Mangaluru: The Mangalore-Manipal Centre of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA-MMC) organized a talk by renowned architect Sanjay Mohe from Bengaluru at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on July 21.

Architect Sanjay Mohe has bagged a lot of awards to his credit. Some of them include The Golden Architect Award by A + D and Spectrum Foundation Architecture Award (2009), J K Cements Architect of the year Award – 1991/1999/2001/2004/2007/2008, The Award of the Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects-2002, A + D International Annual Award of Architectural Review (1999), London and d’line, for JRD Digital Library Bengaluru, Gold Medal from ARCASIA - The Asian Forum for Institutes of Architecture (1998).

During the talk, Mohe spoke about his wide range of institutional and residential projects. Known for his simplicity, he told the gathered Mangalore City Architects and students, “As a child, when people asked me what my ambition was, I readily replied that I wanted to become an architect. Right after college, I did a few small projects with my teachers. The turning point in my career arrived when I went to Saudi for the tower in town project. I worked alongside eminent individuals who had immense architectural wisdom and experience. It was a great learning experience.”

After over two decades of work with Chandavarkar and Thacker Associates, Sanjay Mohe founded Mindspace, where he is currently principal architect.

"The whole process of realization from design to execution is exhilarating. There is always a tension and concurrently a curiosity when you try something new since you are unsure of the output. You are always in love with an idea and fight for its realization," said Mohe.

"There have been a number of unrealized projects but the one closest to my heart is a classroom design we proposed for IIMB. We have been working on the additions/changes in the IIM Campus since the past 10 years. As much as 80% of the work is already complete and we are working on the remaining 20%. Since architect B V Doshi was handling the project before us, when we stepped into the project we had to fill in the gaps and thus follow the existing language pervading there. We wanted to be sympathetic to the context and could not deviate from it. We were asked to do a classroom complex nearer to the other classrooms and since there was no space, we decided to use one of the open amphitheatres which the client anyway wanted to renovate. We decided to partially bury the structure to have the classrooms below the amphitheatre. But due to the increase in requirements we redesigned it to have the structure to look like an installation above the amphitheatre. Work for this classroom complex was almost complete and just when the construction was about to start, it was called off due to financial problems. The new location for the classroom block was suggested from the clients above the existing computer centre which is being built on the site," he added.

Earlier, architect Kumarachandra M R, chairman, IIAMMC welcomed the gathering. Architect Venkatesh Pai, treasurer, IIAMMC, architect Sanjay Mohe to the audience. Architect Shama compered the programme. Architect Suprith Alva, joint secretary, IIAMMC delivered the vote of thanks.

Architects Manhohar G, Sharun Anchan, Niren Jain, Sunil Talithaya, Nissar Mohammed and other executive members of IIAMMC were present.

Daikin Air Conditioning sponsored the event.

About Indian Institute of Architects

The Indian Institute of Architecture established in 1917, has more than 20,000 members today and plays a major role in promoting the profession of architecture by organizing and uniting architects of India to promote aesthetic, scientific and practical efficiency of the profession both in practice and education. IIA is represented on various national and international committees connected with architecture, art and building industry. It 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 (SAARCH).

The institute is working closely with Council Of Architecture (COA) to update the curriculum of architectural education, to impart knowledge to the students to enable them to respond creatively and responsibly to the growth and planning of built environment in cities and towns.

Other issues which IIA is looking into the practice of profession are the amendments of architects act, definition of architects, illegal practice by foreign architectural consultancy firms, illegal practice by non-architects, method of appointment of architects, declining scale of charges, archaic and out dated building bye-laws and process of building plan approval. These being the issues to be continuously tackled from the past to the present and until the issues have been resolved.

IIA has chosen 'Happiness through Architecture' as the central theme of all its major activities during the centenary year.