New Delhi: JK Cement Ltd., India’s premier cement company, virtually hosted the 29th and the 30th edition of the Architect of the Year Awards.
JK Cement instituted the Architect of the Year Awards way back in 1990 aiming at creating a platform to recognise distinguished architects who have made outstanding contributions in the domain of architecture. Today, AYA intends to encourage the significance of Architects in the society, by opening up new opportunities for them to interact with each other on a global scale. Continuing its successful run, this year both 29th and 30th JK AYA received 200 plus entries each from India and neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania & Seychelles.
The prestigious award ceremony was graced by the presence of Hon’ble Smt. Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, along with Mr. Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director JK Cement Ltd. and Mr. Madhavkrishna Singhania, Deputy Managing Director and CEO, JK Cement Ltd.
The winners who were felicitated at the 29th and the 30th edition of Architect of the Year Awards were selected after much deliberation with a jury comprising of industry veterans from across India and countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania & Seychelles. The jury process was indeed strenuous with intense debates and discussions, as each of the nominated project were truly outstanding.
The most prestigious category of the Indian Architect of the Year for the 29th JK AYA was bagged by Ar. Verendra Wakhloo, for his Jenga House Project in New Delhi. The Indian Architect of the Year for the 30th JK AYA was bagged by Ar. Siddhartha Talwar, for his Krushi Bhawan Project in Bhubaneswar.
Apart from these, the Green Architecture Award for the 29th JK AYA was won by Ar. Suhasini Ayer for her Humanscapes Habitat Project in Auroville. The Green Architecture Award for the 30th JK AYA was won by Ar. Sonali Rastogi for her Forest Essential Facilities Project in Rishikesh.
Like every year, JK AYA honours talent beyond boundaries with the FCAA (Foreign Countries Architect of Year Award). For the 29th JK AYA, Ar. Muhammad Moniruzzaman from Dhaka was conferred with the Foreign Countries’ Architect of Year Award for his Office Building of Teach for Bangladesh project. For the 30th JK AYA, Ar. Md. Iqbal Habib, Md. Ishtiaque Zahir and Ar. Shahnaz Akhter Parveen from Dhaka were conferred with the Foreign Countries’ Architect of Year Award for their Ekmaattra DBBL Academy project. Further commendation awards in various categories were also handed over. (List Appended)
This time the JK AYA had two ‘New Revolving Categories’ to recognize the impeccable contribution of the Architect community to the society. The New Revolving Category of 29th JK AYA is: ‘Make it New’ and the New Revolving category of 30th JK AYA is: ‘Industrial Architecture’
Speaking on the success of the awards ceremony, Dr. Raghavpat Singhania Managing Director, JK Cement Ltd. said, “Architects play a pivotal role in helping the government realise the vision of ‘new India’ and pave the way for the execution of rapid urbanisation. My heartiest congratulations to all the winners who truly deserve the acknowledgement coming their way for raising the bar in architecture. We look forward to greater success in the years to come.”
Congratulating the winners , Mr. Madhav Krishna Singhania, Deputy Managing Director and CEO, JK Cement Ltd. said, “As contributors to nation building, the architect fraternity is going to play a crucial role in the direction of national growth and change. My wholehearted congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to more such successes to celebrate and recognize in the years to come.”