- 60 years celebration of the Pune Centre of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)
- Jubair Shaikh, Anil Hatkar, and Iqbal Chani were awarded the ‘IIA S.K. Belwalkar Award’ for Excellence in Profession.
- Five outstanding educators from architecture colleges in the Pune region were honored with the ‘IIA S.J. Contracts Award for Excellence in Teaching.
PUNE: Jubair Shaikh, Anil Hatkar, and Iqbal Chani, senior architects with over 45 years of dedicated contributions to the field of architecture, were recently honored by the Pune Centre of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) with the prestigious ‘IIA S.K. Belwalkar Award’ for Excellence in Profession.
The awards were presented during a special ceremony held at Pandit Farms, D.P. Road, to mark the 60th anniversary of the IIA Pune Centre. In addition, five distinguished educators from architecture colleges in the Pune region- Dr. Abhijit Natu, Dr. Sujata Karve, Prof. Fatima Kabir, Prof. Aarti Patil, and Dr. Swati Sahasrabuddhe were felicitated with the ‘IIA S.J. Contracts Award’ for Excellence in Teaching. Each award included a citation and a memento.
Prominent figures present on the dais included IIA’s Honorary Joint Secretary Architects Sandeep Bavadekar and Samir Belwalkar from the Belwalkar Group, Saurabh Jangle- Director of S.J. Contracts, IIA Pune Centre Chairman Architect Vikas Achalkar, and Vice Chairman Architect Sitesh Agrawal. The event also featured the release of the IIA Maharashtra souvenir, edited by Ar. Mrinalini Sane was recognized for her efforts.
During the event, Architect Vivek Bhole, Managing Director of Vivek Bhole Architects, and Architect Biju Kuriakose, Co-Founder of Chennai-based urban design firm Architecture RED, provided insightful guidance to the audience.
Sharing his experiences relating to projects in Mumbai, Architect Vivek Bhole highlighted the advantages of higher FSI (Floor Space Index) in Mumbai compared to Pune. He remarked, “India, being an equatorial country should compare its architectural practices with Singapore rather than Dubai or other nations. As the number of high-rise buildings increases in India, architects must think beyond conventional frameworks. While constructing buildings, there must be a balance between private and public spaces.”
Architect Biju Kuriakose emphasized the challenges architects face today, working within the framework of environmental concerns, socio-economic disruptions, and cultural diversity. He highlighted the importance of architects connecting with society beyond mere building construction. “The modern architect is not just a master planner but a facilitator, collaborator, and innovator,” he said. He also shared insights into ongoing projects in Chennai and Trivandrum, the challenges encountered, and the solutions implemented.
In his opening remarks, Architect Vikas Achalkar reflected on the Pune Centre’s accomplishments over six decades and outlined its plans. Over 500 eminent guests attended the event, including renowned architects, institutions, students, professors, and professionals from the field. Neelam Daswani anchored the program, which concluded with a soulful Sufi Night performance by Tariq Faiz.
