October 5, 2017, Mumbai: The Mumbai edition of the 5th Economic Times A&D Summit brought together the experts from the architecture & design fraternity to discuss diversity, sustainability, technology and innovation in designing spaces. The event held at Vivanta by Taj President, Mumbai was attended by architects, interior designers and students.

The industry experts shared insights on the rich Indian architecture, which has evolved recently due to technological advancements and over population. It is a result of following in the footsteps of others without thoughtful, local-specific innovation, which is a major cause of concern. Thus the focus was on constructing better homes for India and offering Indians a design environment focused on sustainability while balancing the needs of modernity. It was found that when an industrial facility is designed, the future direction of the industry must be considered. Thus the expansion and future needs of the facility are an important consideration. In any large industrial design, the synergy between architecture and engineering is critical.

Sharing his thoughts on the summit, Mr. Deepak Lamba, President, Times Strategic Solutions Ltd. said, "The face of Indian architecture has changed in the last decade as we have adopted technological advancements. The aim behind this summit was to bring together experts to share their views and experiences that will help built a modern India which is humane, sustainable and timeless."

The summit also brought out an important topic of discussion - that of involving architects in the urban development of the country. The summit assured to take this initiative forward by involving government authorities and certainly use this platform to reach out to them.

Speaking during the session on cultural context & design diversity, Mr. Kanhai Gandhi, Director, KNS Architecture said, "Architecture is not about copying international designs and technology but is about seeing the viability of the location." Srinivas Murthy G, Chief Executive and Architect at SMG Design said, "History suggests that India has a rich taste in intricate architecture. Architecture is a dying craft in India. We must revive craftsmanship using traditional nuances in modern designs."