For four vibrant winter days, Ludhiana Exhibition Centre, Sahnewal, transcended its role as a conventional exhibition venue and emerged as a living forum of architecture, culture, innovation, and collective memory, as the city hosted the much-anticipated INTEXT Expo 2026 – Interior & Exterior Exhibition.
Bringing together industry leaders, architects, planners, academicians, students, and cultural performers under one expansive roof, the expo proved that architecture is not merely about materials and construction — it is about people, identity, and shared heritage.
A Venue that Spoke the Language of Architecture
Strategically located on G.T. Road, the Ludhiana Exhibition Centre itself stood as a silent protagonist of the event. Its vast column-free halls, flexible layouts, and seamless circulation allowed the expo to unfold organically across multiple thematic zones — from construction technologies and façade systems to décor, furniture, automation, and design innovation (INTEXT Expo Floor Plan Brochure).
The planning of the halls enabled a clear spatial hierarchy, ensuring uninterrupted movement between stalls, knowledge forums, and cultural spaces — a practical demonstration of contemporary exhibition architecture in action.
Floor Plans for the exhibition area and stall allotments (INTEXT Expo Floor Plan Brochure)
INTEXT Expo 2026: Where Industry Meets Imagination
With hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in building materials, smart technologies, finishes, and sustainable solutions, INTEXT Expo 2026 reaffirmed its position as North India’s most influential architecture and construction platform.
From innovative façade treatments and energy-efficient glazing to modular kitchens, smart home systems, and contemporary furniture, each stall functioned as a micro-pavilion of ideas, designed not just to sell products but to demonstrate future-ready design thinking.
Among the many professional showcases, GNDEC College students stood out by curating and presenting their academic and design work at one of the stalls, blurring the line between education and professional practice. Their presence reflected a crucial message: the future of architecture is already here — learning, questioning, and building in real time.
SRIJAN: The Spirit of Creation Takes Centre Stage
The cultural soul of the expo came alive with “SRIJAN – The Spirit of Creations”, the Architectural Event 2026 of Club NPC, held on January 16. Set against the refined backdrop of the exhibition centre, SRIJAN celebrated architecture as an act of creation rooted in tradition, spirituality, and collective expression.
The evening opened on a reverent note with Shabd Kirtan performed by GNDEC college students, filling the hall with meditative calm and grounding the modern exhibition in timeless spiritual resonance. This was followed by an elegant Ganesh Vandana, performed by students, symbolizing auspicious beginnings and creative energy.
The seamless integration of cultural performances within a professional architectural exhibition highlighted a powerful idea: design and devotion, technology and tradition, can coexist and enrich one another.
Shabd Kirtan performance on stage and Ganesh Vandana dance sequence
PEHCHAN: Reading Punjab Through Its Built Heritage
Running parallel to the industry showcases was “PEHCHAN – Celebrating the Identity of Punjab’s Built Heritage”, an Inter-University Architectural Exhibition jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Punjab Chapter and the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) Punjab Regional Chapter.
From historic havelis and sacred precincts to colonial-era structures and post-independence modernism, PEHCHAN traced Punjab’s architectural journey from timeless royalty to contemporary expression. Student documentation panels transformed the exhibition hall into an open archive of memory, research, and visual storytelling.
Various college students representing their documentation work and interaction with the architects.
AMANAT: When Students Became Storytellers of Heritage
Another highlight that drew significant attention was “AMANAT – Punjab Heritage Horizons 2026”, a poster-making competition focused on Punjab’s built heritage and cultural identity. Through hand-drawn and digital posters, students explored rural dwellings, forts, temples, civic buildings, and everyday architecture — emphasizing craftsmanship, symbolism, and regional wisdom.
The exhibition reinforced the idea that heritage is not static; it is a living inheritance passed from one generation of designers to the next.
Sanjh 2.0: A Thought-Provoking Dialogue on Architecture, Planning, and Punjab’s Urban Future
On January 17, the intellectual core of INTEXT Expo 2026 unfolded through Sanjh 2.0, a meticulously curated architectural and planning conference organized by the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Punjab Chapter in collaboration with the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) Punjab Regional Chapter, held at the Ludhiana Exhibition Centre, Sahnewal.
Close-up of AMANAT posters
The conference brought together an eminent cross-section of architects, town planners, policymakers, academicians, institutional leaders, and government officials, transforming the exhibition venue into a forum for deep professional inquiry and policy-oriented discourse. The event was curated by Sh. Sanjeev Arora, Hon’ble Minister for Local Bodies, Industry & Commerce, Investment Promotion and Power, Government of Punjab, alongside TPr. Pradeep Kapoor, President, ITPI (New Delhi), is reinforcing the strong link between design practice and governance.
The morning session commenced with a formal inauguration, followed by a technical presentation on Airport Architecture by Ar. Kanav Khosla, which explored the evolving role of airports as urban gateways, economic catalysts, and architectural landmarks rather than mere transport infrastructure. This was succeeded by a compelling panel discussion titled “From Deep Inquiry to Quick Outputs – Question for the Soul of Architectural Wisdom”, featuring leading academicians and practitioners from institutions such as NIT Kurukshetra, NIT Hamirpur, GNDEC Ludhiana, and Sushant School of Art & Architecture. The panel critically examined the growing tension between rapid project delivery and the loss of reflective, research-driven architectural practice in contemporary times. Adding a cultural and historical dimension to the discourse, Ar. Rimpesh delivered an insightful presentation on Temple Architecture in India, highlighting how sacred architecture continues to inform spatial planning, symbolism, and community life. The session concluded with an address by Ar. Jit Kumar Gupta, Trustee, Indian Institute of Architects, emphasizing the responsibility of architects in shaping ethically grounded and socially responsive built environments
The afternoon and evening sessions shifted focus toward governance and urban leadership. The session titled “Leadership Perspectives: Shaping Punjab’s Urban Future” featured addresses by the Chief Guest, Sh. Sanjeev Arora, Guest of Honour, Smt. Neeru Katyal Gupta, IAS, Director Town & Country Planning, Punjab, and senior representatives from IIA and ITPI. Discussions centered on coordinated urban development, institutional reform, and the urgent need to align planning policies with Punjab’s rapidly changing socio-economic landscape. A keynote lecture by Ar. Vijay Kataria (IE Design, Delhi) further expanded the dialogue by connecting architectural practice with innovation, urban resilience, and future-ready design thinking. This was followed by an Expert Forum on “Building Punjab Together: Practice, Policy & Planning”, where professionals deliberated on collaboration between architects, planners, and government agencies as a prerequisite for sustainable urban growth.
One of the most impactful segments of Sanjh 2.0 was the presentation on “Urban Discomfort” by TPr. Rajneesh Sareen, Programme Director, Sustainable Buildings & Habitat, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, and Dr. Gopal Chandra Misra, former Director of Delhi Fire Service. The session addressed pressing concerns related to safety, climate stress, infrastructure overload, and the lived experience of cities, underscoring the need for human-centric and climate-responsive planning approaches.
The day concluded with the felicitation of distinguished guests, followed by an evening of music and a fellowship dinner, reinforcing the spirit of “Sanjh” — a shared platform where ideas, disciplines, and institutions converged.
Collectively, Sanjh 2.0 reaffirmed that architecture today must transcend aesthetics, embracing policy alignment, sustainability, social equity, safety, and cultural continuity. Positioned within the dynamic environment of INTEXT Expo 2026, the conference successfully bridged practice and policy, offering a compelling vision for Punjab’s urban future rooted in collaboration and thoughtful design.
More Than an Expo — A Collective Experience
Beyond dialogue and discourse, INTEXT Expo 2026 emerged as a powerful showcase of innovation within the architecture and design industry, with exhibition halls brimming with the latest products, technologies, and material explorations shaping contemporary practice. From advanced façade systems, energy-efficient glazing, smart home automation, modular kitchens, and high-performance construction materials to bespoke furniture, lighting solutions, and surface finishes, the expo reflected the rapidly evolving vocabulary of built environments. Complementing the product showcases was a specially curated Architects’ Gallery, which offered a platform for architects from across the region to exhibit their completed projects, design philosophies, and experimental works. Display panels featuring drawings, photographs, models, and narratives transformed this gallery into a visual archive of professional practice, enabling visitors to engage directly with architectural ideas rather than just materials. The presence of the Architects’ Gallery within a product-driven expo fostered a meaningful dialogue between design intent and material execution, reinforcing the architects’ role as critical thinkers and creative leaders in shaping responsive, context-driven built forms.
Display Booths
INTEXT Expo 2026 succeeded not merely as an exhibition, but as a multi-layered architectural experience — where stalls met stages, drawings met devotion, and professionals met students. The thoughtful curation of events ensured that visitors did not just walk through halls but engaged with ideas, emotions, and identities.
As the lights dimmed on the final evening, one thing was clear: Ludhiana had not just hosted an expo — it had hosted a conversation about the future of architecture rooted deeply in culture, collaboration, and creativity.
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