SLIA to hold ‘A20 (Architect 2020)’ trade exhibition next week

The Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) celebrates the 62nd anniversary this year. SLIA established in 1957 will hold the ‘A20 (Architect 2020)’ trade exhibition in the country for the 38th consecutive time at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) from February 20 to 23. The Members’ Work and Trade Exhibition will be opened to the general public from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. providing the ultimate experience with more than 300 Trade Stalls and 150 Architects display panels including digital panels displaying architects’ work.

The inauguration ceremony of the Annual Sessions of 2020 will be held on 19th February at 3.00 p.m. President Gotabhaya Rajapakse will be the Chief Guest and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha, the Guest of Honour.

Members of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, members of other architectural institutions in the region, foreign guests, special invitees and students from the architecture field will also be present at the inauguration ceremony.

The National Conference will be held on 20th February 2020, under the theme of “The Art of Architecture”, The Art of Architecture is the manner of creating works of architecture. It is a singular faculty that only an architect possesses. Not to be confused with ‘Art in Architecture ‘or ‘Art and Architecture’.

The Art of Architecture is the ability to holistically grasp every aspect of building: from abstract to actual, briefs to bolts, concepts to contracts….! Most of all, the Art of Architecture inspires: it stimulates, motivates, encourages, uplifts and send the human spirit soaring. Only the Architect possesses these capacities.

The National Conference promises to be an exciting conference, with relevance not only for architects and anybody who has a fascination for Architecture. Some argue that the position of the architect in the society has been diluted by delegation or distribution of architect’s traditional tasks to allied professions and gradually the Architect is sought only for the task of “design“or the aesthetic aspect of the built environment which is debatable.

Hence, it is decided that SLIA National Conference-2020 is the most suitable forum for an Open Discussion of the Art of Architecture. Considering a Forum of Six Sessions including dialogues among architects, archaeologists, Painters, Film Directors, dancers, musicians, Art curators, chefs and a critical review of several award-winning architectural projects by team of architects, the National Conference 2020 will be an interactive dialogue of the theme supported by various related events occurring during the SLIA Sessions 2020.

The exhibition is comprises of dynamic and digital walkthroughs on Architectural projects, panels with Architectural models.a special live interface forum has been arranged where the Chartered Architects can meet the public through interesting presentations. A special live forum in the Center- Hall B has been arranged for the public to meet Chartered Architects and view their project presentations.

With the aim of increasing public perception and awareness on highquality skills and capacity of the Sri Lankan Architects and Building Industry, a trade and product catalogues, regional Architects firms and their work on exhibit will also be displayed on the A’20.

Visitors could explore, surf and locate services, materials, information of all products displayed, the extensive resources and skills locally available, innovative quality architectural designs and high-quality construction projects through to Architect 2020.

In order to make this giant exhibition a roaring success, Holding on to the ‘top spot’ for the last several years, Nippon Paint Lanka (Pvt) Ltd is the ‘Strategic Sponsor’; Naveen Ceramics (Pvt) Ltd the ‘SLIA Principal Sponsor’ with Ranjana’s Ceramic (Pvt) Ltd as the ‘Associate Sponsors’; Melwire Rolling (Pvt) Ltd, Softlogic (Pvt) Ltd., Abans PLC and Alumex PLC are the ‘Event sponsor’. The Kingsbury Colombo as the Official Hospitality Partner, Holiday Plan DMC as the Official Travel Partner; The Exclusive Media Partner is TV Derana for A20.