Breaking barriers and constructing wonders

Ishara Jayawardane

Archt. Ranjan Nadesapillai, President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects

A view of the railway station and bus stand in the city of Galle

What do Elvis, Tolkien, Geoffrey Bawa and Michael Angelo have in common? The answer is simple yet incredibly profound. All four are creators. Elvis created music. Tolkien created a fantasy world called Middle Earth. Geoffrey Bawa created structures and Michael Angelo created art. Elvis and Tolkien used their imagination to create something timeless and intangible, while Geoffrey Bawa and Michael Angelo created something timeless and tangible.

All four sons of creation are now immortalized. Elvis the king, Tolkien the Hobbit creator, Bawa, a man who could create cities with his mind and Michael Angelo who in addition to being an artist was a sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer.

The 21st Century is an exciting time with new innovations. And Architecture plays a pivotal role in a world of rapid technological advancements. It is the opportune time for a young Geoffrey Bawa or a Sri Lankan Michael Angelo!

Take the AquaDom, it resides in the lobby of Berlin's Radisson Blu Hotel, but the AquaDom goes where few hotel elevators have ever dared venture. A lift rising through the hollow center of a cylindrical, 82-foot tall aquarium transports visitors through a full panorama of tropical sea life. Does this fit your idea of excitement?

A night view of the railway station and bus stand in the city of Galle

Then the ARCHITECT Exhibition of Members’ Work and the Trade is the place for you.

The 30th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects will be held at the BMICH from February 22 to 26. The theme will be “Regenerating Sri Lanka: The Architect And The Built Environment”. The session is twofold. It will comprise of the National Conference on Architecture on February 23 and the ARCHITECT Exhibition of Members’ Work and the Trade from the February 23 to 26.

Participants will get the notion of the profession ARCHITECTURE by seeing the work of members (members work exhibition). They will also get an insight of how an architect is trained if one ponders over to the student sections (student exhibitions, the University of Moratuwa + City school of Architecture). They will also gain an insight into the rigorous mental activities of an architect. They will get an idea of the fierce competition and a vague insight into management practices and strict financial control of the industry. They will get a feel for the construction industry, processes, materials and technologies involved. This is a national agenda and a truly national requirement, this facilitation of the built environment.

The National Conference on Architecture will consist of three sessions: Invigorating public spaces and the cities, Recreating residential environments and Revival of socio cultural heritage.

Temple Tree Resort and Spa in Induruwa

The three Keynote speakers will be Architect Jan Gehl (Denmark), Architect Nalini Thakur (India) and Architect Frans Van der Werf (Holland).

The exhibition will consist of 200 odd stalls, with a record number of 100 architects participating. “It has come to the point where some of the resources have become scarce. It is our duty as architects to ensure that we leave something for tomorrow. Therefore we think of a sustainable development that would be economically and environmentally friendly so that we leave a tomorrow for the generations of tomorrow,” said Sri Lanka Institute of Architects President Archt. Ranjan Nadesapillai.

Nadesapillai went on to describe Architecture as a rigorous mental activity it is deep seated and psychological sometimes, it is a creative process so you also will get a notion of this at the exhibition. “This is an act of creation with the environment so we are actually creating the environment for the people” Nadesapillai added.