Celebrating Innovation and Excellence: Smart Design Conclave & Awards Haryana

• August 16, 2024
• By: Editorial Team
• EVENTS

SDCA is a symbol of distinction and innovation in the field of design, architecture, innovation and technology, where creativity and functionality are blended. In addition to recognising outstanding accomplishments, these honours set new benchmarks and expand the realm of what is conceivable in the built environment. For the first time ever in the history of Haryana, such an initiative of celebrating design and innovation as a whole was taken by the team of Building Material Reporter & Smartex. 

Take a Look Here to go Through the Insights of the Event

This 8th edition of the Smart Design Conclave & Awards (SDCA) took place on July 20, 2024. Organised by Building Material Reporter (BMR), it was curated by Ar. Pratibha Rawal, Principal of N17 Architecture & Design at Noormahal Palace, Karnal in the state of Haryana where the architects, designers and brands gathered for the haul.

Attendees were intrigued by the well-arranged conclave proceedings which included three Keynote addresses, two Pecha Kuchas and two Panel Discussions. Prominent brands in the sector showcased state-of-the-art designs and introduced new materials, products, techniques, and ideas. With ceremonial lamp lighting, the conclave got underway. 

The success of the SDCA was possible through the generous support of sponsors including Alstone Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., Fima Frattini Carlo, Lauritz & Knudsen, CPM Systems, KEI Industries, Epsori Lighting, Bharat Bricks, Amedeo, Duro, Simpolo Tiles & Bath, and Lingel Windows - all showcased their latest innovative solutions. The event was visioned and planned in such a way that all the brands got a chance to deliver the product presentations to the audience.

The event reached a pinnacle of inspiration with presentations by esteemed architects. Ar. Deependra Prashad, Principal of DPAP Architects set the tone with his insightful discourse, followed by Ar. Aman Aggarwal, Principal at Charged Voids, who captivated the audience with his innovative perspectives. 

Ar. Sangeet Sharma, the Principal of SD Sharma & Associates, concluded the session with his compelling presentation on how the future of architecture can be perceived without disturbing nature. Each of these presentations was exceptionally enriching, offering thoughtful insights and profound reflections from their vast experiences in the field of architecture & design.

Panel Discussion - Housing Trends in Tier 2 & Tier 3 Cities

Panel Discussions are an integral part of our conclave, conducted to explore unique issues from the industry and facilitate meaningful dialogue among experts and audiences. The first topic was ‘Housing Trends in Tier 2 & Tier 3 Cities’ which had Ashwani Asija, Associate VP of Simpolo Tiles & Bath as the moderator. The distinguished panellists were: Ar. Gunit Tuli of Off The Grid; Ar. Rahul Bamba, Principal, ARB; Ar. Kartik Malhotra, Principal, Archidron Design Studio; Ar. Nitin Rawal, Principal, N-17 Architecture & Design and Ar. Sheenam Nanda of Nanda Architects.

Panel Discussion - Beyond Metros: The New Growth Market of India

The second topic was - ‘Beyond Metros: The New Growth Market of India’ and the moderator of the panel discussion was Pankaj Malhotra, VP of Alstone Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. The esteemed panellists were, Ar. Meenakshi Chhabra, Co-Founder, The MC Architects; Ar. Neeraj Gupta of La’Voeux; Ar. Himanshu Suri of Architect Suri & Associates; Ar. Deepak Sachdeva of Sachdeva Architects; Ar. Khurram Ali, Co-Founder, Industria and Ar. Ishan Chona of Imarat Designers. Both the discussions were truly thought-provoking and inspiring. 

Insightful Discussion on Vastu

The event also included an insightful presentation by Medical Vastu Expert, Prabhjot Singh, on Vastu and its effects on daily life. He emphasised that Vastu is not only crucial for a building's architecture, but also significantly impacts the health and well-being of its occupants by creating harmonious living spaces aligned with natural energies.

Pecha Kucha 

Under the Pecha Kucha segment, two dynamic young architects, Ar. Ankit Gera, Principal at Urban Influence Architects, and Ar. Rohan Jain, Founder of Projectedrays, captivated the audience with their respective presentations by incorporating emotions in design and bringing next-level experience in architecture. Their innovative architectural projects and fresh ideas left the audience in awe, reflecting a bold and imaginative approach to design.

Lifetime Achievement Award 

The SDCA Haryana drew everyone’s attention to the stage when the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ar. Shivdatt Sharma, the esteemed Founder of SD Sharma & Associates. Although he was unable to attend the event due to health reasons, the award was graciously accepted on his behalf by Ar. Sangeet Sharma, Ar. Purnima Sharma, and Ar. Shivansh Sharma. Ar. Shivdatt Sharma's outstanding contributions to design and architecture stand as a legacy to be cherished and celebrated.

Jury OF SDCA

The competition was curated by Prof. Anurag Roy, the former Principal of Gateway College of Architecture & Design, along with Prof. Manoj Mathur from SPA, New Delhi. The jury featured a distinguished lineup of experts, each bringing a wealth of experience and recognition in their respective fields. 

The panel included Ar. Purnima Sharma, Capt Consultants Pvt. Ltd. with her vast experience in architectural consultancy; Ar. Tanmay Tathagat, a pioneering force as the Director of Environmental Design Solutions; Madhup Mazumder, the esteemed Principal Landscape Architect at Design Accord Consultants; and Ar. Deependra Prashad, the visionary Principal at DPAP Architects. 
The event also honoured some of the state's top architects and designers with well-deserved recognitions. The jury, after a thorough and challenging evaluation process, provided the organisers with a list of the best entries. With each submission showcasing exceptional talent, selecting the winners was no easy task.

Additionally, Dr. Harish Tripathi, a thought leader at Arhta, and Ar. Amit Murao, Partner at the innovative Aashray Design Consultants, lent their expertise. The panel was further strengthened by the presence of Prof. Rashmi B Tandon from Vastukala Academy, Ar. Tullika Puri Katyal, the creative Founder of the Centre for Design & Innovation, and Ar. Sabeena Khanna, the Co-Founder of the forward-thinking Studio KIA.

Masterstroke Award 

The Masterstroke Award was presented to Ar. Subhash Duggal, Founder of Subash and Associates for his phenomenal contributions in the field of architects and design. He believes in designing new spaces with a belief that architecture will sprint leaps and bounds in the coming decades to cater to the changing trends of design. The award was received by his son, Ar. Ashwini Duggal.

List of Awardees

Projects that win awards frequently raise the bar for excellence and design. They contribute to shaping the future of architecture and urban planning by serving as a point of reference for best practices and new trends. Here is the list of awardees in different categories, whose works draw the attention of the jury and eventually, got honoured:

Award Category: The Design Vision  

Ar. Ish Chopra – Studio ICD
Ar. Shivansh Sharma & Ar. Meenal Mittal – SD Sharma & Associates
Ar. Yuvraj Choudhary & Ar. Puja Choudhary – Mahir Archalya

Award Category : Architecture in Residential
Ar. Bhupinder Singh – Vaastukala Foundation
Ar. Parth Singhal – Parth Singhal & Associates
Ar. Dipesh Panghal – Blackant Studio

Award Category : Interior in Residential
Ar. Jatin Khurana, Ar. Ankit Mehta, Ar. Neha Juneja – Formation Architects
Ar. Rashi Garg – Space Insight
Ar. Naveen Dhamija – NDA Associates

Award Category : Architecture in Hospitality 
Ar. Rohit Garg – Rohit Garg Architects
Award Category : Architecture in Commercial
Ar. Kashish Gupta & Ar. Deepanshi Goyal – ARK Studio

Award Category: Interior in Commercial 
Ar. Uddit Sachdeva – Uddit Sachdeva Design Atelier

Award Category : Sustained Ecology
Ar. Raman Lamba & Ar. Supriya Lamba – Design Space16

Award Category : Interior in Hospitality
Ar. Puneet Narang – Puneet Narang Concepts

Award Category : Architecture in Institutional
Ar. Abhishek Kumar Vaishnav & Ar. Kartik Malhotra – Archidron Design Studio

Award Category : Interior in Institutional 
Ar. Sandeep Kaushik – Vistara Consultants

SDCA highlights the achievements of forward-thinking architects and organisations while also paving the path for future developments. There was a special networking session along with a cocktail and musical evening which embarked the joyousness of the celebrations! 

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