French Government Awardee & Asian Games Village Architect Raj Rewal interacted with LPU Students
Jalandhar: School of Architecture and Design at Lovely Professional University (LPU) invited prominent Indian architect of international repute Architect Raj Rewal to interact with its students on the topic- “A Dialogue on Architecture and Urban Habitat”. Ar Rewal has a productive career spanning over five decades in architectural practice, research and thought-processes. His main interest lies in historic models, and the manner he invokes the memory of these patterns through design images is unmatchable.
Interacting with LPU students and faculty members, Ar Rewal gave importance to the representation of culture through contemporary architecture and creation of built environment that are climate responsive and culturally active. He deliberated on design ideation of his famous architectural projects including Hall of Nation (New Delhi) and Jung-e-Azadi Museum (Kartarpur, Punjab). He also expressed his concern for the conservation of post modern architectural masterpieces in India. He also shared how he faced a challenge when ‘The Hall of Industries’ and ‘Hall of Nations’ at Pragati Maidan New Delhi were demolished. These buildings were of architectural importance and ‘Indian National Trust for Art Culture and Heritage (INTACH) included these buildings in the list of ‘Modern Heritage’.
During question answer session, Ar Raj Rewal suggested students to travel and explore world for architectural history and new trends in Architecture, Design and Planning. He also suggested that designers must consider climatic and cultural parameters in their design thinking. On his reply to selection process of products for large scale construction and city scale projects, he emphasized on multi disciplinary collaborative approach for bringing out advanced architectural creations, thus improvising city spaces. He also appreciated the creativity of LPU students by seeing their works.
Illustrative, LPU students of Architecture & Design are continuously excelling all other students in creativity and designing. A few months back, they won top four trophies for Zonasa-2016 competitions held in Delhi (NCR). Occasion was the Northern Zone meet of the National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA), where 70+ architectural institutions of the zone participated.
Architect Rewal has received many awards and honours, including the Robert Mathew Award from the Commonwealth Associations of Architects. “Chevalier des Art des Lettres” award has also been conferred upon him by the French Government. His design portfolio consists of some of the most prestigious projects including Pragati Maidan Exhibition Complex, the French Embassy Staff Quarters, Asian Games Village, the British High Commission Housing, the World Bank Regional Mission, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biology, and the Parliament Library Complex.–