India Pavilion recognised as ‘One of the Most Iconic’ pavilions by American Institute of Architects
India Pavilion, one of the most visited pavilions at the world Expo 2020 Dubai recording a footfall of 3.5 lakh visitors in less than 50 days of inauguration, has been recognised as ‘One of the Most Iconic’ pavilions at the Expo. The Pavilion has achieved this coveted honour from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a distinguished international consortium of architects. Harvard alumni and Principal Architect of the Pavilion, Dikshu C Kukreja delivered an in-depth discourse on the ‘Making of India Pavilion’.
Daniel S. Hart, President American Institute of Architects, USA talked about uniqueness of India Pavilion design at this remarkable achievement, “What you’ve accomplished in this building is that it’s not just the architecture that you have created but the possibilities that it represents and you’ve done a beautiful job in making that manifest.” Sherif Anis, AIA Middle East Chapter Abu Dhabi, UAE Executive Director of Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA), UK talked about inconism and uniqueness of India Pavilion design, “India’s rich history is hard to express in a single building but this pavilion has been able to do that very beautifully.”
The India Pavilion is one of the largest pavilions at the Expo, at par with pavilions of countries such as USA and China. It is one of the three Pavilions at the Expo which would be retained for posterity after the event and would be a part of the Legacy Phase, Dubai.
The Chief Guest at the event was H.E. Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of India, Dubai. He commended the efforts of the AIA and Pavilion architects, “I thank the American Institute of Architects for choosing the India Pavilion as one of the best pavilions. It is a testament to the fact that a rather good job has been done and congratulations to the Chief Architect, Dikshu Kukreja for the same. India is home to 1/6th of humanity and in such a large country, there are several opinions and ideas. Architect Dikshu has done a brilliant job of dealing with this challenge and creating a pavilion which is a beautiful amalgamation of these opinions.”
The façade comprises of 600 individual blocks that move using kinetic architecture. The design also celebrates India’s 75 years of Independence. In the evening, the façade turns into a vibrant show with sound, light and projections, almost as if hosting a festival.
Principal Architect of India Pavilion, Dikshu Kukreja talked about manifestation of India Pavilion design and five decades of India’s architecture development through his presentation at the Pavilion. Talking about the Pavilion he said, “Architecture is an amalgamation of creativity and engineering. For us, representing India on an international platform meant developing a design that creates a meaningful dialogue between the tangible and intangible aspects of the built form. This was a very unique project to work on because it is showcased on a global stage where you have an assortment of architecture from around the world.
The event also included unveiling of book ‘Five Decades of India’s Built Environment’ by H.E. Dr. Aman Puri and Mr. Sherif Anis. The book is a compendium that documents the transformations that have taken place in the built environment of India.
The event was attended by architect delegates from across the world, Indian diaspora and dignitaries from Dubai and media.
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Al Mouj Golf in Oman, regarded by many as one of the Middle East’s finest golf courses, has for the second time retained its designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programme for Golf Courses, an Audubon International programme. The golf course was first designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2014, becoming the first golf course in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region to be certified. Al Mouj Golf has now achieved this distinction three times, thanks to the eco-friendly management approach of the wider team and the practices they have adopted toward the maintenance of the club as a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife. These efforts have been escalated by the Al Mouj Golf team, who have conducted regular assessments of the facility to ensure it has once again been recognised for the third time by Audubon International for environmental stewardship in 2020.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programme for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, Mexico, and Southeast Asia have achieved certification in the programme.
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