Shillong: Winners of the 35th edition of the JK Architect of the Year Awards were announced at a ceremony held in Shillong on March 14, recognising outstanding contributions to architecture from India and abroad.
Architect Deepak Guggari from Pune won the Green Architecture Award for his project “The Street” in Pune.
Under the Indian Architecture Awards category, Sunanda A. J. Radhakrishnan of Bengaluru received the commendation award in the Hospitality Buildings category for the project “Toit” in Bengaluru, while Praveen Bayadekar from Belgaum was honoured in the Public Building category for “Figured Ground – University Sports Arena” in Hubli.
Avinash Ankalage from Bengaluru secured the commendation award in the Private Residence category for the “Stepped Well House” project.
The Young Architect Award went to Chaitanya Patel of Ahmedabad for his project “A Modest House in ‘POI’ Neighbourhood”, while R. Lalrinzuala from Aizawl was named Architect of the Year for his work on the School of Architecture at Mizoram University.
In the Indian State Architecture Awards category, Vivek Singh Rathore from Kolkata was named State Architect of the Year for the “ITC Storii Devasom” project, while Milon Dutta from Birbhum received the State Commendation Award for the “Tokaroun Artist Residence” in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
International projects were recognised under the Foreign Countries’ Architecture Awards category.
The Architect of the Year award went to Md. Ishtiaque Zahir and Md. Iqbal Habib from Dhaka for the “Zimkhana Sheikh Rasel Park and Baburail Canal Restoration” project in Narayanganj.
Mahmudul Anwar Riyaad of Dhaka received the Foreign Countries Commendation Award for the “Nooruddin Complex” project, while Mickdady Mchau from Dar es Salaam won the Foreign Countries Young Architect Award for the Visitors Information Centre in Tanzania.
The awards ceremony formed part of the 35th edition of the JK Architect of the Year programme organised by JK Cement Ltd..
The event, held at Windermere Hotel Shillong, brought together architects, industry leaders, government representatives and students, highlighting more than three decades of recognising innovation, sustainability and excellence in architecture.
A two-day programme also featured an exhibition of architectural entries, drawing participation from students of architecture colleges who were given the opportunity to explore contemporary design ideas and emerging trends in the built environment.
The event hosted a panel of distinguished architects from India and abroad who served as jurors and evaluated submissions across multiple categories before selecting the winners.
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Rana Pratap Singh, administrator of the awards, said the ceremony reflects the organisation’s continued commitment to celebrating architectural excellence and encouraging innovation within the profession.
Architect Aiban S. Mawkhroh, the professional advisor for the event, said the exhibition and discussions were particularly valuable for students, offering insights that could guide their future careers in architecture.
Renowned Indian architect Rajeev Kathpalia, who attended the event as a guest and juror, emphasised the importance of sustainable design.
Kathpalia, the architect behind the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj, noted that the Northeast—particularly Meghalaya—is blessed with remarkable natural beauty and stressed that architectural development in the region should remain in harmony with the surrounding environment.
By honouring innovative projects and visionary professionals, the awards continue to inspire the next generation of architects and promote creative thinking within the field.
