Layana & Isha: The Best Friends Who Dreamed & Succeeded Together As Architects

Having a close friend who shares the same dream is not something that everyone is lucky to have – but achieving those dreams together is something even rarer. Mariyam Layana Mohamed and Fathimath Isha were two girls who were extremely interested in buildings and how they are constructed from a very young age. When they met at schools – the two hit off very well and they have stuck together in their pursuit to become architects – a male-dominated field.

Layana and Isha completed their studies abroad and initially worked separately upon their return to the Maldives. In 2013, their careers ended fusing together as they had partnered up and founded an architecture firm – Doric Private Limited – in hopes of adding femininity into the field.

Being a field that is hard to get established at – the two had to overcome numerous challenges at the inception of the firm. From financial constraints to just the two of them working part-time for the firm – they had to go the extra mile as they were women. Most established architects in the country were elderly men who boasted experience and age together – which sells. As two young women who were fairly new to the field – receivers often found it hard to take them seriously. Consequently, they had to be more adamant when it comes to selling themselves and their expertise.

But their unique approach to providing clients with a highly interactive design process inclusive of multiple site visits and design meetings with clients in addition to their openness to collaborate with other designers, entrepreneurs, and thinkers has put the firm on the radar for those seeking the expertise. This combined with the quality of service they provide has earned the firm repeated and loyal clients.

Doric which still continues to grow is now an all-female full-service architecture studio with the addition of two new members – an intern and a junior architect.

There is one other aspect that Layana and Isha stand common ground to. Giving back to the community. Accordingly, both of them maintain strong ties with architecture students including collaborating with them for projects to help them grow and develop themselves. They are also members of the Architects Association Maldives (AAM) – a non-profit organization formed with the aim to promote architecture and represent its profession where they continue to be the voice of those that are in the profession. Isha is also part of the Executive Committee.

Doric has also recently become a part of the Epic Shelter Reality Show by Luxe – an initiative that aims to help people remodel their homes by providing both the service and funds.