Heritage Club – Visit to historic temples around Tiruchirappalli
On 6th February, the Heritage Club visited Srirangam, Thiruvellarai, and Thiruvanaikaval along with the first-year students under the guidance of Prof. Sangeetha.
Experiencing these temples up close helped the students appreciate the grandeur of Chola and Pallava architecture having observed many architectural elements and understood the stories and history reflected in these magnificent temples. The visit was educational and memorable, according to the students.
Heritage Club Inauguration - 11th February 2026
The Heritage Club of the Department of Architecture is established with the vision of fostering awareness, appreciation, and active engagement with India’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. The club serves as a dynamic platform for students and faculty to explore both tangible and intangible heritage through hands-on documentation, field studies, research initiatives, and expert interactions.
The club was formally inaugurated by Er. Rajendran, whose presence added great significance to the occasion. The inauguration ceremony, attended by faculty members and enthusiastic students, emphasized the importance of preserving our architectural legacy and fostering a culture of conservation among future architects.
‘Silent Strokes’ - Painting Competition by IIA Student Chapter - 4th February 2026
‘Silent Strokes’ – a Watercolour Painting Competition was organized by the Student Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), NIT Trichy, in collaboration with the Fine Arts Society, NIT Trichy, on 4 February 2026 at 3:30 PM in the Department of Architecture. The event was open to UG, PG and PhD students of the institute and aimed to encourage creative expression through watercolour painting. Students from departments including ITEP, Chemical, ICE, EEE, CSE and Architecture participated enthusiastically, with a total of 24 participants completing their artworks within the given time.
The competition was judged by the Faculty Advisors of the Fine Arts Society along with Dr. K. Prem Kumar. The winners were appreciated and awarded certificates and prizes on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, in the presence of Dr. K. Prem Kumar, with Chief Guest Er. Rajendran, representing Private Engineering, presenting the prizes. Meghana (M.Arch) secured first place, followed by Shiva Kumar (3rd Year B.Arch) in second place and Dheepthi (M.Arch) in third place. Shahba (3rd Year B.Arch) and Sri Harini (ITEP) were also recognized as consolation winners.
Study Trip for 2nd Year Architectural Design Studio - 30th January to 6th February 2026
As part of Architectural Design IV (AR212), the second year students undertook a week-long rural study trip to Sundarapandiyapuram, Tenkasi District under the guidance of Prof Pudhuma Bharathi K and Dr Arvind Kumar. During the trip, the students studied the village at multiple scales from overall settlement patterns and street morphology to community spaces, temple networks and individual house organisation. They documented the built fabric through measured drawings, photographic records and video documentation, analysing how climate, culture, caste clusters, water systems and agriculture shape the spatial layout of the village. The learning experience helped students understand vernacular construction materials, local craftsmanship, courtyard based planning, transitional spaces like thinnai and mutham and the strong relationship amongst everyday life, local occupations and vernacular architecture. The students also visited the Kasi Vishwanathar Temple and the Courtallam Falls, gaining insight into the region’s cultural landscape and natural ecology. They also found an unexpected opportunity to meet Sridhar Vembu during the village festival season, adding a memorable interaction to the trip.
IIA Student Chapter - 'Arch Quest' - 28th January 2026
'Arch Quest' - The History of Architecture Quiz, was conducted by the IIA NIT Trichy Student Chapter, from 3:30-4:30PM, on 28th January 2026, in the seminar hall of the Department of Architecture, NIT Tiruchirappalli. Eleven teams, each comprising two members, participated in the competition, which was structured into three rounds. The quiz tested participants on various aspects of architectural history, and the scores remained closely contested. One tie-breaker round was conducted to determine the advancing team.
Team Nandana and Daman (Second Year) secured first place, followed by Team Kamalinie D and Ramyasree Tadigotla (First Year) in second place, and Team Lakshmi Priya J and Lakshana N R (First Year) in third place. The Head of the Department, Dr. K. Prem Kumar, presented certificates and prizes to the top three teams. The event concluded successfully with active participation from students and attendees.
