
Surfaces Reporter’s The Talk of Town (TToT), the nationwide city events focuses on bringing thought leaders together on a platform and initiate discussions on vital issues around design, architecture and infrastructure. Following the trend, The 12th edition of The Talk of Town was recently organised on February 29, 2020, at Holiday Inn, Aerocity, Delhi. The event gained momentum as thoughtleaders in architecture, urban planning, real estate, interior design and art discussed significant topics around High Rises, Sustainable Living and more.
In the event, while Ar Manish Gulati from M:OFA discussed ‘How to have an Integrated approach to Design’ as per the user needs, the first panel discussion of the day focused on ‘India’s views and rising expectations from High Rises.’ The panelists included Sangeeta Wij, MD, SD Engineering Consultants, Ar Manishi Agarwal, Partner, Design Cosmos, Ar Kshitiz Kapoor, Habitat Design Architects, Ar Ruchi Mishra, DGM Architect, Rudrabhishek Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. (REPL) and Ar Shruti Gupta, Women Chair ISHRAE Gurugram Chapter and Sustainability Consultant. The session was moderated by Ms Vertica Dvivedi.
Panelists (L-R): Kshitiz Kapoor, Habitat Design Architects; Shruti Gupta, Women Chair ISHRAE Gurugram Chapter; Sangeeta Wij, SD Engineering Consultants; Manishi Agarwal, Design Cosmos; Ruchi Mishra, REPL; (Moderator) Vertica Dvivedi, Editor-in-Chief, Surfaces Reporter
Presentations by Mr Ashish Bhasin, Director, Marmo Solutions on ‘Stain Proof Technology and Stone Solutions’ and by Mr Makrand Kendre from Renson on ‘Indoor Air Quality Solutions’ helped everyone present there to know about some latest solutions and technologies in the industry.
The much awaited event started off with the auspicious lamp lighting by some renowned names from the architecture and design industry including, Interior Designer Lipika Sud, Ar Vijay Garg, Designer Manjeet Bhullar, Engineer Sangeeta Wij, Ar Sabeena Khanna and Ar Manish Gulati and Ms Vertica Dvivedi, Editor-in-Chief, Surfaces Reporter and Founder, THE Talk of Town.
Every era sees the rise of a new trend. To understand how the trends in Design are affecting our future, TTOT organised a panel discussion on ‘Beyond the Design Trends- Retrospective and Future Outlook.’ The eminent panelists for the session included Ar Vijay Garg, Former President, Council of Architecture, Designer Manjeet Bhullar, Ar Aanchal Chaudhary, Cofounder, Ankay Holdings, Ar. Nomita Sawhney, Partner, Design by Meta, Ar Ishwinder Kaur, Creative Director, ivPartners, Ar Sanchit Arora, Renesa and Gobind Kapoor, Partner, Maison Du Luxe. The panel was moderated by renowned interior designer Lipika Sud. The panel was followed by a presentation by Ms Risha Jindal from ENYK Design about ‘We Can Create’ Furniture.

Panelists (L-R): Nomita Sawhney, Design by Meta; Vijay Garg, Council of Architecture; Designer Manjeet Bhullar; Aanchal Chaudhary, Ankay Holdings; (Moderator) Designer Lipika Sud; Ishwinder Kaur, ivPartners; Gobind Kapoor, Maison Du Luxe; Sanchit Arora, Renesa
The curious Ms Jindal inquisitively asked several relevant questions to the panelists which created great engagement between the speakers and the audience.
The last session of the day focused on ‘Green Living amongst High Rises.’ The panelists included Ar Vina Vergheese Biswas, Principal, VSPB associates, Ms Smita Ahuja, Waste Management Expert, Ar Manu Goel, Director, Novarch, Ms Swati Sharma, Head- Programme and Research, Future Institute and Mr Vijay Dhasmana, Ecologist and a rewilding specialist. The panel was moderated by Ar Swanzal Kak Kapoor, Co-founder, Saka Studio.
As always the day was full of lots of interactions, chit-chats and laughter, concluding with the promise to have many more such interesting events in the future.
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