The ongoing economic challenges in many parts of the industrialized world are drivers of a paradigm shift: governments, companies and individuals are all becoming aware that although sustainable development incurs costs, it also offers considerable economic potential. This topic: “Economy of Sustainable Construction” was the focus of the 4th International Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction, held in Mumbai, India, April 11/13, 2013.
The Holcim Forum included workshops and site visits. It was open to academics and professionals from architecture, civil engineering, urban planning, natural and social sciences, as well as representatives from business, politics, administration and civil society.
The Holcim Forum was hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay), and chaired by architect Mohsen Mostafavi, Dean of the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, USA, together with co-chair, engineer Battula K. Chakravarthy, IIT Bombay. The event comprised of keynote lectures from leading experts, four workshops including focused excursions, a research poster exhibition, and concluding panel discussions.
Keynote speakers (pictured above) at the 4th Holcim Forum:
Sir David Chipperfield: a multiple award winning architect, Principal of David Chipperfield Architects, based in London, UK; and Curator for the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.
Alejandro Aravena: architect and Executive Director of Elemental based in Santiago, Chile, a socially-motivated company that works on infrastructure, transportation, public space and housing projects, and is partnered by the Universidad Católica de Chile.
Lucas Bretschger: economist and Professor of Economics, ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Director of CER-ETH, the Center for Economic Research at ETH, and a member of the Advisory Body on Climate Change to the Swiss government.
Brinda Somaya: architect and urban conservationist from Mumbai, India; Principal Architect and Managing Director at Somaya and Kalappa Consultants; founding trustee of the HECAR Foundation; and advocate of the work of women architects in South Asia.