Two architecture students from Pune to design Swedish Avenue

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Pune, June 12, 2018: The Consulate General of Sweden hosted the Swedish National Day in Pune today 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.

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.

An 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.

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.

From the multiple entries that we received for this contest, Mr Paarth Matkari, Mr Kaushal Tatiya from Vivekanand Institute of Technology’s Padmabhushan Dr. Vasantdada Patil College of Architecture,Pune (VIT’s PVP COA ) emerged as winners

with their proposal titled Green Ganga inspired by learning, health and relaxation

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 & waste management systems, recycled benches, cycling pathway, vehicle connectivity, smart transportation, information signage’s, pavements for pedestrians, Wifi and CCTV’s. 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. Swedish Avenue offers an opportunity for the Swedish industry to showcase solutions and technologies in the area of smart streets with three prime priorities namely urban design, energy, transportation, circular economy and ICT. The aim of technology application in these areas is to increase efficiency, reduce energy consumption, waste to energy and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. A key priority for us is to ensure that the street remains accessible and sustainable while offering an attractive and exciting environment. Pollution, traffic, lack of pavements and loss of green spaces are just some of the daily trials that people have to deal with whilst walking on the road on their way to work. With the help of our Swedish companies and their innovative solutions we hope that Pune will see one of the finest, smartest and cleanest streets in the city with broad pavements to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle . With the creation of this smart street we look forward to further collaboration where we can provide Swedish solutions to the smart city initiative of the Indian government”

About The Consulate General of Sweden

Established in September 2012, the jurisdiction of the Swedish Consulate General covers Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa – an area comprising of 173 million people. The Consulates major role in India is to develop bilateral trade relations and also grow finer insights into the Indian system through a gamut of institutions and representatives from varied industries and the regional governments. Its prime aim is to broaden and deepen this coalition with special emphasis on trade and investments. It also focuses on spreading information on Swedish innovations, technologies and services and how they could benefit India. The Consulate works closely with the Embassy of Sweden in Delhi, Business Sweden and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce as Team Sweden to help liaise and increase business.