ABSTRACT
Sheila Sri Prakash is a successful Chennai-based architect with a prolific practice spanning architecture, planning, landscape and interior design. She was born in Bhopal, in a Tamil Brahmin family of Pathys, her father (who was in the army) had Telugu and her mother had Kerala roots. She was a single child and has lived all over the country while growing up, having varied opportunities and exposure. From an early age, she was trained as a classical Bharatnatyam dancer and gave her Arangetram (graduation in the training of Bharatnatyam dance) very young. She had a close relationship with her father, who involved her in many decision-making processes. Academically she was a bright student who ranked first in the state of Tamil Nadu in chemistry in her matriculation exams. However, she chose architecture as it represented a combination of art and science and she loved its creative challenges. She had a lot of experience in emoting ‘unbuilt spaces’ as is required in the practice of Abhinaya (acting) in Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi.
