BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Chapter of Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) is all set to host the 34th National Convention - NATCON 2017. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan is scheduled to inaugurate the three-day event here on Thursday.
NATCON is the largest annual convention of the architects in the country. This year it is being organised in Bhubaneswar where Indian architecture is believed to have flourished since time immemorial.
IIA, which is celebrating its 101th year of foundation, is holding the convention in Odisha after a gap of 24 years. Renowned architects and experts from around the globe will deliberate on various themes including Architectural Footprints Impact on Cities apart from sub themes like Infrastructure and Technology, Environment and Sustainability, Socio Cultural Imprint and Legislator and Reform.
Eminent experts including Haier Ali from Sudan, Anjumala Pradhan and Sudeep Paudyal from Nepal, Qazi M Arif from Bangladesh, Hafeez Contractor, Karan Grover, Pratima Joshi, Chandrajeet Singh Shah, Sumit Ghosh, Vinit Khanna and DS Ramakrishna Rao are slated to take part in different panel discussions and technical sessions to discuss on the changing scenario of world architecture.
President Council of Architects Biswa Ranjan Nayak, junior vice-president of IIA Amogh Gupta and chairman of IIA (Odisha Chapter) Sagarendra Mohapatra will also grace the occasion.
Established in 1917, the IIA has more than 20,000 members and plays a major role in promoting the profession of architecture by organising and uniting the architects of India to promote aesthetic, scientific and practical efficiency of the profession both in practice and in education.
The national body of architects is also actively associated with International Union of Architects (UIA), Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) and South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation of Architects.