Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes

Founder and Director, Needlab

Spain

Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes is an architect, educator, and social entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in sustainable development and ethical leadership. She founded Needlab in Barcelona, Spain, as an immigrant woman of color, to transform the built environment, which has the power to shape and govern communities. Sameera advocates for the inclusion of minority communities often marginalized in decision-making processes. Her projects focus on enhancing social cohesion, sustainability, and resilience through participatory civic engagement.

Recognized as a Fast Company World Changing Ideas Finalist and recipient of the Hackster Impact Project Award from the UNDP, Sameera's approach is grounded in participatory methods and ethical leadership. Notably, she is the youngest architect ever to participate in Barcelona Design Week.

Through Needlab and her academic work, Sameera demonstrates that sustainable development involves more than technological advancements; it requires honoring traditional knowledge, fostering community engagement, and creating spaces that reflect the cultural narratives of each location. Her holistic approach to architecture and urban planning sets a benchmark for developing resilient, culturally rich, and environmentally sustainable communities worldwide.