The winners of the prestigious IIA Awards for Excellence in Architecture for 2018 were announced at the valedictory function held at Kovalam, Trivandrum. This year saw a record number of 537 entries from across the country and witnessed 82 of the country's finest projects presented by its Architects and an exhibition of all shortlisted entrees. About 1000 delegates and 600 architecture students from across the country participated in the event.

IIA Awards

Ar. N Mahesh, Chairman – Events, IIA Trivandum, said, "This is the most coveted architecture event where the best in the fraternity converged to deliberate, discuss and internally review the state of architecture. We believe this initiative has significant potential in shaping the way forward. Architects have tremendous impact on the lives of people if they are meaningfully engaged by the society. This award holds great significance as it is adjudged and given by fellow architects."

The keynote speakers at the two-day event included Ar Neelkanth Chhaya, Ar. Myrto Vitart, Ar. Jeremy Smith and Ar. Jaimini Mehta. The 13 members grand jury comprised of Ar. KT Ravindran, Ar. Madura Prema Tilleke, Ar. Myrto Vitart, Ar.Jeremy Smith, Ar Jaimini Mehta, Ar. Sameep Padora, Ar Jayakumar Pillai, Ar. Kamal Malik, Ar. Neelkanth Chhaya, Ar. Vinit Mirkar, Ar. Habeeb Khan, Ar. Durganand Balsavar and Ar. S Gopakumar. Ar. N Mahesh was the Chairman of the Event and Ar. Saiju Mohammed Basheer, Chairman of IIA Trivandrum Centre was the General Convener. The core committee comprised of Ar. Varghese Panicker, Ar. Zeril Jose, Ar. Dharma Keerthi, Ar. Jayakrishnan K B, Ar. Sudhir B, Ar. G. Viswanathan and Ar. Krishnan Potti.

Ayamkudy

Trivandrum Architecture and Aesthetic Celebration (TAAC) 2019 was an initiative by the Trivandrum Centre of the Indian Institute of Architects that sought to connect architecture students and eminent personalities in the field of architecture to bring out multitudes of design dimensions in the realm of architecture and offer a platform for presenting a series of experimental pursuits and an exchange of design wisdom, and dialogues between architecture and society.

The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) is the national body of architects, with over 20,000 active members, offers a platform for architects to present their creations, which can lead to meaningful debates and dialogues aimed at defining a new direction for architectural practice in the country.

Ar. Divya Kush, President, IIA, presented the awards to the following winners:
  • Ar. Verendra Wakhloo, Matra Architects & Rurban Planners: 'Residential A' category for Kaleka House.
  • Ar. Swapnil Valvatkar, Collage Architecture studio: 'Residential B' category for the project Rohan Aviriti- An Urban Oasis.
  • Ar. Narayan Moorthy, Kumar Moorthy and Associates: Commercial category for the Corporate Office for Creative Travel.
  • Ar. Bakir Zafar & Late Ar. Noor Aboojiwala, NBZ Architectural Consultants: 'Public –Institutional' category award for Masjid-e-Haji Abdur Rauf project
  • Ar. Bijoy Ramachandran, Hundredhands Design: Commendation for Bangalore International Centre.
  • Ar. Christopher Charles Benninger, CCBA Designs: 'Industrial Infrastructure' category for Krohne Marshall.
  • Ar. Pinkish Shah, S+PS Architects: 'Interior-Residential' category for the Pavillion House.
  • Ar. Vivek Singh Rathore, Salient Architects: 'Interior – Non Residential' category for their project Fanattic Sports Museum
  • Ar. Amit Aurora, Group DCA: 'Interior – Non Residential' category for office project Communique Marketing Solutions
  • Ar. Madhav Joshi, Madhav Joshi & Associates: Backpacker's Hostel in the 'Hospitality and Recreation' category.
  • Ar. Sidhartha Talwar, Studio Lotus': Conservation category'
  • Ar. Anubhav Gupta, GPL Design Studio: Conservation category
  • Ar. Madhushitha C A, Cochin Creative Collective: 'Unbuilt' category for 1868 House
  • Ar. Sujata C. Hingorani, Oasis Designs: 'Landscape' category for JM Streetscape, Pune Streets Programme.
  • Ar. Mohandas P, Stapati & Vanam: Joint winners in the 'Landscape' category for designing the Malabar Headquarters.
  • Ar. Arjun Rajan, A'Factree Architects: "Social Responsible' category commendation for Transition Homes.
  • Ar. Shilpa Sharma, IES College of Architecture: 'Research' category.