Sheila Sri Prakash

Sheila Sri Prakash is an architect, urban designer, and sustainability expert who became the first woman in India to establish and operate her own architectural practice. Sri Prakash founded Shilpa Architects, which has developed a diverse portfolio of architectural projects across India and internationally. She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Anna University School of Architecture and Planning and has further training from Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Before her architectural career, Sri Prakash was a performing artist with proficiency in Indian classical dance and music, a background that has influenced her approach to design and spatial awareness.

Shilpa Architects has completed more than 1,200 projects, including small-scale housing for socio-economically underprivileged communities and energy-efficient commercial, industrial, civic, residential, and hospitality developments. The firm is known for integrating traditional Indian architectural principles with modern sustainable design practices. Sri Prakash's early work in rainwater harvesting, including the design of a home in Chennai using recycled materials and a pioneering rainwater harvesting system, contributed to the adoption of such systems across India. She was selected by the Archaeological Survey of India to restore and preserve the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, a project that involved research into original archives dating back to 950 CE.

Sri Prakash served on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Design Innovation, where she developed the Reciprocal Design Index, a sustainability matrix linking environmental, sociological, and economic impacts of design. She was also a member of the Global Future Council on the Future of Environment and Natural Resource Security and was invited by the World Bank to design affordable housing. As founding trustee of The Reciprocity Foundation, Sri Prakash supports research and initiatives focused on sustainable design solutions.

Her work has been recognized by institutions and publications such as Construction Global Magazine, Il Giornale Dell'Architettura, Architectural Digest, and Archute. Sri Prakash has received the Role Model Architect Award from WADE India, the Sustainability Champion of the Year award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Builders, Architects and Building Materials in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry, the Bene Merenti Award from the University of Ion Mincu, and the Honorable Architect Award from the Indian Institute of Architects. She has also been honored by Leibniz University in Germany and the University of Valencia in Spain for her contributions to socio-economic and environmental sustainability. Sri Prakash has delivered keynote addresses at events including the World Economic Forum, UN Habitat III Conference, and the Infrastructure Summit during the London Olympics.