Smart Design Conclave & Awards is a phenomenal initiative by Building Material Reporter. This platform is one of India’s most trusted media houses celebrating building materials, design, architecture, interior design, and related industries.
2024 unfolded a blend of significant events of SDCA which was truly incredible. Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Haryana, Udaipur, and Lucknow- the team discovered the unseen potential of these Tier 2 cities. This dynamic gathering at SDCA Smartex of designers, architects, brands, and spectacular audiences discussed the trending topics. The event featured panel discussions, brand kiosks, technical representations, interactions, ideologies, sustainability, and many more segments.
Discovering The Beauty of Design at Ranchi
This year kickstarted with Smart Design Conclave & Awards: Chapter Ranchi. The event happened on March 16 2024 at BNR Chanakya and was organised in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Architecture, IIA Jharkhand chapter. The Keynote Speaker for the event was Ar. Monika Khosla Bhargava, Founder & Principal at Kham Consultants, Kolkata.
The panel discussion at SDCA Ranchi focussed on: Women in Architecture and the esteemed panelists were: Ar. Sandeep Kumar Jha, Principal, Axis Architects & Urban Planners; Ar. Atul Saraf, Principal at Atulya Architects and Chairman IIA Jharkhand Chapter; Ar. Monika Khosla Bhargava, Founder & Principal at Kham Consultants, Kolkata; Ar. Ritu Chadda, Principal at Chadda & Associates; Dr. Smriti Mishra, Associate Prof., BIT Mesra; Ar. Rashmi Srivastava, Chief Architect at Indraneel Consultants; Ar. Pragya Mittal, Principal at PMA Studio and Ar. Anusha Sinha, Principal at Atmos Design House. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Ar. Mayukh Dhar for his splendid work in the field of Architecture & Design.
Unlocking The Potential of Bhubaneswar
Smart Design Conclave & Awards, Bhubaneswar stood as a beacon of architectural brilliance, innovation, and recognition. This Tier 2 city surprised us with hidden treasured knowledge. The Smart Design Conclave & Awards, held at the Lemon Tree Premier, Bhubaneswar on the 26th of April 2024, was a gathering of architectural luminaries, professionals, and enthusiasts, marking a celebration of innovation, creativity, and excellence in design.
The highlight of SDCA Bhubaneswar was the keynote address delivered by Prof. Charanjit S Shah, the Founding Chairman of Creative Group, New Delhi. The Panel Discussion on ‘Design for Change’ was steered by Ar. Rajkunwar Nayak, a distinguished Architect & Urban Planner. The panel comprised esteemed personalities such as Ar. Bankim Kalra, Mr. Himanshu Shekhar Khatua, Prof. Kajri Misra, Mr. Paresh Choudhury, Ar. Deepak Panda, and Ar. Krishnenedu Nandy. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award upon Ar. Rabi Narayan Mohanty of Architects Collective, in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to the field of architecture.
Setting Benchmark in Pune’s Landscape
Known as the ‘Oxford of the East’, the city of Pune made our next SDCA possible! Smart Design Conclave & Awards Pune was an inspiring convergence of architectural talent, innovation, and excellence. Keynote addresses by Ar. Vivek Singh Rathore, Design Principal of Salient Design Studio and Ar. Shirish Beri of Shirish Beri & Associates was among the highlights. The panel discussion on ‘Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Structures’ was led by Ar. Anil Ranka, Principal of Anil Ranka Architects. Pioneers like Ar. Kalpak Bhandari of Veekas Studio, Ar. Satyajeet Patwardhan of Amoeba Design, ID Elham Mirza of The Wall, Ar. Dhairyasheel Powar of Unitecture Design Solutions, and Ar. Nilay Parekh of Vaastavya Architects shared their diverse expertise on the topic. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at SDCA Pune was presented to the Late Prof. Christopher Charles Benninger, Chairman of CCBA Designs for his excellent and invaluable work in the field.
Celebrating Excellence & Innovation at Karnal
For the first time ever in the history of Haryana, Smart Design Conclave & Awards Karnal was initiated by the team of Building Material Reporter & Smartex. This 8th edition took place on July 20, 2024, at Noor Mahal Palace, Karnal. The Keynote speakers were Ar. Sangeet Sharma, the Principal of SD Sharma & Associates, and Ar. Aman Aggarwal of Charged Voids.
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 panelists 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. The second topic was ‘Beyond Metros: The New Growth Market of India’ and the panel discussion moderator was Pankaj Malhotra, VP of Alstone Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. The esteemed panelists 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. The Lifetime Achievement Award at SDCA Haryana was presented to Ar. Shivdatt Sharma, the esteemed Founder of SD Sharma & Associates.
Where Heritage Meets Mod: Udaipur, You Beauty
Let’s take you through the journey of Smart Design Conclave & Awards Udaipur. This edition brought together visionaries, pioneers, and dignitaries from the field of architecture and design, marking a milestone in the evolution of the discipline. The first topic of the panel discussion named ‘Manthan’ was: Subtle Modernisation vs. Cultural Heritage. The esteemed panel comprised notable architects who have made significant contributions to the field: Ar. Venu Gopal, Principal, Venu Gopal Architects; Ar. Akash Chawat, Principal, Akash Chawat & Associates; Ar. Abhinav Mantri of B L Mantri & Associates; Ar. Anup Gupte of Sanjeev Gupte Architects; Ar. Anup Murdia, Principal, Design INC; and Ar. Apoorva Ajmera representing Design Alliance.
‘Architecture Beyond (But In) the Boxes of Bye Laws & Regulations with the Motive of Integrating Art and Contributing to the Local Economy’ was the second-panel discussion. The panel included Ar. Kapil Jain Intodia of Kapil Jain Architects; Ar. Priyanka Kothari of PankArch; Pawan Trivedi of Pawan Trivedi Designs; Ar. Amit Gaurav represented My Design Story; Ar. Saumya Luthra from Studio Paper Concepts; and Ar. Harshit Choubisa of Harshit Choubisa Architect.
The Keynote Speaker for SDCA Udaipur was Ar. Arun Sharma, Principal of Atrey & Associates. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ar. Sanjeev Gupte, Principal, Sanjeev Gupte Architects, a visionary whose work has transformed the architectural landscape of Udaipur and beyond.
Honoring the Glory of Awadh at Lucknow
The most recent Smart Design Conclave & Awards Lucknow was a testament to our mission to recognize and celebrate the efforts of architects, designers, and brands in tier 2 and 3 cities. The panel discussion ‘Manthan’ highlighted the topic: “Unity through Design: Redevelopment of Awadh While Preserving Cultural Heritage”. Moderated by Ar. Shubhra Mittal, Principal, Arinem Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd., the discussion featured a panel of distinguished experts including Dr. Vandana Sehgal, Dean & Principal, FOAP, AKTU; Ar. Sabeena Singh, Chief Architect, UPPWD; Ar. Alok Verma, Architect Planner, UP Housing & Development Board; Ar. K K Gautam, Chief Town Planner, Lucknow Development Authority; Ar. Shikhar Singh, Principal, A Plus UD; Ar. Savita Agarwal, Founder, Muralage; and Ar. Avinash Ghai, Principal, Avishkar & MD, AKIE Pvt. Ltd. The X-Talk segment was taken forward by the renowned architects Ar. Shree M Naik, Founder, Hazel Earth Studio and Ar. Rajkumar Vaswani, Director, L. S. Vaswani Pvt. Ltd.
At SDCA Lucknow, Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Prof. Dalip Chand Thapar, whose contributions as an architect and educator have greatly influenced the architectural landscape of Lucknow.
Smart Design Conclave & Awards is more than just a celebration of architecture; it is the reflection of the hard work and potential of the designers and brands towards a common goal of serving the best. Through insightful discussions, inspiring keynote presentations, and well-deserved recognitions, the events highlight the importance of innovation and design, while embracing the future of design.
SMARTEX, a symposium celebrating creativity, innovation, technology, and sustainability in architectural design and construction worldwide. India's no.1 platform to honor diverse visionaries and brands, inspiring viability.