Pooja Ugrani Calls to "Break the Performance Pedestal" in Architecture Juries

Pooja Ugrani, an architect, has voiced her concerns regarding the patriarchal frameworks and power imbalances inherent in traditional jury systems in architectural education. She introduces the concept of the "performance pedestal," which she associates with ego-driven assessments during design reviews. Ugrani emphasizes the need for academia to shift from these evaluative practices to more compassionate and collaborative interactions in design. Her critique focuses on the entrenched hierarchies governing jury operations rather than merely highlighting specific instances. By advocating for the dismantling of the pedestal, she positions collaborative dialogue as a preferable alternative to traditional evaluations. This discussion contributes to the larger dialogue on patriarchy within Indian architectural academia.