A LETTER FROM SPECIAL EDITION EDITORS -IN -CHIEF – DR. DEEPASHREE CHOUDHURY AND AR. MANIKA GOEL AND CO-EDITOR-AR. SHAILA NAAZ

Abstract [English]

School of Architecture and Design, K. R. Mangalam University has successfully organized a Three-Day National Conference on "MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING: ENHANCING THE CONNECTIONS" on 1st- 3rd June 2023. This National Conference was in collaboration with the Council of Architecture -Training and Research Centre, Bhopal, along with Piloo Mody College of Architecture-Cuttack and SRM Institute of Science and Technology- Chennai. PMC and SRM as intellectual partners. Architecture and urban planning, among humanity's oldest professions, preserve our history and enable us to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and envision a brighter future. Modern architecture, with abundant resources and advanced technology, pushes the boundaries of knowledge, necessitating interdisciplinary collaboration to address contemporary challenges. The 'National Conference on Multidisciplinary Aspects of Architecture and Planning: Enhancing Connections (NCMAD 2023)' was convened to establish a global forum for comprehensive discussions on Architecture and Design, fostering research, and showcasing the latest innovations, trends, and solutions in the field. The conference featured themes like functionality, livability, sustainability, urban conservation, history, and criticism in architecture, design, planning, and innovation.
The conference attracted a broad audience from both industry and academia, presenting diverse papers that highlighted innovative approaches to optimize function, aesthetics, and structural integrity in building and planning projects with interdisciplinary insights. It effectively addressed various factors impacting contemporary urban life, emphasizing the significance of a multidisciplinary approach in architecture and planning, and stressing global competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation. Out of 92 submitted papers, 67 were shortlisted for presentation, and 13 were selected for publication in the UGC Care-Listed Journal "ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts" as a special issue titled "Enhancing Connections in Visual and Performing Arts: Multidisciplinary Insights in Architecture and Planning" Distinguished speakers at the conference included Prof. Abhay Vinayak Purohit, Dr. Navneet Munouth, Dr. C. Pradeepa, Sivakumar Srinivasan, Dr. Prashant Anand, and Dr. B.C. Roy. The event emphasized the essential role of a proactive, multidisciplinary approach in designing functional and innovative environments while addressing contemporary challenges.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Granthaalayah Publications for their valuable collaboration with our institution, inspiring and acknowledging researchers. The School of Architecture and Design, K. R. Mangalam University, and Piloo Mody College of Architecture eagerly anticipate further elevating this partnership by making significant research contributions to advance interdisciplinary research in the fields of art and architecture.