SLIA holds Architects’ Works and Trade Exhibition at KCC

Text and pix by Harsha Udayakantha Peiris

The rapid growth of Asian cities and the accompanying problems of increased density, traffic congestions and pollution have seen the proliferation for better living environments and houses. When city dwellers have sufficient means to escape the frenetic pace of life in the city, they may also acquire a site some distance from the urban suburb to build a second house. 

Preferably, the site will be off the beaten track, yet accessible and though somewhat isolated, not without basic services. It offers the opportunity to escape the stress of city life, to relax and to enjoy the natural environment.

Keeping such objectives in the forefront of building bridges between the booming industrialisation and co-existence of harmonious living patterns, an innovative exhibition of architectures namely, Architects’ Works and Trade Exhibition’ kicked off on 21 September at the roof-top event floor of the Kandy City Centre (KCC).

This exhibition organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) showcased a number of detailed panels of drawings,  layouts, photographs  of models, structures and eco-friendly  buildings for creating  a better sustainable township programme and mega cities  in Sri Lanka in the future.

The panels at the exhibition also included comprehensively detailed designs done as project proposals by the final year students of the Department of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa, depicting the possible restructuring and conversion of many existing iconic buildings and locations in the city of Kandy, for their maximum utilisation upon a green concept, as luring and attractive business ventures. Currently, several of these layouts have been given wider consideration by the urban development authorities, in implementing restructuring works of sustainable township programmes in Sri Lanka, the students said.

The SLIA that organised the exhibition is an institution incorporated by an Act of Parliament titled, ‘Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Law No. 01 of 1976’. The institute is dedicated towards continuous promotion and updating knowledge and proficiency of its members assuring the public interest is best served and protected.