WOMEN IN DESIGN | A CONVERSATION WITH CHINMAI SHIMPI
From starting as an Intern in the Summer of 2022 and growing to a full-fledged Designer, Chinmai Shimpi celebrates her two-year anniversary at STARQ this summer. We caught up with her to reflect on her journey and discuss what lies ahead.
Q - What excited you about working and joining the STARQ team?
CS - “I first got interested in Facades during my time at USC, where I learned a lot about the nuances of the discipline through Sanjeev Tankha and Mic Patterson. A few of the aspects of facades that were emphasized were material selection in terms of sustainability - the role that the facade plays in climate change by influencing heat gain and loss. STARQ’s combination of creative design, technical expertise, and commitment to sustainability seemed both challenging and rewarding and strongly drew me to the firm.
That being said, I also wanted to remain in touch with the design side of Architecture. STARQ being a multidisciplinary firm, with Sharmila Tankha heading the Design segment of the firm, got me excited to learn more under her wing of vast experience. The potential of having a balance between technical façade work and design got me enthusiastic about the opportunity of joining the STARQ team.”
Q - So now, having worked at STARQ for some time now (especially as it is a small multidisciplinary business), has your view of the field changed at all, and if so, in what way?
CS - “From my experience in architecture in India, I was under the strong impression that the entire design to construction to completion of a project was a linear process, with architects and consultants finishing up a design and then bringing on contractors and fabricators to build it.
However, having been in the industry with STARQ for a while now, I have experienced a range of collaborations. For example, as façade consultants, we work with architecture firms, structural, plumbing, lighting consultants, and contractors to resolve issues that could arise later in the design process. I am very appreciative of these opportunities to collaborate, which in turn, foster innovation and creativity and enable the development of holistic design solutions.”
Q - Looking towards the future, where do you see architecture heading and what would you like to see more of in the future? (ex: trends, specific design choices, etc..)
CS - “The field of architecture and construction is very complex with different contributors and stakeholders. In the last few years, there has been more and more conversation regarding the contribution of the AEC industry to climate change and global warming. We need to push resilient and sustainable materials, adaptive and responsive designs, the integration of smart technology, and give more importance to contextual sensitivity.
During my time at STARQ, we have pushed energy-efficient facades and conscious material selection that aligns with the architects’ approach to design. There needs to be more awareness regarding the impact these decisions have on the long-term efficiency of a building. I hope that the momentum of conscious decision-making in this field continues to take seed. The faster we move in this direction, the sooner we can create buildings that are not only beautiful and functional but also responsive to the needs of the planet.”
Thank you for sitting down with us for this chat. We love having you in our Studio and look forward to the years ahead!