By Sushma Veera
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 8: Over the past year, people around the world have adjusted to disruptions that have irreversibly changed the way we live, work and play.
For the architecture, interior design and building industries, this has meant making a radical shift into digitalisation.
Building upon 21 years of strong physical presence, the International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition (Archidex) is back this year, with ARCHIDEX Online.
The platform which was launched earlier this week in conjunction with World Architecture Day, will be held from Oct 4 to Dec 10 and will feature Malaysia’s leading voices of the industry in a roundtable forum themed The Industry Outlook Ahead.
Industry practitioners and suppliers can expect 67 days of online activities tailored to seamlessly connect local and international exhibitors with industry professionals, specifiers and trade buyers.
During the inaugural virtual roundtable forum, five distinguished panellists from the industry discussed the role of architecture in a digitalised world, how the industry has evolved to meet the changing needs of society, and utilisation of new technologies to form connections both online and offline.
Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) president Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani said the architecture industry has evolved to meet new challenges head on by embracing innovative technologies for brand new opportunities.
He said many PAM members have adopted digital technologies that widen the opportunity for cross discipline collaborations; building stronger teams with hybrid environments converging different skill sets that go beyond conventional setups.
“Today, we need fast, smart, and succinct responsiveness and the ARCHIDEX Online platform, drawing on ARCHIDEX’s strength of connecting people, is providing this responsiveness for the industry, ”Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) director Ar. Dr Tan Loke Mun said.
The other panellists included International Union of Architects (UIA) secretary general Datuk Ar. Tan Pei Ing, president of C.I.S and the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA), Datuk Vincent Lim, and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporate (MATRADE) manager (Construction and Business Services Section and Export Promotion & Market Access Division) Mohd Saiful Arifin Rostam.
Mohd Saiful said to overcome travel restrictions, businesses should adopt new approaches in promoting their products and services.
“This is why MATRADE and C.I.S continue to collaborate on the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), in conjunction with ARCHIDEX, which enables Malaysian sellers to be matched with potential foreign buyers on a virtual platform,” he said.
Log on here to know more about ARCHIDEX Online.
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