Rekha Maker
Rekha Barry, founder of Rekha Maker, merges architecture and playfulness in Glasgow, crafting Jesmonite objects with a whimsical nod to brutalism.
Edition 3 Feature (September 2021)
Words by: Rekha Barry
Location: Glasgow, UK
Photo Credit: ©Robin Currie @robincurrie / ©Clair Irwin Photography @clairirwin_photography / ©Florence and Blank @florenceandblank
My name is Rekha (pronounced Ray-kah) and I founded Rekha Maker at the beginning of lockdown in 2020. I am proudly from Liverpool, UK, but have now lived in Glasgow for 13 years, having come here to study at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. Rekha Maker stemmed from the desire to create things that I wanted for myself and for my friends. I think sticking to what interests you is a good indication of what a wider audience would be interested in.
I am a full-time architect, which is a very rewarding job, but sometimes it takes a few years for designs to be realised, from conception to fully built project. When studying at the Mack, I loved using model-making and casting to express my ideas. When lockdown began, I picked this back up and started experimenting with designs for candle-holders and other small pieces. After giving the first prototypes to my friends as gifts, I realised that I might have come across something I wanted to continue doing. It was a great way for me to experiment with architectural motifs in a very playful and immediate way.
