Smart Design Conclave & Awards returned to Haryana in July 2025 with renewed energy and insightful conversations. Hosted at the Noor Mahal Palace, Karnal, this edition saw of the brightest minds and influential voices in the field of architecture and design. SDCA Haryana 2025 was a shout out to smart design, regional identity, and sustainable innovation.
The conclave featured over 250 prominent architects, designers, and industry stakeholders. Companies like Astravernici, Alpine Living, Alstone, Sun Stellar, Dimore and others showcased their finest offerings, turning the event into an immersive experience of cutting-edge materials and intelligent design solutions.
With industry stalwarts like Ar. Manmohan Khanna, Ar. Punit Sethi, and Ar. Kapil Setia in attendance, SDCA cemented its place as the go-to platform for design dialogue in the region.
Engaging Discussions & Dialogues
Panel Discussion 1, 'Designing the New Haryana – Balancing Urbanisation with Cultural Identity' was moderated by Ar. Punit Sethi and had senior voices as a part of the conversation. The session looked at how fast Haryana is growing and changing in the urban setup, and how designers can help keep its culture alive while bringing in modern planning ideas. The discussion offered deep insights into how the future designs can stay true to the region’s character.
Panel Discussion 2, 'Sustainable Architecture – Vision or Vocabulary?' drove a powerful conversation which brought together architects and planners to brainstorm if eco-conscious architecture is actually being implemented or still a remains a mere buzzword. The panel addressed both the need for green architecture in practice and the possibilities to implement them in real projects.
Keynote Speaker
Prerna Kaleru, Founder & Director, Studio Ardete, delivered an interesting keynote addressing the practical challenges of sustainable architecture. She acknowledged that achieving a zero-carbon footprint in today’s projects is often difficult due to client expectations and budget constraints. However, through a thoughtful case study from her own practice, she demonstrated how eco-friendly design is still possible if one has the right vision. For instance, instead of cutting down a tree standing at the center of a plot, she suggested designing around it and letting the natural element inspire the facade. Her over all presentation also featured key aspects of green building like water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, indoor environment quality etc.
PechaKucha
The fast-paced presentation by Dipesh Panghal and Sanampreet Singh Virk (with team) was focused on their respective projects where they showcased how modernism and minimalism reflect in todays designs. In less than 15 minutes each, the two offered a detailed walk-through of their design processes and shared thoughtful analysis to give everyone a deeper insight.
X talk
Have we lost the art in the architecture? In her thought-provoking presentation, Ar. Meenakshi Chhabra spoke about the fading creative spirit of architects and designers in today’s era. Referring to the times when architects were seen as visionaries, she highlighted how the profession has now turned towards a trend-following and instruction-led execution. Citing constraints like budget, approvals, and client expectations, she urged the community to move beyond mere functionality and instead design for emotion, meaning, and soul.
Key Discussion
Ar. Sumit Dhawan and Ar. Abhigyan Neogi elaborated on their topic 'Hospitality vs Residential'. The two visionaries explored how designing for homes and designing hospitality projects can come with contrasting challenges. Their dialogues presented deeper insights that when creating a residence, the design is shaped by the personal taste and specific needs of a single client. Meanwhile, on the other hand, in case of hospitality design must appeal to multiple people.