The Indian Institute of Architects – Karnataka Chapter (IIA-KC) recently hosted the 2nd edition of Latitude 2025, a two-day event that brought together leading architects, urban planners, and policymakers to discuss innovative solutions for India’s urban future at Bengaluru.
During the event, Ar. Mohan B.R., Chairman of IIA-KC, emphasized the need for government intervention to address urban infrastructure challenges. He urged policymakers to leverage the expertise of architects in shaping urban development and resolving infrastructure issues. Mohan highlighted the disconnect between architectural education and practice due to insufficient government support and collaboration.
“Indian architects possess the necessary skills and international exposure to tackle large-scale urban challenges,” Mohan said. “Yet, without a robust partnership between architects and the government, we are unable to deliver long-term solutions to the nation’s infrastructure crises.”
Ar. Mueen Haris, Vice-Chairman of IIA-KC, echoed the sentiment, calling for the adoption of global best practices in architectural design. The event also marked the launch of the IIA-KC Latitude Design Awards 2025, which recognized outstanding achievements in architecture across various categories.
The winners of the UltraTech Latitude Design Awards 2025 included Betweenspaces for Outstanding Public Building, Studio Motley for Outstanding Individual Residence, and Parallax Architects for Outstanding Public Building – Hospitality. Other categories and winners included Outstanding Educational Projects (Architecture Dialogue and Biome Environmental Solutions), Outstanding Interiors Non-Residential (Mistry Architects), and Outstanding Beyond Architecture – Architectural Drawing as an Art Form (Sthaan).
The event recognized professors from IIA-KC-affiliated architectural colleges in Karnataka for their outstanding contributions to the field. Latitude 2025 served as a vital platform for fostering knowledge exchange, creative collaboration, and fresh thinking in the architectural and urban planning sectors.
