The first edition of IIR by Surfaces Reporter and Ply Reporter was launched in City of Nawabs Lucknow , a city famous for Tahzeeb its old tradition welcomed this new initiative in an electrifying way with huge audience participations and engagement throughout the day.
Being the largest city and capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow is the hub of new dimensional architecture and interior designing, as well as the booming retailing of interior products, IIR brought architects and retailers to a common platform for the first time in India, establishing itself as a unique initiative for Indian Interior Retailers. More than 100 architects, designers and industry experts became part of this one of India’s largest architecture and design conference in the City of Culture.
The event started with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Pragath Dvivedi, founder, The Ply Reporter, Ar Virendra Aggarwal, Chariperson IIA Lucknow, Mr. Somil Matanhelia, Director, Vibrant Laminate (Panaash), Mr. C.P. Aggarwal, President Dealer’s Association, Lucknow and Dr. Sandeep K. Saraswat, IID Lucknow.
The event was curated by Madhurima Chowdhury, Ms Vertica Dvivedi, founder of WADe Asia and Editor-In-Chief of Surfaces Reporter Magazine, thereby welcomed all to the Talk of Town and sharing how and WADe Asia came into being, its continuous growth, the essence of SR and more soon after the lamp lighting ceremony. After that, there was the launch of India Interior Retailing – IIR, the new knowledge platform for businesses.
Intriguing discussions on significant issues related to interior retail, brought the retailers present on a highly engaging platform, The topics – ‘Setting the needs & expectation from interior retail points in Lucknow, ‘the evolving retail culture’ and how to evolve ‘amidst challenges & opportunities’ touched a chord with the retailers present at the event. As important panelists: Ar Gaurav Gupta, Ar Rahul Jadon, Ar Amit k Singh,
Ar Rohit Parmar, Ar Virendra Agarwal, Ar Amit Aurora, Mr Punit Tambi, Dress Circle, Ahmedabad and Mr Anurag Agarwal, Krishna Sales, Lucknow discussed the varied issues involved and the possible route to stay in trend, gain higher customer engagement and more sales.
The topic was also of immense interest to the audience- ‘The Evolving City- Lucknow- Past Present Future Outlook’ with valuable insights shared by the panellists- Dr D S Bhui, Director, Cosmic Designs ; Ar Shubhra Mittal, ARINEM Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, Ar KK Asthana, IIA National Council Member; Ar Ashok Kumar, Arch En Design ; Prof (Ar) Vandana Sehgal, Principal & Dean, Faculty of Architecture AKTU ; Ms Sunita Aron, Senior Resident Editor, Hindustan Times, Lucknow ; and Dr Arun Kapur, Associate Professor, Amity University, UP, Lucknow Campus. The panel was ably moderated by Dr Binti Singh, Urban Sociologist/Author.
The audience came up with their own set of queries and the answers provided by the panelists helped in building the knowledge of everyone present.A special Presentation by Guest Speaker Ar Amit Aurora, Group DCA, New Delhi, enabled the prospective showroom owners and retailers present to know how showroom design impacts overall consumer experience, and how an effective design can lead to higher sales and customer retention.
Our knowledge levels soared new heights as the panel discussion on “Glocal – Thinking Global Building Local-The Lucknow Perspective” began thereafter. The Panel was an electrifying one with the presence of Ar Anupam Mittal, ARINEM Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd ; Ar Sandeep Kumar Saraswat, Srijan Shristi & Chairperson IIID Lucknow, Ar Gunjan Kapur, Gunjan & Associates; Ar Ritu Gulati, SAKAAR – The Design Studio & Faculty of Architecture, AKTU ; Ar Shipra Singh, Studio 0522; Ms Asma Hussain, Asma Hussain, Fashon house. The panel is being moderated by Ar Vipul B Varshney, Sthapati Associates & Convenor INTACH.
Prof (Ar) Vandana Sehgal Principal & Dean, Faculty of Architecture AKTU, shared a beautiful thought on the topic. She said, “Lucknow has a soul. Intrinsic things are getting lost, architects and designers need to take care of this as well.”
The audience participation at the end of the discussion was also excellent, building the perfect environment for a presentation by Magnus Plywood and followed by Vibrant Laminate. To make the mood a bit lighter and bring our attendees’ focus on the important issues of losing our culture to new design, the Talk of Town thought of an innovative way. Through a story, the storyteller Smita Bhatnagar brought a new wave of energy and enthusiasm to the event. Learning important thoughts on preserving our heritage, Smita built the perfect mood for High voltage discussions during the scrumptious lunch,
The event promised to gain its pace again post lunch with more engaging sessions, presentation and panel discussions, and kept the promise with engaging introductory sessions by Vertica Dvivedi and Pragath Dvivedi. They talked about the India Interior Retailing initiative, what all can be achieved through the initiative. The Talk of Town will continue to amaze the audience.