The role of Architects in India’s Transformational Agenda
TRANSFORMATION 2020: Deliberating about the role of Architects in India’s Transformational Agenda at 3rd edition of The Economic Times Architecture & Design Summit in Hyderabad
Mapping the infrastructure initiatives to achieve the transformation of India’s evolving skyline, ET Edge, an Economic Times initiative organised the South leg of the 3rd edition of The Economic Times Architecture & Design Summit 2015 on 7th August at ITC Kakatiya.
The Summit was marked by the presence of leaders from the sector, who discussed around the theme – ‘TRANSFORMATION 2020’. The platform brought together influencers of the architecture and design community who discussed on various topics viz. ‘Role of the states in aligning Architecture with India’s transformation agenda’; Trends in Architect Design: Residential & Commercial and so on.
Pursuing yet another defining focus that influences the rapid economic development in India, the summit enabled break-through discussions & seamless interactions to understand how architecture is a very collaborative process and should be dealt with, in that spirit. It touched upon the fact that architects should engage in India’s Transformation agenda through policy, advocacy, smart city development projects and green field cities.
In the first panel on role of states in aligning Architecture with India’s transformation agenda, Sayed Muzaffer Hussain, Retd. Director of Town & Country Planning, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh touched upon how the government’s role is important in this transformation, but the problem is the ownership of development schemes capacity building and how the government is not taking this seriously. The government he said has less resources and development agenda needs to be prioritized.
These sessions were attended by eminent thought leaders of the sector such as Shreekant Somany, CMD, Somany Ceramics; Mujib Ahmed, Principal Architect, Collaborative Architecture; Pavitra Sriprakash, Chief Designer & Director, Shilpa Architects; C.N. Raghavendran, MD, CRN Architects ; T. Chitty Babu, Chairman & CEO, Akshaya; Pramod BalaKrishnan, Principal Architect, Edifice; Oscar Concessao, Principal Architect, Oscar & Ponni Architects; Sanjay Kalra, President -Sales & Marketing, Somany Ceramics; Prasana Kesavan, Director, Studio 7 Consultants; Arun Karthik, MD, Design Qube; Biju Kuriakose, Co-Founder, Architecture Red; C. S. Raghuram, Director, CRN Architects and Sunil Philip, Partner Pradhan Sethi Philip.
On this occasion, Haresh Lakhani, Principal Architect, H. P. Lakhani & Associates said, “Architecture is a physical representation of values and aspirations of society and Architecture today is more a collaborative process than it used to be , so in that spirit I think it will play a very big role in the transformation of the nation.”
Talking on the theme Transformation 2020, Srinivas Murthy G., Architect & Founder, Architect & Design Foundation said, “Architecture has the capacity to impact human behaviour by virtue of its finely integrated design philosophy manifested in the external form. Thus has a direct role in a creative build form and cities, which provide for dignified living in a very creative and aesthetic environment”
This initiative that started in 2013 with resounding successes in the Western & Northern regions has penned a success story by bringing together over 10,000+ delegates, 100+ speakers, 50+ partners and media from all over the globe till date. This summit has significantly created a platform for stakeholders to share concerns, discuss solutions, leverage trends and create the blueprint of a futuristic India.
The Summit culminated with Cocktail & gala dinner.
About ET Edge: Times Conferences Ltd., functional under the brand name ET Edge, is an Economic Times subsidiary founded to empower multiple industries and segments by sharing critical business knowledge through strategic conferences and summits. Encompassing the Indian business vista, ET Edge strives to bring together visionaries and key leaders on its knowledge platforms to create social and business ecology conducive to the positive changes required by the industry. The main aim of this initiative is to channel global business intelligence through summits and conferences in overarching lectures, hands-on workshops, panels, roundtables and case studies. The forums would ensure that senior decision makers are equipped with information to respond to challenges they face not just in India but also globally.
