‘Architect 2017’ exhibition to kick-start next week

From left: Architect 2017 Inauguration Committee Chairman Architect Migara Alwis, Media Committee Chairperson Architect Dilummini De Mel, SLIA Secretary Architect Russell Dandeniya, SLIA President Architect Harsha Fernando, SLIA Senior Vice President Architect D.H. Wijewardene, SLIA Vice President and Exhibition Committee Chairman - Architect 2017, Architect Bernard Gomez and Architect 2017 National Conference Committee Chairman Architect Salinda Rathugama  
Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

By Zahara Zuhair
The 35th edition of the architect exhibition hosted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architect’s (SLIA) will unfold in Colombo next week from 16th-19th. This time it will comprise of 305 stalls and 135 panels displaying architects’ work. 
The exhibition will showcase the work of architectural firms, creations and course work of the students of architecture from the University of Moratuwa and the City School of Architecture. 
Other highlights of the ‘Architect 2017’ would be the 34th National Conference which will take place on February 15th under the theme ‘Return of the city’ - Mega structure redefined, and the SLIA Information Centre, giving the visitors the opportunity to learn at firsthand about the practice of architecture and the benefits of properly designed built environments as well as the 3D presentations. 
Talking at the press conference held to announce the event, Architect 2017 National Conference Committee Chairman Architect Salinda Rathugama said that as the government had recently embarked on the Colombo Megapolis project, however, creating a Mega City in Sri Lanka is not a task achievable entirely by the government. Indeed, it is a task for the collectivity of its entire people, professionals and others, he said.
“For this exercise to be meaningful, new ideas need to be created and new policies need to be put in place. The policies need to be based on sound concepts and principles, for which the professionals have to contribute by propagating appropriate ideas and principles based on informed imaginations and tested 
experiences,” he said.
Although the policy makers may be aware, he said that they have to keep on reminding them and the administrators in the country on the importance of this.
“You all will agree with me that our architects have a significant role to play in a mega scale city development. As we all know, architects are the experts in the creation of built environments. They have undergone many years of theoretical learning, and have been endowed  with the practical skills so necessary to conceptualise, imagine and design built environments that are holistic,” he stressed.
In the first session, they will deliberate on the current and past approaches, their successes and failures in shaping of mega cities, presented by internationally known Sri Lankan architect Dr.Roland Silva. Urban Development Specialist Nayana Mawilmada, is expected to give an introduction to the concept of Megapolis in Colombo District.
The chief guest, the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawake is expected to enlighten on the current status of the proposed Colombo Megapolis Development.
In the second session, Architect Moshe Safdie from United States of America, who has done iconic mega scale building projects also in the Asian region, including Singapore and India and also the architect of the much talked about Altair Residential Tower project which is coming up in Colombo, will deliberate his speech on the fundamental questions about the nature and character of the public realm that towers create and the rise of privatisation of public space.
Architect, D.B.Navaratne will contribute his views on the desirable approach to the making of Mega Cities in Sri Lanka.
In the third session, Architect Gibson Rhie of Samoo Architects from Korea will talk about precedents that Korean architects attempted to relieve the growing pressure and proactively try to heal the problems of the city.
“We have two speakers for session four and the speaker from Japan, Architect Tomohiko Yamanashi will enlighten the audience on Industry 4 in Architecture. Professor Mikie Desai of India will talk about the importance of the people based bottom up city development approach,” he said.
It was noted that the final session will end with presentations from the two schools of Architecture in Sri Lanka.