Festival and Events

World Architecture Travel (WAT) presents WATconnect, to develop inbound architecture tourism

World Architecture Travel (WAT), an international network for architectural tours now presents WATconnect, an initiative that will present an architecturally immersive travel experience to one different location every month. Designed as an exclusive platform for selected architects to connect with each other on a national as well as an international scale, WATconnect aims to enhance professionalism and develop inbound architecture tourism through these connections.

The team includes a selected 15 from the architect, curator and student fraternity respectively who will be guided to the architectural practices of the young and upcoming architects in order to explore their work culture and design methodologies, as well as visit the firm’s design projects to get a better understanding. The first WATconnect series will be set in Cochin, Kerala from June 14th to June 16th, 2019 with the agenda of meeting, brainstorming and creating connections with the notable talents that Cochin has given birth to – nationally and internationally well known architects and architectural practices that stand at the forefront of design today.

“World Architecture Travel is dedicated to exploring architecture and culture, celebrating excellence from around the world through guided architectural journeys curated by distinguished architects and professionals. Apart from curated journeys to around 40 locations worldwide, WAT has also organised The Masterclass Series – a set of workshops and seminars aimed at stimulating the dialog around architecture, art, design and culture within the fraternity. WATconnect intends to take participants through the minds behind the growing architectural developments to bond, share work culture and design methodologies and brainstorm,” said Brijesh Shaijal, Founder, World Architecture Travel.

Participants of WATconnect Cochin include architects Alan Abraham, Sanjeev Joshi, Dimple Mittal, Ruturaj Parikh, Andre J. Fanthome, Biju Kuriakose, Chitra Viswanath, Quaid Doongerwala, Shilpa, Sanjiv and many more from practices all over India. In Cochin, the team will be taking a tour through the work of notable architects Krishnan, Jacob George, RGB, Roy Antony, Peter Gast and Cyril Paul.

The trip involves a visit to the Cochin showroom of ABC Emporio, to get a taste of the variety of products and services they provide. WATconnect is designed as a stepping stone for future initiatives and collaborations, and the trip will culminate with an exclusive networking dinner at the Marriott Hotel, Cochin.