Two Pune Architecture Students To Design Swedish Avenue

June 1, 2018

The Consulate General of Sweden hosted the Swedish National Day in Pune yesterday and announced the winners of the urban design competition whose models will now be submitted to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation for designing the Swedish Avenue.

The urban design competition among Pune-based architectural colleges was carried out to encourage young architects to think on sustainable city planning and ensure local ownership.

From the multiple entries that were received for this contest, Mr Paarth Matkari and Mr Kaushal Tatiya from Vivekanand Institute of Technology’s Padmabhushan Dr. Vasantdada Patil College of Architecture, Pune (VIT’s PVP COA) emerged as winnerswith their proposal titled Green Ganga inspired by learning, health and relaxation.

Swedish companies have world-class manufacturing facilities in Pune and a strong presence on Sveanagar in Pimpri-Chinchwad for over five decades. Renaming the street they are situated on to Swedish Avenue is a token of recognition of Sweden’s contribution to India’s economy, and in particular Maharashtra.

To bring the model Swedish street concept to reality and encourage young architects to think on sustainable city planning and ensure local ownership; an urban design competition among Pune based architectural colleges was carried out. Apart from presenting smart urban designs these architects displayed sustainability, creativity, liveability and accessibility angles too, using urban design as an instrument for change.

The Swedish Avenue in Pune will be a symbol of Swedish values; innovations, recycling (eco-friendly) sustainability and technology. The Swedish community would like to transform the Swedish Avenue into a model smart street with all modern urban infrastructure facilities you find in Sweden adapted to the Indian context.

The Avenue will also be a smart street which is an extension of the smart city initiative, showcasing Swedish solutions for the beautification, democratisation and multi functionality of the streets. It also aims to regain the pavements to walk and exercise.

It aims to have solar power poles, air pollution information, recycling systems and waste management systems, recycled benches, cycling pathway, vehicle connectivity, smart transportation, information signages, pavements for pedestrians, WiFi and CCTVs.

The street will be painted in white, yellow and blue. Additional trees and flowerbeds will be added and maintained. Apart from this, Swedish art, designs and exhibitions will also be showcased wherever possible.

The jury consisted of three managing directors of the Swedish companies located on Swedish Avenue namely Ms. Ulrika Sundberg, Consul General of Sweden, Mr. Shrikant Savane, EE BRT, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Mr. Giovanni Valent, Vice President Holding & Managing Director, Atlas Copco (India) Ltd, Mr. Erwin Steinhauser, Managing Director, Sandvik Asia Pvt Ltd, Mr. Mattias Andersson, Head Operation, Alfa Laval India Pvt Ltd, Mr. Pradyumna Vyas, Director, National Institute of Design (NID) and Mr. Mangesh Bhandarkar, Pune Architect and Director Amethyst Angles

To promote exchange of urban planning and design ideas between India and Sweden, the winners of this competition have been awarded a trip to Sweden sponsored by Consulate General of Sweden in Mumbai.

The winners will visit Sweden for a week to understand Swedish urban design values at Sweden’s leading urban planning and architectural design institute – KTH and visit urban designs such as the smart city Hammarby Sjöstad and award winning Kalmars Stortorg and Nybroplan.

A runners-up prize was also awarded by the three Swedish Companies – Atlas Copco, Alfa Laval and Sandvik

Speaking about the event Ms. Ulrika Sundberg, Consul General of Sweden, Mumbai, said, “Sustainable cities and infrastructure is crucial for tackling central challenges facing the global community: reigniting growth, delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals and reducing environmental footprint and climate change.

“Renaming Sveanagar to Swedish Avenue and transforming it to a smart street is a token of recognition of the contribution that Swedish companies have bought to Pune over the last half century.”