The 16th edition of the Smart Design Conclave & Awards (SDCA) unfolded on September 12, 2025, at Raajkutir IHCL Selections, Kolkata. The city of joy, as it is popularly called, brought together the who's who of the architecture and design field. Right from leading architects, interior designers, to big brands and industry visionaries, everyone came together to celebrate new age creativity and development of the city.
Organised by Building Material Reporter, the evening reflected Kolkata's timeless design heritage while addressing the challenges and opportunities of its rapidly evolving urban plan.
A Grand Opening: The evening commenced with a warm networking high tea, followed by the lamp lighting ceremony. It witnessed stalwarts such as Dulal Mukherjee, Partha Ranjan Das, and J.P. Agrawal, among other masters of architecture like Samiran Banik, our program Advisor. The inaugural session also featured an introduction to BMR’s vision and a curator’s note by Ar. Kamal Periwal who welcomed everyone to the event.
Chief Guest: Chief Guest Dulal Mukherjee who is the biggest name in the architecture and design industry of Kolkata addressed the audience with a funny yet heartfelt speech. He said, "I love architecture. It's my life, it's my religion, it's my everything. So I am still continuing with this but at a slower pace." For the unversed he is a veteran and has been in the field for more than 40 years.
Guest of Honour: Our Guest of Honour was Shri Debashis Sen who is the Former Civil Servant (IAS) and past CMD of HIDCO and Founder Director and CEO of New Bengal Consulting. He shared his thoughts with the gathering saying, "I have the deepest regards and respect for the creative minds of the architects, many of whom are present today. So, it's an occasion for me to thank you for bringing aesthetics to a wrapped city."
X Talk by Sujoy Das: Ar. Sujoy Das shed light on one of his most special projects Urban Parks, highlighting a unique project dedicated to Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku’s imaginative universe. A beloved character created by Satyajit Ray, Professor Shonku’s world has been vividly brought to life through this park, offering visitors, especially children an immersive experience that bridges literature, science and culture. Talking about his project Sujoy Das said, "We believe architecture is not just about making spaces, it is about shaping values. The public park is more than just greenery, it's a cultural ground, a social state, and a reflection of our identity. So designing a public park is therefore a responsibility to balance ecology, culture, and human experience."
X Talk by Shashank Shahabadi: In his X Talk, architect Shashank Shahabadi of Eastside Office took the audience through two of his recent projects executed under his practice, Eastside Office. He shared how he approached the renovation of some existing residential structures, carefully balancing their old school with contemporary changes. By introducing extra columns, modern detailing, and a fresh design sensibility, Shahabadi demonstrated how period buildings can be transformed with a new-age touch while still retaining their essence.
Panel Discussion: Designing for Density
One of the major highlights of the evening was the panel discussion on “Designing for Density: Navigating Space Constraints in Kolkata’s Expanding Urban Core.” The session brought together six distinguished industry professionals and was moderated by Ar. Abhishek Dutta of Arcon Design.
The entire dialogue was revolving around the important concern of rising urban density in Kolkata. People also discussed how architects, developers, and government bodies can come together and create more planned townships to improve the quality of life for citizens. The panelists included Ar. Aditya Goswami, Architectonic Services; Mr. Rachit Sanghvi, Director, Merlin Group; Ar. Rupande Shah, Rupande Shah & Associates and Mr. Rajnish Nandan, Roca Bathroom Products Pvt. Ltd.
Keynote: The keynote address was delivered by Ar. Hitesh Modi of Modi Srivastava & Associates from Vadodara, who brought a new outlook to the evening. Representing West India, he highlighted the distinct design language of Gujarat which beautifully contrasted with the cultural and architectural nuances of Kolkata in the east. Through his entire presentation, he showcased a series of projects that interestingly reflected Gujarat’s local elements and design language, highlighting how regional identity still shapes contemporary architecture in several parts of India.
Jury: The Decision Makers: Jury was one of the most important panels of the event led by Jury Chairman Ar. Vivek Singh Rathore of Salient. They were 'the' decision makers of the Smart Design Conclave & Awards - Kolkata Edition. The panel of members chose the top outstanding talents in the field of architecture and interior design in the city. The other members of jury included Malay Kumar Ghosh, Espace; Bankim Kalra, Centre for Green Mobility; Devyani Jaiswal, DJ Associates; Prof. Mainak Ghosh, Jadavpur University; Runa Dasgupta Goswami, Architectonic Services.
Honouring Excellence: The Awards: The much-anticipated Awards Ceremony began with celebrating special honours followed by the competitive categories, where top names in architecture and interior design were felicitated for their outstanding contributions across diverse segments.
The Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ar. Partha Ranjan Das, a visionary who has dedicated his career to advancing architecture and design. He has been in the industry for many years and is one of the most celebrated names in Kolkata in the field of architecture and design. On receiving the award he said, "Thank you, but I don't think I deserve this award because once you're awarded it raises the expectations of people and I'll have to up my standard now. I not only have been working in Kolkata but all over India for the last several years in different cities and different states. But Kolkata has been and will be my main source of interest."
The Masterstroke Award: Ar. JP Agrawal of Agrawal & Agrawal Associates was honored with a Masterstroke Award which acknowledged his exceptional impact in architecture. Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Agrawal said, "Every success comes with a lot of responsibilities. I wish that this juncture of my career as an architect almost after 35 years of my practice I really feel I should contribute to my fraternity and to my young architects. It is my inner desire that every year I should train atleast five good architects from my firm to become competent for this field."
Competitive Awards: This is the most anticipated segment of the event which highlights some of the most promising and accomplished architects and interior designers from Kolkata. The awards celebrated a wide spectrum of talent under several categories. Have a look:
The Awardees in Different Categories Were:
Architecture
Residential: Susweta Dutta – ArcOn Design
Hospitality: Udit Mittal – QX Design
Group Housing: Parinita Hati & Tamal Chaudhuri – ATCA
Institutional: Susweta Dutta – ArcOn Design
Sustained Ecology: Udit Mittal – QX Design
Interiors
Residential: Neha Jaipuria – Olive
Offices: Anjan Dey – Vitruvian
Café/Lounges/Bar: Pragya Bharati – Upscale Architects
Retail: Kajol Rana – SR Design Aesthetic
Café/Lounges/Bar: Suchaita Mahalik – Design & Arch by Suchaita
Brands and Presentations: The event even saw a series of short, thought-provoking sessions where our partner brands featured their stalls and a few minutes of audio and visual presentations on stage. Our partner brand included- Roca: Title Partner, JK Maxx Paints and KEI Wires and Cables: Co-Powered By Partners, Canon: Architectural Printing Partner, Alumino Glass Craft: Gold Partner, D'decor: Furnishing Partner and Varmora: Surfaces Partner.
About SDCA: The conclave is a big platform which enables you to rub shoulders with the game changers of the industry. One can have a professional conversation while sipping a drink. SDCA opens new doors of opportunities for promotions, collaborations, exchange of ideas and more.
Overall, Smart Design Conclave & Award is a movement to reshape the dynamics of design and architecture led by young visionaries. It is a space where design is discussed, debated and celebrated.