83. AITC: In conversation with Anjali Mangalgiri

Original Drawing by Tori Haynes

“The term ‘Sustainability’ often gets misused…what it is really about [for us] is respect for the land, nature, and natural resources.”

Anjali Mangalgiri

This week we end our miniseries Architecture in the Time of Coronavirus with Grounded founder and Principal Architect Anjali Mangalgiri. The discussion touches on motherhood, architectural thinking, sustainability, and Anjali’s memories that led her to pursue architecture.

Timestamp Outline 

0:50 Introductions to Anjali Mangalgiri

2;25 Life in Singapore during COVID-19

5:50 Impact from COVID-19 on Anjali’s practice, Grounded

7:30 Impact on childcare and having a practice

10:20 “How do you run a practice in Singapore with work in Goa?” - Vikram

13:35 How Anjali got into architecture

16:15 Life and learning as School of Architecture and Planning, SPA in Dehli

18:20 Anjali discusses biggest shocks upon return to India from the US.

22:00 The meaning behind the name of her practice

24:00 Discussion of the architecture community at SPA

24:52 Mention of Geoffrey Bawa, one of the fathers of Tropical Modernism

25:55 Mention of Kerry Hill, another proponent of Tropical Modernism in Southeast Asia

26:20 Discussion of architecture and landscape in Japan

27:00 “Why did you move to Singapore?” - Vikram 

27:50 Architecture community in Singapore

29:10 30x30 program in Singapore

30:48 “Where are you going?” Discussion of future plans

33:15 “Has the virus provided you with a reflective sense?” - Vikram