Y.S. Rana, Chandigarh, Feb12: “Minimising environmental impact of buildings is the biggest challenge,” said experts in a one-day conference on “Contemporary and Sustainable Architecture” organized by Chandigarh based A3 Foundation here on Friday.
The “father of sustainable bioclimatic buildings” from Malaysia, Dr. Ken Yeang, and noted veteran architect who had been engaged with Le Corbusier in designing the city, Ar. S.D. Sharma, presented the keynote addresses.
While addressing the participants, Dr. Ken Yeang suggested that bio-integration, restoration of ecosystem, and integration with infrastructure were essential components for sustainable architecture. Anything that constituted organic material and its usage in construction could make them into green buildings, he said.
In his address, Ar. S.D. Sharma averred that national sustainability was devoid of technology and sustainable and green architecture were complimentary to each others. Chandigarh architecture provided all the answers, he added.
Ar. Vinod Gupta from Delhi said that buildings consumed 40 percent of all energy and were responsible for 50% of green house gases, and it became expensive to create green buildings. “Sustainable development calls for environmental, economical and social sustainability which is for all people for all times,” he underlined.
Smt. Geeta Bhukkal, Education Minister, Haryana who was the chief guest, and gave away the Ultratech Paints A3F Awards implored that young architects must work actively to find sustainable solutions to the over-crowded cities.
Mrs. Meenakshi Anand Choudhnary, State Information Commissioner, Haryana, asked the young architects to realize the importance of depleting resources on earth and innovate to find environment-friendly solutions for future needs.
Other noted speakers at the conference included the legendary architect Charanjit Shah, who has been former Chairman of Indian Institute of Architects and South Asian Association of Architects, Ar. Ashok Kumar from Lucknow.
The objective of the conference was to implement and use sustainable resources to create environmentally conscious architectural designs to minimize impact on environment, explained celebrated local architect and Chaiman of A3 Foundation, Dr. Sangeet Sharma.
On this occasion several architects and students were recognized for their work on “Sustainable Products in Sustainable Projects”.
Ar. Anuj Vijay Kale from Nasik, Maharashtra, received the SD Sharma Best Sustainable Design Award.
Best Innovative Concept Design for institution went to Madhur Goyal, MITS, Gwalior. The Best Architecture Teacher Award was conferred on Ar. Sarabjot Singh Behl from GNDU, Amritsar, and Dr. K S Anantha Krishna from RVCE College, Bangalore.
The freelance journalist who earlier worked with the ‘Indian Architecture and Builder’ magazine, Suparna Rajguru, was conferred the A3F Architectural Journalism Award.
Commendation certificates for sustainable design concepts were also given to six students including, Mohit Vij, Anuj Vijay, Rhythm Kataria, Harsimran, Gayatri, and Vikas Pawar.
Nearly 300 architects, academicians, and students participated in this event.