KOCHI: S Gopakumar, founder and architect at Kochi-based Kumar Group Total Designers, became the first architect from Kerala to be awarded the Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal for the year 2020. The award is from Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), the national body of Indian architects. The award acknowledges his contributions to Indian architecture.“It is a privilege to receive this award from IIA and to be in the same list as some of the most elite names in the field. This motivates me to further work towards putting India on the global map of modern architecture,” he said.

The award was given on July 12 at the IIA National Convention by Divya Kush, the organisation’s national president. Former winners of the award include architects like Padma shri Achyut Kanvinde, Padma Visbushan Charles Correa, Padma Shri B V Doshi, and Padma Shri Laurie Baker. 

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