Essar Steel’s annual event, Masterstrokes: The Icon Exhibition sets a new benchmark this year. The company along with Indian Architect & Builder Magazine, will showcase for the first time in India, the works Richard Meier, the legendary architect. This is the second edition of the Masterstrokes exhibition. Essar Steel has been presenting the works of iconic architects to provide Indian architect community an opportunity to interact with iconic global architects.

Commenting on the exhibition, Malay Mukherjee, CEO, Essar Steel Business Group said,” Events such as Masterstroke is our way of transforming ourselves from being a steel manufacturer to a partner in India’s accelerating infrastructure growth”.

Says Vikram Amin, Executive Director (Sales & Marketing), Essar Steel Group, “At Essar Steel, we strongly believe that sharing best practices adopted by industry leaders can help keep the community at large abreast with the latest global trends. Every year we renew this commitment by bringing down the works of practices that are iconic, thereby giving the Indian design fraternity a platform to build upon”.

He added, ”Aesthetically pleasing architecture is possible only with usage of steel because steel, as a construction material, is highly flexible, formable and has more strength to size ratio. Above all, it is a green material, since it is highly recyclable. Competitive advantage of cities is closely linked to infrastructure and architecture, a fact well proven by Chinese town planners.”

Richard Meier remains the youngest recipient of the Pritzker Prize (1984), which is considered architecture’s highest accolade. He is renowned internationally for cultural projects that include the Getty Centre, Los Angeles; the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Barcelona and the Jubilee Church, Rome, amongst others.
On display will be original models of Meier’s most iconic and beloved buildings. The exhibition, which runs from 17 to 20 February, will also include drawings, renderings and photography of his other works.

Speaking about the exhibition, Richard Meier said, “The remarkable beauty and rapid growth that is to be found in all parts of India is intoxicating for architects who have the opportunity to work there. I hope to soon be among them.”
Says Sarita Vijayan, Editor, Indian architect & Builder Magazine “Richard Meier has attained almost demigod status amongst designers’ in the country. The excitement to view his work is palpable and infectious.”

Scott Johnson, Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Richard Meier & Partners Architects, who will be representing the firm at the exhibition said, “I am thrilled to be here and to meet the architects and creative minds behind India’s flourishing architectural landscape.”

The exhibition is at the Sir J J College of Architecture (which coincidentally is celebrating its centenary) from 17 to 20 February 2010.

ABOUT RICHARD MEIER
A master of the evolution of traditional modernism for our times, Richard Meier has for almost five decades explored a kind of architecture that transcends fashion and seeks to build an aesthetic argument, building by building, that stands the test of time. From his firm’s earliest single family homes of the 1960s, each project represents a study of precision, lightness and transparency, geometric purism, the relationship between interior and exterior, the spatial experience for the human scale, and often, the power of white. The work of Richard Meier & Partners Architects spans museums, cultural facilities, city halls and government office buildings, courthouses, libraries, educational buildings, media production facilities, industrial research complexes, corporate headquarters facilities, and housing. While widely varying in location, scale and function, each of the firm’s projects embodies a philosophy that encourages public gatherings and contemplation, inspires creativity, gives pleasure, and infuses both visitors and occupants with a sense of event.

Richard Meier received his architectural training at Cornell University and established his own office in New York City in 1963. He has received the highest honors in the field including the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, the Gold Medals of the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Praemium Imperiale from the Japan Art Association and the Gold Medal for Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

ABOUT ESSAR STEEL
Essar Steel is a global producer of steel with a footprint covering India, Canada, USA and Indonesia. With a present capacity of 14 Million Tons per annum (MTPA), it is fully integrated from mining to retail.

Its products find wide acceptance in highly discerning consumer sectors, such as automotive, white goods, construction, engineering and shipbuilding and infrastructure Essar Steel produces highly customized products catering to a variety of product segments and is India’s largest exporter of flat products to the highly demanding US and European markets, and to the growing markets of South East Asia and the Middle East.

It has strong downstream capability with Steel Service Centres and a global network of steel distribution outlets branded Essar Hypermarts. It has substantial investments in Pipe and Plate mills and a leadership position in value added segments of Cold Rolled, Galvanized and Pre-Painted steel.

ABOUT INDIAN ARCHITECT & BUILDER:
Indian Architect & Builder (IA&B) is India’s niche ‘B-2-B’ magazine that focuses on contemporary trends in architecture, design, professional practice, technology and products. A twenty-three year old magazine, IA&B caters to architects as well as every member of the AEC industry. With a readership of 300,000 from all over India, IA&B goes beyond being just a magazine, extending itself as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the AEC Industry with events, key client works and expos. (www.iabforum.com)

BACKGROUND

ESSAR STEEL MASTERSTROKE
THE ICON EXHIBITION

THE INITIATIVE
Masterstrokes’, the exhibition has been inspired by the urgent revolutionary activity of India’s infrastructure and developed with the ambition to create an exchange platform for local professionals to get a global perspective.
Essar Steel ‘Masterstrokes: The Icon Exhibition’ — the only solitary platform in India where professionals from the AEC industry can converge globally. The event is committed to exhibit ground-breaking and memorable works of icons from around the world.

THE INTENT
The exhibition aspires to be the podium through which Indian professionals can elevate their vision and interact with their counterparts on an international level; while showcasing the works of icons inspire creativity and eminence. Supporting this vision is Essar Steel who has always believed in promoting excellence. It is a platform to showcase a lifetime of work of geniuses in the architecture and engineering industry, providing a glimpse of the masters, who have carved a niche for themselves in the architectural world. Acting as the focal point where ideas can be shared, views can be expressed and thoughts can be interacted, not just nationally but internationally, as well, the works exhibited are executed by the icons that have been classified as monumental structures and given a whole new meaning to the words architecture and designing.

PAST
The first maiden event was a three-day exhibition on the works of Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki. The exhibition was inaugurated by Maki with a special preview held at Hotel Rang Sharda, Bandra (W). More than 2,000 visitors from various parts of the country and the AEC industries came to see the architect’s 12 most famous projects. A total of 64 panels and 6 models were shipped from Japan to showcase the projects that reflected the sensible architecture associated with Maki. The response to his work was tremendous and inspired professionals and students alike. After the phenomenal success of ‘Masterstrokes’, the focal point was to avail it to audiences worldwide. Initiative was taken in the form of www.aecworldxp.com that had a comprehensive look at the design policy, portfolios and profiles of some of the prolific names in the industry. Prominent architect Hani Rashid donned the mantle of being the first master to feature on the online exhibition of ‘Masterstrokes’. Following Rashid in the master’s hall of fame were illustrious professionals Dr. Ken Yeang, Stefan Behnisch and Thom Mayne.

CURRENT
Following the success of ‘Masterstrokes’ online, Essar Steel is presenting an on-ground exhibition of the Pritzker laureate Richard Meier. This will be the first time that Meier’s works will be showcased in India. The four day event starting from 17th Feb’10 will showcase original models of Meier’s most prolific structures. A special preview for selected few will be held on the 16th at Sir J. J. School of Architecture. The event will be an opportunity to admire and learn, while evincing the strokes of master Richard Meier.

For Media Queries
Manish Kedia, Sr. VP – Corporate Affairs, Essar Group,
Phone: +91 98197 30092, Email: manish.kedia@essar.com