The three-day Exhibition of Building Materials and Products Organized by Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAPEX) ended on a high note. The event, organized by the Institute of Architects Pakistan’s Rawalpindi and Islamabad chapter brought the country’s architectural masterminds and home decorators under one roof and attracted the people from architects to engineers to builders to members of allied professions to common men on all days. Islamabad’s Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz inaugurated the exhibition, visited stalls of builders and architects and learned about their initiatives for modern and affordable housing.
He said architecture had undergone a drastic change over a period of time due to technological advancement and therefore, architects along with builders should act accordingly to respond to our current and future needs. The mayor said more and more such events should be held to the benefit of all, especially common man.
Commonly called the IAPEX 2018, it had the theme of ‘Archi Future – Future Living, Technology, and Sustainability’. Manufacturers and vendors put up stalls to showcase their products and services, while architects informed visitors about modern concepts and trends of architecture, urban development and building material industry and answered their questions. With an aim to enhance the exposure of local students, academia and professionals, world-famous architects Raya Ani and Andre Meyerhans also made it to the event. They spoke in the IAPEX Forum, interacted with audience, and judged the ideas of architecture students and experts along with IAP, RIC, Chairman Kabeer Malik.
The organizers declared the exhibition a successful event. IAP, RIC, Chairman Kabeer Malik said the event helped introduce the challenges of modern technology and its impact on the people’s lifestyles to young designers. chairman Kabeer Malik said the institute, which provided equal opportunity to the architects and allied industry to interact and develop professional relations, organized the exhibition every year to bring new building materials, technology and innovation, and building solutions to the doorsteps of end users and consumers.
He said the institute had expanded its horizon to greater avenues of linkage of professionals through seminars and interactive sessions, augmenting synergies of architectural schools in the region, and displaying the works of architect experts and students. “We’re hopeful that the IAPEX 2018 will set new standards for the upcoming year and thus, benefitting our stakeholders to promote their innovative products,”. Kabeer Malik said the event’s topic, Archi Future, was meant to instill in the young designers the challenges of modern day technology and its impact on the people’s lifestyles. He said the discourse on contemporary architectural issues during the event would inspire and motivate stakeholders to create a vision for sustainable world of the tomorrow.
IAPEX 2018 chief convener Rana Arif Rehman said the event helped bridge gaps among the architectural community, interior designers, developers, potential home builders, and allied building construction professionals. “We had people from every major city showing their bonding, commitment and enthusiasm to participate in the mega event. With so much support from vendors and sponsors, the IAPEX, an annual event, achieved new heights of success,” he said. The vendors appreciated the holding of the exhibition, saying it helped them expand clientele. Kamran Sheikh of the Lodhia Gypsum Industries Private Limited said his company manufacturing and selling high-quality gypsum board and tiles had participated in the IAPEX many times but had come to Islamabad for the first time and had a good experience.
He said the company’s representatives had interacted with architects, builders, engineers, contractors and suppliers and found new clients. Hasan Iqbal Gardezi of the Kitchen Care said his company specialized in kitchen designing, manufacturing, import and installation and had put up a stall in the Islamabad exhibition to renew contacts with architects and consultants and inform them about new products and services. “We’ve got a good response from visitors and therefore, participation in this event will boost our sales,” he said. The visitors welcomed the exhibition and called for the holding of more and more such events to benefit all concerned
Contributed by Grate
The writer is Staff Reporter for Europe at Mélange Int. Magazine & Coordinator Center of Pakistan and International Relations (COPAIR).
