Smart Urban Planning Must Safeguard Forests and Wetlands, Says Hafeez Contractor
Pune, September 13, 2026: MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) hosted the inaugural conference of the Hafeez Contractor School of Architecture, where Chief Guest Hafeez Contractor, Padma Bhushan Awardee, called for a new approach to city planning, emphasizing the protection of natural ecosystems alongside higher-density, three-dimensional development.
The event gathered university leadership, faculty, students, and design experts to discuss the evolution of architectural education amidst sustainability challenges and emerging tools like artificial intelligence. Fine Jeweller Pavan Anand and Architect Pushkar Kanvinde attended as Guests of Honour.
“Being associated with an architectural college that carries my name is a big responsibility. Students must learn the basic principles of architecture and understand that whatever they do should have a purpose,” said Hafeez Contractor. “The way we have been expanding our cities, consuming farmland and forest land, cannot continue. We have to protect our forests, farmland and wetlands because if we destroy our environment, we cannot live.” He urged planners to think in three dimensions and adapt structural materials against natural disasters.
University leaders emphasized aligning academic practice with industry trends. “Hafeez Contractor’s association with this school is an honour, but it also places a greater responsibility on us to ensure that the institution remains relevant to its time,” said Dr. Rahul V. Karad, Executive President of MIT-WPU.
Speakers also highlighted interdisciplinary paths and continuous learning in an automated era. “Architecture is a wonderful canvas for creativity, but it is also about experience, how you feel in a space and how you relate to it,” said Pavan Anand. “Identify your individual sensibility, skill set and talent, pursue what you are truly passionate about, and do not be afraid to take your creative practice in a different direction.”
Echoing the impact of technology, Pushkar Kanvinde, Architect, added, “Your learning does not stop after five years; you have to become a lifelong learner. With AI emerging as a disruptive technology, you have to go beyond it and nurture the creativity that makes you a good architect.”
The conference featured roundtable sessions addressing the Sustainable Development Goals and technological interventions in architectural curricula, reinforcing the need to prepare students for modern urban realities.
