By Charumini de Silva

The 34th Annual Session of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), Architect 2016  themed ‘Flows: Touching the Void’, kicked off yesterday at BMICH in Colombo.  

The ceremonial inauguration of the Annual Sessions 2016 was held under the patronage of Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Special Assignment Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama, world renowned Architect Richard Murphy and Architect Wong Mun Summ.

The National Conference will commence today (17), while the exhibition will be open to the public from 18 to 21 February from 10 am to 10 pm at the BMICH. The National Conference is open not just to architects but to anyone who has an interest in architecture, design and the way one’s physical surroundings are made which has a direct impact on his or her lifestyle. The conference will be immediately followed by the Members’ Work and Trade Exhibition.

The Architect exhibition is the pioneering show in the construction sector showcasing SLIA members work in the building trade. This year, the exhibition has more than 300 trade stalls and the work of over 125 architects on display. 

Space for all the creative people 

Conveying President Maithripala Sirisena’s message Special Assignment Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama said as Sri Lanka graduates its economy into  a new world,  the professionals particularly the architects of the country would have an important role to play.

“President Maithripala Sirisena informed me to instruct this house that he has the greatest of respect for our home-grown professionals. They have done their best, contributed their utmost to the growth and development of this country. Thereby, under this Government we will make sure that the talents and efforts of professionals will be used to the maximum,” he said 

He further assured that in the future that the Government is trying to build there would be enough space for all the creative people of this country. 

“Sri Lanka has an excellent history when it comes to our traditional architecture and building. In that backdrop, we must create a new enthusiasm, new architecture and a new future. I’m sure all those who are here today — not only the architects, but the young architects who look forward to a future in this profession can be confident that,” he noted.

Dr. Amunugama further said that as new opportunities arise, especially with the Megapolis which will generate many needs, requirements regarding professional involvement, their contribution to build the nation would play a key role.

Explaining the importance of diversifying the economy into new areas he said that Sri Lanka is finding it difficult to cope by sticking only to the traditional exports owing to the global downturn. 

“As you know our traditional exports are meeting a lot of resistance. The markets for commodities are coming down and the cost of production in Sri Lanka is high making us uncompetitive in those traditional areas. Hence we should look to new areas such as following urbanisation, tourism, IT and all sorts of new ventures which will be part of the future of this country,” he said.

Architecture: shaping the aspirations of a nation

Chief Guest Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said architecture is a medium through which one will guage the level of achievement of a nation and explained that it is also a medium that will shape up the aspiration of a nation. 

“It is in this light that I would suggest at a time Sri Lanka is envisioning being a competitive economy, high income nation and a country with a preserved heritage — architecture is the medium that we must use to inspire and to be inspired,” he pointed out, noting that this years’ theme ‘Flows: Touching the Void’ is thought provoking at a time where Sri Lanka is seeking its positioning in the fast evolving global economy.

Professional opinion 

must for Megapolis

SLIA President Architect Harsha Fernando said the national effort for urban development in creating a Megapolis must take place with the professional input with checks and balances under a proper management model — more importantly with public consensus. He pointed out that in facilitating such national endeavour that adapts the geospatial approach it is inevitable and this ambitious urban development scheme necessitates the functional synchronisation of multitude of overlapping professional inputs.

“We see potential contributions our architectural community can offer. The professionals are trained to deal with infrastructure, environment, logistics, management, sociology technology and real estate. Thus a healthy balance will no doubt maintain a qualitative and quantitative demand,” Fernando added.

This year the SLIA is inaugurating its eventful sessions associated with annual awards presented to its members recognising their lifetime achievements, lifetime educational contributions to their profession and the community and their distinctive and creative work. 

World renowned architect Richard Murphy, who has vast experience in art, education, housing, health and community use and master planning, architect Wom Mun Summ, an expert in undertaking project types ranging from apartments, towers,  mass-transit stations and hotels to condominiums and luxury resorts  , and architect Edric Marco Florentino, an EAROPH (Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Housing) Golden Jubilee Award winner at the EAROPH Convention held in Australia in 2010, will deliver the keynote speeches. Sri Lanka’s own  famed architects D. H. Wijewardene, Dr. Anusha Rajapaksha, Madura Prematilake and Rathnasiri Jayasinghe will also share their views at the conference. 

Architect 2016 will showcase the work of architectural firms, and the creations and course work of architecture students from the University of Moratuwa and the City School of Architecture. The trade exhibition will consist of trade stalls displaying a variety of products imported and locally manufactured, ranging from construction related products to sanitary ware, interior decor and landscaping. Several new technologies available in the local market will also be displayed. There will also be an awards scheme aimed to recognise the stall that best reflects this year’s theme. 

Pix by Upul Abayasekara

Champika extends open invitation to professionals to build Megapolis

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday extended an open invitation to architects and professionals to join hands with the Government in realising the national effort for sustainable urban development.

The call was apparently in response to the request made by architects last week that professional inputs were key to make Megapolis a success.

“In order to realise this national endeavour, I give an open invitation to you architects and other professionals to join with us as you all have to play a key role in this process,” Minister Ranawaka told at the 34th Annual Session of Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) Architect 2016 which kicked off yesterday at BMICH.

He said the architects need to guide the configuration with their expertise and their excellence in order to inspire the entire nation and to drive towards achieving Government expectations. 

“We all need to understand that Sri Lanka is fast becoming a competitive economy. The Western Province Megapolis development project will be the epicenter and the energiser towards the longstanding firmly established sustainable future urban process of Sri Lanka,” he said.

The Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka needs to be innovative, sensitive, responsive, reactive and proactive in order to realise this gigantic effort to build nation towards a sustainable future.

“The structural transformations of technical economic and social condition as well as spatial transformation of building environment are key challenges before us. We need to work together and closer to realise this dream. Let us try to be smart not only with technology and information, but also in our thinking and practice,” he added. (CDS)