SLIA’s ‘A20’ Members’ Work and Trade Exhibition from 20-23 Feb

Thursday, 13 February 2020 01:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: AIA (SL) Board of Architectural Publications Chairman Archt. Chintaka Nikapitiya, AIA (SL) Committee Chairman Archt. Sumudu Athukorala, FIA (SL) Secretary Archt. Ranjana Suraweera, FIA (SL) Immediate Past President Archt. D. H. Wijewardene, FIA (SL) SLIA President Archt. Veranjan Kurukulasuriyam, FIA (SL) Exhibition Committee Vice President/Chairman Archt. Rohana Bandara Herath, FIA (SL) Treasurer Archt. Dilumini De Mel, FIA (SL) National Conference Committee Chairman Archt. Athula Ranasinghe and AIA (SL) Inauguration Committee Chairman Archt. Nandaka Jayasinghe at the Architect 2020 press conference

Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), established in 1957, which celebrates its 62nd anniversary in 2020, will hold ‘A20 (Architect 2020)’ the pre-eminent and most popular trade exhibition in the country, for the 38th consecutive time at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) from 20-23 February.

The Members’ Work and Trade Exhibition will be opened to the general public from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm, providing the ultimate experience, with more than 300 trade stalls and 150 architects’ display panels, including digital panels, displaying architects’ work.

The inauguration ceremony of the Annual Sessions of 2020 will be held on 19 February, at 3.00 pm. President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest and Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa the Guest of Honour. Members of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, members of other architectural institutions in the region, foreign guests, special invitees, and students from the architecture field will also be present at the inauguration ceremony.

The National Conference will be held on 20 February, under the theme of “The Art of Architecture”. The National Conference promises to be an exciting conference, with relevance not only for architects but anybody who has a fascination for architecture.

Hence, it is decided that the SLIA National Conference 2020 is the most suitable forum for an open discussion of the art of architecture. Consisting of a forum of six sessions including dialogues among architects, archaeologists, painters, film directors, dancers, musicians, art curators, chefs and a critical review of several award-winning architectural projects by a team of architects, the National Conference 2020 will be an interactive dialogue of the theme, supported by various related events occurring during the SLIA Sessions 2020.

The segments of the conference will be as follows:

Segment 1: Art of Architecture – Oceans of Knowledge
Segment 2: Is Agency the new Art of Architecture?
Segment 3: Art of Architecture – Life as Art
Segment 4: Cinema and Architecture
Segment 5: Fashion and Architecture
Segment 6: Messages – Art of Symbology

The exhibition is comprised of dynamic and digital walkthroughs on architectural projects, panels with architectural models. A special live interface forum has been arranged where the Chartered Architects can meet the public through interesting presentations. A special live forum in the Centre Hall B has been arranged for the public to meet Chartered Architects and view their project presentations.

With the aim of increasing public perception and awareness on high-quality skills and capacity of the Sri Lankan architecture and building industry, a trade and product catalogues, regional architect firms and their work on exhibit will also be displayed at A20.

Visitors could explore and locate services, materials, information of all products displayed, the extensive resources and skills locally available, innovative quality architectural designs, and high-quality construction projects through Architect 2020.

In order to make this giant exhibition a roaring success, holding on to the top spot for the last several years, Nippon Paint Lanka Ltd. is the Strategic Sponsor; Naveen Ceramics Ltd. the SLIA Principal Sponsor with Ranjana's Ceramic Ltd. as the Associate Sponsors; Melwire Rolling Ltd, Softlogic Ltd., Abans PLC and Alumex PLC are the Event sponsors with The Kingsbury Colombo as the Official Hospitality Partner, Holiday Plan DMC as the Official Travel Partner, and Exclusive Media Partner TV Derana.

Pic by Ruwan Walpola