Shaping Spaces

Siddharth Bhayani, Founder and Director, The Architect's Diary, talks about the upcoming architecture and design festival, Elev8

- Siddharth Bhayani, Founder and Director, The Architect's Diary

The third edition of Elev8, one of India's prestigious architecture and design festivals, is all set to welcome the architecture community on February 1 and 2 in Ahmedabad. Organised by The Architect's Diary, the festival provides a platform for the architecture community to come together for exchange of ideas and showcase their creativity. Ahead of the festival, architect Siddharth Bhayani, Founder and Director, The Architect's Diary, talks to The Free Press Journal about Elev8 and architecture.

Excerpts from the interview:

What was the inspiration that led to the birth of Elev8 and how has the festival evolved since its inception?

Elev8 was born out of a desire to create a platform that celebrates architecture and design, fostering meaningful conversations and connections within the community. Inspired by the need to explore how architecture shapes society, the festival debuted with its first theme ‘A Closer Look’, at The Boho Homes, Ahmedabad, focusing on regional creativity. Over the years, it has evolved to attract thousands of attendees and expand its scope from local inspiration to national relevance. The second edition of Elev8 in 2024 at The Hutheesing Visual Arts Centre emerged with the theme ‘Crafting Tomorrow Today’. This year, the third edition of Elev8 has evolved into a pan-Indian event with the theme ‘Building a Legacy - A Vision for Generations’. Each edition has added layers of innovation, from keynotes and panel discussions to masterclasses, curated galleries, and workshops, showcasing both emerging talent and established icons.

In addition to its annual event, Elev8 hosts smaller-scale gatherings such as Elev8 Select, held in Bangalore in 2024, which brings together leading minds in the field. Elev8 Spot is an exclusive event that enables meaningful connections with influential figures within the design community.