The Construction World Architecture and Builder (CWAB) Awards, now in its 11th year, felicitated the top architects and builders from all over the country.
Ever heard of the Oscars for the world of design, architecture and building? Of course you have! Last year, we completed 10 glorious years of our Construction World Architecture and Builder (CWAB) Awards! This year was our 11th year where we felicitated the top architects and builders from all over the country! Held at The Four Seasons, Mumbai on 11th August, 2016, the event stepped into its second decade of rewarding the design connoisseurs. If you´ve missed it, fret not, we´ve got you covered. Read on for a full account of the event in all its glory!
The VIP Room
This is where it all began – exclusive interviews with India´s top architects and builders, reflection and discussions on the economy´s impact on the design industry, competition within the industry, the vision and growth of India in terms of design, and of course, cocktails to support these illuminating discussions. With a strikingly glamorous setup with a backdrop of the event poster, sponsors, media partners, etc., the paparazzi went into a frenzy of photo ops as the who´s who walked in. Limiting the VIP Room entry to Winners and sponsors, maintained the integrity and significance of every topic that was discussed and gave members of the fraternity an intimate setting to network. However, to keep everyone else involved, the live footage of each interview was showcased at the venue simultaneously.
Lighting Our Evening Up
The evening kicked off with the ceremonious lighting of the lamp and with Pratap Padode, Managing Director of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd, giving a warm address to the 250-odd strong audience. Adding further intellect and thought-provoking ideas to the mix was Keynote Speaker Dr Sunita Narain, Director, Centre for Science and Environment. She delivered an enthralling address with thought-provoking ideas, giving the architects and builders a lot of food for thought.
Dr Narain shared, ´More than 70 per cent buildings that will stand in India in 2030 are yet to be built. The question is if we will get them right.´ She added that Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)-compliant buildings are expected to use 40-60 per cent less energy than conventional buildings; but there is minimal supervision. To an issue as grave as this one, she recommends, ´The rating systems must get government patronage and incentives. For this, we need transparency, accountability, stringent compliance and monitoring along with penalty. We need to ensure that not just design, but working of a building is also energy-resource efficient. We need to minimise to maximise, and use renewable energy for minimised energy demand. We need to define Smart Cities as liveable and equitable cities.´
Welcome To Design Paradise
Group Managing Editor, ASAPP Info Global, Falguni Padode, addressed the audience and gave them a brief history of CWAB and an introduction to a completely new segment introduced this year-Noteworthy Projects! She took everyone through the process of selection and explained its significance to the community.
The Noteworthy Project Winners
With earlier themes such as Green, Youth and Innovision, an addition to this year´s event was the selection of Noteworthy Projects from across the country in categories such as Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Institutional, Interiors and Retail.
Judged by an external jury of renowned architects and builders, the candidates were examined on the basis of the projects submitted for evaluation. This category handed the following Industry giants with a handsome, golden award:
1. Shresht Kashyap, Kanhai Gandhi and Neemesh Shah from KNS Architects
2. Parth Gada from Dipen Gada and Associates
3. Kamal Malik and Arjun Malik from Malik Architecture
4. MA Mehaboob from HiLite Realtors (India)
5. Madhav Joshi from Madhav Joshi & Associates
6. Sanjay Newaskar from Sanjay Newaskar Designs LLP
7. Sanjay B Sorathia from Happy Home Corporation
8. Rahul Kadri from Kadri Consultants
Top 10 Architects of India
Moving on to the next glamorous category of the evening – the Top 10 Architects from all over the country were brought together and felicitated by our very own Sunita Narain, Pratap Padode and Sumit Banerjee (Director of ASAPP Info Global Services).
Before we list the winners down, it is essential to note that our Architecture aristocrats make top notch posers and showstoppers, with a few holding their trophy up high with pride, some gliding on the ramp with elegance and some giving a striking pose for the picture perfect moment! Beginning with the consistent winner of this award and listing the others in no order of priority, the winners were:
1. Sanjay Puri from Sanjay Puri Architects Pvt Ltd
2. Hafeez Contractor from Architect Hafeez Contractor
3. Christopher Charles Benninger, & Ramprasad Akkisetti from Christopher Charles Benninger Architects Pvt Ltd
4. CN Raghavendran from CR Narayana Rao (Consultants)
5. Ramji Sarangan & Manoj Choudhury from Edifice Architects Pvt Ltd
6. Manit Rastogi from Morphogenesis
7. Shekhar Patki from PG Patki Architects Pvt Ltd
8. Abhin Alimchandani from Stup Consultants
9. Ria Talati and Naushir DeVitre from Talati and Panthaky Associated Designers LLP
10. Naresh V Narasimhan from Venkataramanan Associates
Top 10 Builders of India
There was an interesting twist to the evening when it came to awarding our Top Builders of India: a quick question at the end of the ramp walk! We must say, they shared some intricate insights into the industrial growth, their dream of Indian design, rectifications needed in the economic reforms to quicken our growth, and many such thought-provoking ideas. The winners of this prestigious category who received the awards were:
1. Om Ahuja, CEO – Residential of Brigade Group
2. Mohit Malhotra, Executive Director of Godrej Properties Ltd
3. Kishore Bhatija, Managing Director of K Raheja Corp
4. Parag Munot, Managing Director of Kalpataru Ltd
5. Anita Arjundas, Managing Director of Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd
6. Percy Chowdhry, Director of Rustomjee
7. JC Sharma, VC & MD of Sobha Ltd
8. Nayeem Noor, Executive Director – Liasoning, Prestige Group
9. Niranjan Hiranandani, Managing Director of Hiranandani Group
Surprise, Surprise!
Digital is the future and everyone is talking about it. So it was no surprise when ASAPP Info Global Services introduced their first digital product Рan online platform for interior design and home d̩cor, DezignGenie.com. The CEO of the digital property, Priyanka Padode, introduced this one-stop shop for the home dTcor space and showed the crowd a heart-warming video of a father and his daughter to highlight the strength of their bond through the one connecting piece that made their house a home. Watch the full video here: http://bit.ly/PapaMakesItHomeVideo
Let´s Call It A Night
Pratap Padode wrapped the event up with his kind words of appreciation towards all the attendees and winners. In his closing remarks he mentioned how in 2015, the 10th year celebrations saw over 50 winners – both architects and builders in a never-before congregation, wholeheartedly participating in the sterling event. A painstaking and transparent process of selection has resulted in the awards having earned the industry´s respect and presence.
All hail the CWAB Awards! Shriyal Sethumadhavan, Senior Assistant Editor of Construction World Magazine, gave the vote of thanks and expressed the company´s gratitude to the Jury, Sunita Narain, the winners, audience members, sponsors, Four Seasons Hotel and the relentless efforts of the ASAPP team to make this event possible. The event would not have been possible without our fabulous sponsors of the night – Schuco and Fundermax, whose MDs had the opportunity to network with the VIPs and present awards on stage, as well as show their corporate films. Hybec had a welcoming stall set up at the entrance of the venue.
Towards the end of a power-packed night, the entire architecture and building community took a fancy group photo together before Round 2 of cocktails, and of course, mouth watering dinner at the Four Seasons.
This event is one of the most looked forward to and the ONLY one that brings together architects and builders under one roof. All hail the 11th CWAB Awards! We can´t wait for next year´s already… can you?
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