NATCON is the largest annual convention of the Architects in India organized by the Indian Institute of Architects – IIA. This year NATCON will be hosted by IIA - Odisha Chapter in the capital city of Bhubaneswar - A perfect place where Indian architecture has flourished since time immemorial. NATCON - 2017 will be inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of the State, Sh. Naveen Patnaik. The Event will be graced by the presence of the Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri. Venkaiah Naidu.

Themes

Architectural Footprints Impact on Cities

"Architecture is the footprint we leave behind in the sands of time."

This intriguing phrase, over the ages, has proved to be apparently true. ARCHITECTURAL FOOTPRINTS - these idiomatic symbols of have been the result of immense labours of love and timeline manifestations. However some core principles influence these forms and help distinguish them. The social milieu, cultural transference, the expanding infrastructure of a city, the emerging environmental issues thereof, the concurrent technology, the existing laws are some of the elements that work towards creating the final built environment, leave their impression and define an era. We look forward to a varied and lively discussion centered on these concentric issues which identify, diversify and impact our cities.

Conference Sub-themes

Socio - Cultural Imprint

Urbanization has made major changes in our towns and cities with long term repercussions on the socio-cultural imprint. The advent of Big Data and social media has widened the global connect but the extent to which it has enhanced the quality of life is a matter of debate. The cultural landscape of a region is it’s intangible heritage which renders identity to the region. It is imperative at this stage to reflect upon this issue to prevent cities being globally replicated models. The session aims to deliberate upon the socio –cultural imprint of a city and develop the syntax that make the city environs unique, interactive, responsive and inclusive for all.

Highlights of the session

Socio-Cultural Imprint & the Global connect.

Social Equity

Inclusive Planning – Cities for All.

Preservation of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Quality of life.

Infrastructure and Technology

Cities are dynamic entities ever encompassing the changing temporal phenomenon. With new technological interventions there are significant changes in the infrastructural layout of the cities. The advent of smart technology has presumingly a massive impact on the building infrastructure and economics harnessing a galaxy of IT innovations with an aim to optimize and improve the performance levels of the city infrastructure specially that of the Smart Cities. However the important additional dimension is the smart and smooth functioning of the built environment in coherence with the dynamic growth of the city. The session aims to debate on the application and economics of smart technology within the smart city infrastructure.

Highlights of the session

Smart City Infrastructure.

Smart Technology.

Economic implications of IT interventions in building/city infrastructure.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is the fundamental to sustainable development. What is sustainable is smart. Various issues like energy efficient building infrastructure, usage of appropriate materials and technology as a solution, traditional building methods v/s smart technology, green architecture etc. Are some of the areas of concern and need to be elaborated in the present scenario. The crux of the matter is that reduction of carbon footprints within the cities as well as around the globe is of extreme importance in order to sustain life on the planet. The session aims to deliberate upon the emerging issues and their impact on the cities in order to broaden the understanding of the environmental challenges as integral to equitable and sustained economic growth.

Highlights of the session

Sustainable development

Appropriate technology solutions

Vernacular building techniques v/s Smart technology

Green Architecture

Legislation & Reforms

Legislation responsible for the current state of affairs impacting the development of cities needs to be reviewed and re-examined. The various Acts / Policies / byelaws within the framework of the present legislation need to be reassessed in order to identify the loopholes within them and also frontline processes and background forces involved in their formulation. Suggestive reforms/ measures maybe outlined to simplify the legislation and thereby the process of the urban development. The session aims to reflect upon and scrutinize the various acts / policies / byelaws impacting the development of infrastructure in the urban areas and suggest amendments within the scope of the prevailing legislative framework.

Highlights of the session

Implications of

Model building byelaws

Affordable housing policy

RERA Act

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