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.

With the support of architects to create newer living spaces, smart cities and infrastructure development, the summit was committed towards celebrating and developing architecture from leading architectural practitioners, contractors, developers, policy makers and engineers. Bringing together industry stakeholders from across the region, this summit provided an excellent opportunity to learn from and get inspired by leaders from the architectural community and explore the potential that the region has to offer.

Milind Pai, Principal Architect, Milind Pai said,”‘Architects can play a dual role. One in educating and second as participants. He strongly urged to participate in the community projects so to influence the policy making process by jointly putting up forums and appeals to the government at higher level to reform the policies to suit the structured growth of the cities”.

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.