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The Lahore chapter of the Institute of Architects (IAP) in Pakistan recently hosted the 14th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA-14) in the new Expo and Convention Centre in Johar Town, well attended by more than 100 architects and students from over 20 countries.
Alongside ACA-14, the 31st ARCASIA Council Meeting and the ARCASIA Architectural Students’ Jamboree were held on the sidelines in Lahore and were participated by national and foreign architectures as well as by 500 architecture students.
The theme of the Congress this year was “Go Green: The Architecture of the New Order” where the speakers and participants read out papers and discussed the global challenge of climate change and environment degradation and came up with solutions of sustainable development through global green architectural approach.
The Congress Organizing Committee (COC) consisted of Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui as Convener with Ar. Syed Mohammad Irfan, Ar. Mohammad Arshad and Ar. Ahmad Pervez Mirza, as members. While the role of COC has been pivotal in making it possible to host ACA-14 in Lahore, the Students’ Jamboree Organization Committee’s hardwork is also commendable for the successful event. Comprising Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami as Convenor, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Awan as Dy. Convenor with Prof. Fauzia Qureshi, Ar./Plnr. Sadia Fazli and Prof. Tauseef Ahmed, as members, the Jamboree Committee equally made the event a success.
The Institute of Architects Pakistan was established in 1957 and since then it has linked architects at the professional and intellectual level with international organizations such as UIA (International Union of Architects), ARCASIA (Architects Regional Council Asia) and the SAARCH (SAARC association of Architects).
IAP hosted the Fifth Asian Congress of Architects (ACA-5) in 1992 for the first time in Pakistan. After that there was a long gap until the IAP presented a proposal last year at the event of ACA 13 in Busan, Korea, of Hosting ACA-14 in 2010. On this occasion, IAP won the bid in a competition between other Asian countries.
The main theme of the 14th Asian Congress of Architects was Go Green: the Architecture of the new order. Speakers and participants in the Congress discussed about the changes that have occurred in architecture throughout history, affected and influenced by the change in the societal paradigm. While the work of the modernists represented their grand vision of a new world embracing technology and an architecture that could be truly called international, postmodernism broke away from the stoic utilitarianism of its predecessor and sought more expressive and familiar forms.
However, in today’s time when the world is engaged in heated and often controversial debates on global warming and the threat it poses to the very existence to human life, Green Architecture has become the order of the day. Architects all over the world have to deal with this issue whether through the government or through an increasingly informed public.
Inaugurated by Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, in the presence of over 900 architects and students representing 20 countries including Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, and from within Pakistan, architects and students from Jamshoro, Peshawar, Multan, Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Abbottabad and Islamabad, the Inaugral Ceremony boosted of an exciting event ahead.
Speaking on the occasion, Yousuf Raza Gilani called upon architects to play their role in building green Asia for today as well as the future generations.
The premier said the governments could only devise policies but it was the responsibility of the architects to come with ideas to introduce greener environment which is carbon and toxic free. Gilani lauded services of the Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) in the flood relief efforts for the rehabilitation of the flood-hit people. He assured of government’s full support to the IAP, adding that it was in line with government’s policy to strengthen institutions in the country. The Prime Minister later inaugurated the building material and products exhibition and other exhibitions at the EXPO Centre and mixed freely with all the foreign delegates.
“Global warming, carbon emissions, deforestation and settlements in the vulnerable areas are the various challenges faced by the country and it is our responsibility to build a safer environment for the future generations,” the prime minister said. Lauding the services of the architects in developing non-sustainable resources, he said architects blend the environment and make it people-friendly.
The welcome address was delivered by the Convener Ar./Plnr. Kalim. A. Siddiqui where he briefly touched on the background of the conference and its theme. A minute’s silence was also observed for those who lost their lives in the recent devastating floods in Pakistan. The resolve to help build the country was strengthened on this occasion. In his address, Ar. Shahab Ghani Khan, President IAP, traced IAP’s history and its links with international organizations and its role in dealing with national calamities. IAP’s efforts towards sustainable and green architecture and its proposal of forming a National Rehabilitation Authority (NARA) were highlighted.
The inaugural session included the keynote speech of Ar. Karan Grover of India, entitled “The Complex Green.” His address was a clear reminder to the audience that natural resources were finite and unless we respect nature, as demanded by all the Scriptures, we will seriously compromise the lives of our future generations. The keynote address set the tone of ACA-14 and provided a framework and benchmark for the papers to follow.
Opening speech of the First Technical Session was delivered by Shaukat Awaz Raja, who also introduced the theme of the congress “Go Green: The Architecture of the New Order.” Prof Dr Siddique Akbar hosted the session while Architect. Mag. Art. Anna Heringer read papers on “Local solutions for Global Challenges” and Dr. Nomana Anjum on “Enabling Sustainable Design Practices Focusing on Build Environment”. Inevitably, an interesting round of questions and answers was witnessed after the presentations.
The Second Technical Session was hosted by Ar. Fauzia Qureshi. Speaker Ar. George Kunihiro brought into limelight “Cultural Sustainability and the Heritage Workshop.” Ar. Martin Rauch discussed “Modern earthen Structures and building technologies for a sustainable global architecture approach.”
A series of impactful and graphically strong presentations followed. Ar. Indika Samarasinghe from Sri Lanka was followed by Ar. Qazi Aziz ul Mowla from Bangladesh. A highly inspiring paper presented by Dr. Ajantha Perera, an activist and environmentalist from Sri Lanka, received a standing ovation from the large audience. Papers were also read by Ar. Bashirul Haq from Bangladesh, focused on the rehabilitation of flood victims, Ar. George Kunihiro from Japan, Ar. Mishal Abidi from Canada, Ar. Hajjah Noorzehan from Malaysia, Ar. Sharriah Hosseini from Iran and Ar. Rafiq Azam from Bangladesh.
The technical sessions held in the evening by Prof. Dr. Gulzar Haider who summed up proceedings most appropriately. A resolution drafted by him together with Ar. Ejaz Ahed, Ar. Arif Belgaumi and Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami was read out to the audience who, by the show of hands, adopted it unanimously. The ARCASIA gathering was thus successful in more ways than one, and all those who guided it to its successful culmination did more than just hold an ARCASIA event; they helped further cement the bonds of friendship and change the image of Pakistan. 
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