Designing a More Equitable Future: Talking with BWBR’s Equitable Design Scholarship Winners

Today, we're so excited to recognize the achievements and talent of the recipients of BWBR's second annual equity scholarships. We had the chance to sit down with our recipients for a conversation about their backgrounds, their winning projects, and their vision for the future of architecture and design. It was a fascinating conversation that gives us even more hope for the future of our industry.

Hosted by: 
Matthew Gerstner - BWBR Podcast Producer

Guests:
Saylee Bhogle - Master of Science in Architecture Student at Illinois Institute of Technology
Nicole Niava - Master of Architecture Student at Yale University

Music provided by Artlist.io
Siberian Summer by Sunny Fruit
DuDa by Ian Post

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Transcript

Matthew Gerstner  00:10

This is Side of Design from BWBR. A podcast discussing all aspects of design with knowledge leaders from every part of the industry. 

Matthew Gerstner  00:19

Hello, welcome to this episode of Side of Design from BWBR. I'm Matt Gerstner, your host for this episode. Today, we're so excited to recognize the achievements and talent of the recipients of BWBR's second annual equity scholarships. Each award is designed to support equity in the built environment by providing a $1,000 prize to a student of architecture, interior design or graphic design. Applicants submitted both a personal statement and a sample design project. And we were truly blown away by the caliber of submissions we received for year two. 

Matthew Gerstner  00:54

The Scholarship for Gender Equity in Design is awarded to a woman, gender nonconforming, or trans applicant, studying architecture, interior design or graphic design. This year's Scholarship for Gender Equity in Design recipient is Saylee Bhogle, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Saylee's application centered on the idea of reconditioning Dharavi, an area of Mumbai that is frequently characterized as one of the world's largest slums. Saylee envisions incremental development of Dharavi, addressing critical needs while acknowledging the humanity, economic potential and social and cultural vibrancy that exists there today. 

Matthew Gerstner  01:37

The Scholarship for Diversity and Inclusion in Design is offered to a BIPOC student in graphics interior design or architecture. This year's Scholarship for Diversity and Inclusion in Design winner is Nicole Niava, who is pursuing a Master of Architecture at Yale University. Nicole's application centers on biophilic diversity and the belief that "the built environment can transform one's life trajectory." Nicole's project establishes sustainability standards by introducing timber as the primary building material for affordable housing development in Queens, New York. Welcome Saylee and Nicole.

Nicole Niava  02:16

Hello. Hi, everyone.

Saylee Bhogle  02:18

Hello, everyone.

Matthew Gerstner  02:19

Thank you both so much for joining us today. We're thrilled to have you on the show. Now, before we get into the projects that you submitted for the scholarship, we're hoping that you could each tell us just a little bit about your background and why you wanted to go into design. Saylee, why don't you get us started.

Saylee Bhogle  02:39

My name is Saylee Bhogle, and as Matt mentioned, I'm grateful to be the winner of this year's BWBR Scholarship for Gender Equity in Design. A little bit about myself, I'm currently pursuing a Master of Science in Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. I did my five year BArch from University of Mumbai, back in India and I graduated in 2017. Post that I worked as a licensed architect for four years over there before starting my journey as masters. I have a passion for contributing positively towards the community just as much as I do for buildings. As architects, we create functional buildings for society to use based on varying needs and desires. Understanding our clients and the community is imperative and ultimately fuels my passion for this field. I strongly feel it's a worthwhile career that can make a significant and visible impact on our surroundings, people, life, society as a whole, because the role is constantly evolving and changing. We spend most of our lives in buildings and to architecture you can influence the way people live their lives for the better. Plus, the fact that you could have something that you have designed realized in real life is something I would definitely love to do. And that's how basically I got into designing.

Matthew Gerstner  03:53

You know, it's so true. We do spend so much of our lives inside the built environment. And as people in this field to see our projects come to life is truly so rewarding. And Nicole, can you tell us a little bit about your background as well? And what brought you into the design field? 

Nicole Niava  04:13

Yeah, absolutely. So my name is Nicole Yahveh. And I'm a current graduate student at the Yale School of Architecture in New Haven, Connecticut. So prior to that, I did an undergraduate degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design, also in architecture, and went on to working in the field for two years. So I knew pretty early on that I wanted to do architecture. As a kid I was always fascinated by the aesthetic of houses in my neighborhood. It was a time when the architecture study in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire where I'm from was transitioning from the French colonialism side to the post modernist and we started to see like more contemporary style, a lot of minimalist design. I was always really attracted to that. So that's why I started look into a career in interior design and architecture. So through traveling in China, Europe, and here in the United States, I kind of learn that architecture is so much more than aesthetic and can really be a tool to shift and to shape the trajectory of communities to the design environment,

Matthew Gerstner  05:18

You bring up a great point that architecture does have that ability to shape people's lives. The built environment does influence us in our day to day activity. So thinking about how architecture can influence people, what do each of you see as the role of design in an equitable built environment?

Saylee Bhogle  05:40

I believe that architects have specialized knowledge and the power to influence social, economic and quality of life aspects for countless populations, outside the confines of our projects. We have the freedom to choose how to use our training and experience how to involve others in design process and how to challenge our project teams, business, business partners and the industry. History also shows that we have more power than many of us are aware of or we acknowledge. As citizens and designers, it is in our best interests to design environments that meet everyone's requirements. There are several chances to influence fair outcomes during each stage of project design. A project is more likely to be responsive to local needs and aspirations if it allocates time and money for genuine community involvement, organizational partnerships, extensive stakeholder input, and outcome measurement. Early equitable goal setting and participation of community stakeholders in goal development links local vision within the projects and puts it in a position to become a valuable community asset. And that's how I see the role of design in an equitable built environment.

Matthew Gerstner  06:43

You know, thinking about the greater community, it's really so important in so many ways to the success of so many projects, you know, really any project. And Nicole, what do you think the role of design is in an equitable built environment?

Nicole Niava  07:00

I firmly believe that the built environment can transform one's life trajectory, as I mentioned before, providing access to beautiful spaces designed with pure intentions can encourage more significant outcome in our society. So designing for Diversity and Inclusion truly matters and having a wide variety of perspective at the table will allow us to achieve this.

Matthew Gerstner  07:23

You know, I love your belief that the built environment can change a life trajectory. I think that is just a fascinating concept. So I'm hoping that you could both just tell us a little bit more about the projects that you submitted for the scholarship, and how equity is central to your project's conception.

Saylee Bhogle  07:43

Before I dive into the project. I do believe that equitable architecture focuses on developing equitable and affordable housing, safe and secure neighborhoods and hospitable public areas. I think that planning for equity also entails prioritizing people. Learning about the people we are designing for is the first step in creating equitable architecture. Our first step as designers is to comprehend communities as they are because everything we do is influenced by it. And having said that, the design project which I submitted for the scholarship deals with one such community known as Dharavi, which is in Mumbai in India. It is an economically prosperous and socially active informal town, and it's considered to be one of the world's largest slums. However, there are problems associated with space and sanitation in this area. It is made up of 85 separate groups with a strong feeling of belonging and high expectations for stability and improved economic position and living standards. It is also clear that these folks are capable of building and enhancing their shelter if they have the resources to do so. In contrast to the existing redevelopment plan, which was proposed by the government, which actually promotes uniform top down development, my concept anticipates techniques for progressive self-development, including bottom up finance models and architectural approaches. So a system of self development recourse was created that can actually improve the present conditions while also supporting the communities need for stability, thus making it an inclusive and equitable design. The concept is to have participatory planning, community participation, government participation, incremental development, bottom up/top down integration to make this design very fair. The first step in comprehending the internal and external forces acting on the development process is discovering and unraveling the relationship between all the stakeholders which are involved in the situation. So my design actually focuses on understanding what they truly need, not what I think they need, and I adapt the plans accordingly. We as designers are dedicated to delivering future focused solutions that build equitable and inclusive infrastructure. Social Equity is about teamwork and cooperation. It involves listening, everyone's built environment might be reimagined by changing the way our industry approaches Planning, Design and Construction. And that's how I centered my project. And that's how equity was central to its conception. 

Matthew Gerstner  10:06

You know, you talk about design from the bottom up and not the top down, being, you focus on the community, get the community's input. And it's not something that's imposed on the community, you're actually embracing everybody, you're embracing all the voices, most importantly, the ones who it's going to affect directly and affect the most. I absolutely love that idea. Now, Nicole, I am fascinated with your concept of how the built environment can transform a person's life trajectory. So I am excited to hear about your project and how equity is central to its conception as well.

Nicole Niava  10:47

In my specific project equity is really centered to innovation. So this project establishes sustainable standard by introducing timber as the primary building material for affordable housing development in Queens, New York. So located at the intersection of Astoria and Dutch Kills. The site provides a unique opportunity for diverse communities to escape the dense urban settings of their neighborhood and connect with nature at the East River waterfront. So with health and wellness of each individual in mind the project capitalizes on biophilic design strategies to frame the human experience of the program their sight in each other. In addition to fully integrating the existing network of culture, entertainment, leisure, commercial activities, in Queens. The proposal enhanced the connectivity between residents and offers equal chances of engaging in quality design. Special composition within the site frames embedded nature, connected spaces, educational activities, social housing, and wellness.

Matthew Gerstner  11:57

I love how you're talking about connectivity, because we are all truly connected to each other to our environments. And your concept of biophilic diversity. Now, I was hoping that you could give a little bit more of a description about that to our listeners today.

Nicole Niava  12:15

Yeah, absolutely. So Biophilic diversity kind of encompasses multiple design strategies to enhance the  connection between humans and nature. So having a lot of activities that kind of give the opportunity of each resident to be connected to nature, and really just take advantage of nature, especially in dense urban environments. And such as New York, I think it's imperative to like kind of bring these more innovative design strategies into these type of communities that really could benefit from these new ways of thinking about architecture and the built environment.

Matthew Gerstner  12:54

If there's one thing in all of our major metropolitan areas worldwide that we're sorely lacking, it is a connection with nature, with incorporation of that in the built environment. So that's a wonderful, wonderful concept that you are working on. So now as we've been talking about equity, and both of your projects, I was wondering, what you feel the importance of diversity is in the industry, and it doesn't just have to be you know, in the architecture industry, it could be in interior design, it could be graphics design, it could be in product design. So what do you feel the importance of diversity is, and why does it matter?

Saylee Bhogle  13:39

The creative field that has the greatest obvious impact on how we live our lives, daily lives, is architecture. The structure surrounding us whether in the public or private spheres can have a significant impact on our sense of community, optimism and potential. The communities it embodies, are distinguished and represented by architecture. At its best, it has the potential to be extremely important in social franchising. An urban environment that interacts speaks to and comprehends to our various societies is highly advantageous buildings are made by people. And if we want our architecture to accurately reflect the diversity of our cities, it is crucial that the people who make them are diverse. A dramatic outcome can be achieved by shedding light on the subject. Just like with any good design, change will remain sluggish as long as the issue of diversity is shrouded in secrecy. Buildings that are more practical, inventive and aesthetically pleasing would benefit society as a whole from a more varied architecture profession. Raising the bar for inclusion among the companies who plan our cities and towns will inevitably result in more inclusive environment for all of us. Architecture can be more inclusive, exciting and sensitive because of diversity's broader perspectives and life experiences of different people. It needs to break out of its own demographic bubble swiftly in order to adapt and to be relevant to the community in the rapidly changing social and cultural landscape. And I also feel that the profession profession also suffers from a lack of cultural variety. There is a significant divide in how the various socio-economic segments of society sees this profession, which has long been characterized as eilte. Personal experiences frequently allows architects to see things differently and help them build their design sensitivity sensitivity. People from these communities serve as the representatives of many communities and to bring these beneficial changes, they must integrate themselves into the system. So leaving the social component aside, it has never been more important to dispel the widespread misconception that architecture is the sole preserve of the wealthy. It should undoubtedly embrace the transformation and realize its ability to influence a positive change in society at a time when there is widespread demonstrations and discussions about providing equal chances for people at all levels.

Nicole Niava  15:59

So to me, diversity imperative in design teams and also architecture or design discourse in general. It truly matteres as it brings a different perspective, more nuances and a narrative we are taught as designer and kind of project back onto the world. And diversity, most importantly, represent voices that are often unheard in communities in the design process. So to me, it's extremely important and should be encouraged in like all creative fields that ends up eventually affecting everybody's life.

Matthew Gerstner  16:34

You know, as you both were talking, and describing inclusivity, and describing the diversity that is required to truly get everybody's voices heard, it just made me think of projects that maybe don't function quite the way they should. And when you take the time to analyze why things aren't functioning, the way they should, almost always comes down to the fact that not all the voices were heard. Maybe not all the people that needed to be heard were at the table. So I couldn't agree with you more that diversity, and making sure people are heard, is so important to the design and functionality, and in the end the success of so many things. Now, from your perspectives, you're both students in the architecture and design field and you've been on your career paths for a while now, but you're still new to the industry. So what changes do you think you'd like to see in architecture and design,

Saylee Bhogle  17:42

There are quite a few changes, which I would like to see in the profession of architecture and design to make it more equitable. I myself come from a developing country, and I can see that there are a lot of issues in that. So I believe rethinking our definition of home can impact social equity. Since housing makes up most of our built environment, like for example, renovating residential areas is a potent means of enhancing both personal and community well being. And we must employ like architectural design to create more equitable means of coexisting. One reason for the current housing issue is the mismatch between the housing that is accessible and the ways that we actually live. For architects and interior designers, this divergence between building and society offers a chance to reinvent cities and housing. More equitable housing solutions may result from understanding what home genuinely means to many people. Many diversified residents are drawn to different housing typologies. We can continue to look at new residential architecture models that reflect how we live in the 21st century rather than continuing to create cookie cutter style single family homes. Diverse housing options can guarantee a city's vitality by providing homes for people of different socio economic statuses, cultural backgrounds and household types. And one more change that I would like to see is that of architectural firms building broad and representative teams. A re-evaluation of the partners and the competencies of the project team is necessary to achieve these equitable results. A company can maybe perhaps create a more diverse team from inside by examining internal hiring practices and reconsidering what is valuable for the project. Smaller businesses can create more integrated teams by working with larger businesses. Particularly those which are located close to the project area, or by recruiting company advocates. So this method can be more effective in businesses with more workers from which we are able to form teams which are more diverse.

Matthew Gerstner  19:42

You know, there's been a common theme throughout the entire conversation so far today and that's diversity. It seems the more diversity we embrace within the architecture and engineering field, within society as a whole, it benefits everybody. It doesn't just benefit a few. It truly benefits everybody, because everybody can come together then. And Nicole, what are your thoughts on changes for the architecture and design field.

Nicole Niava  20:14

I would love to see more diversity in classrooms, in the curriculum of architecture schools, in design studios, but especially in designing architecture theories that are being taught. I think that this will truly encourage more diversity in also the discourse that we have in the career. So in the industry, I would love to see more diversity, as I mentioned, in design teams, in management positions, to ensure that these voices are being heard and considered in the design solutions. I would also love to see wages that are more reflective of the current economic atmosphere for better talent retention. Especially for those that comes to challenges background and that are looking for to break into this specific industry.

Matthew Gerstner  21:04

I love how you brought it right back to school. 

Nicole Niava  21:07

Yeah, yeah. 

Matthew Gerstner  21:08

Because where do all the people in our industry come from? They have to start in school don't they?

Nicole Niava  21:14

Exactly.

Matthew Gerstner  21:15

I love that. I think supporting that and embracing that more so in school, making it more accessible for more people will only improve our industry, and lift more people up and lift our projects up.

Nicole Niava  21:29

just seeing the same architecture theory is being taught today, for many years, and like not having new and more diverse perspective, as the world is evolving. It's quite disappointing, and usually feels like the only one side of architecture that has been taught. And there's not a lot of space for contradiction or other perspectives around the world.

Matthew Gerstner  21:53

I definitely appreciate that. And I think that is something that could improve us all. So before we wrap things up, you've both been in school for a while now. You're both getting close to graduation, right? 

Nicole Niava  22:05

Yeah.

Matthew Gerstner  22:06

You'll be wrapping up school here soon, hopefully. 

Saylee Bhogle  22:09

 Yes. 

Matthew Gerstner  22:09

All right, what are your respective plans for the future?

Saylee Bhogle  22:13

So for me, my long term goal is to help shape the built environment through creation of beautiful functional architecture, communication of good ideas, and development of sensible policy. I strongly believe that my core interest also lies in the sustainability of built spaces, and the ways in which technology combined with design can promote energy efficiency of buildings. So I'm hoping to get an advanced understanding of key issues related to sustainable design, and I would like to continue my research and work in this segment, I have also come to understand that visibility is the first step to scalability, and that a truly sustainable environment is inclusive and accessible. Were designed for everyone, when we consider equity. The green building building community must concentrate on articulating the concrete advantages that will attract more people to the cause, as it works towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all. I would also like to place a greater emphasis on inclusive architecture. It is crucial that we hold our organization and community accountable as we continue to discourse about social fairness.

Matthew Gerstner  23:16

So when you're thinking about doing all of this ...

Saylee Bhogle  23:19

Mhmm.

Matthew Gerstner  23:19

Are you thinking about doing this? In the area that you're in now? Like the physical location that you're in now? Or are you thinking maybe something where you are now for a while and bringing it elsewhere?

Saylee Bhogle  23:34

Yeah, maybe starting where I am for a while. Getting that experience, getting that knowledge firsthand, actually implementing things practically. And then maybe trying to reach to the communities which are in developing countries, so that those ideas reach those points as well. So I would like to start from here, one step at a time, and then plan it out.

Matthew Gerstner  23:55

Fantastic. Fantastic. And Nicole, how about your plans for the future? What are you thinking?

Nicole Niava  24:01

So I've had two years of experience as a designer before going to grad school. So I would definitely want to explore another aspect of design, maybe like management or even in development. In the near future, I will be doing some research in West Africa, an area that is very dear to my heart and just exploring possibilities of buildings in the world, in particular communities along the Sahara Desert, and kind of learning from new environment and bringing it back or the knowledge on that in my maximum space and using or learning from other ways that people are doing architecture and learning from it and bringing it back into different industries that we have.

Matthew Gerstner  24:41

Now that's so inspiring. I love that. The... and you both mentioned, it's about building your knowledge and then taking your knowledge somewhere else, but then you're not done. You're still learning, and you're learning of where you go to, and then possibly bringing that back, you know where you may be where you even started. That is it's such a wonderful cause it's such a wonderful thing to do. Now, I can't thank you both enough for joining us today. We look forward to hearing about the incredible things that we know you're both going to do in the future. So please stay in touch with us. And we wish you both the best. 

Saylee Bhogle  25:24

Thank you so much, Matt.

Nicole Niava  25:25

Thank you so much.

Matthew Gerstner  25:27

And thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in. We'll see you on the other side. 

Matthew Gerstner  25:33

This has been cited design from BWBR brought to you without any paid advertisements or commercials. If you found value in what you've heard today. Give us a like, leave us a comment, or better yet, share us with your network. You can also reach out to us if you'd like to share an idea for a show or start a discussion. Email us at sideofdesign@bwbr.com