Design buildings that are sensitive to users, architecture students told

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 17

Department of Architecture, Giani Zail Singh Campus College of Engineering and Technology, Bathinda, organised an expert lecture on affordable housing in Punjab. Prof Jit Kumar Gupta, former Chief Town Planner, Punjab, delivered the lecture for pre-final and final year students of B Architecture course.

Prof Ranjit Kaur introduced the expert speaker and highlighted the role of planners in the society. Professor Gupta’s talk inspired the students to treat the built environment within the framework of ecological setting and to design buildings which are sensitive to the users.

He stressed upon the need to design by getting inspiration from historical towns and cities of which have a lot to offer in terms of planning and urban design. He emphasized the role of architects and planners in creating affordable housing which is the cornerstone of country’s development.

Pro Gupta is also the co-chairman of IGBC Chandigarh Chapter and has been instrumental in granting IGBC student chapter to Department of Architecture. More than 60 students and faculty members attended the expert lecture which was followed by an interactive session.

The budding architects interacted with Prof. Gupta, who is an internationally widely travelled expert in the field of housing and town planning. Prof. Gupta is the senior most member of the Board of Studies, Academic Council, and Building Works committee of Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University, Bathinda.

In the afternoon a workshop on art and graphics by Gurpreet Singh, artist, photographer was organized. Gurpreet, a Kala academy award winner and artist of national repute delivered the expert talk and conducted a demonstrative workshop.

More than 100 students of architecture department attended the interactive workshop on art techniques of water colour and pencil sketching. The session was preceded by a lecture on art and aesthetics and importance of creativity in architecture.

He stressed on the need to inculcate creativity in the young budding artists and architects. He demonstrated new and innovative techniques to include aesthetics in functional and practical buildings. The majestic art work left the students and faculty spell bound. The workshop provided hands on experience for the students to create colourful and playful art forms in the architectural design.

Faculty in-charges, Professor Jatinder Kaur and Taranjit Singh welcomed the expert to the campus for the workshop and stressed upon the need for acquiring knowledge about new techniques of art which is the cornerstone for any architect.

Professor Bhupinder Pal Singh Dhot, head of the Department of Architecture appreciated the efforts of faculty in-charges of the event Jatinder Kaur, Taranjit Singh, Guneet Sidhu, Gaurav Jindal and Ramneet Kaur.

Prof Dhot informed that the Department of Architecture shall be organizing more such expert lectures and workshops in days to come to give need-based exposure to the students. He also appreciated the efforts of faculty convenors, and the students who participated whole heartedly in the workshop.

Dr JS Hundal, campus director and registrar, MRSSTU, Bathinda, appreciated the efforts of faculty and students of architecture department for holding such events and giving the necessary exposure to students.