Jalandhar October 6 (Jaswinder Singh Azad)- The Department of Interior Design at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, organised a first-of-its-kind event, “Inovista 2026,” on the occasion of World Architecture Day. The central theme of the event was “Heritage to Future,” aimed at inspiring students to understand and reinterpret India’s rich architectural heritage and carry its essence into the design of the future.
Professor Architect Dr. Karamjit Singh Chahal, Registrar of Guru Nanak Dev University, was the chief guest at the exhibition. Dr. Sucharita Sharma, Director, Apeejay Education, Jalandhar, attended the event as the guest of honour. Mr. Nirmal Mahajan, Member, Board of Governors, Apeejay Education, Jalandhar, was also present on the occasion.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Principal Dr. Neerja Dhingra said, “Yesterday, we celebrated the birth anniversary of our Founder President, Dr. Stya Paul Ji, and today we are organising this creative and aesthetically appealing exhibition by our students on World Architecture Day. It beautifully blends heritage with creativity and modernity. It is truly a fitting tribute to Dr. Stya Paul Ji.”
She said that such initiatives are made possible under the guidance of Mrs. Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairperson, Apeejay Education, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group and Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, whom she described as cultured, energetic, dedicated and visionary. She also acknowledged the encouragement extended by Dr. Neha Berlia, Co-owner and Director, Family Business Board, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group, and Lead Education Vertical Office Bearer, Apeejay Education.
Dr. Dhingra welcomed Chief Guest Professor Architect Dr. Karamjit Singh Chahal
Dr. Dhingra welcomed Chief Guest Professor Architect Dr. Karamjit Singh Chahal, saying his presence would certainly inspire the students, as he is not only an accomplished educationist but also a creative architect. Welcoming Dr. Sucharita Sharma, she said the college was fortunate to have her leadership and expressed the institution’s commitment to maintaining the high standards achieved by her and taking them even further.
Addressing the students, Chief Guest Professor Architect Dr. Karamjit Singh Chahal expressed his happiness and pride at seeing the Interior Design students of Apeejay College celebrate World Architecture Day and understand its significance. He emphasised that sustainable architecture would play an important role in protecting the environment in the years ahead.
He appreciated the students’ models, observing that they had successfully preserved elements of heritage while incorporating innovation and keeping the future in mind. He described the models as inspiring and expressed hope that the students would continue this tradition in the years to come.
Inovista 2026 featured an exhibition of fifteen architectural models
Inovista 2026 featured an exhibition of fifteen architectural models, with the primary objective of developing sustainable models rooted in creativity and heritage. The initiative sought to demonstrate that progress in the field of interior design need not come at the cost of environmental sustainability. The themes included Greek Architecture, Dutch Amsterdam, Mughal Architecture, Rajasthani Courtyard, Jaipur Architecture, South Indian Temple Architecture, Tamil Courtyard, Islamic Architecture, Punjabi Architecture, Colonial Bungalow, Japan, Botanical Garden, Villa Savoye, Qutub to Future, and Futuristic Architecture.
A distinguished jury comprising architects R. Manmeet Kaur, Principal Architect, The Arc; R. Davinder Pal Singh, Principal Architect, The Architects; and R. Seerat Verma, Principal Architect, Out of the Box, evaluated the models.
The Punjabi model won the first prize, while the Islamic model secured second place and the Botanical Garden model stood third. Consolation prizes were awarded to the Rajasthani Courtyard and Greece models.
During Inovista 2026, talented alumni of the department who have established a distinct identity for themselves in the field of design were also felicitated. The alumni honoured included:
Ms. Deep Neha (Batch of 2012) – Design Studio by Deep Neha
Ms. Anchal Madan (Batch of 2015) – Insync Interiors
Mr. Rohit Malik and Ms. Niharika Malik (Batch of 2019) – Bespoke Design Company
Appreciating the collective efforts behind the conception and successful execution of the event, Principal Dr. Neerja Dhingra lauded Architect Rajni Kumar, Head, Department of Interior Design, and all faculty members of the department. She encouraged the department to continue organising such innovative initiatives in the future so that students receive new platforms to showcase and develop their talent.