On 18 September 2026, the Raipur edition of Design Debate, organised by Architect and Interiors India, brought together architects, designers, and industry voices around the theme “Technology v/s Tradition.” Held at Hotel Hyatt Raipur, the gathering examined the evolving relationship between technological advancement and established approaches to architecture and interiors. As Associate Partner, AluK India was part of the larger industry dialogue, contributing to a platform that brought diverse perspectives on the future of design.
Opening the evening, Bibhor Srivastava, Managing Director, ITP Media India, spoke about the purpose of taking Design Debate to different cities — creating meaningful conversations, making an impact within local design communities, and giving emerging talent a platform to come forward.
The panel of Doyens featured Atul Deshpande, Bipratip Dhar, Brij Panjwani, Manish Pilliwar, Raj Kumar Prajapati, and Shilpi Sonar, with Prashant Sutaria serving as moderator. Drawing from their varied professional experiences, the panellists engaged with the central tension between technology and tradition, examining how changing technologies, established practices, and evolving design approaches continue to shape the built environment.
The conversation also connected the larger theme to the transformation taking place across the region. Mohit Hajela, Group Vice President – Business Development, Global Operations, Jaguar India, reflected on the evolution of Raipur and Chhattisgarh, highlighting the region’s growing infrastructure and connectivity and its emergence as an industrial and design hub, alongside the growing influence of the design, architecture, infrastructure, construction and hospitality sectors.
The discussion further considered how technological advancement is influencing expectations from contemporary architecture. From larger openings and increased glazing to slimmer profiles and improved performance, changing requirements are placing greater emphasis on how architectural systems are specified and engineered. Representing AluK India, Shilpa Chauhan, CMO and Business Head – Retail, North, West and Nepal, highlighted this shift, noting that “as the design gets lighter, engineering responsibility actually gets heavier.” She emphasised that what matters is not simply how slim a window looks, but whether the system is engineered to deliver the required performance over time.
The Next-Gen panel featured Ayushi Agarwal, Kusum Jaiswal, Prarthana Nangia, Ravi Jaggi, and Swapnil Jaggi, with Anagha Patil serving as moderator. Representing a new generation of design voices, the panellists introduced fresh perspectives and emerging ideas to the debate around Technology v/s Tradition, bringing the conversation into the context of contemporary design and the changing needs of the built environment.
At its core, the Raipur edition brought the discussion back to the evolving relationship between technology and tradition in architecture and design. As technology continues to influence how spaces are conceived, specified and experienced, the conversation highlighted the importance of balancing innovation with the principles, contexts and practices that continue to shape the built environment.
