August 01, 2014,ThePiccadily- Lucknow 

ET Edge, a subsidiary of The Economic Times, founded to empower multiple sectors, industries and segments through the dispersion of critical business knowledge through strategically developed conferences and summits, today, held  ET EDGE Architecture and Design Summit 2014 in Lucknow. The summit witnessed participation from interior fit-out manufacturers, regional architects, interior designers, architecture associations and academicians.

Recognizing the significance of the architectural practice in India, the summit aimed to bring together key stakeholders to deliberate on the current challenges through Key-Note presentation, multiple focused panel discussions. With the theme of “TRADITION AND MODERNITY IN CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE”, the conference aimed to focus on hosting top level architects and design professional to deliberate the much needed transition required by the upcoming metro cities to create a unique identity and transform into a “Smart City” capable of sustaining the brisk population growth.

The summit was initiated with a welcome address by Flavia Pereira, Times Conferences Ltd. The Opening address was given by Mr. ShreekantSomani,Chairman & Managing Director, Somany Ceramics followed by the chief guest address by Shri D. K. Shukla, Additional Housing Commissioner & Additional Registrar, U.P. Housing and Development Board.The Opening Key-Note was delivered by Ar. Reza Kabul, Owner, Reza Kabul Associates. Other opinion leaders present on the occasion included Ar. Ashutosh Kumar, Principal Architect, Design Square Architects, ArunVirmani, Founder, ArunVirmani Architects, Syed Mohammad Qadir Ali, Chairman and Managing Director,  MI Builders, Ar. Ritu Gulati, Sr. Professor/Principal architect, Faculty of Architecture, UPTU/Sakaar-the design Studio and Ar.Ajay Behl, Resource Mobilization Convener/Owner, UP Architect Association/Civil Consultants. The session was moderated by Ar. Vipul B.Varshney, Convenor, Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage, Lucknow chapter and was eventually concluded by Dr. Anis Ansari, IAS (Retd), Vice Chancellor, KhwajaMoinuddinChishti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University.

The Architecture & Design Summit 2014 focused mainly conceptualizing the unique global cities of India – Conceptualizing the Unique Global Cities of India – The Role of the Local Government& Regional Stake Holders with Developing Architectural Concepts and New Urban Identity.

The Panel discussions deliberated on the following issues: 

• Envisioning ‘Smart Cities’ – The Planned Way Forward
• Conceptualizing the unique global cities of India – The role of the Local Government & Regional stake holders with developing architectural concepts and new urban identity
• ‘Innovations in the World of Ceramic – Moving Beyond Conventional to Unconventional’
• ‘Revolutionizing Interior Designing Concepts’