Page 96 - Fostering Partnerships for Sustainable Habitat
P. 96
FACE TO FACE DIDI
CONTRACTOR
DIDI CONTRACTOR, a household name in
architecture, resonates with those who have a penchant for
the organic, serene, vernacular, and traditional. With more
than 15 buildings to her credit, she continues to be devoted
to sustainable building practices and, above all, displays
a close adherence to natural formations in all her designs.
To this living legend, a building is an integrated part of a
landscape—a natural, obvious extension of its beauty—
quite unlike the ostentatious display of scale and grandeur
often seen in modern architecture. In this conversation
with GRIHA, Didi Contractor reflects on her extraordinary
journey and reveals the architectural aesthetics that appeal
to her and also infuse her teachings and practice.
The story of my names begins by the end of the 1920s, before my birth. In those days, when the
gender of every child at birth was a surprise everywhere, two names were always kept ready. Had
I emerged as a boy, I would have been named George, OK: an acceptable name, but starting life
1 Can you tell us to prompt an instant in-utero ‘transition’ to the other option: the serious lady like Delia after my
with the proposed accompanying nick name, Dodo, an extinct species, would have been enough
about your journey
great grandmother, with the attractive fashionable nickname, Didi.
from being Delia
I grew up aspiring to the ideal of becoming Delia, whom I envision as mature, confident,
Kinzinger to
convincing, and competent. I have never quite achieved being Delia.
Didi Contractor?
The Kinzinger was automatically dropped in 1950 at college in America when I met and married
Narayan Ramji ‘Contractor’, a name my father-in-law had chosen according to his profession.
After we moved back to India, Didi became even more appropriate. Here my quirky, trendy
nickname evoked the expectation of a sympathetic, dependable, and supportive presence. I have
been comfortable trying to contribute to the implied, soothing, sisterly affection.
| 94 |
CONTRACTOR
DIDI CONTRACTOR, a household name in
architecture, resonates with those who have a penchant for
the organic, serene, vernacular, and traditional. With more
than 15 buildings to her credit, she continues to be devoted
to sustainable building practices and, above all, displays
a close adherence to natural formations in all her designs.
To this living legend, a building is an integrated part of a
landscape—a natural, obvious extension of its beauty—
quite unlike the ostentatious display of scale and grandeur
often seen in modern architecture. In this conversation
with GRIHA, Didi Contractor reflects on her extraordinary
journey and reveals the architectural aesthetics that appeal
to her and also infuse her teachings and practice.
The story of my names begins by the end of the 1920s, before my birth. In those days, when the
gender of every child at birth was a surprise everywhere, two names were always kept ready. Had
I emerged as a boy, I would have been named George, OK: an acceptable name, but starting life
1 Can you tell us to prompt an instant in-utero ‘transition’ to the other option: the serious lady like Delia after my
with the proposed accompanying nick name, Dodo, an extinct species, would have been enough
about your journey
great grandmother, with the attractive fashionable nickname, Didi.
from being Delia
I grew up aspiring to the ideal of becoming Delia, whom I envision as mature, confident,
Kinzinger to
convincing, and competent. I have never quite achieved being Delia.
Didi Contractor?
The Kinzinger was automatically dropped in 1950 at college in America when I met and married
Narayan Ramji ‘Contractor’, a name my father-in-law had chosen according to his profession.
After we moved back to India, Didi became even more appropriate. Here my quirky, trendy
nickname evoked the expectation of a sympathetic, dependable, and supportive presence. I have
been comfortable trying to contribute to the implied, soothing, sisterly affection.
| 94 |
