Shreya Mehta

Hometown: Pune
Education Background: Bachelors in Public Space Design

How did you get interested in your field?
I spent some time exploring various fields within spatial design and realized that a lot of aspects of spaces that I like are encompassed in landscape architecture.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
I studied Public Space Design in Bengaluru and then worked in a heritage conservation firm, a design research firm and a landscape architecture company before ending up at Penn.

Why did you choose Penn?
Penn’s diverse program, its long history, and its location in Philadelphia made me want to study here.

What has been your favorite class so far?
It is difficult to pick a favorite, but I think one class which has changed the way I think about things is Theory 2. We explored landscapes from a variety of lenses and each one added to my understanding of how wonderfully complex landscapes can be.

What are you learning right now that will help you in the future?
We are learning about cartography in Media 3 right now, and the ways in which we can harness the power of maps to put forth a narrative. I see this as an effective tool in convincing our audience of the work that landscape architects do.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
I love the cultural side of the city, from the various institutional museums and gardens to the communal murals. It is a city with a strong personality which shines through these avenues.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
I am the events coordinator with the Weitzman Gardeners where we meet to explore the various facets of gardening and horticulture. I also help with the Gardeners Zine, where we write about lesser known stories from landscape and garden history. Along with this, I am also the student representative for international students for my cohort, and I am responsible for creating a communication bridge between the students and the chair of the department.

What are your career ambitions?
I am not sure currently where I will end up. But I know that I would love to find a place which will allow me to balance the ecological side of landscapes with the aesthetics. I want to make landscapes which are attuned to the needs of all species, humans and otherwise.