Even more enhanced focus on urban design and planning

Originally called the House of Parliament, it was designed by the British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker in 1912 as part of their wider mandate to construct a new administrative capital city for British India. The 92-year-old Parliament House, also known as Sansad Bhavan, is home to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and one of the most impressive buildings in Delhi. It is said that the circular structure of the 11th-century Chausath Yogini Temple inspired the design of the building. Now, this complex is set for a facelift. Design firm HCP Design Planning & Management has already been awarded the project, which is to be built at a cost of Rs 9.22 billion. The firm is preparing the master plan of the project, including designs, cost estimation, landscape and traffic integration plans, and parking facilities. Indeed, the pre-eminence of design and planning has come to the fore now more than ever before. In addition to administrative structures, the pandemic has highlighted the need to develop healthcare infrastructure and control the outbreak in dense urban environments. While the Indian economy has significantly slowed as a result of COVID-19, hospitals are struggling to cope with queues of patients. Their experience has generated interesting learning for the construction industry; in particular, for those planning and designing hospitals. A big experiential takeaway from the frontline is the need for flexible design. Read our August story on Hospital Design and Construction Post-COVID here.  CONSTRUCTION WORLD has been curating ideas such as these for urban design by creating a platform to showcase the best architects and builders in India—the CONSTRUCTION WORLD ARCHITECT & BUILDER (CWAB) Awards—for the past 15 years. Since their inception in 2006, the CWAB Awards have become the most coveted awards for the architectural industry, with over 100 jury members, recognising over 50 architects and builders and 36 noteworthy projects as well as giving out 28 regional awards. While this year has been challenging for all, the show must go on! This must-attend event of the building industry will be held virtually, thereby allowing not only the building industry from India but also neighbouring countries who are seeking inspiration from the talent showcased at this event. To honour all the winners of the past 14 years, as well as crown new ones, the CWABAwards will be held on August 28, 2020. Who will be the new faces that will shine at these awards—any guesses? Tune in and find out! Meanwhile, here’s a list of the winners of the 14th CWAB Awards. India’s Top Architects Abha Narain Lambah Associates Architect Hafeez Contractor CP Kukreja Architects Creative Group DSP Design Associates Mistry Architects Morphogenesis PG Patki Architects Sanjay Puri Architects Venkataramanan Associates Salient India’s Top Builders Embassy Group Hiranandani Constructions K Raheja Corp Prestige Group Sobha CWAB Regional-South Top Architect (Tie): Designhaaus Solutions The Purple Ink Studio Top Builder Aparna Constructions & Estates CWAB Regional-West Top ArchitectStudio Lagom CWAB Regional-East Top Architect Ayan Sen Architects Top Builder PS Group CWAB Regional-North Top Architect (Tie) Visarg Aeon Designs Top Builder Gaurs Group Noteworthy Projects Retail: Unity One Mall, New Delhi, by Gian P Mathur and Associates Hospitality:Raajkutir, Kolkata, by SalientResidential (Building/Apartment): Embassy Lake Terraces, Bengaluru, by Embassy Group Commercial: Collector’s Office, Pune, by Sunil Patil and Associates Institutional: Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, Bengaluru, by Urban Frame Residential (Independent Homes): Lucid House, Edappal, by Attiks Architecture Interiors-Retail: 6KIOM, Bengaluru, by Mistry Architects Interiors-Hospitality: ROPE, Gandhinagar, by Carpenter’s Interiors-Residential (Tie): Jaison's Residence, Kollam, by Faheed + Architects; Tropical House, Kolkata, by Morphlab Interiors-Public Spaces: Restoration of KenesethEliyahoo Synagogue, Mumbai, by AbhaNarainLambah Associates Interiors-Commercial: Swiss Re, Bengaluru, by DSP Design AssociatesTop Challengers 2018-19 Phoenix Mills Emami Realty Brigade Enterprises Puravankara Sobha