Nippon Paint sparks creative prowess of young designers with Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) 2017 f

Nippon Paint celebrated the successful conclusion of the Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA), themed ‘You for Tomorrow - future living as envisioned today’, in Sri Lanka for the second consecutive year, with a glamorous awards ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel Colombo recently. 

Held in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), the country’s apex body on Architecture, AYDA 2017 marked yet another vibrant journey of education, training, and exposure, finally culminating in recognition and opportunities for further training for both students of architecture and interior designing, with one student from each discipline being awarded Rs 100,000 and obtaining the chance to visit Malaysia (sponsored by Nippon Paint) for further training. Sri Lankan Industry Development Authority Chairman Eng. M R Jeyachandran graced the occasion as Chief Guest.  A host of other distinguished guests, including leading architects and interior designers, also attended the ceremony. 

The Gold Award winner for Architecture category was Dilushan Rajitha Maduranga from the University of Moratuwa and the Gold award winner of the Interior Design Category was Sachintha Fernando from the City School of Architecture. The winners will attend a three-day workshop held in Malaysia, with the participation of 30 of Asia’s best young designers, at the end of which all designers will present their creative concepts. The Platinum award winner of this competition will claim the grand prize of an all-expenses paid (by Nippon Paint) three-month internship at one of the best architectural/ interior designing practices of Asia. 

Commenting on the scale and the importance of the competition Nippon Paint Lanka Managing Director Raja Hewabowala said: “Nippon Paint first launched AYDA as early as 2008, on a global scale, to spark the creative talents of young architects and interior designers, and to infuse innovation and professionalism into their individual and collective journeys. Last year, we held the first ever AYDA competition in Sri Lanka, which was a resounding success, and generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the students and the professional bodies of architecture and interior designing. This year, too, we maintained that momentum to hold the competition for the second time. The amount of interest, creativity and the spirit of innovation we witnessed during AYDA 2017 were inspiring. I wish to thank SLIA for their assistance in carrying out AYDA 2017, which enabled Sri Lankan students of architecture and interior design to be a part of an international scale competition, and to congratulate all the winners.” 

The two Silver winners, Gihan Shanaka de Silva from the University of Moratuwa (Architecture category) and Yathindra Laknath Pallegoda (Interior Design category) from the City School of Architecture won Rs. 50,000 each.

The winner in the Best Colour Choice’ category, Romain Kaveesha from the City School of Architecture won Rs. 25,000 while W M N T K Wijekon from the University of Moratuwa emerged as the winner in the Green Innovation category, claiming a prize of Rs. 25,000 as well. 

All participating Universities and Colleges were given the chance to win Nippon Paint worth Rs 50,000 each, which were granted to the University of Moratuwa and the City School of Architecture. 

“AYDA 2017 was an opportune platform for young designers to explore and unleash their creative prowess and innovative thinking. It was wonderful to see young architects and interior designers learning the art of applying what they have learnt, to create concepts on such a prestigious platform. I am grateful to Nippon Paint Sri Lanka for opening up this opportunity to young Sri Lankan designers,” commented SLIA President Arch. D. H. Wijewardana.