Kozhikode, March 24 (IANS): More than 1,000 architects and urban planners from across the country will take part in a three-day meeting beginning April 7 here, during which the prestigious national awards for excellence in architecture would be given away.

The event is being organised by the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) and taking part would include leading architects Sharukh Mistry, Sanjay Puri, Brinda Somayya, Sanjay Mohe, Christopher Clarles Beninger, Shimul Javeri Kadri to name a few, IIA said in a release here on Thursday.

The awards are constituted to encourage, acknowledge, appreciate and honour the creative contribution of the IIA members all over India in the field of architecture.

This year, the IIA will move a step further by creating an international platform for the architects to present their creations, which can lead to meaningful debates and dialogues aimed at defining a new direction for architectural practice in the country.