The Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora and the Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Mr. Raman Bhalla this evening inaugurated 8th Building Material Expo at Hari Niwas Jammu.The Exhibition has been organized by the Indian Institute of Architects J&K Center with an objective to introduce modern technological innovations in building material in J&K.
The Chairman Northern Chapter of Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Ar Ashutosh Gupta, Council Member IIA, Northern Chapter Ar Kapil Mehta and EC member IIA Ar. Nikhil Mohan a large number of dealers and distributors of various architecture and construction related business houses from all over the country, HoDs and officers from different government departments were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jora urged for introducing latest and low cost building technology in the State, adding that architects should necessarily incorporate local esthetic and architecture in building designs so that different cities are differentiated. He said incorporation of local cultural element in architectural design should be the main focus of architecting engineers. He also urged for extensive research and renovation in manufacturing of building materials in the J&K State to bring it at par with cosmopolitan cities. He said J&K has 3 distinct regions each having its peculiar culture and topography adding that there was need to design architecture which would reflect separate identity of each region.
Responding to the demand of IIA, the Minister said that all possibilities would be explode to provide a suitable piece of land for construction of office for the IIA, J&K Chapter on the analogy of Indian Institute of Engineers. Mr. Bhalla while highlighting the role of architectural engineers urged for introducing new building technology in J&K to make it a modern State. He said J&K is a seismic zone and is prone to natural calamities and disasters needs special kind of building material to suit requirements of different areas having different geographical and topographical characteristics. He said J&K is a tourist State and so needs tourist related infrastructure adding that Architects should focus on these aspects of the State while designing architecture.The delegates of various building material companies of the Country gave power point presentation about their products.