRAKASH
Portrait courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
Dyuthi is a Master of Architecture candidate at the Boston Architectural College, and a Technical Designer at Gensler, Boston. Originally from Chennai, India, Dyuthi was born and raised in Oman, and spent most of her formative years in the Middle East. She is an avid reader and writer who has written for architecture and design magazines, her favorite feature being one of Santiago Calatrava. Dyuthi is currently in deep pursuit of getting her architectural license and hopes to join the talented cohort of female architects of color in the United States. She is also a recent recipient of the AIA Central Massachusetts Student Scholarship and the Tony Platt Scholarship.
Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
Lifting as We Climb: Mentorship, Diversity, and Influence as a young designer in Boston
What inspired you to study architecture?
I have always been drawn to something about the order in the chaos that architecture brings about.
As a young girl, I noticed how various aspects of the homes that we live in influenced our thoughts and beliefs. For instance, some rooms were designated for certain genders; my grandmother was confined to the kitchen, while my grandfather was not allowed in there. Whereas, a communal kitchen would have blurred those gender roles. The way our houses are designed is a direct reflection of our age-old practices. I realized that the only way to change this is by starting from scratch and designing spaces that accommodate change and the future.
Dyuthi’s recent studio project on a concept for headquarters of a design collective, Design as Protest, in Los Angelos. The proposal is imagined to be a multidimensional space that strives to educate professionals on design. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
Name a woman architect who most influenced you as an emerging professional? How?
Dyuthi’s typical day at the site. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
When I joined a multi-national international firm as a young designer who's fresh out of school, I did not see many women who look like me. One of the few women who inspired me to be who I am today is Lisa Cholmondeley, a current Principal at Gensler. Lisa had crossed hurdles that have always seemed unsurmountable to me. With her wit and intellect, she would talk and convince her clients to concede easily to making quick decisions. Being a woman of color who's trying to break into an increasingly male-dominated industry is a challenge that I am excited about pursuing.
In 2017, Dyuthi graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Dubai, UAE. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
Name a favorite project completed by a woman Architect. Why is it your favorite?
A recent project that was completed by Perkins and Will, with Gabrielle Bullock heading the team, is the mile-long outdoor museum, Destination Crenshaw. I was fortunate enough to meet Gabrielle last year when she presented the project at our school. Brilliant, optimistic, and goal-oriented, Gabrielle left an instant and lasting impression on me. The mile-long open-air museum along the Crenshaw line is a clear response to the local community’s needs while serving the purpose of a renewed rail line. The project highlights the unique contributions of the African American community in Los Angelos and features works by prominent artists, thinkers, and performers.
Are there any organizations that helped you grow in architecture? How did they help you grow?
Certainly, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has been a big part of my growth ever since I arrived in the United States. Being new to the country with absolutely no networks, I knew I had to start somewhere, and NOMA was the perfect fit for me. I felt instantly at home with the supportive community of architects and designers of color, and it’s been almost a year since I’ve been a member!
Dyuthi presenting her paper, The Influence of Electronic Art in Urban Spaces and Architecture, at the International Symposium on Electronic Art in 2017. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
As an Orientation Leader and New Student Mentor Beekeeper at Boston Architectural College, what is the importance of mentoring new students who aspire to become architects?
I realized the importance of mentorship when I started my Master of Architecture degree back in January 2020. I was overwhelmed and a stranger to the country and its culture. I needed someone who I can look up to and could ask general questions. I wanted to talk to someone about how students handled the load of working full-time and studying. I knew I would have certainly felt better supported if I had a mentor to look up to. This semester, I signed up for the pilot Mentorship program at BAC, where I mentor incoming students and help them steer in the right direction. This is incredibly enriching for me since I know and have experienced what they’re currently going through.
Dyuthi enjoys beginning her design process with fun illustrations of activity-filled spaces to better understand the end users. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
Tell us about your role within BosNOMA as Chair of Career Development Committee. How do you ensure members explore the diverse routes within architecture and grow as emerging professionals? What was your favorite event within BosNOMA, hosted by the Career Development Committee? Why?
As Chair of the Career Development Committee, I work with the president of BosNOMA and other subcommittees to help set up and coordinate monthly meetings. I was also involved in the creation of BosNOMA’s first-ever mentorship program, which is going brilliantly so far. We typically hold events that help young professionals get ahead and try to provide them with assistance. We’re hoping to collaborate with student chapters of local NOMAS groups to organize a Portfolio Review Workshop series, which will begin this month. If you’re interested in joining NOMA, do get in touch with me! I can promise you a supportive community and safe space.
A typical BAS NOMAS general body meeting that Dyuthi is proud to be a part of. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
As you reflect on the past year, what did you discover as your biggest strengths?
Dyuthi’s painting, Harness, displayed in an art gallery and up for auction in 2016. A woman is held by the strings of society, but there is hope as the windows light up. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
This is a great question.
I find that, as a woman of color, I struggle to recognize my strengths often, brushing them aside as potential areas of improvement, rather than strengths. I would say that I have gotten better at adapting to change. I got laid off last year due to the pandemic and found a great role two weeks after. More recently, I quit the same role as I realized I felt stagnant and wasn’t growing. I have discovered the importance of knowing when to move on when things aren’t working for you, even if people around you tell you otherwise.
Dyuthi was featured in Khaleej Times, a local Dubai-based magazine, where she talks about her love for books, and how The Diary of Anne Frank was an early influence on her. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
If you were able to talk to your younger self, what would you say?
I love this question. I would tell her, “Dyuthi, go with your gut, it knows you best, more than anyone else. Besides, when you’re on your way to success, it can get rather lonely, and who better to trust than yourself?”
What would you want to say to the next generation of aspiring women architects?
If someone tells you that you can’t do something, take that as an encouragement to go and do it. Not only will it feel good to prove them wrong, but also it will provide you opportunities that you never thought you had access to.
In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wish saw would happen and it did not?
There is a lot of “talks and no show” regarding diversifying the architectural profession. Change needs to begin now, and from within organizations. Incorporating diversity and inclusion into age-old practices is more than just a publicity stunt. Only when firms start to recognize that diverse offices are creative offices, will these creative ideas fall through the cracks and be welcomed with respect and sensitivity.
Dyuthi’s love for travel is evident through her experience to 15 different countries. Here, she visits Greece. 2019. Image courtesy of Dyuthi Prakash.
