ASIA YOUNG DESIGNER AWARDS (AYDA) 2018
Nippon Paint, one of the largest paint manufacturers in Sri Lanka held the Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) 2018 (Sri Lankan edition) for the third consecutive year in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA). Themed FORWARD - Challenging Design Boundaries”, this year’s competition sparked a colourful journey of education, training and exposure finally culminating in recognition and opportunity in the global arena for third and fourth year architecture students and second and third year interior design students.
The grand award ceremony of AYDA Sri Lanka was held at Waters Edge recently to recognise the winners in Architecture and Interior design categories. The Gold award winners each received a cash prize of Rs 100,000 and the chance to undergo further training in Singapore with the entire trip being sponsored by Nippon Paint.
Aashubodha Gurusinghe from the University of Moratuwa won the Gold award in the Architecture category while Zamhathul Zahia Niyas from City School of Architecture won the Gold award in the Interior Design category. Mrs. Indira Malwatte, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Export Development Board graced the event as the Chief Guest whilst a number of renowned architects and interior designers took part in the event as well. Archt. D.H Wijewardana, President, SLIA and Mr. Nemantha Abeysinghe, GM, Nippon Paint Lanka addressed the gathering.
The final competition of AYDA in Singapore will comprise of a 4-day workshop after which the 30 of the Asia’s best young designers will present their creative concepts. The Platinum winner of the final competition will gain access to a three-month long internship at one of the best Architectural/ Interior Designing practices of Asia. Nippon Paints will bear the entire cost of the internship.
Furthermore, NIPSEA Group, the parent company of Nippon Paint, established the Gennosuke Obata Fellowship Fund at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). The fund provides financial aid to GSD students from Asian countries, helping to attract, enroll and support talented design scholars from the region as they work to become leaders in transforming the social environment.
The Harvard GSD initiative brings with it an additional programme for the regional winners of AYDA in both the architecture and interior design categories in the shape of a 6 weeks all-expense paid for The Harvard University Design Discovery programme. The selected students will have the privilege to learn, experience and benefit from intensive studio work, lectures, workshops and field trips.
“The first time we held AYDA in Sri Lanka in 2016, it was a resounding success. Since then we’ve been able to develop into a strong platform that empowers young architecture and design students to gain valuable local and international exposure and aim for greater heights. The entire competition reflects Nippon Paint’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of talented designers. The support and guidance we received from SLIA during this process has been invaluable,” commented Mr. Nemantha Abeysinghe, the General Manager of Nippon Paint Lanka.
An eminent panel of judges evaluated the work of 24 finalists from each interior who later presented their projects in front of the judges and answered their questions. The five member judging panel included Archt. Veranjan Kurukulasuriya, Archt. Dharshani Gamage, Archt. Janaki Wijesundara, Archt. Hiranthi Welandawa and Archt. Nandaka Jayasinghe.
The two Silver winners S Ravindran, from the University of Moratuwa in Architecture category and Yathindra Laknath Pallegoda from the City School of Architecture in Interior Designing category each won Rs. 50,000.
The judges selected two other winners to present cash rewards of
Rs 25,000 each in the categories ‘Best Colour Choice’ and ‘Green Innovation. Chamath Janendra Hewagama from the University of Moratuwa clinched the ‘Best Colour Choice’ award whilst Mohamed Rasheed Rizwi from the City School of Architecture won the ‘Green Innovation’ award.