Chauraha, the annual Young Architects Festival organized by the State Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), has begun at the city’s Sarovaram Bio-Park, with global masters of architecture sharing their views on the ‘Reviving Kozhikode’ design competition. revival of the city.
IAA National President CR Raju inaugurated the program on Thursday.
As part of the Reviving Kozhikode concept, the Comtrust Building Complex in the heart of the city was identified, on which 50 entries were received by the organizing committee. Nine of them were selected for the final round of the competition. All nine concepts focus on making the most of the historical structure when reviving the complex.
Peter Rich, a leading South African architect and one of the jury members, said the initiative would prove to be a catalyst to turn the structure into an asset. He noticed that young architects approached him in a specific way.
Another jury member, architect KT Raveendran, said the project should not be over-developed. “It should be maintained as the healthy green heart of the city,” he said. Architect Soumitra Ghosh said it was an opportunity to recapture the past.
District Collector N.K. Tej Lohit Reddy, MLA MK Munir and former MLA A. Pradeep Kumar was present.
A documentary was also screened on the occasion to mark the 50th year in the profession of architect NM Salim.
The ‘Young Architects Award’ instituted by IIA will be presented on Friday. The three-day program will conclude on Saturday.