The Malawi Institute of Architects has urged professionals in the sector to confront challenges that continue to shape and sometimes mar the country’s built environment.
The institute’s president Steve Musopole acknowledged in an interview in Blantyre at the end of their three-day annual general meeting that the country’s built environment needs to be examined.
“The kind of questioning that has happened shows that we are all not happy when we look at the quality of the built environment. Architecture reflects who we are as a society,” he said, adding that architects are eager to rise to the occasion and craft a more resilient Malawi.
His optimism was echoed by Botswana Architects Association president Thandeka Palai, who urged Malawians to embrace the digital tide sweeping across the globe.
“We are entering an era where we cannot afford to lag behind in terms of artificial intelligence and technology,” she warned.
The conference, which attracted architects from the public and private sector, also gave a platform to younger voices.
Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences fourth-year architectural student Tamanda Banda expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals.
The conference, held under the theme ‘Architecture at a crossroads: Resilient construction in a volatile economic environment’, opened with a call by Ministry of Transport and Public Works Principal Secretary for administration Fergus Gondwe, who urged architects to think beyond immediate fixes.
